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Pressure creates legends in sports. It also creates collapses that fans never forget. Some athletes dominated for years but failed when the biggest moment arrived. A few teams looked unbeatable before everything suddenly fell apart. Those moments stayed attached to them forever.
Sports history is filled with heartbreaking losses, blown leads, and tough mistakes. Sometimes it happened because of nervousness. But at times, momentum completely shifted, and nobody could stop it. Fans still talk about these moments decades later because of how shocking they were. In many cases, one bad game changed how an athlete or team was remembered forever.
MORE: Ranking American sports league & championship logos from worst to best
A missed kick. A blown series lead. A collapse in the final. These moments became part of sports culture. They created memes, highlights, and endless debates about pressure and failure.
Not every player or team on this list lacked greatness. Many were champions, record-breakers, and all-time talents. Still, their collapses became impossible to ignore because of the stage and the stakes involved.
Here are the top 10 most infamous chokers in sports history.
Jean van de Veld during the first round of the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports
Jean van de Velde produced one of golf’s most shocking collapses at the 1999 Open Championship.
He arrived at the 18th hole at Carnoustie with a three-shot lead. A double bogey was enough to win the tournament. Instead, everything went wrong.
Van de Velde hit shots into rough, grandstands, and the Barry Burn water hazard. He finished the hole with a triple bogey 7 and lost in a playoff to Paul Lawrie.
The collapse became one of golf’s most replayed moments. “Pulling a Van de Velde” soon became a phrase linked with choking under pressure.
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Justin Hardy (16) against New England Patriots defensive back Jonathan Jones (31) during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Atlanta Falcons looked ready to win their first Super Bowl during Super Bowl LI.
Atlanta led the New England Patriots 28-3 late in the third quarter. Their win probability climbed above 99 percent. Then the game completely changed.
Tom Brady led the Patriots to 25 unanswered points before overtime. Costly sacks, penalties, and poor clock management destroyed Atlanta’s momentum.
New England eventually won 34-28 in overtime. The phrase “28-3” still follows the Falcons years later.
Few teams carried the “choker” label longer than the South Africa national cricket team.
The Proteas often dominated tournaments before collapsing in knockout matches. Their most painful moment came during the 1999 World Cup semifinal against the Australia national cricket team.
South Africa needed only one run from four balls with one wicket remaining. A terrible mix-up between Allan Donald and Lance Klusener caused a run-out that tied the match. Australia advanced because of a better tournament record.
Repeated World Cup exits in 1992, 1999, 2007, 2015, and 2023 kept the label alive for decades.
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman at The Old White at the Greenbrier. Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Greg Norman was one of the most talented golfers ever. Yet major championship collapses followed him throughout his career.
His worst moment came at the 1996 Masters. Norman entered the final round with a six-shot lead over Nick Faldo.
Everything fell apart on Sunday. Norman shot a disastrous 78 while Faldo fired a 67. The final result turned a comfortable lead into a five-shot loss.
Despite leading all four majors after 54 holes in 1986, Norman finished his career with only two major titles.
Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (9) grabs the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
The Golden State Warriors finished the 2015-16 season with a 73-9 record, the best regular-season mark in NBA history.
That season looked destined to end with another championship. Instead, the Cleveland Cavaliers made history.
Golden State led the NBA Finals 3-1 before losing three straight games. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving delivered huge performances during the comeback. LeBron’s chase-down block and Kyrie’s clutch three-pointer became iconic because of the Warriors’ collapse.
MORE: Ranking the top 8 cities ready for potential MLB expansion
Chicago Cubs first baseman Bill Buckner on base against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field. Credit: Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports
Bill Buckner became linked forever with one painful baseball moment. The Boston Red Sox were one out away from winning the 1986 World Series against the New York Mets.
Then Buckner allowed a ground ball to roll through his legs in Game 6. Boston lost that game and later lost Game 7 as well.
The mistake became one of the most replayed errors in MLB history. Sadly, it overshadowed a career that included more than 2,700 hits.
John McEnroe returns a volley during Pickleball Slam 2 at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
John McEnroe entered the 1984 French Open final undefeated that season. He dominated the first two sets against Ivan Lendl and looked ready to win the title easily.
