Plenty of articles debate the best and worst NFL teams, but we’re tackling a tougher, more stubborn question: Which team is the most “mid”? And which is the least? This isn’t about total winning percentage—after all, a team could theoretically win 16 games one season and lose 16 a few years later, but neither of those seasons would be “mid.” One’s great, the other’s awful. We’re looking for the teams that consistently hover around average.
So, how do we define “mid”? This is about teams with the most seasons finishing at .500. From 1990 to 2020, the NFL played 16-game seasons, meaning an 8-8 record was the benchmark for mid-tier performance. Starting in 2021, the league switched to a 17-game season, and I consider a 9-8 record (a .529 winning percentage, one win above .500) as the new “mid” standard. An 8-9 season, on the other hand, feels more like a losing campaign than a true middle ground.
To level the playing field, I converted the number of .500 seasons into a percentage of total seasons played since 1990. This accounts for the five teams added after 1990: the Jaguars, Panthers, Ravens, Browns, and Texans, each with fewer seasons than the original franchises.
Let’s set the stage with some context. The 2018 season stands out as the least “mid” year since 1990—it’s the only season where not a single team finished at .500. That year, 15 of the 32 NFL teams posted winning records, making it a highly competitive outlier. On the flip side, 1999 was the most “mid” season, with nine teams landing at 8-8: the Cowboys, Jets, Panthers, Patriots, Ravens, Packers, Chargers, Raiders, and Lions. That’s a hefty pile of mediocrity!
Now, without further ado, the most “mid” team of the last 35 years. It’s not exactly a shocker—I even guessed it might be them, and the numbers back it up. The Los Angeles Chargers take the crown with seven .500 seasons, equating to 20% of their seasons from 1990 to 2024 ending squarely in the middle.
And the least “mid” team? This one might sting. The Cleveland Browns have zero .500 seasons over the same span. Why? Because 22 of their seasons were outright losing ones. So, Chargers fans can take some comfort in their “most mid” title—at least it’s not a chronic losing problem like Cleveland’s.
Here’s the full list to see where your team stacks up:
- Los Angeles Chargers: 7 (20%)
- New Orleans Saints: 6 (17.1%)
- Miami Dolphins: 6 (17.1%)
- Denver Broncos: 6 (17.1%)
- Dallas Cowboys: 5 (14.3%)
- Cincinnati Bengals: 5 (14.3%)
- Las Vegas Raiders: 5 (14.3%)
- Arizona Cardinals: 5 (14.3%)
- Indianapolis Colts: 5 (14.3%)
- New York Giants: 5 (14.3%)
- New York Jets: 5 (14.3%)
- Seattle Seahawks: 5 (14.3%)
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 (14.3%)
- Tennessee Titans: 4 (11.4%)
- Philadelphia Eagles: 4 (11.4%)
- Minnesota Vikings: 4 (11.4%)
- Chicago Bears: 4 (11.4%)
- Washington Commanders: 4 (11.4%)
- Baltimore Ravens: 3 (10.7%)
- Carolina Panthers: 3 (10.3%)
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 3 (10.3%)
- Houston Texans: 2 (9%)
- Buffalo Bills: 3 (8.6%)
- Green Bay Packers: 2 (5.7%)
- Atlanta Falcons: 2 (5.7%)
- Los Angeles Rams: 2 (5.7%)
- Detroit Lions: 2 (5.7%)
- Kansas City Chiefs: 1 (2.9%)
- New England Patriots: 1 (2.9%)
- Cleveland Browns: 0 (0%)
Conclusion
In the grand tapestry of NFL history from 1990 to 2024, the Chargers emerge as the undisputed kings of “mid.” With 20% of their seasons landing at .500, they’ve mastered the art of being perfectly average more often than anyone else. Meanwhile, the Browns’ complete absence from the .500 club—thanks to a knack for losing—makes them the least “mid” team, though not exactly in a way they’d brag about. This dive into mediocrity reveals a fascinating slice of football lore: while championships and futility get the headlines, there’s something oddly compelling about the teams that consistently toe the line of average. So, next time you’re watching your team flirt with .500, tip your cap to the Chargers—they’ve been doing it better, and more often, than anyone else.
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