Following the Texas Rangers’ World Series win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, a new Sports Illustrated article started trending:
Rangers’ title makes Vikings the oldest ‘Big 4’ team without a championship. For those of you who aren’t aware, this is
NOT TRUE, and that’s for a couple of reasons.
First off, the Vikings aren’t technically ringless. While the team is 0-4 in Super Bowls, the Vikings did win the 1969 NFL championship, which was the last NFL title game because the league merged with the AFL. Yes, pre-merger titles do count. The Packers have 13 championships, but only four of those were Super Bowls. Similarly, the Bears have nine championships, but only one of those is a Super Bowl.
Secondly, there are franchises older than the Vikings that have no Super Bowls. Have you heard of the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, and Detroit Lions? They all won pre-merger titles, but have also not won a Super Bowl. Two of those franchises, the Cardinals and Lions, are in their 90th season or later. The Buffalo Bills, who are also 0-4 in Super Bowls like the Vikings, are one year older than our favorite purple team and have two pre-merger AFL titles.
So if the five teams I just listed- the Bills, Browns, Cardinals, Lions, and Vikings- all have rings, who is the oldest ringless franchise in professional sports?
As correctly reported by CBS Sports, the Atlanta Falcons now hold that dubious distinction.
After joining the NFL in 1965, the Falcons did not compete for any of the pre-merger titles and did not even qualify for the postseason until the 1978 season. The team has made two Super Bowls, but lost both. Besides the infamous 28-3 debacle in Super Bowl LI, the Falcons lost Super Bowl XXXIII to John Elway’s Denver Broncos in what served as the Hall of Fame QB’s final professional game.
No, the Vikings aren’t the oldest pro sports franchise without a ring. I know the team is made fun of for no Super Bowls and always coming up short, but they do have a pre-merger NFL championship. In fact, you will find replica Vikings championship rings for sale will come up. In addition, there are older NFL franchises with no Super Bowls. Maybe one day the team will make it back to the big game, but all we can do is hope, right?
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