The Lombardi Trophy is one of the most coveted championship trophies in sports, and every NFL team is doing everything they can to make sure they’re the next ones to lift it high come next February.
For some teams, this could be their very first Lombardi Trophy in team history.
Let’s see How Close these 12 NFL teams are to Hoisting their first-ever Lombardi.
Arizona Cardinals: COLD
Anytime the Cardinals look like possible contenders, they flop all over themselves, somehow.
Ever since Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald nearly won Super Bowl XLIII (43), the Cardinals haven’t been close to another Super Bowl appearance for 15 years!
They have a super-talented young quarterback in Kyler Murray, but with no reliable weapons around him, and no, truly savvy moves this off-season, the future isn’t looking too bright in the desert.
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Sorry Cards fans. The drought continues.
Atlanta Falcons: WARM
Everyone knows exactly what you’re talking about if you say “28-3” around Falcons fans.
2016 MVP Matt Ryan with All-Pro WR Julio Jones were so close.
But signing former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins for the next 4 years may be the first step towards getting back to the big game.
With offensive weapons Drake London, Darnell Mooney, Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson, and a talented defense now led by former Rams defensive guru turned head coach, Raheem Morris, and suddenly this could be the foundation of a potential Super Bowl contender within the next 4-5 years.
Buffalo Bills: WARMER
The Bills bolster an excellent roster with QB Josh Allen, Wide Receiver Stephon Diggs, two exceptional Tight Ends, one of the best defenses annually, and a Top 10 head coach in Sean McDermott.
So why haven’t they won a Super Bowl with such a talented cast? One, those pesky Chiefs keep getting in the way. And two, they suffered a lot of cap casualties this off-season that they’ll need to be compensated for.
But with a front office as savvy as Buffalo’s, they should still be considered Super Bowl contenders.
All they need to do now is get over the “Patrick Mahomes” hump in the playoffs. Stay patient Bills Mafia. It’ll be Buffalo all the way sometime soon.
Carolina Panthers: COLD
After Cam Newton’s MVP season in 2015, the Panthers have been a shadow of their former selves.
Since Super Bowl 50, they’ve started 4 different head coaches and 4 different QBs after parting ways with “Riverboat Ron” Riviera and Cam Newton, respectively.
Their current roster is lackluster at best, and it’s safe to say that they won’t be participating in any Super Bowls anytime soon, much less the playoffs.
Cincinnati Bengals: HOT
The Bengals are one of the few teams that can go head-to-head with the Chiefs, even beating them in the 2021 AFC Championship game only to lose to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI (56).
Regardless, Head Coach Zac Taylor has built a consistent Super Bowl contender with stud quarterback Joe Burrow leading the charge.
As long as this team keeps drafting as well as they do, sign free agents wisely, and keep the team’s star players upright, this team should be lifting up its first Lombardi in no time.
Cleveland Browns: WARMER
Oh, Cleveland. A team once dominant way before the Super Bowl era has become one of the NFL’s biggest laughingstocks during the 21st century.
Squandering the quarterback position, being the victims of “The Drive”, forced to take a 4-year hiatus by former owner Art Modell, going 0-16 in 2017, you get the idea.
So why “warmer” now? Well, they just made the playoffs after starting 5(!) different QBs and got Head Coach and Defensive Player of the Year honors as a result.
Their defense looks ferocious, and that offense has potential. If huge trade acquisition QB Deshaun Watson can play like he did back in Houston, this team might be competing for their first-ever Lombardi within the foreseeable future.
Detroit Lions: HOT
Another franchise marred with the dreaded 0-16 record and being a punchline for more than 50 years, the Detroit Lions have finally figured it out.
Blue-collared head coach Dan Campbell has made dividends in his Pro Bowl QB Jared Goff, a dynamic and creative offensive core, and a rambunctious defense.
It takes a lot to make the 49ers nervous in their own stadium and the Lions nearly pulled one heck of an upset in San Fran.
They have the potential to not only participate in their first-ever Super Bowl but also win the whole thing within the next few years.
Detroit faithful, your long-awaited championship is finally within reach.
Houston Texans: WARMER
The youngest team in the NFL has had quite the highs and lows, from David Carr’s tumultuous rookie season to Deshaun Watson’s spectacular campaigns.
Now they have promising young QB CJ Stroud and head coach DeMeco Ryans to spearhead this organization. But was last season just a fluke or the beginning of something special?
Another year with Stroud, a young core and smart veterans sprinkled in should make this team easier to evaluate as a potentially true Super Bowl contender with a possible championship within the near future.
Jacksonville Jaguars: WARM
The Jaguars have been a hot and cold team for the last few years. Franchise QB Trevor Lawrence went from the regrettable Urban Meyer to the lauded Doug Pederson as head coach. Things have looked up since then for the young signal-caller.
The only problem is that the team hasn’t been clutch at key moments. Yes, they beat the Chargers in the 2023 Wild Card round after being down 27 points. But then they can’t take advantage of an injured and less than 100% Patrick Mahomes the following week? Yikes.
Losing to the lowly Titans, thus losing the AFC South title, the following year doesn’t help team morale either.
This team has the right players in key positions, but they need to step up in key moments before anyone will consider them as Super Bowl contenders anytime soon.
Los Angeles Chargers: WARM
The Chargers could’ve been warmer had they not suffered the massive cap casualties they just did.
All-Pro WR Keenan Allen? Traded to the Bears. Pro Bowl WR Mike Williams? Released. Pro Bowl RB Austin Ekeler? Now a Commander. This once-promising offense is now in shambles.
Newly hired head coach Jim Harbaugh must navigate how to compensate these losses for his new star QB Justin Herbert or risk being considered a bad coach signing after a successful tenure with the Michigan Wolverines.
Even with their star-studded defense, this process will certainly take a few years to accomplish.
Minnesota Vikings: WARM
The Vikings have been tenacious throughout the years but are no longer competitive against the versatile Packers and the now-powerful Lions.
However, things could change if they nail the draft and continue to make smart moves this off-season, like signing former Texans LB Jonathan Greenard.
Losing stat-packer Kirk Cousins and All-Pro DE Danielle Hunter hurts but building a new young roster may push this team over the edge.
If they play their cards right, Minnesota may be in possession of a Lombardi 5 years from now.
Tennessee Titans: WARM
The Titans are one of the most intriguing teams at the moment, considering the numerous changes the team is now facing.
With 2-time rushing champion Derrick Henry, veteran QB Ryan Tannehill, and former Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel all gone, plus some of their free agents joining rival teams, we’re not sure what to expect from this organization.
Sophomore QB Will Levis has a lot to prove and overpaying former rival Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley didn’t seem like a good idea.
New head coach Brian Callahan will have to figure out how to coordinate a team like this to become Super Bowl contenders and hopefully not lose his job in the process.
