How open is every NFL team's Super Bowl window?
Every team likes to think its Super Bowl window is open or close to it. Here's the truth of how open that window really is.
Wide Open 🪟
Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts is 26, Saquon Barkley is 28, A.J. Brown is 27, and DeVonta Smith is 26. This core is young, and with Howie Roseman's eye for talent acquisition, whether through free agency (hello Zack Baun) or the draft, the Eagles should be contending for a long time.
Buffalo Bills
As long as Josh Allen remains under center, the opportunity to capture a Lombardi Trophy will remain within the Bills' grasp. Buffalo is a perennial contender with a balanced roster around Allen and could end its 32-year Super Bowl drought any season now.
Baltimore Ravens
The reigning AFC North champions continue to knock on the door for a Super Bowl. Two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson is still finding ways to elevate his game within an explosive offense that coincides with a traditionally stout - and now younger - defense featuring Kyle Hamilton and Roquan Smith.
Kansas City Chiefs
The path to winning a Super Bowl in the AFC goes through Kansas City following five appearances and three league titles over six years. Patrick Mahomes' presence allows the Chiefs to compete for more championships despite Travis Kelce and Andy Reid nearing their last ride and a diminishing set of skill players.
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati secured its core by signing Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins to contract extensions. If a maligned defense can find its footing, this prolific offensive unit has demonstrated the firepower to light up scoreboards against any opponent in any year.
Washington Commanders
The Commanders undoubtedly thought Jayden Daniels would be a star. Who realistically thought he'd become one this fast, though? With Daniels entering his second season, Washington has brought in some major players like Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil. The future is now for this Washington squad, and it doesn't appear to be going away anytime soon.
Houston Texans
Houston, we have a team. The future is bright for a young nucleus featuring C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson, Nico Collins, and Derek Stingley. With a firm grasp on their AFC South competition, the Texans' place at the playoff table should be secure for the foreseeable future.
Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love is entering his third season as Green Bay's starting quarterback. While the Packers haven't advanced past the divisional round with Love under center, perhaps this team is closer than ever after drafting Matthew Golden, who it believes could form a three-headed monster with Love and star running back Josh Jacobs.
Minnesota Vikings
No one knows how good J.J. McCarthy will be, but the Vikings appear confident in him. And this roster is still built like one that's banking on a good quarterback under center. With additions like Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, Minnesota isn't planning on wasting any more of McCarthy's rookie deal after he already missed his first season.
Open but closing 📉
Detroit Lions
The Lions have one of the NFL's most exciting cores in Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Aidan Hutchinson, and Kerby Joseph. They also feature a high-floor quarterback in Jared Goff, who's coming off his best season and signed through 2028. However, Goff will now be without play-caller Ben Johnson and Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow, who recently retired.
Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford has two years left on his deal. That's about the championship window for this Rams squad. DaVante Adams inking a two-year contract is another sign that L.A. wants to maximize its chances before its franchise quarterback hangs it up.
Dallas Cowboys
In Jerry Jones' eyes, this window is always wide open. And the Cowboys do have a front-loaded roster with stars such as Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons, DaRon Bland, Trevon Diggs, and the newly-acquired George Pickens. However, health has been a major concern, with the 31-year-old Prescott, Bland, and Diggs all missing time last year.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Evans is as consistent as they come, but he posted a career-low 13.6 yards per catch last season. Chris Godwin is coming off another serious injury, too. The Bucs also boosted their edge group with a 30-year-old Haason Reddick, who was a disaster for the Jets last year. Tampa benefits from playing in a weak division, but this club has some red flags.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks are amid a major retooling. Sam Darnold will elevate the team should he keep his form from last season, but his contract is easy to get out of. The team brought in Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling instead of paying DK Metcalf, who it traded. There's a tiny window for Seattle at the moment, but this squad is closer to being under renovation than it is to having its championship window become fully open.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers gutted a significant portion of their roster this offseason. Still, as long as Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle are there and healthy, this team will operate in win-now mode. How much longer that window will last is a lot less certain.
Closed but opening 📈
Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert's presence provides optimism in Jim Harbaugh's second year at the helm. Developing young talent, particularly on defense, is crucial for a franchise far too dependent on the aging Khalil Mack and Bud Dupree in their twilight years. An unforgiving AFC West is also a sizeable hurdle to overcome for a team that's shown homegrown talents such as Joey Bosa and Austin Ekeler the door in recent years.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence is on his third head coach in five seasons. Liam Coen is tasked with elevating the 2021 first overall pick following subpar results in recent years. Two-way star Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. have All-Pro potential, but getting Lawrence back on track and solving the defensive lapses will determine the trajectory of this suffering club.
