Every NFL franchise dreams of reaching the Super Bowl, but for some teams the road to football’s biggest stage has been paved with more heartbreak than triumph. The list of most Super Bowl losses highlights organizations that have repeatedly come close to the ultimate prize only to fall short on the grandest stage. While losses can be tough for fans to swallow, they also reflect sustained excellence — getting to the championship game is itself a rare and remarkable achievement that only a handful of teams enjoy. From perennial contenders to decades-long underdogs, these franchises have forged identities around both drama and resilience.
New England Patriots
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) exits the field after the loss against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
No. of SB loss: 6
The Patriots’ six Super Bowl losses are almost paradoxical when paired with their dynasty status. They reached the Super Bowl so often that disappointment became the price of sustained dominance. Several of those losses were razor-thin, last-minute heartbreaks that still sting New England fans. Ultimately, the volume of losses reflects just how frequently the Patriots lived on the NFL’s biggest stage.
Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos linebacker Danny Trevathan (59) walks off the field after losing the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium. Seattle Seahawks won 43-8. Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
No. of SB loss: 5
Denver’s Super Bowl losses include some of the most lopsided defeats in big-game history, which made them especially painful. For years, those blowouts defined the franchise more than its wins. Still, the Broncos kept returning, refusing to fade from relevance. Their later championships softened the scars, but those early losses remain unforgettable chapters.
Buffalo Bills
The New York Giants defeated the Buffalo Bills 20Ã19 in Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on January 27, 1991. Credit: © Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
No. of SB loss: 4 losses
The Bills’ four Super Bowl losses are unique — all came consecutively, an unmatched run of dominance and disappointment. That early-1990s team was powerful enough to rule the AFC but just couldn’t finish the job. Despite the heartbreak, Buffalo’s fanbase takes pride in that era’s consistency and grit. Those losses became part of the franchise’s identity rather than its undoing.
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings linebacker (58) Wally Hilgenberg and (50) Jeff Siemon stop Oakland Raiders receiver (21) Cliff Branch in Super Bowl XI at the Rose Bowl. The Raoders defeated the Vikings 32-14 to win their first Super Bowl title. Credit: Photo By Malcolm Emmons- USA TODAY Sports © Copyright Malcolm Emmons
No. of SB loss: 4
Minnesota’s four Super Bowl defeats came during an era when the Vikings were perennial contenders. The “Purple People Eaters” defense struck fear across the league, yet the Lombardi Trophy always slipped away. That legacy of being close—but not close enough—has followed the franchise for decades. For Vikings fans, Super Bowl loss is both history and heartbreak.
San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) and free safety Tarvarius Moore (33) walk off the field after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
No. of SB loss: 3
The 49ers are better known for perfection in Super Bowls than failure, which makes their three losses stand out. Each defeat came during transitional moments between dominant eras. Rather than defining the franchise, those losses highlighted how high the standard was in San Francisco. Even in defeat, the 49ers were almost always contenders.
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) walks off the field after being sacked by Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) in the fourth quarter during Super Bowl 56, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. The Cincinnati Bengals lost, 23-20. Credit: © Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
No. of SB loss: 3
All three of Cincinnati’s Super Bowl losses came against the same opponent, giving the defeats an almost cruel symmetry. The Bengals were competitive in each appearance, often falling just short late. Those losses reinforced the narrative of a franchise knocking on the door but unable to break through. Recent success has reignited belief that history doesn’t have to repeat itself.
Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce (62) walks on the field after losing Super Bowl LVII against the Kansas City Chiefs at State Farm Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
No. of SB loss: 3
Philadelphia’s Super Bowl losses were emotional, hard-fought games that mirrored the city’s blue-collar identity. Each defeat deepened the hunger of one of the NFL’s most passionate fanbases. Those losses made eventual victory feel earned rather than inevitable. They’re reminders of how long the climb was before reaching the summit.
Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams free safety Lamarcus Joyner (20) walks off the field after Super Bowl LIII against the New England Patriots at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
No. of SB loss: 3
The Rams’ Super Bowl losses span multiple cities and eras, reflecting a franchise constantly reinventing itself. Some defeats were defensive struggles, others offensive collapses, but all were defining moments. Each loss forced organizational change and evolution. That adaptability eventually helped lead them back to championship success.
Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula talks with quarterback Dan Marino (13) on the sideline during Super Bowl XIX against the San Francisco 49ers at Stanford Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Dolphins 38-16. Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
No. of SB loss: 3
Miami’s Super Bowl losses are often overshadowed by their perfect season and early dominance. Still, those defeats show how even elite teams aren’t immune to regression and disappointment. The Dolphins experienced both sides of football immortality within a short span. Their losses serve as a reminder that dynasties are fragile.
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys tight end #81 Jackie Smith reacts to dropping a potential touchdown pass in the end zone during Super Bowl XIII against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers defeated the Cowboys 35-31 at the Orange Bowl. Credit: Photo By Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports © Copyright 1979 Malcolm Emmons
No. of SB loss: 3
Dallas’ three Super Bowl losses sit quietly behind a louder legacy of championships. Each defeat came during eras of immense expectation and national spotlight. The losses didn’t diminish the brand, but they did humanize it. For “America’s Team,” even defeat became part of the mythology.
Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) walks off the field after losing against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome. Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
No. of SB loss: 3
The Chiefs’ Super Bowl losses represent the bridge between old heartbreak and modern dominance. Before their recent success, Kansas City spent decades chasing relevance on the biggest stage. Those losses made the later championships feel transformational rather than routine. They’re proof that patience can eventually pay off in spectacular fashion.
Conclusion
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) walks off the field after Super Bowl XLVIII against the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Looking across the history of the Super Bowl, patterns of near-misses and redemption emerge just as vividly as the glory of victory. The teams with the most losses have all carved out unique narratives — some marked by eras of dominance that ended in narrow defeat, others by periods of heartbreak that galvanized their fanbases. Yet for every loss on this list, there are lessons learned, legacies built, and the promise of future triumphs still to come. In the end, what matters as much as the losses are the stories of perseverance and passion that define these franchises and their supporters.