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The Top 10 worst-to-first seasons in NFL history

By Erik Lambert

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 24: Jake Elliott #4 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates with teammates after making a game winning 61 yard field goal against the New York Giants on September 24, 2017 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 24: Jake Elliott #4 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates with teammates after making a game winning 61 yard field goal against the New York Giants on September 24, 2017 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 16: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears encourages the crowd to cheer during a game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on December 16, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.The Bears defeated the Packers 24-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 16: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears encourages the crowd to cheer during a game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on December 16, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.The Bears defeated the Packers 24-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

People still don’t fully appreciate what’s so great about the NFL. Namely, it has to do with parity and the fact that any team can become a winner at any time.

That’s why 15 of the past 16 seasons has seen at least one team completed the mission of going worst to first. For those who don’t follow, that means finishing last in their division one year and then vaulting to first the next year. Considering how often it happens, one would think it’s not hard to accomplish. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

So many things have to go right in order for it to occur. A team has to add enough talent to vastly improve their roster in a short amount of time. The coaching staff has to either change their style or be replaced with guys who are considerably better at the job. Not only that, but they also need to catch a favorable schedule at the right time.

What’s crazy is 2018 seems to have encountered that occurrence not once but twice. Both the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans have locked up their division titles after finishing last in 2017. Not only that but each is also the #3 seed in their respective conference. It’s a wonderful piece of symmetry. It also brings up a fun question.

What are the greatest worst-to-first turnarounds in NFL history?

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