Worst Super Bowl hangovers in NFL: History of records after making Super Bowl by year image
In an era of parity, sustaining success in the NFL can be extraordinarily difficult. While having the right quarterback is a big help, the combination of injuries, salary cap restrictions and basic randomness make getting back to the Super Bowl monumentally difficult.
Some teams have done it, while others have fallen short but still avoided significant regression. Others stumbled after winning the Super Bowl, and even more stumbled after coming up short in the Super Bowl.
2026 is proving once again that playing for a championship one year means little the next.
Here's a look at the worst Super Bowl hangovers for both winners and losers.
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Worst Super Bowl hangovers for champions
11 Super Bowl champions have finished .500 or worse the following season, led by the Rams at 5-12 in 2022:
Super Bowl season Super Bowl winner Next season's record Win pct.
2021 Rams 5-12 .294
1981 49ers 3-6 .333
1998 Broncos 6-10 .375
1986 Giants 6-9 .400
1980 Raiders 7-9 .438
1987 Redskins 7-9 .438
2002 Buccaneers 7-9 .438
1969 Chiefs 7-7-2 .500
1990 Giants 8-8 .500
2005 Steelers 8-8 .500
2012 Ravens 8-8 .500
Only seven Super Bowl champions have followed up their title with a sub-.500 season, and it's only happened twice in the 21st century despite plenty of parity. The 2022 Rams and 2003 Buccaneers are the last two teams to finish with a losing record after winning the Super Bowl the previous season.
The Chiefs proved in 2023 that going back-to-back is possible, but they are the exception to the rule in the 21st century.
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Worst Super Bowl hangovers for runners-up
Super Bowl runners-up fare considerably worse than champions. 13 teams have finished with a losing record, including eight who posted double-digit losses:
Super Bowl season Super Bowl loser Next season's record Win pct.
2002 Raiders 4-12 .250
1989 Broncos 5-11 .313
1998 Falcons 5-11 .313
2023 49ers 6-11 .353
2025 Chiefs 6-11 .353
2004 Eagles 6-10 .375
2015 Panthers 6-10 .375
2019 49ers 6-10 .375
1993 Bills 7-9 .438
2000 Giants 7-9 .438
2001 Rams 7-9 .438
2003 Panthers 7-9 .438
2006 Bears 7-9 .438
The 2003 Raiders, who won 11 games in 2002 before losing to former coach Jon Gruden in the Super Bowl, stumbled to just four wins, while the 1990 Broncos and 1999 Falcons were previous record-holders with 11 losses after losing in the Super Bowl.
In recent years, the 49ers and Chiefs followed up disappointing Super Bowl results with seasons to forget as injuries played a role.
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