The Superbowl is the highest possible win in Football. Out of the estimated 25,000 players to ever suit up on an NFL team, less than 5,000 of them have ever played in a Superbowl. In a team sport like Football, individual talent and achievements will only take you so far, but a team is only as strong as their weakest link. But this list is about the strongest link in that chain; the guys who did everything they could to achieve their dream of winning the Superbowl, but still fell short. Here are the ten best players to never win a Superbowl.
10. Larry Fitzgerald
Larry Fitzgerald was a standout receiver for the Arizona Cardinals from 2004 to 2020. Fitzgerald never missed more than three games in a season, and only missed seven games throughout his entire career. Fitzgerald is second all-time in receptions and receiving yards in a career. Fitzgerald almost helped the Cardinals hoist the Lombardi trophy in 2009, when Kurt Warner quarterbacked the Cardinals to a 9-7 season, and an NFC title. In Superbowl 42, Fitzgerald hauled in two touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough, and the cardinals fell to the Pittsburg Steelers 27-23. Fitzgerald only made a post season appearance three more times in his career, as he dealt with inconsistent quarterback play and a coaching carousel for the next decade of his career.
9. Calvin Johnson (AKA Megatron)
If there was an all-time list for nicknames, there is no doubt that Megatron would be on it. But the wide receiver for the Detroit Lions played for the Lions from 2007-2015. He spent his entire career with Detroit and was a part of the 2008 winless Lions. Detroit only made the playoffs twice while Johnson was on the roster in 2014, and 2011. But while the team may not have performed well during Johnson’s time in Detroit, Johnson himself was a bright spot in what was a rather dark time in Lions history. Johnson eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving seven out of his nine years in the NFL and holds the record for most receiving yards in a single season (1,964). Johnson is a member of the NFL Hall of Fame class of 2021.
8. Tony Gonzalez
As the most decorated Tight end of All-time, Tony Gonzalez played 17 years in the NFL and appeared in 270 games, accumulating over 15,000 receiving yards and 111 touchdowns. Gonzalez was a fourteen-time Pro-bowler, a six time all pro, and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2019. The closest Gonzalez ever got to hoisting the Lombardi trophy was in 2012 when the Atlanta Falcons posted a record of 13-3 and earned the first seed in the NFC. That year, the Falcons lost in the Conference Championship to the San Francisco 49ers. Despite losing in the playoffs, at the age of 36 Tony Gonzalez came just shy of 1,000 yards, and was named to the pro bowl and first team all pro.
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7. Anthony Munoz
Anthony Munoz is arguably the best Offensive Tackle to ever play the game of football. Munoz was a starter in the NFL for 12 seasons, and racked up eleven Pro bowl selections and nine All-pros. He also won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 1991. Munoz helped Cincinnati reach the Superbowl twice but lost both appearances. He was inducted onto the Hall of fame in 1998, but never did achieve immortality as a Superbowl champion.
6. Junior Seau
Seau cemented himself as one of the best defensive players in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Throughout his 19-year career, Seau racked up 12 Pro bowl selections and was a six-time All-pro linebacker. He also took home the title of 1992 defensive player of the year. Seau led the 1994 San Diego Chargers on an unexpected Superbowl run, making that the only time that the franchise has appeared in the big game. Unfortunately, they lost to the San Francisco 49ers 49-26. Seau found himself in the Superbowl once more, this time as a member of the 2007 New England Patriots. New England finished the regular season 16-0 but fell short to the New York Giants in the Superbowl, marking one of the biggest upsets in NFL history.
5. Jim Kelly
Jim Kelly quarterbacked the Buffalo Bills for a decade and is most known for leading the team to four Superbowls in a row, losing all of them. In the first appearance, Kelly and the Bills fell one point short of hoisting the Lombardi trophy. Kelly never put up eye-popping stats, but he was reliable, earning five pro bowl selections and one first team All-pro. Kelly was inducted into the Hall of fame in 2002, but will forever be known for never finishing in the big game.
4. Barry Sanders
Over a ten-year career with the Detroit Lions, which many argue could have been longer, Sanders accumulated 15,269 yards, and 99 touchdowns. He led the NFL in rushing yards four times and was the third running back to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards in a season. Sanders was a six time All-pro and made the Pro bowl every year he was in the league. From 1989-1998, the Lions only made the playoffs five times and never appeared in the Superbowl. Sanders was inducted into the NFL Hall of fame in 2004.
3. Bruce Smith
Bruce Smith played defensive end for the Buffalo Bills from 1985-1999. He was a member of the team that appeared in four Superbowls in a row but couldn’t win any of them. Smith won the Defensive Player of the Year award twice, and collected eight All-pro selections, as well as being named to the Pro-bowl roster eleven times. In 2000 Smith joined the (then) Washington Redskins where he continued to play at a high level. Throughout his entire career, Bruch Smith collected 200 sacks, and over 1,000 tackles. He is the NFL’s all-time leader in sacks and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.
2. Dan Marino
Dan Marino is easily the best Quarterback that has never won a Superbowl. Throughout a career that lasted from 1983-1999, Marino was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection, and lead the NFL in touchdown passes from 1984-1986. During that three-year span Marino also lead the NFL in passing yards and became the first quarterback to throw for 5,000 yards in an NFL season. Marino led the Dolphins to the playoff ten times, but only appeared in the Superbowl once, losing to the 49ers 38-16.
1. Randy Moss
As one of the best receivers, and now TV Personalities the NFL has ever seen, Randy Moss was a force to be reckoned with whenever he stepped onto the field. This guy kept defensive coordinators up at night trying to scheme ways to shut him down, but it never worked. Throughout a 15 years career that spanned from 1998-2012, Moss collected over 15,000 receiving yards, and is fourth all-time in that category. He is second all-time in receiving touchdowns, with 156 to his name. Moss led the NFL in receiving touchdowns five times, including an insane season with the 2007 Patriots where Moss hauled in 23 touchdowns. He appeared in two Superbowls one with the patriots in 2007 and one with the 49ers in 2012. Both of those games resulted in a loss. Moss was inducted into the Hall of fame in 2018, and is widely regarded as one of the most talented receivers the game has ever seen.
