List of winless seasons
Updated: 5/20/2026, 7:05:01 PM Wikipedia source
A winless season is a regular season in which a sports team fails to win any of its games. The antithesis of a perfect season, winless seasons have been suffered twelve times in professional American football, six times in arena football, three times in professional Canadian football, once each in American professional lacrosse and box lacrosse, more than twenty-five times in major Australian football leagues, over twenty times in top-level rugby league, at least twice in top-level rugby union, and twice in English county cricket.
Tables
· Gridiron football › National Football League › 8 or more games
2017
2017
Year
2017
Team
Cleveland Browns
Wins
0
Losses
16
Ties
0
Strength of Schedule
0
Remarks
19-game winless streak, beginning with a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the final game of the 2016 NFL season and ending with a victory over the New York Jets in Week 3 of the 2018 season. Ties the 2008 Detroit Lions for most losses in a single season. Coincidentally, both had perfect 4–0 preseasons. First NFL franchise to have multiple seasons
2008
2008
Year
2008
Team
Detroit Lions
Wins
0
Losses
16
Ties
0
Strength of Schedule
0
Remarks
20-game winless streak, beginning with a loss against the Green Bay Packers in the final week of the 2007 NFL season and ending with a win against the Washington Redskins (now Commanders) in Week 3 of the 2009 NFL season. Combined with a 1–7 finish from 2007, a 2–14 season in 2009, and a 2–10 start in 2010, Detroit went 5–45 from Week 9 of the 2007
1982
1982
Year
1982
Team
Baltimore Colts
Wins
0
Losses
8
Ties
1
Strength of Schedule
0
Remarks
Strike-shortened season; seven weeks (out of 16) of the schedule were cancelled as a result.
1976
1976
Year
1976
Team
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Wins
0
Losses
14
Ties
0
Strength of Schedule
0
Remarks
Debut season; also lost the first twelve games of the 1977 season to start 0–26 as a franchise.
1960
1960
Year
1960
Team
Dallas Cowboys
Wins
0
Losses
11
Ties
1
Strength of Schedule
0
Remarks
Debut season; lost twice by two points in first half of season. Tie was in the eleventh game against the New York Giants at Yankee Stadium.
1944
1944
Year
1944
Team
Brooklyn Tigers
Wins
0
Losses
10
Ties
0
Strength of Schedule
0
Remarks
Suspended operations after the season, and did not return to the league after World War II ended.
1944
1944
Year
1944
Team
Card-Pitt
Wins
0
Losses
10
Ties
0
Strength of Schedule
0
Remarks
Merger between Chicago Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers due to player shortages during World War II.
1943
1943
Year
1943
Team
Chicago Cardinals
Wins
0
Losses
10
Ties
0
Strength of Schedule
0
Remarks
If one includes the 1944 Card-Pitt team (see above), the Cardinals are the only NFL team to have back-to-back full seasons without a victory. (The league, however, considers Card-Pitt and the Cardinals to be separate franchises.) If the connection between Card-Pitt and the Cardinals is made, the team would have a 29-game losing streak (the most by
1942
1942
Year
1942
Team
Detroit Lions
Wins
0
Losses
11
Ties
0
Strength of Schedule
0
Remarks
This was the first NFL season during U . involvement in World War II, leading to a depletion of the player talent pool. There were talks of suspending play. However, it was ultimately decided to continue operations to boost morale on the home front.
1934
1934
Year
1934
Team
Cincinnati Reds
Wins
0
Losses
8
Ties
0
Strength of Schedule
0
Remarks
Folded before the season was over.
1925
1925
Year
1925
Team
Columbus Tigers
Wins
0
Losses
9
Ties
0
Strength of Schedule
0
Remarks
First franchise with more than one full winless season (the Tigers folded after the 1926 campaign).
