List of last undefeated NFL teams by season

Last updated

The 1920 Akron Pros compiled an undefeated record in the NFL's inaugural season. Akron pros 1920.jpg
The 1920 Akron Pros compiled an undefeated record in the NFL's inaugural season.
Jim Kiick rushing the ball for Miami in Super Bowl VII. The win capped a perfect season for the 1972 team. 1986 Jeno's Pizza - 33 - Jim Kiick (cropped).jpg
Jim Kiick rushing the ball for Miami in Super Bowl VII. The win capped a perfect season for the 1972 team.
After 40 years, President Obama honored the 1972 Dolphins at the White House in 2013. Potus-1973-dolphins.jpg
After 40 years, President Obama honored the 1972 Dolphins at the White House in 2013.
Curly Lambeau was coach for the unbeaten 1929 Packers. CurlyLambeauNotreDame.jpg
Curly Lambeau was coach for the unbeaten 1929 Packers.
The 2006 Colts, at the White House with President Bush, are the most recent team to be the last undefeated team remaining to win the Super Bowl. Bush Congratulates 2006 Colts.jpg
The 2006 Colts, at the White House with President Bush, are the most recent team to be the last undefeated team remaining to win the Super Bowl.

This is a season-by-season breakdown of the last undefeated National Football League (NFL) team. This list indicates the teams who won the most games in a season before suffering their first loss. [1]

Contents

Only one team in NFL history has recorded a perfect season: the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who recorded a 14–0 regular season before winning all three of their playoff games, including Super Bowl VII, to finish with a 17–0 record. In addition, before the institution of a championship game, four NFL champions finished the season undefeated: the 1920 Akron Pros, the 1922 and 1923 Canton Bulldogs, and 1929 Green Bay Packers. Since 1972, an urban legend has formed stating that the surviving members of the Dolphins team will open bottles of champagne after the last undefeated team loses; in reality, some members that live close to each other may share a non-alcoholic toast. [2]

The last team in a new season to lose a game has won the Super Bowl twelve times. Before the Super Bowl era, the last undefeated team won fourteen Championship games, four of which were in the AFL. Before playoffs began in the 1933 season, the last undefeated team earned the NFL championship seven times by having the highest winning percentage (ties were not included in calculation). The last team with an unblemished record has made 29 Super Bowl and 26 Championship game appearances.

The Chicago Bears have been the last team undefeated 17 times (the last time was during the 2010 season), and won the Championship 5 times in those years. The next team, the Los Angeles Rams, have been the last undefeated team 12 times as of the 2018 season. The Rams won 2 titles when they were the last unbeaten team. The New York Giants hold the mark for beating the last undefeated team the most times. They have accomplished this 11 times; the last time it happened was in 2010.

Last undefeated team by season

When the teams are sorted, all the names of a franchise are grouped together:

