Gridiron Disasters: The NFL’s Most Embarrassing Seasons

Regardless of how it may seem, certain sports teams aren't always at the top of their games. Even some of the best teams in football, like the New England Patriots, have seen a slump. In 1990, the Patriots finished 1-15, the worst record in the franchise's history. They eventually bounced back and from 2001 to 2018, they dominated the league, with 11 AFC Championship titles, and six Super Bowl rings.

But in 2023 they struggled. Once the top team, they have taken a mighty tumble which illustrates that not all teams can have glorious seasons. Just as one franchise is at the top, another is inevitably at the bottom. Many of the teams listed here had seasons that were so awful, they were downright embarrassing. Some struggled to secure even one win in games that were often difficult to watch.

24/7 Tempo evaluated several criteria to compile this list. We considered teams with the lowest winning percentages during a season, those that had high expectations but underperformed, and others that never lived up to their potential. Our research drew from several sources such as ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Total Pro Sports. (For more sports-related blunders, check out the most embarrassing records in sports history.)

Here are the most embarrassing NFL seasons:

• Coach: Jimmy Johnson
• Record That Year: 1-15

The Dallas Cowboys are usually a solid football team. However, their lowest point was in 1989 when they managed to win just one game. This came right after Jerry Jones purchased the team and brought in the legendary NFL coach Jimmy Johnson.

• Coach: John McKay
• Record That Year: 0-14

It was in 1976 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers debuted as part of the National Football League, and it was a disaster. They simply could not get their team and staff to work as one, and they went down in history for it. They were shut out five times, they lost eight games by at least 20 points, and they only played three games that were decided by seven points or less.

Even worse, they never scored more than 20 points in a game during that season.

• Coach: Rod Marinelli
• Record That Year: 0-16

That season marked one of the Lions' worst performances in NFL history, making them the first team to endure a winless season since the league expanded to 16 regular-season games. It was particularly shocking given their 7-9 record the previous year and their perfect 4-0 pre-season earlier that year.

• Coach: George Seifert
• Record That Year: 1-15

This was one of the worst seasons in the history of the Carolina Panthers, who are often an up-and-down team that have great seasons in between some that aren't so great. The team won only a single game that year, and it was the season's very first game. The season was so bad that fans stopped showing up to games, and the audience was pitiful during their final loss of the season to the New England Patriots.

• Coach: Hue Jackson
• Record That Year: 0-16

The Cleveland Browns made history as the most recent team to lose every game in a season, becoming only the second team to do so in the 16-game regular season era. The 2017 season was a continuation of a dismal streak, following a 2016 season where they managed just one win.

• Coach: Ron Meyer
• Record That Year: 1-15

The 1991 season was the worst that the team has had since they arrived in Indianapolis in 1984, and it continues to be their worst season since that year. Their only win was a narrow victory against the New York Jets, and it ended as a nailbiter at 28-27.

LONDON - OCTOBER 22: A giant staute of NFL Miami Dolphins player Jason Taylor is displayed to promote the historic game between the Dolphins and New York Giants at Trafalgar square on 22 October, 2007 in London, England. (Photo by MJ Kim/Getty Images)

• Coach: Cam Cameron
• Record That Year: 1-15

This was the Dolphins' worst season ever at 1-15. They only managed to avoid a winless season by squeaking out a win during overtime on week 15.

• Coach: Harvey Johnson
• Record That Year: 1-13

The Bills only won one of 13 games that year. They also only scored 21 touchdowns, which was the third-fewest at that time.

• Coach: Rich Kotite
• Record That Year: 1-15

They won only one of 15 games that year. Even worse was the fact that they had one of the highest payrolls in the league at that time.

• Coach: Dick LeBeau
• Record That Year: 1-15

This team managed to win two games, but most of the others were embarrassing. They had the worst defense in the league, allowing 28.5 points per game.

• Coach: Dom Capers
• Record That Year: 4-12

While they did win some games and ended up with a record of 4-12, it wasn't easy. The quarterback, David Carr, was sacked a record 76 times that year and the season was tough to watch.

• Coach: Romeo Crennel
• Record That Year: 2-14

As a football fan today, it's hard to believe that the KC Chiefs were ever less than stellar. However, in 2012, their record was 2-14. They didn't have the lead in any contest until the ninth game of the season.

• Coach: Forrest Gregg
• Record That Year: 4-12

The Packers have been pretty good for a long time now. But in 1986, they only had a record of 4-12. That was with quarterback Randy Wright, who threw 23 interceptions.

• Coach: Dick Nolan, Dick Stanfel
• Record That Year: 1-15

The Saints only won one game that year. In addition to poor play, there was also a drug problem in the locker room. It was so bad that it required the team to trade away essential players. The only good thing about that season was Archie Manning's performance. He threw for 3,716 yards, 23 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.