1922
1922
Year
1922
Team
Columbus Panhandles
Wins
0
Losses
8
Ties
0
Strength of Schedule
0
| Year | Team | Wins | Losses | Ties | Strength of Schedule | Remarks |
| 2017 | Cleveland Browns | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 19-game winless streak, beginning with a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the final game of the 2016 NFL season and ending with a victory over the New York Jets in Week 3 of the 2018 season. Ties the 2008 Detroit Lions for most losses in a single season. Coincidentally, both had perfect 4–0 preseasons. First NFL franchise to have multiple seasons |
| 2008 | Detroit Lions | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 20-game winless streak, beginning with a loss against the Green Bay Packers in the final week of the 2007 NFL season and ending with a win against the Washington Redskins (now Commanders) in Week 3 of the 2009 NFL season. Combined with a 1–7 finish from 2007, a 2–14 season in 2009, and a 2–10 start in 2010, Detroit went 5–45 from Week 9 of the 2007 |
| 1982 | Baltimore Colts | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | Strike-shortened season; seven weeks (out of 16) of the schedule were cancelled as a result. |
| 1976 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | Debut season; also lost the first twelve games of the 1977 season to start 0–26 as a franchise. |
| 1960 | Dallas Cowboys | 0 | 11 | 1 | 0 | Debut season; lost twice by two points in first half of season. Tie was in the eleventh game against the New York Giants at Yankee Stadium. |
| 1944 | Brooklyn Tigers | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | Suspended operations after the season, and did not return to the league after World War II ended. |
| 1944 | Card-Pitt | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | Merger between Chicago Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers due to player shortages during World War II. |
| 1943 | Chicago Cardinals | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | If one includes the 1944 Card-Pitt team (see above), the Cardinals are the only NFL team to have back-to-back full seasons without a victory. (The league, however, considers Card-Pitt and the Cardinals to be separate franchises.) If the connection between Card-Pitt and the Cardinals is made, the team would have a 29-game losing streak (the most by |
| 1942 | Detroit Lions | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | This was the first NFL season during U . involvement in World War II, leading to a depletion of the player talent pool. There were talks of suspending play. However, it was ultimately decided to continue operations to boost morale on the home front. |
| 1934 | Cincinnati Reds | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | Folded before the season was over. |
| 1925 | Columbus Tigers | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | First franchise with more than one full winless season (the Tigers folded after the 1926 campaign). |
| 1922 | Columbus Panhandles | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
· Gridiron football › National Football League › 7 games or fewer
1929
1929
Year
1929
Team
Dayton Triangles
Wins
0
Losses
6
Ties
0
Strength of schedule
0
Remarks
Dayton's final season. The third of three consecutive winless seasons for Dayton. Their final win was in 1927; they then consecutively went 0–18–1, losing every game in their final two seasons.
1928
1928
Year
1928
Team
Dayton Triangles
Wins
0
Losses
7
Ties
0
Strength of schedule
0
Remarks
The second winless season for Dayton.
1927
1927
Year
1927
Team
Buffalo Bisons
Wins
0
Losses
5
Ties
0
Strength of schedule
0
Remarks
The Bisons consecutively went 0–13–2 through a three-season span.
1926
1926
Year
1926
Team
Hammond Pros
Wins
0
Losses
4
Ties
0
Strength of schedule
0
Remarks
The second winless season for Hammond.
1926
1926
Year
1926
Team
Louisville Colonels
Wins
0
Losses
4
Ties
0
Strength of schedule
0
Remarks
Louisville changed their name from the Brecks to the Colonels making this the franchise's third winless season and going 1-12–0 in their four seasons.
1925
1925
Year
1925
Team
Rochester Jeffersons
Wins
0
Losses
6
Ties
1
Strength of schedule
0
Remarks
The fourth consecutive winless season for the Jeffersons. They went 0–21–2 through this span.
1925
1925
Year
1925
Team
Dayton Triangles
Wins
0
Losses
7
Ties
1
Strength of schedule
0
1925
1925
Year
1925
Team
Duluth Kelleys
Wins
0
Losses
3
Ties
0
Strength of schedule
0
1925
1925
Year
1925
Team
Milwaukee Badgers
Wins
0
Losses
6
Ties
0
Strength of schedule
0
1924
1924
Year
1924
Team
Kenosha Maroons
Wins
0
Losses
4
Ties
1
Strength of schedule
0
Remarks
Only season.
1924
1924
Year
1924
Team
Minneapolis Marines
Wins
0
Losses
6
Ties
0
Strength of schedule
0
Remarks
Consecutively went 0-9-2 through a three-season span.
1924
1924
Year
1924
Team
Rochester Jeffersons
Wins
0
Losses
7
Ties
0
Strength of schedule
0
Remarks
The third consecutive winless season for the Jeffersons.
1923
1923
Year
1923
Team
Louisville Brecks
Wins
0
Losses
3
Ties
0
Strength of schedule
0
Remarks
The second winless season for Louisville in their third season, and only having one win in the previous season.
1923
1923
Year
1923
Team
Rochester Jeffersons
Wins
0
Losses
4
Ties
0
Strength of schedule
0
Remarks
The second consecutive winless season for the Jeffersons.
1922
1922
Year
1922
Team
Evansville Crimson Giants
Wins
0
Losses
3
Ties
0
Strength of schedule
0
1922
1922
Year
1922
Team
Rochester Jeffersons
Wins
0
Losses
4
Ties
1
Strength of schedule
0
1922
1922
Year
1922
Team
Hammond Pros
Wins
0
Losses
4
Ties
1
Strength of schedule
0
1921
1921
Year
1921
Team
Tonawanda Kardex
Wins
0
Losses
1
Ties
0
Strength of schedule
0
Remarks
Only NFL season.
