The 16 Best NFL Players Never to Win a Super Bowl

By YPB TeamOct 28

Hall of Fame careers with one gap in the trophy case. Some came close four times, others never played a postseason snap.

1
Josh Allen
Bills quarterback and 2024 MVP whose playoff runs have ended four times against Kansas City.
1000pts
2
Bruce Smith
Career sacks leader who played in all four of Buffalo's Super Bowl losses.
1000pts
3
Jim Kelly
Bills quarterback who lost four straight Super Bowls from the 1990 to 1993 seasons.
945pts
4
Dick Butkus
Bears linebacker of 1965 to 1973 who never played in a postseason game.
764pts
5
Earl Campbell
Oilers running back who lost back-to-back AFC title games to the Steelers.
764pts
6
Dan Marino
Dolphins quarterback who reached one Super Bowl, in his second season, and never returned.
647pts
7
Cris Carter
Vikings receiver whose 1998 team went 15-1 and lost the NFC title game.
647pts
8
Barry Sanders
Lions running back who retired on the eve of the 1999 season, 1,457 yards short of the career rushing record.
647pts
9
Calvin Johnson
Lions receiver who set the season receiving yards record and retired at 30 without a playoff win.
647pts
10
Tony Gonzalez
Tight end who played 17 seasons for the Chiefs and Falcons and won one playoff game.
503pts
11
Warren Moon
Hall of Fame quarterback who won five Grey Cups in Canada and no Super Bowl.
503pts
12
Philip Rivers
Chargers quarterback who started 240 straight games and never reached a Super Bowl.
503pts
13
LaDainian Tomlinson
Chargers running back and 2006 MVP who never reached a Super Bowl.
0pts
14
Larry Fitzgerald
Cardinals receiver whose late touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII was answered by Pittsburgh.
0pts
15
Dan Fouts
Chargers quarterback of the Air Coryell offense who never reached a Super Bowl.
0pts
16
J. J. Watt
Three-time Defensive Player of the Year who never got past the divisional round.
0pts

football626 players653 NFL69 Super Bowl8

Photo credits

Josh Allen — All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0
Bruce Smith — VaMedia, CC BY 2.0
Dick Butkus — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0
Earl Campbell — TankedBevo of ShaggyBevo.com, CC BY 2.5
Dan Marino — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cris Carter — MN National Guard, CC BY 3.0
Barry Sanders — Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0
Calvin Johnson — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0
Tony Gonzalez — Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0
Warren Moon — Warren Moon Press Conference | Oilers Tribute Week, CC BY 3.0
Philip Rivers — Behind Enemy Lines: Titans at Colts, CC BY 3.0
LaDainian Tomlinson — original: U.S, CC BY-SA 2.0
Larry Fitzgerald — Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Dan Fouts — Rex Lilly, CC BY-SA 2.0
J. J. Watt — Denverjeffrey, CC BY 4.0

Comments 1

Seven playoff wins and no Super Bowl start, the most for any quarterback per NFL Research, is why Allen stands next to Marino here: https://youpick.best/articles/mahomes-vs-allen-ranked

ypb-team1h ago