Frustration and emotional outbursts slowly changed the match. Lendl recovered and won in five sets to capture his first Grand Slam title.
McEnroe later admitted his emotions played a major role in the collapse. The loss also hurt his chance to complete a career Grand Slam.
Brazil stands for the national anthem before the men’s gold medal match against Germany during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Maracana. Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The Brazil national football team suffered one of the most shocking defeats in football history during the 2014 FIFA World Cup semifinal. Playing at home, Brazil collapsed against the Germany national football team after conceding early goals.
Germany scored five times within the opening 29 minutes. Brazil also conceded four goals in a six-minute stretch during the nightmare performance.
The final score ended 7-1. Fans still refer to the match as “Mineirazo,” one of the darkest moments in Brazilian football history.
New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) pitches in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The New York Yankees looked unstoppable during the 2004 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox. New York led the series 3-0 and also held a ninth-inning lead in Game 4. One more win would have sent them to the World Series.
Boston responded with four straight victories and completed the greatest comeback in MLB postseason history.
The Red Sox later ended their championship drought by winning the World Series. Meanwhile, the Yankees’ collapse became one of baseball’s biggest embarrassments.
MORE: Ranking the top 10 richest sports team owners in 2026
Bills quarterback Josh Allen celebrates a touchdown in a 38-10 win over the Raiders.
No team represents sports heartbreak more than the Buffalo Bills of the early 1990s. The Bills reached four straight Super Bowls from 1990 through 1993. They lost every single one.
Their most painful defeat came in Super Bowl XXV against the New York Giants. Kicker Scott Norwood missed a potential game-winning field goal that became known as “Wide Right.”
Buffalo finished those four Super Bowls with an 0-4 record. Instead of becoming a dynasty, the Bills became the symbol of repeated sports heartbreak.
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Sports history is filled with heartbreaking losses, blown leads, and tough mistakes. Sometimes it happened because of nervousness. But at times, momentum completely shifted, and nobody could stop it. Fans still talk about these moments decades later because of how shocking they were. In many cases, one bad game changed how an athlete or team was remembered forever.
MORE: Ranking American sports league & championship logos from worst to best
A missed kick. A blown series lead. A collapse in the final. These moments became part of sports culture. They created memes, highlights, and endless debates about pressure and failure.
Not every player or team on this list lacked greatness. Many were champions, record-breakers, and all-time talents. Still, their collapses became impossible to ignore because of the stage and the stakes involved.
Here are the top 10 most infamous chokers in sports history.
10. Jean van de Velde – 1999 Open Championship collapse
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Jean van de Veld during the first round of the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports
Jean van de Velde produced one of golf’s most shocking collapses at the 1999 Open Championship.
He arrived at the 18th hole at Carnoustie with a three-shot lead. A double bogey was enough to win the tournament. Instead, everything went wrong.
Van de Velde hit shots into rough, grandstands, and the Barry Burn water hazard. He finished the hole with a triple bogey 7 and lost in a playoff to Paul Lawrie.
The collapse became one of golf’s most replayed moments. “Pulling a Van de Velde” soon became a phrase linked with choking under pressure.
9. Atlanta Falcons – Super Bowl LI
You must be registered for see images
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Justin Hardy (16) against New England Patriots defensive back Jonathan Jones (31) during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Atlanta Falcons looked ready to win their first Super Bowl during Super Bowl LI.
Atlanta led the New England Patriots 28-3 late in the third quarter. Their win probability climbed above 99 percent. Then the game completely changed.
Tom Brady led the Patriots to 25 unanswered points before overtime. Costly sacks, penalties, and poor clock management destroyed Atlanta’s momentum.
New England eventually won 34-28 in overtime. The phrase “28-3” still follows the Falcons years later.
8. South Africa National Cricket Team – Cricket’s ultimate “Chokers”
Few teams carried the “choker” label longer than the South Africa national cricket team.
The Proteas often dominated tournaments before collapsing in knockout matches. Their most painful moment came during the 1999 World Cup semifinal against the Australia national cricket team.
