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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Eva Geitheim

Ranking the NFL's Worst-to-First Candidates: John Harbaugh Hire Soars Giants Up the List

NFL John Harbaugh Giants Browns Lions Patriots Raiders Titans Cardinals Drew Brees

There is no American professional sports league in which it is more common for teams to go from last place in their division to first the following season than the NFL. The NFL consistently sees at least four new teams make the playoffs every season, including those that were in the cellar of their division the previous year. In 2025, the Patriots and Bears both went from last place to division champions and playoff teams.

Eight NFL teams finished the 2025 season in last place in their division. Could any of them leap into first in 2026?

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