5 NFL teams among 10 longest North American championship droughts
The Chicago Cubs' World Series win ended the longest - by far - championship drought in North American sports.
The unenviable title of longest drought among the "four majors" now passes to the Arizona Cardinals, who last won the NFL championship in 1947 - one year before the Cleveland Indians' last World Series victory.
Four other NFL teams rank among the top 10:
10. San Diego Chargers
53 seasons
The Chargers' lone championship was an AFL title in 1963. The team has made the playoff 15 times since, including one Super Bowl berth (XXIX in 1994).
T8. Tennessee Titans
55 seasons
The Titans' drought extends back to consecutive AFL titles in 1960-61, but it feels wrong including them on this list. In many ways, their connection to those titles was broken when the Houston Oilers relocated to Tennessee in 1998. Fans in Nashville came within a yard of experiencing a Super Bowl win themselves, but they don't have decades of failures to cry over.
T8. Houston Astros
55 seasons
The Astros have never won the World Series in their 55 years of existence.
T6. Texas Rangers
56 seasons
The Rangers have never won the World Series in their 56 years of existence.
T6. Philadelphia Eagles
56 seasons
The Eagles' last title was an NFL championship in 1960. They've twice played in the Super Bowl (XV in 1980 and XXXIX in 2004), but have never broken through. The other three NFC East teams - all with multiple Super Bowl titles - will never let them forget.
5. Atlanta Hawks
58 seasons
The Hawks have played in four cities over their 58 years of existence and have yet to win an NBA title.
4. Detroit Lions
59 seasons
The Lions' last championship was an NFL title in 1957. Since then, the team has won only a single playoff game, in 1991.
3. Sacramento Kings
65 seasons
The Kings' lone NBA title was won in 1951 as the Rochester Royals. They have relocated three times since.
2. Cleveland Indians
68 seasons
The Indians moved up one spot on this list after surrendering a 3-1 series lead to the Cubs. Their last World Series win came 68 years ago in 1948. Even the Browns have won a championship during that lengthy span (1964).
1. Arizona Cardinals
69 seasons
Perhaps it's unfair to equate what Cardinals fans have endured with a drought like the Indians'. The Cardinals' last title was an NFL championship won in 1947, but it came as the Chicago Cardinals and the team has relocated twice since. The drought in the desert only extends back to 1988.