The Minnesota Vikings are One of 30 Major American Sports Teams with Title Droughts of 45+ Years
On Monday evening, the Denver Nuggets won the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, snapping a 47-year title drought. Just two years prior, the Milwaukee Bucks also snapped their own title drought within the NBA, winning their first championship in 50 years by defeating the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals.
Over the past decade or so, we’ve seen a number of wild title droughts come to an end. The Chicago Cubs famously won the World Series in 2016, their first title since 1908 (the same year Henry Ford invented the Model T), ending a 107-year drought. The Philadelphia Eagles would end a 56-year Super Bowl drought one year later during the 2017 season, and in 2019, the St. Louis Blues won their first ever Stanley Cup, ending their own 50-year drought.
While some franchises have to wait years and years to win a title, some become champs almost immediately. We saw such an example of that this week as well, with the Las Vegas Golden Knights winning this year’s Stanley Cup just six years into their franchise’s existence.
Others aren’t as lucky. For example, the longest title drought among the major American sports leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL) belongs to the Arizona Cardinals, who haven’t won an NFL championship in 75 years. Their last title was in 1947 when they were still based in Chicago. The Cleveland Guardians are hot on their tails with a World Series drought of 74 years.
To the chagrin of fans across the state, Minnesota sports certainly fall into this title drought category as well. In fact, with the Denver Nuggets now ending their drought, there are now just 30 major American sports franchises with title droughts of 45 years or longer, which includes the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings haven’t won an NFL title since 1969, meaning their drought stands at 53 years and is the 11th-longest in NFL history. That title is often forgotten considering there was also a Super Bowl played that year, won by the Kansas City Chiefs. Here’s a look at each of the longest current title droughts by franchise:
- Arizona Cardinals (75 years)
- Cleveland Guardians (74 years)
- Sacramento Kings (72 years)
- Atlanta Hawks (65 years)
- Detroit Lions (65 years)
- Texas Rangers (62 years)
- Tennessee Titans (61 years)*
- Los Angeles Chargers (59 years)*
- Atlanta Falcons (57 years)
- Buffalo Bills (57 years)*
- Cincinnati Bengals (55 years)
- Cleveland Browns (55 years)
- Phoenix Suns (55 years)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (55 years)
- New York Jets (54 years)*
- Milwaukee Brewers (54 years)
- San Diego Padres (54 years)
- Buffalo Sabres (53 years)
- Los Angeles Clippers (53 years)
- Minnesota Vikings (53 years)
- Vancouver Canucks (52 years)
- Indiana Pacers (50 years)*
- New York Knicks (50 years)
- Miami Dolphins (49 years)
- Utah Jazz (49 years)
- Brooklyn Nets (47 years)*
- Philadelphia Flyers (47 years)
- Portland Trail Blazers (46 years)
- Seattle Mariners (46 years)
- Washington Wizards (45 years)
*: Last championship was either with the ABA or AFL rather than NBA or NFL
Bold: Franchise has never won a championship during its existence
As alluded to earlier, the state of Minnesota actually has a few of the longest title droughts in sports right now. Minnesota has never won a Stanley Cup, despite having 48 years of presence in the NHL between the Minneapolis Stars (1968-1993) and Minnesota Wild (2001-present). The Stars made the Finals in each of 1981 and 1991, but they lost both series.
Additionally, Minnesota has never won a Larry O’Brien Trophy in the 34 years that the Timberwolves have existed, and even worse, they’ve never made it to the NBA Finals to begin with. They are one of three NBA franchises without a Finals appearance despite existing for 30+ years (Los Angeles Clippers, 53 years; Charlotte Hornets, 33 years).
Technically, though, Minnesota has seen NBA championships. While the Lakers were based in Minneapolis from 1947-1959, the franchise won five titles in six years behind star center George Mikan. Prior to the 1960 season, the franchise of course would relocate to Los Angeles where they have remained ever since and have won an additional 11 titles.
Finally, Minnesota’s shortest drought belongs to the Minnesota Twins, but even still, it has been 31 years since they won a World Series. The last World Series in Minnesota was in 1991 when the Twins defeated the Atlanta Braves in a thrilling seven-game series that had five games decided by one run.
Ultimately, the Twins won via a walk-off single by Gene Larkin in the 10th inning, securing a 1-0 victory. Even in their most recent championship, Minnesota had to stress through every moment.
Seeing as the Twins had won a World Series just four years earlier in 1987, it seemed fathomable that another would be on the way. Oh, if only the fans knew back then just how long they’d be waiting.
Editor’s Note: Data found via Baseball Reference, Basketball Reference, Hockey Reference, and Pro Football Reference.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.