South Africa needed only one run from four balls with one wicket remaining. A terrible mix-up between Allan Donald and Lance Klusener caused a run-out that tied the match. Australia advanced because of a better tournament record.
Repeated World Cup exits in 1992, 1999, 2007, 2015, and 2023 kept the label alive for decades.
7. Greg Norman – Golf’s greatest choker
You must be registered for see images
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman at The Old White at the Greenbrier. Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Greg Norman was one of the most talented golfers ever. Yet major championship collapses followed him throughout his career.
His worst moment came at the 1996 Masters. Norman entered the final round with a six-shot lead over Nick Faldo.
Everything fell apart on Sunday. Norman shot a disastrous 78 while Faldo fired a 67. The final result turned a comfortable lead into a five-shot loss.
Despite leading all four majors after 54 holes in 1986, Norman finished his career with only two major titles.
6. Golden State Warriors – 2016 NBA Finals
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Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (9) grabs the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
The Golden State Warriors finished the 2015-16 season with a 73-9 record, the best regular-season mark in NBA history.
That season looked destined to end with another championship. Instead, the Cleveland Cavaliers made history.
Golden State led the NBA Finals 3-1 before losing three straight games. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving delivered huge performances during the comeback. LeBron’s chase-down block and Kyrie’s clutch three-pointer became iconic because of the Warriors’ collapse.
MORE: Ranking the top 8 cities ready for potential MLB expansion
5. Bill Buckner – 1986 World Series error
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Chicago Cubs first baseman Bill Buckner on base against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field. Credit: Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports
Bill Buckner became linked forever with one painful baseball moment. The Boston Red Sox were one out away from winning the 1986 World Series against the New York Mets.
Then Buckner allowed a ground ball to roll through his legs in Game 6. Boston lost that game and later lost Game 7 as well.
The mistake became one of the most replayed errors in MLB history. Sadly, it overshadowed a career that included more than 2,700 hits.
4. John McEnroe – 1984 French Open
You must be registered for see images
John McEnroe returns a volley during Pickleball Slam 2 at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
John McEnroe entered the 1984 French Open final undefeated that season. He dominated the first two sets against Ivan Lendl and looked ready to win the title easily.
Frustration and emotional outbursts slowly changed the match. Lendl recovered and won in five sets to capture his first Grand Slam title.
McEnroe later admitted his emotions played a major role in the collapse. The loss also hurt his chance to complete a career Grand Slam.
3. Brazil National Football Team – 2014 World Cup humiliation
You must be registered for see images
Brazil stands for the national anthem before the men’s gold medal match against Germany during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Maracana. Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The Brazil national football team suffered one of the most shocking defeats in football history during the 2014 FIFA World Cup semifinal. Playing at home, Brazil collapsed against the Germany national football team after conceding early goals.
Germany scored five times within the opening 29 minutes. Brazil also conceded four goals in a six-minute stretch during the nightmare performance.
The final score ended 7-1. Fans still refer to the match as “Mineirazo,” one of the darkest moments in Brazilian football history.
2. New York Yankees – 2004 ALCS Collapse
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New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) pitches in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The New York Yankees looked unstoppable during the 2004 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox. New York led the series 3-0 and also held a ninth-inning lead in Game 4. One more win would have sent them to the World Series.
Boston responded with four straight victories and completed the greatest comeback in MLB postseason history.
The Red Sox later ended their championship drought by winning the World Series. Meanwhile, the Yankees’ collapse became one of baseball’s biggest embarrassments.
MORE: Ranking the top 10 richest sports team owners in 2026
1. Buffalo Bills – Four Straight Super Bowl Losses
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Bills quarterback Josh Allen celebrates a touchdown in a 38-10 win over the Raiders.
No team represents sports heartbreak more than the Buffalo Bills of the early 1990s. The Bills reached four straight Super Bowls from 1990 through 1993. They lost every single one.
Their most painful defeat came in Super Bowl XXV against the New York Giants. Kicker Scott Norwood missed a potential game-winning field goal that became known as “Wide Right.”
Buffalo finished those four Super Bowls with an 0-4 record. Instead of becoming a dynasty, the Bills became the symbol of repeated sports heartbreak.
Continue reading...