Color key
Perfect season
Undefeated season
Perfect regular season, lost in the post-season
Subsequently won Championship/Super Bowl
Playoff Abbreviation
DNQDid not qualify
YearTeamWins before
first loss		First lossFinal season recordPostseason result
RegularPlayoffs
2025 Buffalo Bills 4 New England Patriots 20–23
Philadelphia Eagles Denver Broncos 17–21
2024 Kansas City Chiefs 9 Buffalo Bills 21–3015–22–1 Lost Super Bowl
2023 Philadelphia Eagles 5 New York Jets 14–2011–60–1 Lost Wild Card
San Francisco 49ers Cleveland Browns 17–1912–52–1 Lost Super Bowl
2022 Philadelphia Eagles 8 Washington Commanders 21–3214–32–1 Lost Super Bowl
2021 Arizona Cardinals 7 Green Bay Packers 21–2411–60–1 Lost Wild Card
2020 Pittsburgh Steelers 11 Washington Football Team 17–2312–40–1 Lost Wild Card
2019 San Francisco 49ers 8 Seattle Seahawks 24–2713–32–1 Lost Super Bowl
New England Patriots Baltimore Ravens 20–3712–40–1 Lost Wild Card
2018 Los Angeles Rams 8 New Orleans Saints 35–4513–32–1 Lost Super Bowl
2017 Kansas City Chiefs 5 Pittsburgh Steelers 13–1910–60–1 Lost Wild Card
2016 Minnesota Vikings 5 Philadelphia Eagles 10–218–8-DNQ
2015 Carolina Panthers 14 Atlanta Falcons 13–2015–12–1 Lost Super Bowl
2014 Philadelphia Eagles 3 San Francisco 49ers 21–2610–6-DNQ
Cincinnati Bengals New England Patriots 17–4310–5–10–1 Lost Wild Card
Arizona Cardinals Denver Broncos 20–4111–50–1 Lost Wild Card
2013 Kansas City Chiefs 9 Denver Broncos 17–2711–50–1 Lost Wild Card
2012 Atlanta Falcons 8 New Orleans Saints 27–3113–31–1 Lost Conference
2011 Green Bay Packers 13 Kansas City Chiefs 14–1915–10–1 Lost Divisional
2010 Chicago Bears 3 New York Giants 3–1711–51–1 Lost Conference
Pittsburgh Steelers Baltimore Ravens 14–1712–42–1 Lost Super Bowl
Kansas City Chiefs Indianapolis Colts 9–1910–60–1 Lost Wild Card
2009 Indianapolis Colts 14 New York Jets 15–2914–22–1 Lost Super Bowl
2008 Tennessee Titans 10 New York Jets 13–3413–30–1 Lost Divisional
2007 New England Patriots 18 New York Giants 14–1716–02–1 Lost Super Bowl
2006 Indianapolis Colts 9 Dallas Cowboys 14–2112–44–0 Won Super Bowl
2005 Indianapolis Colts 13 San Diego Chargers 17–2614–20–1 Lost Divisional
2004 Philadelphia Eagles 7 Pittsburgh Steelers 3–2713–32–1 Lost Super Bowl
2003 Kansas City Chiefs 9 Cincinnati Bengals 19–2413–30–1 Lost Divisional
2002 Oakland Raiders 4 St. Louis Rams 13–2811–52–1 Lost Super Bowl
San Diego Chargers Denver Broncos 9–268–8-DNQ
2001 St. Louis Rams 6 New Orleans Saints 31–3414–22–1 Lost Super Bowl
2000 Minnesota Vikings 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13–4111–51–1 Lost Conference
1999 St. Louis Rams 6 Tennessee Titans 21–2413–33–0 Won Super Bowl
1998 Denver Broncos 13 New York Giants 16–2014–23–0 Won Super Bowl
1997 Denver Broncos 6 Oakland Raiders 25–2812–44–0 Won Super Bowl
1996 Minnesota Vikings 4 New York Giants 10–159–70–1 Lost Wild Card
Indianapolis Colts Buffalo Bills 13–169–70–1 Lost Wild Card
Kansas City Chiefs San Diego Chargers 19–229–7-DNQ
1995 St. Louis Rams 4 Indianapolis Colts 18–217–9-DNQ
Dallas Cowboys Washington Redskins 23–2712–43–0 Won Super Bowl
Miami Dolphins Indianapolis Colts 24–279–70–1 Lost Wild Card
1994 San Diego Chargers 6 Denver Broncos 15–2011–52–1 Lost Super Bowl
1993 New Orleans Saints 5 Pittsburgh Steelers 14–378–8-DNQ
1992 Miami Dolphins 6 Indianapolis Colts 20–3111–51–1 Lost Conference
1991 Washington Redskins 11 Dallas Cowboys 21–2414–23–0 Won Super Bowl
1990 San Francisco 49ers 10 Los Angeles Rams 17–2814–21–1 Lost Conference