1921
1921
Year
1921
Team
Muncie Flyers
Wins
0
Losses
2
Ties
0
Strength of schedule
0
Remarks
The second winless season in a row. The Flyers finished their NFL franchise record as 0–3.
1921
1921
Year
1921
Team
Louisville Brecks
Wins
0
Losses
2
Ties
0
Strength of schedule
0
1921
1921
Year
1921
Team
New York Brickley Giants
Wins
0
Losses
2
Ties
0
Strength of schedule
0
Remarks
Only season.
1920
1920
Year
1920
Team
Muncie Flyers
Wins
0
Losses
1
Ties
0
Strength of schedule
0
| Year | Team | Wins | Losses | Ties | Strength of schedule | Remarks |
| 1929 | Dayton Triangles | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | Dayton's final season. The third of three consecutive winless seasons for Dayton. Their final win was in 1927; they then consecutively went 0–18–1, losing every game in their final two seasons. |
| 1928 | Dayton Triangles | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | The second winless season for Dayton. |
| 1927 | Buffalo Bisons | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | The Bisons consecutively went 0–13–2 through a three-season span. |
| 1926 | Hammond Pros | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | The second winless season for Hammond. |
| 1926 | Louisville Colonels | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Louisville changed their name from the Brecks to the Colonels making this the franchise's third winless season and going 1-12–0 in their four seasons. |
| 1925 | Rochester Jeffersons | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | The fourth consecutive winless season for the Jeffersons. They went 0–21–2 through this span. |
| 1925 | Dayton Triangles | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1925 | Duluth Kelleys | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1925 | Milwaukee Badgers | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1924 | Kenosha Maroons | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | Only season. |
| 1924 | Minneapolis Marines | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | Consecutively went 0-9-2 through a three-season span. |
| 1924 | Rochester Jeffersons | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | The third consecutive winless season for the Jeffersons. |
| 1923 | Louisville Brecks | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | The second winless season for Louisville in their third season, and only having one win in the previous season. |
| 1923 | Rochester Jeffersons | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | The second consecutive winless season for the Jeffersons. |
| 1922 | Evansville Crimson Giants | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1922 | Rochester Jeffersons | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1922 | Hammond Pros | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1921 | Tonawanda Kardex | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Only NFL season. |
| 1921 | Muncie Flyers | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | The second winless season in a row. The Flyers finished their NFL franchise record as 0–3. |
| 1921 | Louisville Brecks | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1921 | New York Brickley Giants | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Only season. |
| 1920 | Muncie Flyers | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
· Gridiron football › Arena football
1989
1989
Year
1989
Team
Maryland Commandos
Played
4
Remarks
Only year branded as the Maryland Commandos.
League
AFL
1991
1991
Year
1991
Team
Columbus Thunderbolts
Played
10
Remarks
Moved to Cleveland the following year.
1992
1992
Year
1992
Team
New Orleans Night
Played
10
Remarks
Team ceased operations after season.
1994
1994
Year
1994
Team
Milwaukee Mustangs
Played
12
Remarks
First winless team to remain in same city during following season. Went 10–4 in 1996. Folded in 2001.
1996
1996
Year
1996
Team
Memphis Pharaohs
Played
14
Remarks
Relocated twice, firstly as the Portland Forest Dragons from 1997 and then as the Oklahoma Wranglers. Folded in 2001.
2003
2003
Year
2003
Team
Carolina Cobras
Played
16
Remarks
Went 6–10 the following season. Folded in 2004.
2018
2018
Year
2018
Team
Lehigh Valley Steelhawks
Played
15
Remarks
Only team in the league to be winless. Was 9–1 the season before and 2nd in the league. Folded after the season.
