Ranking the 15 Greatest NFL Players to Never Win a Super Bowl
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Only so many players have been lucky enough to appear in a Super Bowl, let alone win one. Then, there are the phenomenal players who were never able to win a ring. Here is a ranking of the 15 greatest NFL players to never emerge victorious in a Super Bowl.
15. LaDainian Tomlinson
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15. LaDainian Tomlinson
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LaDainian Tomlinson came close to reaching the Super Bowl a couple of times, but unfortunately, it was never meant to be. The two-time rushing leader and NFL MVP was a dominant force in the 2000s. His five Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro selections speak for themselves. But, it’s the fact that he’s fifth leading rusher of all time that gives him the right to be on this list.
14. Junior Seau
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14. Junior Seau
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The late Junior Seau is considered to be one of the greatest linebackers who ever played the game. His two Super Bowl berths were 13 years apart from each other, with the same result occurring in each. Seau was an outstanding player who saw his electrifying hits and big plays be recognized by 12 trips to the Pro Bowl and eight first-team All-Pro selections.
13. Merlin Olsen
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13. Merlin Olsen
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Merlin Olsen played his entire career for the Los Angeles Rams. Over that span, he went to 14 Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro six times. The 1962 NFL Rookie of the Year also is a member of the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, the 1960s All-Decade Team and the 1970s All-Decade Team. Needless to say, the defensive tackle was a force to be reckoned with, but he never reached the Super Bowl after going to the playoffs five times.
12. Dick Butkus
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12. Dick Butkus
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Dick Butkus is one of the greatest defensive players to ever grace the Chicago Bears franchise. The most intimidating person to ever step on a gridiron had over 1,000 tackles in his nine-year career. The two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year is a member of the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, the 1960s All-Decade Team and the 1970s All-Decade Team. Shockingly, he never once reached the playoffs, let alone a Super Bowl.
11. Jim Kelly
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11. Jim Kelly
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There’s no player on this list in more Super Bowl agony than Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly. One of the best players in franchise history, Kelly led the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowl berths from 1990-93. Unfortunately, Buffalo didn’t come away with one single win. Bills fans will say it was still a joy to win so much over those four years, but there’s no denying a Super Bowl victory would have been appreciated.
10. Earl Campbell
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10. Earl Campbell
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The great Earl Campbell was a beast on the football field. He ran with so much power that he would run over anyone who stood in his way. The 1979 NFL MVP and three-time Offensive Player of the Year rushed for nearly 10,000 yards in his eight-year career. In 1991, the Pro Football Hall of Fame recognized his stellar career by inducting him.
9. Tony Gonzalez
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9. Tony Gonzalez
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Tony Gonzalez is the greatest tight end to ever play the game. Despite coming close at the end of his career, Gonzalez never reached the Super Bowl, which was a shame because he wanted it so badly. He owns nearly every NFL record possible for his position. For that reason, it’s a no-brainer to have the soon-to-be Hall of Famer on this list.
8. Bruce Matthews
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8. Bruce Matthews
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Bruce Matthews is a part of an impressive bloodline that has seen some outstanding players enter the league. Over the 19 years he played in the NFL, he never missed a game due to injury. What makes that even more impressive is that he made his money as an offensive lineman in the trenches going up against some of the most physical players around. The 14-time Pro Bowler is one of the best offensive linemen of all time.
7. Deacon Jones
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7. Deacon Jones
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Deacon Jones is widely considered to be the Father of the Sack because he came up with the term and the idea of what sacking the quarterback essentially is. More impressive, many consider him the greatest defensive end to ever live. Even though sacks didn’t become an official statistic until 1982 and Jones played from 1961-74, it is figured that he tallied 173.5 sacks in his career.
6. Fran Tarkenton
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6. Fran Tarkenton
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Quarterback Fran Tarkenton led the Minnesota Vikings to three Super Bowl appearances in four years. Unfortunately, the Vikings were unable to win a single one. Still, the 1975 NFL MVP and 1986 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee was considered to be one of the best at his position during his time. Only three quarterbacks have rushed for more yards than Tarkenton did in his career.
5. O.J Simpson
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5. O.J Simpson
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O.J. Simpson is a maniac off the field, but no one can question is talent on the field. Along with Kelly, Simpson went to four straight Super Bowls with the Bills without winning one of them. The 1973 NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year rushed for 11,236 yards and 61 touchdowns in his career. He also was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985 and won the NFL rushing title four times.
4. Eric Dickerson
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4. Eric Dickerson
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Eric Dickerson used his impressive height to rack up the yards. His long strides allowed him to out-run his opponents. That’s one of the reasons he was able to rush for over 2,000 yards in one season. The four-time rushing champion was voted Offensive Player of the Year in 1986. He also was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 1999 and was selected to six Pro Bowls. Over a span of 10 years, he recorded 13,259 rushing yards and 90 touchdowns.
3. Bruce Smith
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3. Bruce Smith
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Since the sack became an official statistic, no player has racked up more of them than Bills defensive end Bruce Smith. In 14 years, Smith tallied 200 sacks, two more than Reggie White did. Like Kelly and Simpson, he went to four straight Super Bowls and came away empty. It puts it in perspective once realized how many great players were on that team.
2. Barry Sanders
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2. Barry Sanders
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One of the greatest running backs of all time surprisingly cut his career short by deciding to retire in 1998. Barry Sanders shared the 1997 MVP with Brett Favre, was elected to 10 Pro Bowls, was a six-time first-team All-Pro selection and was a four-time NFL rushing champion. He also has rushed for over 2,000 yards in a single season and 15,269 yards in his career, which is good for third all time.
1. Dan Marino
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1. Dan Marino
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Dan Marino is considered one of the best quarterbacks of all time, but some say he can never be given the title because he never won a Super Bowl, although he did reach the Super Bowl in his second year in the league. At one point, Marino held nearly every passing record, including the all-time passing touchdown record and 5,084 passing yards in a season. He essentially accomplished everything but winning a title.
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