While NFL players love their individual accolades, one distinct accomplishment stands alone atop the pyramid of needs—hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after winning the Super Bowl.
Unfortunately, the window to do so for some of the league’s, let’s say, “more seasoned” stars are closing fast, and the pressure is on to capture the ultimate prize before time runs out.
Let’s take a look around the NFL at five veteran players who are poised to get that elusive Super Bowl ring before they ride off into the sunset—and the five who, sadly, will always be left wondering what that ultimate glory would have been like!
Who are the top veterans in the league who are destined to win the Super Bowl before retiring?
Will: Khalil Mack, LB, Los Angeles Chargers
Khalil Mack is the kind of player who still gives offensive coordinators sleepless nights. He’s a one man, game-wrecker and even has been a force of nature off the edge since he broke into the NFL all those years ago, regardless of what team he’s played for!
And even as he enters the latter years of his career, his impact remains self-evident. After all, he came into the league with more than enough power and speed to spare, so he can afford to lose a step or two coming off the edge.
Pass rushers of Mack’s caliber age like a fine wine and if it somehow doesn’t work out for him in Los Angeles with Jim Harbaugh, there will always be a market for contending teams to add a player with his experience and talent.
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Even once Mack’s skills are no longer at their peak, he’ll still have enough left in the tank to be the difference-maker for a team making a run in January with one sack, one forced fumble… some sort of big play at a critical moment.
Smart money says: he finds a way to get over the hump sooner or later.
Won’t: Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Christian McCaffrey is the perfect example of a player who can do it all—run, catch, block. You name it, he does it. But talent alone doesn’t always translate to championships, and for McCaffrey, that could unfortunately be the case.
The 49ers are a talented bunch, no doubt about it, and when McCaffrey joined, it felt like they were ready to finally take that next step, but after falling short in the Super Bowl yet again — it seems like there is a real risk that the wheels could fall off.
Between playing for a snakebitten head coach and organization, the generally shorter shelf life for running backs, and his serious durability concerns—it is hard to believe that the stars will align for him.
When the curtain closes on McCaffrey’s phenomenal career, he will for sure go down as a warrior with undeniable talent, but unless something changes, he may end up being another great player without a ring.
Will: Tyron Smith, OT, New York Jets
The media may be tough on the Jets… But let’s face it, there is nothing that Tyron Smith hasn’t seen yet.
Lest we forget, he spent years protecting quarterbacks in Dallas, watching as the Cowboys stumbled, year after year, in their quest to return to the glory of the 90s.
He finally jumped ship and landed in the Meadowlands with the New York Jets.
While the Jets have been a little bit up and down since Smith joined up with Aaron Rodgers and the crew, there is a very real chance, given the talent they have on the roster and the man they have under center that this team is a serious contender come February.
Not to mention that the veteran tackle has also looked impressive so far this season, considering his advanced age for the position, meaning he’ll probably have at least three or four more cracks at it!
Plus, if the football gods are real, Smith and the Jets will get the luck they need to win the whole thing… The seasoned vet has racked up oodles of karma, having endured years of Cowboys’ frustration.
Hopefully, with Rodgers and the Jets… or elsewhere… Smith just might get the ending he deserves—one with confetti falling and a trophy in his hands.
Won’t: Zack Martin, OG, Dallas Cowboys
Zack Martin has one of the best guards of his generation. He’s an absolute technician and made a living dominating the trenches for the Dallas Cowboys.
But sometimes loyalty can be a double-edged sword, and for Martin, it seems like his unwavering commitment to the Cowboys might keep him from ever winning a Super Bowl.
For whatever reason, it seems like Zack Martin has chosen to blindly bind himself to Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys. The Notre Dame alum has played his entire career there—dating back to 2014 when the Cowboys selected the stalwart guard 16th overall in the draft.
He has had one heck of a career, earning seven First-Team All-Pro selections and two second-team nods, but as long he remains hitched to the Cowboys wagon, his winning a ring will unfortunately be a bridge too far.
Unless he cuts ties with Dallas and tries to chase a ring elsewhere in the final years of his career, his chances look slim.
Will: Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Regardless of cowbell backs being phased out of the league, Derrick Henry is the kind of player who changes games. He’s a throwback with a powerful running style and all of the know-how to play well into the twilight of his career.
Fortunately for Henry, after gutting it out with some very mediocre Titans teams, where, by the way, he always found a way to elevate them come playoff time… he’s landed with Baltimore.
Which is the perfect fit for Henry. They want to run the ball, they want to play physical, and they want to wear teams down.
If he can squeeze a couple more good seasons out of those big, strong legs of his, he should be able to do the same for a much more talented Ravens team—that, uncoincidentally, is also a much more competent organization.
And with a little luck—that could mean a Super Bowl for the potential Hall of Famer.
After carrying the Titans through some lean years, he deserves a shot at glory—and Baltimore might just be the place where he finds it.
