The 4 Most Overrated Teams From Each Major Sport
by Richard Janvrin,
November 18, 2025
Throughout sports history, certain teams have risen to prominence for various reasons, only to either disappoint their fan base or flame out, failing to achieve the same level of success they once enjoyed decades earlier.
As a result, some teams are still trying to carry a mantle once held, even though, in the modern day, it simply doesn’t stack up.
Below, I’ll cover the most overrated team across all of the biggest leagues in the United States, including the NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA.
Hint: This list also includes the most overrated dynasty team.
Dallas Cowboys
For everyone who spends time on NFL betting sites betting on the Cowboys to win the Super Bowl, it’s proven to be a waste of money.
Shoot, this team, which is easily the most overrated team in the NFL, hasn’t even been to an NFC Championship since 1995.
Since winning the Super Bowl on Jan. 28, 1996, the Cowboys are 5-13 in the postseason and, as mentioned, haven’t even been to an NFC title game.
I’d go as far as to say that this is the most overrated dynasty team.
The Cowboys won five Super Bowls from 1971 to 1995, with three of those wins coming from 1992 to 1995. They were a dynasty, no doubt, in the 1990s.
But how can this team be referred to as America’s Team nowadays?
In 1995, gas was about $1.13 per gallon. Eggs were $0.88 for a carton.
It was a totally different world. There have been four presidents since then.
At this point, it’s time to give up the Cowboys as America’s Team and stop holding out hope for them.
Their current quarterback, Dak Prescott, is just 2-5 in his career in the postseason. He’s thrown multiple interceptions in each of his last two playoff appearances, which were both losses.
Now, as of August 2025, they’re dealing with contract drama regarding All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons, who’s demanded a trade.
This team is a mess under owner Jerry Jones in the year 2025.
When the question of “What is the most overrated team ever?” is posed, the Cowboys are a team that immediately comes to mind.
New York Mets
No team seems to continuously have preseason hype only for fans to be let down than the New York Mets. In 2024, the Mets went 89-73 and made it to the NLCS. This was their first NLCS appearance since 2015. In 2015, they lost in the World Series 4-1.
Their last World Series win came in 1986 against the Boston Red Sox.
Since then, they’ve only won the pennant twice (2000 and 2015). In both instances, they were dismantled in the World Series, winning just one game in each series.
As of this writing, on Aug. 11, 2025, they’re 63-55. They’re in second place in the NL East. While that may sound good, it should be expected: they have the largest payroll in baseball at $339,421,107. Their 26-man payroll is $298,035,267.
Their total payroll is second in baseball, and their active payroll leads the league.
On top of that, the Mets have had the highest payroll in baseball each season since 2022.
Where has that gotten them?
A combined record of 328-276 through Aug. 11, 2025, including one season under .500.
In 2022, they made the playoffs with 101 wins and lost 2-1 in the wild-card round.
Then, in 2024, as mentioned, they lost in the NLCS to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
This team, historically, has spared no expense, signing players like Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Max Scherzer, Johan Santana, and more.
They gave Soto $765 million.
What has it all shown for? Nothing. No World Series titles.
Are the Mets the most overrated team ever? Considering their yearly payroll and lack of success, they make a strong case for it.
Toronto Maple Leafs
When it comes to Stanley Cup wins, the Toronto Maple Leafs hold the longest active championship drought. They haven’t won the Cup since 1967.
This is a team that has been to the postseason each season from 2017 to 2025, but simply never advances far. In that span, they haven’t advanced beyond the conference semi-finals. They failed to win a single series in seven of those nine seasons.
Not only have they not won a Stanley Cup since 1967, but they haven’t even played for one since then. That could be an argument for the most overrated team ever.
The Maple Leafs continue to turn in strong regular seasons, winning 50 games or more in each of the last three seasons, but they simply can’t get it done in the playoffs.
Once considered a dynasty in the 1940s and early 1950s (six Stanley Cup wins from 1941-42 to 1950-51), they’re certainly one of the more overrated dynasties in sports today and perhaps the most overrated team in the NHL.
New York Knicks
As a Knicks fan, it pains me to say it, but the team is overrated when you consider the last time they won an NBA title, given how massive the franchise is across sports.
According to Forbes, the Knicks are inside the top five for most valuable franchises as of 2024.
They haven’t won a championship since 1973. They won their first in 1970, a few years before that.
The franchise was founded in 1946 and has just two titles to its name. That’s not a lot of success considering the brand that is the New York Knicks.
Since 1999, the Knicks have won just four playoff series.
The team won exactly 17 games in both the 2014-15 and 2018-19 seasons.
In 2024-25, they made it to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1999-2000. They haven’t won an Eastern Conference Finals since they won the NBA championship in 1973.
They’re 0-4 in them since 1973. That’s simply not cutting it.
They’re in strong contention for the most overrated team ever in the NBA. They can’t even be the most overrated dynasty team; they don’t have enough championships.