Chicago Bears
The Bears are headed in a new direction. Chicago finally paired its No. 1 pick, Caleb Williams, with an offensive-minded head coach in Ben Johnson. With major upgrades placed on the offensive line, this squad's window should expand at an astronomical rate.
Denver Broncos
Sean Payton is known for his offensive prowess, yet the stellar play of the Broncos' feisty defense has helped turn the team's fortunes. Denver's triumvirate of Patrick Surtain, Jonathon Cooper, and Nik Bonitto forms an impactful foundation. Bo Nix continues to audition to be the next face of the franchise, but he'll need to take significant steps to make Denver a legit championship contender.
Under renovation 🛠️
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals started a promising 6-4 last season before faltering down the stretch. Still, their 8-9 finish improved from the 4-13 record in Jonathan Gannon's first year as head coach. Year 3 should see even more significant gains.
Atlanta Falcons
Michael Penix Jr. will get his first taste of being an opening-day starter. His development is crucial for the Falcons to take the next step. Atlanta also started reshaping its defense with rookie pass-rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce.
New England Patriots
The Patriots opened their wallet to find a supporting cast for franchise quarterback Drake Maye. Competing for a Super Bowl is ambitious as the Mike Vrabel era begins. New England finally has foundational pieces to build around in the post-Bill Belichick era, but there's still a long way to go before New England can say it's officially back.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers revamped what was the league's worst defense last year. But if Bryce Young can build on last season's late surge - seven touchdowns to zero interceptions over his last three starts - then Carolina might have something special brewing.
Miami Dolphins
Miami has dabbled in the playoffs but has yet to taste victory in the postseason during Tua Tagovailoa's tenure. Jalen Ramsey's presence continues to loom over the Dolphins like a tropical storm. Another early playoff exit could lead to another implosion from Tyreek Hill, which would likely spark a regime change in the near future.
Tennessee Titans
The selection of Cam Ward delivers hope for a franchise that hasn't been competitive in recent years. Jeffery Simmons and T'Vondre Sweat are keystones on defense as Tennessee attempts to assemble an identity after Brian Callahan's dreadful coaching debut in 2024. The Titans could propel themselves to contender status sooner rather than later, though it's no guarantee Ward pans out.
New York Giants
The Giants are renovating while still going thrift shopping. Russell Wilson under center raises the floor of this roster, but it doesn't move the needle much. New York is better off showing its newest addition in Jaxson Dart.
Las Vegas Raiders
Pete Carroll and John Spytek will be the Raiders' fourth head coach and general manager, respectively, since the franchise moved to Las Vegas in 2020. Despite Maxx Crosby's presence and Brock Bowers' emergence, the silver and black haven't parlayed brief sparks into prolonged success. A merciless division leaves this franchise fighting for relevance instead of title contention.
There's no window ⛔🚪
Pittsburgh Steelers
Even with Aaron Rodgers' arrival in the Steel City, there's not much structural support around the idea of a Super Bowl window. A greatly diminished Rodgers is just a one-year stopgap to appease the veterans on the team and hopefully bridge the Steelers to their actual franchise quarterback in 2026. Maybe that's when we can start talking about a championship window.
New York Jets
The Jets will launch their latest rebrand with their playoff drought reaching an unprecedented 14 seasons. Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner are among four former first-rounders tasked to lead a turnaround under Aaron Glenn's leadership. Justin Fields may be a short-term solution despite working behind an improved offensive line and reuniting with college teammate Garrett Wilson.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints kept kicking the can down the road until the end of the road hit them in the face. With no Derek Carr and a trio of youngsters, including Tyler Shough, competing for the quarterback spot, it may be a couple of years until we see New Orleans gunning for a championship again.
Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis is embarking on new territory following the sudden death of late owner Jim Irsay. Questions about Anthony Richardson's and Shane Steichen's futures linger as the Colts evaluate all their options. Daniel Jones' arrival only raises more questions about the franchise's direction.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns are resigned to playing the numbers game in their search for a franchise signal-caller. With Deshaun Watson's status for 2025 in jeopardy, Cleveland's quarterback competition resembles a season of "Survivor." Myles Garrett will someday be on the Browns' Mount Rushmore, but he's unlikely to add a Super Bowl ring anytime soon.