If you’re a fan of the New York Jets or the Buffalo Sabres, I don’t really need to explain what a "long" wait feels like. You live it. Every October or January, while other fans are busy buying overpriced merch and arguing about seedings, you’re probably looking at mock drafts. Honestly, it’s a special kind of torture.
As of early 2026, the longest active playoff drought in North American professional sports is a tie that nobody wants to win. Both the New York Jets (NFL) and the Buffalo Sabres (NHL) have now gone 15 consecutive seasons without a postseason appearance.
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Think about that for a second.
The last time the Jets played a playoff game, Mark Sanchez was the "Sanchize," and Rex Ryan was the loudest coach in football. For the Sabres, the drought stretches back to 2011, a time when the world was obsessed with the first iPad. It's wild how much can change in the world while a sports franchise stays exactly the same: stuck.
The NFL’s Heavy Crown: The New York Jets
The Jets are currently the poster child for "wait until next year." Their 15-season streak is the longest in the NFL. It's sort of impressive in a tragic way. Since their last playoff game in January 2011—that famous AFC Championship loss to the Steelers—the Jets have tried everything. They've cycled through coaches like Robert Saleh, Adam Gase, and Todd Bowles. They brought in Aaron Rodgers to be the savior, only to watch him get injured four snaps into his debut, and then saw the whole era crumble into a mess of front-office firings and locker-room drama.
By the end of the 2024-2025 season, the Jets were officially eliminated again. The drought didn't just stay alive; it thrived. What's even crazier is that they aren't even close to the all-time NFL record held by the Cardinals (25 seasons), but for a modern team in a league designed for "any given Sunday" parity, 15 years feels like a century.
Buffalo’s Ice-Cold Streak: The Sabres
Over on the ice, the Buffalo Sabres are matching the Jets stride for stride. Their 15-season absence from the Stanley Cup Playoffs is the longest in NHL history. Not just the longest active one—the longest ever.
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Hockey is a weird sport. Usually, a team bottoms out, gets a few high draft picks, and eventually stumbles into an eighth seed. Not Buffalo. They’ve had elite talent. They drafted Jack Eichel and Rasmus Dahlin. They’ve had Tage Thompson turn into a human highlight reel. Yet, every spring, the KeyBank Center is empty.
As we hit the midway point of the 2025-26 NHL season, there's actually a bit of hope in Western New York. The Sabres are playing meaningful hockey in January, but fans are understandably gun-shy. They've seen "cautious optimism" turn into a 10-game losing streak too many times before.
The Best of the Rest (Or the Worst)
While the Jets and Sabres are the clear "leaders," they aren't the only ones struggling to find the exit. The longest active playoff drought in MLB now belongs to the Los Angeles Angels. Despite having Mike Trout and, for several years, Shohei Ohtani, the Angels haven't seen October baseball since 2014. That’s 11 seasons. It’s a staggering indictment of a front office when you have the two best players on the planet and still can't finish above .500.
In the NBA, the Charlotte Hornets are the ones holding the bag. They haven't made a playoff appearance since 2016. The Sacramento Kings famously snapped a 16-season drought in 2023, passing the "torch of misery" over to Charlotte.
Current Leaders in Postseason Absence (as of January 2026):
- New York Jets (NFL): 15 Seasons (Last: 2010)
- Buffalo Sabres (NHL): 15 Seasons (Last: 2011)
- Los Angeles Angels (MLB): 11 Seasons (Last: 2014)
- Charlotte Hornets (NBA): 9 Seasons (Last: 2016)
- Detroit Red Wings (NHL): 9 Seasons (Last: 2016)
Why Do These Droughts Happen?
It’s never just one thing. If it were just bad luck, it would end. Usually, it’s a "perfect storm" of bad ownership, poor scouting, and the desperate "win now" moves that actually set you back five years.
Take the Angels. They spent massive money on aging veterans like Albert Pujols and Anthony Rendon. Those contracts became anchors. You can't build a deep roster when 30% of your cap is going to guys on the injured list.
Or look at the Jets. They’ve spent a decade chasing a "franchise QB" without building an offensive line that can actually keep one upright. It's like buying a Ferrari engine and putting it in a lawnmower frame.
The Light at the End of the Tunnel
Is there hope? Honestly, yeah.
The Detroit Tigers snapped their nearly decade-long drought in 2024 and stayed competitive through 2025. The Sacramento Kings went from a laughingstock to a playoff lock almost overnight. In sports, things look impossible until they aren't.
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If you're a fan of a team on this list, the move is to watch the youth. For the Sabres, it’s about whether the "kid line" can actually defend. For the Jets, it’s about whoever they draft in 2026 to finally replace the Rodgers experiment.
Next Steps for the Frustrated Fan:
- Check the Cap Space: Most teams break droughts by having a "bridge year" where they clear out bad contracts. If your team is still "re-tooling" with 34-year-old veterans, the drought isn't ending.
- Monitor the Farm System: Teams like the Tigers and Orioles ended their misery by trusting their prospects. Look at the Triple-A or AHL stats—that's where the real "savior" is usually hiding.
- Manage Expectations: Don't buy the "playoffs or bust" hype in the preseason. Look for incremental wins, like a winning record at home or a positive point differential.
Droughts are a part of the game. They make the eventual win feel like a religious experience. But man, 15 years is a long time to wait for a Sunday that actually matters.