League
NAL
| Year | Team | Played | Remarks | League |
| 1989 | Maryland Commandos | 4 | Only year branded as the Maryland Commandos. | AFL |
| 1991 | Columbus Thunderbolts | 10 | Moved to Cleveland the following year. | |
| 1992 | New Orleans Night | 10 | Team ceased operations after season. | |
| 1994 | Milwaukee Mustangs | 12 | First winless team to remain in same city during following season. Went 10–4 in 1996. Folded in 2001. | |
| 1996 | Memphis Pharaohs | 14 | Relocated twice, firstly as the Portland Forest Dragons from 1997 and then as the Oklahoma Wranglers. Folded in 2001. | |
| 2003 | Carolina Cobras | 16 | Went 6–10 the following season. Folded in 2004. | |
| 2018 | Lehigh Valley Steelhawks | 15 | Only team in the league to be winless. Was 9–1 the season before and 2nd in the league. Folded after the season. | NAL |
· Gridiron football › Canadian Football League › Teams with winless seasons in the WIFU, IRFU and CFL since 1935
1949
1949
Year
1949
Team
Hamilton Wildcats
Games
12
Wins
0
Losses
12
Ties
0
Comments
Merged with the Hamilton Tigers for 1950 season
1946
1946
Year
1946
Team
Hamilton Wildcats
Games
12
Wins
0
Losses
10
Ties
2
1941
1941
Year
1941
Team
Montreal Royals
Games
6
Wins
0
Losses
6
Ties
0
Comments
Did not resume when Canadian football recommenced after World War II; succeeded by the Montreal Alouettes.
1939
1939
Year
1939
Team
Montreal Royals
Games
6
Wins
0
Losses
5
Ties
1
1938
1938
Year
1938
Team
Edmonton Eskimos
Games
8
Wins
0
Losses
8
Ties
0
1938
1938
Year
1938
Team
Montreal Royals
Games
6
Wins
0
Losses
6
Ties
0
| Year | Team | Games | Wins | Losses | Ties | Comments |
| 1949 | Hamilton Wildcats | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 | Merged with the Hamilton Tigers for 1950 season |
| 1946 | Hamilton Wildcats | 12 | 0 | 10 | 2 | |
| 1941 | Montreal Royals | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | Did not resume when Canadian football recommenced after World War II; succeeded by the Montreal Alouettes. |
| 1939 | Montreal Royals | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| 1938 | Edmonton Eskimos | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| 1938 | Montreal Royals | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
· National Pro Grid League › NPGL teams with no wins in a season (based on NPGL site)
2016
2016
Season
2016
Team
Los Angeles Reign
Games
3
Wins
0
Losses
3
2015
2015
Season
2015
Team
Baltimore Anthem
Games
3
Wins
0
Losses
3
Comments
Debut season
2015
2015
Season
2015
Team
Los Angeles Reign
Games
3
Wins
0
Losses
3
2014
2014
Season
2014
Team
Boston Iron
Games
2
Wins
0
Losses
2
2014
2014
Season
2014
Team
Philadelphia Founders
Games
3
Wins
0
Losses
3
Comments
Folded after the 2014 season.
2014
2014
Season
2014
Team
Los Angeles Reign
Games
4
Wins
0
Losses
4
Comments
Including one playoff loss.
| Season | Team | Games | Wins | Losses | Comments |
| 2016 | Los Angeles Reign | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| 2015 | Baltimore Anthem | 3 | 0 | 3 | Debut season |
| 2015 | Los Angeles Reign | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| 2014 | Boston Iron | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2014 | Philadelphia Founders | 3 | 0 | 3 | Folded after the 2014 season. |
| 2014 | Los Angeles Reign | 4 | 0 | 4 | Including one playoff loss. |
References
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- "Worst NFL Teams of all Time"https://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/football/teams/worst.html
- "What's Next for The Memphis Showboats?"https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/whats-next-for-the-memphis-showboats/
- "Semi-pro Football / Minor League Football – Team Points Records"http://www.semiprofootball.org/minor/records/teampnts.htm
- "Semi-pro Football / Minor League Football – Team Games Records"http://www.semiprofootball.org/minor/records/teamgame.htm
- "Princeton drops Sprint Football"http://www.sprintfootball.com/single-post/2016/04/12/Princeton-drops-Sprint-Football
- "1973 Regular Season Standings | CFL | Official Site of the Canadian Football League"https://web.archive.org/web/20091006092121/http://www.cfl.ca/standings/1973/reg
- "Sacramento Kings at Washington Bullets Box Score, November 20, 1990"https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199011200WSB.html
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- wwwhttps://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2020-10-27/how-many-games-are-college-basketball-season
- NCAA statshttp://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/statsPDFArchive/WBB1/Women's%20Basketball_Women's_Division%20I_2000_125_Centenary%20College%20(Louisiana).pdf
- NCAA statshttp://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/statsPDFArchive/WBB1/Women's%20Basketball_Women's_Division%20I_2001_125_Centenary%20College%20(Louisiana).pdf
- "MEAC Tournament: Howard women finish off winless del State"https://hbcugameday.com/2022/03/09/meac-tournament-howard-women-finish-off-winless-del-state/
- Fox Newshttps://www.foxnews.com/sports/saint-peters-womens-basketball-completes-impressive-yet-disastrous-winless-season
- web1http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/exec/records
- "Prairie View Panthers Men's Basketball School History"https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/prairie-view/men/