Won’t: Harrison Smith, S, Minnesota Vikings
Harrison Smith has been one of the most consistent safeties in the league since the Minnesota Vikings took him toward the end of the first round of the 2012 draft out of Notre Dame.
At this point, it looks extremely likely that he will finish out his career with the Vikes… Unfortunately, that also means that the now 35-year old most likely won’t be winning a Super Bowl…
The Minnesota Vikings have had some excellent talent—Justin Jefferson is arguably the best wide receiver in the game, and Sam Darnold has been a pleasant surprise, but let’s face it… They’ve had strong supporting pieces in the offense for years, and this is one snake-bitten franchise!
All of that talent hasn’t translated into deep playoff success.
Harrison isn’t without blame either, as the Vikings’ defense has also been shaky, which doesn’t help his case.
When all is said and done, he’ll be remembered as one of the most dedicated players in franchise history and one of the greats on the defensive side of the ball for the Vikes,, but barring a miracle run, it won’t include a Super Bowl victory.
Will: Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
While it may not feel like it, seven years into his career—I think we have to call Josh Allen an NFL vet at this point…
And while it also might not feel like it—it is hard to believe that eventually, he won’t manage to get over the hump and snatch the Lombardi Trophy away from his bitter rival, Patrick Mahomes.
Because at this point in his career, Josh Allen has already established himself as one of the most exciting and dynamic quarterbacks in the league.
And give the Bills organization credit, they have invested in building a contender around Allen, and they’ve come close. The heartbreak has been real, but there’s also a feeling that this group is learning from those setbacks and that they’re getting closer to finally breaking through.
Even without Stefon Diggs…
The dual-threat quarterback simply has too much talent and too much time. Eventually, Buffalo will get the formula right and put him in a position to win it all. Contrary to what the media will try to tell you, the Super Bowl window is wide open for Buffalo, and Allen is too good not to walk through it sooner or later.
Won’t: Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons
Kirk Cousins has had a solid NFL career—one that’s been defined by consistency and putting up impressive stats year after year.
But… If we’re being realistic, the odds aren’t in his favor.
Yes, Cousins is a solid quarterback—he’s put up great numbers, and when he’s on, he can lead an offense as well as anyone in the league.
But when it comes to the kind of magic needed to perform under the bright lights and win a Super Bowl, Cousins just hasn’t shown that he has what it takes.
And it is just a narrative at this point… It is a cold, hard fact.
He has struggled in prime-time games and in high-pressure situations, which are exactly the moments that define a championship run.
Atlanta has built a nice little squad around him, but it still seems like a stretch.
At this point in his career, Cousins has reached his ceiling: a very good quarterback who can get you to the playoffs but not much further.
The NFC is competitive, and unless the Falcons end up on the right side of some serious “good bounces” along the way—it is a long shot that he gets over the hump at this point.
Will: T.J. Watt, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
T.J. Watt is in a much better spot to eventually win a Super Bowl than many of his peers. He has been a key part of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense for years and proved that he can be a game-changer… Now that he has finally parted ways with Kenny Pickett, his team has a much better chance to compete with the big boys.
Historically, the Steelers have always found a way to contend, largely because they have always prided themselves on their defensive identity, which Watt embodies better than anyone.
And he has a unique ability to elevate that defense. Which… considering his skill set, I suppose, shouldn’t be a surprise.
After all, T.J. Watt is everything you want in a linebacker—relentless, powerful, and always around the football.
Better yet, they may have struck gold on the scrap heap with the Justin Fields acquisition.
Don’t look now… but we could see T.J. Watt hoisting a Lombardi Trophy before he calls it quits. Heck, with the way the Steelers are constructed, we may even see him have an MVP award to match.
Won’t: Keenan Allen, WR, Chicago Bears
Keenan Allen has had an impressive career—he’s been one of the most consistent and reliable wide receivers in the league for year, all on the strength of his route running and ability to make challenging catches.
But now that he’s with the Chicago Bears, the dream of winning a Super Bowl seems more like a long shot.
Especially when you factor in the reality that he squandered so many legitimate chances while he was with the Chargers.
Some of those teams were next level dynamic, but they simply couldn’t put it all together—or deliver in crunch time. But time and again, they fell short—whether it was injuries, bad luck, or simply failing to deliver.
Allen still has plenty of talent, of course, and he’s capable of putting up big numbers, but do we really think that the situation in Chicago is the one for a legit championship run?
Caleb Williams has promise, yes… But by the time he’s Super Bowl-ready, who knows if the injury-prone Allen will even still be playing?
The sad truth is, Allen might just end up being one of those great players who never got his hands on the ultimate prize—because the circumstances never lined up the way they needed to.
Also Read: PREDICTING The Next 5 Super Bowl MATCHUPS and WINNERS (2024-2028)
