NFL Franchise Era Trajectories
All 32 franchises ranked by current 5-year momentum. Decade sparklines show the full arc — gold = elite era (≥65%), green = winning (55–65%), blue = .500 range, dark red = below .500.
Franchise Momentum Rankings →Rising ↑
- 1San Francisco 49ers↑ +24pp55% all-time★ 1986–1990 (78%)↓ 1975–1979 (30%)
- 2Cincinnati Bengals↑ +22pp46% all-time★ 2011–2015 (66%)↓ 1998–2002 (24%)
- 3Detroit Lions↑ +17pp47% all-time★ 1931–1935 (73%)↓ 2005–2009 (21%)
- 4Philadelphia Eagles↑ +16pp51% all-time★ 2000–2004 (74%)↓ 1936–1940 (20%)
- 5Buffalo Bills↑ +15pp50% all-time★ 2020–2024 (74%)↓ 1967–1971 (20%)
- 6Jacksonville Jaguars↑ +14pp43% all-time★ 1996–2000 (65%)↓ 2012–2016 (21%)
- 7Denver Broncos↑ +12pp53% all-time★ 2012–2016 (74%)↓ 1963–1967 (23%)
- 8Tampa Bay Buccaneers↑ +10pp41% all-time★ 1998–2002 (63%)↓ 1983–1987 (20%)
- 9Cleveland Browns↑ +8pp51% all-time★ 1947–1951 (92%)↓ 2013–2017 (19%)
- 10Los Angeles Chargers↑ +7pp51% all-time★ 2005–2009 (69%)↓ 1997–2001 (29%)
Steady →
- 11Miami Dolphins→ +4pp55% all-time★ 1970–1974 (83%)↓ 2003–2007 (38%)
- 12Dallas Cowboys→ +2pp57% all-time★ 1968–1972 (78%)↓ 1960–1964 (30%)
- 13Washington Commanders→ +2pp50% all-time★ 1938–1942 (76%)↓ 1959–1963 (24%)
- 14New York Jets→ +2pp43% all-time★ 1965–1969 (62%)↓ 2017–2021 (27%)
- 15Minnesota Vikings→ +2pp55% all-time★ 1973–1977 (78%)↓ 1961–1965 (39%)
- 16Houston Texans→ -1pp45% all-time★ 2008–2012 (56%)↓ 2002–2006 (30%)
- 17Los Angeles Rams→ -1pp52% all-time★ 1973–1977 (78%)↓ 2007–2011 (19%)
- 18Green Bay Packers→ -3pp58% all-time★ 1927–1931 (82%)↓ 1949–1953 (28%)
- 19Indianapolis Colts→ -4pp53% all-time★ 1964–1968 (83%)↓ 1981–1985 (26%)
- 20New York Giants→ -5pp52% all-time★ 1959–1963 (78%)↓ 1973–1977 (25%)
- 21Baltimore Ravens→ -5pp57% all-time★ 2008–2012 (68%)↓ 1996–2000 (46%)
Declining ↓
- 22Arizona Cardinals↓ -5pp43% all-time★ 1921–1925 (70%)↓ 1941–1945 (15%)
- 23Atlanta Falcons↓ -5pp44% all-time★ 2008–2012 (70%)↓ 1966–1970 (26%)
- 24Kansas City Chiefs↓ -7pp55% all-time★ 2020–2024 (79%)↓ 1974–1978 (29%)
- 25Chicago Bears↓ -7pp56% all-time★ 1920–1924 (86%)↓ 1969–1973 (30%)
- 26Seattle Seahawks↓ -8pp53% all-time★ 2012–2016 (71%)↓ 1991–1995 (36%)
- 27Las Vegas Raiders↓ -10pp51% all-time★ 1967–1971 (82%)↓ 2003–2007 (24%)
- 28Pittsburgh Steelers↓ -10pp54% all-time★ 1974–1978 (78%)↓ 1965–1969 (23%)
- 29Carolina Panthers↓ -11pp46% all-time★ 2013–2017 (65%)↓ 2020–2024 (29%)
- 30Tennessee Titans↓ -22pp48% all-time★ 1999–2003 (70%)↓ 1982–1986 (22%)
- 31New England Patriots↓ -24pp56% all-time★ 2003–2007 (83%)↓ 1989–1993 (24%)
- 32New Orleans Saints↓ -28pp46% all-time★ 2017–2021 (72%)↓ 1972–1976 (27%)