New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles 13–3113–33–0 Won Super Bowl
1989 Los Angeles Rams 5 Buffalo Bills 20–2311–52–1 Lost Conference
1988 Cincinnati Bengals 6 New England Patriots 21–2712–42–1 Lost Super Bowl
1987 Chicago Bears 4 New Orleans Saints 17–1911–40–1 Lost Divisional
1986 Chicago Bears 6 Minnesota Vikings 7–2314–20–1 Lost Divisional
Denver Broncos New York Jets 10–2211–52–1 Lost Super Bowl
1985 Chicago Bears 12 Miami Dolphins 24–3815–13–0 Won Super Bowl
1984 Miami Dolphins 11 San Diego Chargers 28–3414–22–1 Lost Super Bowl
1983 Dallas Cowboys 7 Los Angeles Raiders 38–4012–40–1 Lost Wild Card
1982 Washington Redskins 4 Dallas Cowboys 10–248–14–0 Won Super Bowl
1981 Philadelphia Eagles 6 Minnesota Vikings 23–3510–60–1 Lost Wild Card
1980 Buffalo Bills 5 Baltimore Colts 12–1711–50–1 Lost Divisional
1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5 New York Giants 14–1710–61–1 Lost Conference
1978 Los Angeles Rams 7 New Orleans Saints 3–1012–41–1 Lost Conference
Pittsburgh Steelers Houston Oilers 17–2414–23–0 Won Super Bowl
1977 Dallas Cowboys 8 St. Louis Cardinals 17–2412–23–0 Won Super Bowl
1976 Minnesota Vikings 6–0–1 Chicago Bears 13–1411–2–12–1 Lost Super Bowl
1975 Minnesota Vikings 10 Washington Redskins 30–3112–20–1 Lost Divisional
1974 St. Louis Cardinals 7 Dallas Cowboys 14–1710–40–1 Lost Divisional
1973 Minnesota Vikings 9 Atlanta Falcons 14–2012–22–1 Lost Super Bowl
1972 Miami Dolphins 17Perfect Season14–03–0 Won Super Bowl
1971 Washington Redskins 5 Kansas City Chiefs 20–279–4–10–1 Lost Divisional
1970 Los Angeles Rams 3 San Francisco 49ers 6–209–4–1-DNQ
Denver Broncos Oakland Raiders 23–355–8–1-DNQ
Detroit Lions Washington Redskins 10–3110–40–1 Lost Divisional
1969 Oakland Raiders (AFL) 6–0–1 Cincinnati Bengals 17–3112–1–11–1 Lost Conference
1969 Los Angeles Rams 11 Minnesota Vikings 13–2011–30–1 Lost Divisional
1968 Oakland Raiders (AFL) 4 San Diego Chargers 14–2312–21–1 Lost Conference
1968 Dallas Cowboys 6 Green Bay Packers 17–2812–20–1 Lost Divisional
Los Angeles Rams Baltimore Colts 10–2710–3–1-DNQ
1967 San Diego Chargers (AFL) 5–0–1 Oakland Raiders 10–518–5–1-DNQ
1967 Baltimore Colts 11–0–2 Los Angeles Rams 10–3411–1–2-DNQ
1966 New York Jets (AFL) 4–0–1 Houston Oilers 0–246–6–2-DNQ
1966 St. Louis Cardinals 5–0–1 Washington Redskins 20–268–5–1-DNQ
1965 San Diego Chargers (AFL) 5–0–2 Boston Patriots 6–229–2–30–1 Lost Championship
1965 Green Bay Packers 6 Chicago Bears 10–3110–3–12–0 Won Championship
1964 Buffalo Bills (AFL) 9 Boston Patriots 28–3612–21–0 Won Championship
1964 St. Louis Cardinals 3–0–1 Baltimore Colts 27–479–3–2-DNQ
Cleveland Browns Pittsburgh Steelers 7–2310–3–11–0 Won Championship
1963 San Diego Chargers (AFL) 3 Denver Broncos 34–5011–31–0 Won Championship
1963 Cleveland Browns 6 New York Giants 6–3310–4-DNQ
1962 Dallas Texans (AFL) 3 San Diego Chargers 28–3211–31–0 Won Championship
1962 Green Bay Packers 10 Detroit Lions 14–2613–11–0 Won Championship
1961 San Diego Chargers (AFL) 11 Houston Oilers 13–3312–20–1 Lost Championship
1961 Dallas Cowboys 2 Cleveland Browns 7–254–9–1-DNQ
Philadelphia Eagles St. Louis Cardinals 27–3010–4-DNQ
Detroit Lions San Francisco 49ers 0–498–5–1-DNQ
1960 Denver Broncos (AFL) 2 New York Titans 24–284–9–1-DNQ
Houston Oilers (AFL) Oakland Raiders 13–1410–41–0 Won Championship
1960 New York Giants 3–0–1 St. Louis Cardinals 13–206–4–2-DNQ
1959 Green Bay Packers 3 Los Angeles Rams 6–457–5-DNQ
1958 Baltimore Colts 6 New York Giants 21–249–31–0 Won Championship
1957 Baltimore Colts 3 Detroit Lions 27–317–5-DNQ
