Playoff Droughts Plague Several Major League Teams Across Sports

Why it matters locally: The Los Angeles Angels' 11-year playoff drought impacts many California baseball fans. The San Jose Sharks' NHL drought is also felt by Northern California hockey fans.

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Several franchises across major sports leagues are currently mired in extended playoff droughts. These spans without postseason appearances range from nearly a decade to over 15 years. The New York Jets lead all teams with 15 seasons since their last playoff appearance in 2010, when they lost to the Steelers in the AFC Championship. In MLB, the Los Angeles Angels have missed the playoffs for 11 consecutive years, last appearing in 2014. The Pittsburgh Pirates are close behind, failing to reach the postseason in the past 10 seasons, since 2015. The Detroit Red Wings hold the longest active NHL playoff drought at 9 years, their last appearance coming in the 2015-16 season. In the NBA, the Charlotte Hornets also last played in the postseason in 2015-16, making it 9 years without a playoff berth. The Atlanta Falcons haven't qualified for the NFL playoffs since 2017. The San Jose Sharks' NHL drought extends back to 2019. Meanwhile, the Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals are tied for the third-longest MLB drought, dating back to 2018 and 2019, respectively. The Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints both last secured playoff spots in 2020.