Cleveland Browns Philadelphia Eagles 7–179–2–10–1 Lost Championship
1956 Detroit Lions 6 Washington Redskins 17–189–3-DNQ
1955 Baltimore Colts 3 Chicago Bears 10–385–6–1-DNQ
Los Angeles Rams Green Bay Packers 28–308–3–10–1 Lost Championship
1954 San Francisco 49ers 4–0–1 Chicago Bears 27–317–4–1-DNQ
1953 Cleveland Browns 11 Philadelphia Eagles 27–4211–10–1 Lost Championship
1952 San Francisco 49ers 5 Chicago Bears 17–207–5-DNQ
1951 New York Giants 3–0–1 Cleveland Browns 13–149–2–1-DNQ
1950 New York Giants 3 Pittsburgh Steelers 6–1710–3-DNQ
1949 Los Angeles Rams 6Philadelphia Eagles 14–388–2–20–1 Lost Championship
1948 Chicago Bears 4Philadelphia Eagles 7–1210–2-DNQ
1947 Chicago Cardinals 3Los Angeles Rams 7–279–31–0 Won Championship
1946 Washington Redskins 3–0–1Philadelphia Eagles 24–285–5–1-DNQ
Chicago Bears New York Giants 0–148–2–11–0 Won Championship
1945 Cleveland Rams 4Philadelphia Eagles 14–289–11–0 Won Championship
1944 Philadelphia Eagles 5–0–2Chicago Bears 7–287–1–2-DNQ
1943 Chicago Bears 7–0–1Washington Redskins 7–218–1–11–0 Won Championship
1942 Chicago Bears 11Washington Redskins 6–1411–00–1 Lost Championship
1941 New York Giants 5 Brooklyn Dodgers 13–168–30–1 Lost Championship
Chicago Bears Green Bay Packers 14–1610–12–0 Won Championship
1940 Washington Redskins 7 Brooklyn Dodgers 14–169–20–1 Lost Championship
1939 New York Giants 5–0–1Detroit Lions 14–189–1–10–1 Lost Championship
1938 Washington Redskins 2–0–1New York Giants 7–106–3–2-DNQ
Chicago Bears 3Cleveland Rams 7–146–5-DNQ
1937 Chicago Bears 5–0–1Green Bay Packers 14–249–1–10–1 Lost Championship
1936 Chicago Bears 6Green Bay Packers 14–249–3-DNQ
1935 Chicago Cardinals 2–0–1Pittsburgh Pirates 13–176–4–2-DNQ
1934 Chicago Bears 13New York Giants 13–3013–00–1 Lost Championship
1933 Chicago Bears 6Washington Redskins 0–1010–2–11–0 Won Championship
1932 Green Bay Packers 8–0–1New York Giants 0–610–3–1 † † 2nd place
1931 Green Bay Packers 9Chicago Cardinals 13–2112–2 † † Champion
1930 Green Bay Packers 8Chicago Cardinals 6–1310–3–1 † † Champion
1929 Green Bay Packers 12–0–1Undefeated, 1 tie12–0–1 † † Champion
1928 Frankford Yellow Jackets 3 New York Yankees 0–1311–3–2 † † 2nd place
Detroit Wolverines Frankfort Yellow Jackets 7–257–2–1 † † 3rd place
Chicago Bears 2–0–1Green Bay Packers 6–167–5–1 † † 5th place
1927 Chicago Bears 5–0–1 New York Yankees 6–269–3–2 † † 3rd place
1926 Chicago Bears 11–0–2 Frankfort Yellow Jackets 6–712–1–3 † † 2nd place
1925 Detroit Panthers 6–0–2Chicago Bears 0–148–2–2 † † 3rd place
1924 Cleveland Bulldogs 5–0–1Frankfort Yellow Jackets 7–127–1–1 † † Champion
1923 Canton Bulldogs 11–0–1Undefeated, 1 tie11–0–1 † † Champion
1922 Canton Bulldogs 10–0–2Undefeated, 2 ties10–0–2 † † Champion
1921 Buffalo All-Americans 9–0–2 Chicago Staleys 7–109–1–2 † † The Staley Swindle *

2nd place

1920 Akron Pros 8–0–3Undefeated, 3 ties8–0–3 † † Champion
YearTeamWins before
first loss		First lossRegularPlayoffsPostseason result
Final season record

^† Note 1: The NFL did not have playoff games until the 1933 season.
^* Note 2: Buffalo and Chicago both had 9–1 records (ties not counted in standings then). Chicago was awarded the championship when the league instituted a new tiebreaker rule at the end of the season.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Last Undefeated Team". pro football reference.com. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Urban Legends Reference Pages: 1972 Miami Dolphins Toast First Losses by Undefeated Teams". Snopes.com. December 18, 2005. Retrieved September 3, 2012.