Winning a Super Bowl is the ultimate team accomplishment in pro football. Every player works endlessly for years with the hope of one day hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Those who do are the lucky ones, as there are an abundance of players who failed to either win or play in a Super Bowl. That list includes numerous members of the Hall of Fame, former MVPs, and players who were selected for multiple Pro Bowls.
Let’s take a dive into looking at the best player from each team to never win a Super Bowl. (NOTE: The list includes existing teams only. For example, no Houston Oilers were considered for the Tennessee Titans)
Arizona Cardinals – Larry Fitzgerald
Larry Fitzgerald spent his entire 17-year career with the Cardinals, starting 261 out of a possible 263 games. During his time in the desert, the Cards only made the playoffs 4 times, but they did reach Super Bowl XLIII. Although they lost, Fitzgerald had 7 catches for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns. Unfortunately, he never reached the big game again, so his future induction into Canton will have to suffice.
Atlanta Falcons – Matt Ryan
Over 14 seasons, Matt Ryan threw for 59,735 yards and 367 touchdowns. He was a 4 time Pro Bowler and also won numerous awards, such as Offensive Rookie of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, and MVP. As a quarterback in Atlanta, the future Hall of Famer went to the playoffs 6 times but never won a Super Bowl.
Baltimore Ravens – Lamar Jackson
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Having been established in 1996, the Ravens have a short but successful history. Winners of two Super Bowls, the choice here is the current quarterback. In just over 5 years Lamar Jackson has become a star. He has thrown for over 100 touchdowns, including 36 in his MVP season, and has over 4500 career rushing yards with another 28 touchdowns. Jackson hasn’t made a Super Bowl yet, so for now, he’s the choice here.
Buffalo Bills – Bruce Smith
Try, try, try, try again. The Bills went to 4 straight Super Bowls but lost all of them. It’s the one career highlight that Bruce Smith didn’t achieve in his 15 years with Buffalo. During that time, he amassed 1,054 tackles with 171.0 sacks and 35 forced fumbles. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year went to 11 Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009. There were a few options from those Super Bowl Bills teams, but Bruce Smith was head and shoulders above them all.
Carolina Panthers – Steve Smith
Steve Smith was a star receiver who spent 13 years catching passes for the Panthers. The 5 time Pro Bowler finished his time in Carolina with 12,197 yards and 67 touchdown catches. He had over 1,000 yards receiving in 7 seasons, including leading the league with 1,563 yards in 2005. Steve Smith had the fortunate experience of playing in Super Bowl XXXVIII, but the Panthers lost to New England, denying Smith his one opportunity.
Chicago Bears – Brian Urlacher
Brian Urlacher was one of the greatest middle linebackers to play the game. He spent his entire 13 years in the league patrolling the middle of the Bears’ defense. He accumulated numerous personal milestones over the course of his career: 1,361 tackles, 41.5 sacks, 8 Pro Bowl selections, Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year, and induction to the Hall of Fame, but no Super Bowl titles. Urlacher is near the top of the list of Greatest Players to Never Win a Super Bowl.
Cincinnati Bengals – Anthony Munoz
Anthony Munoz was the epitome of what an offensive lineman should be: big, strong, and consistent. He started 184 out of 185 games over 13 years in Cincinnati, was an 11-time Pro Bowler, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. There is no question that Munoz was one of the best ever, but despite playing in 2 Super Bowls, he never won a championship.
Cleveland Browns – Ozzie Newsome
The easy choice for a Browns player who didn’t win a Super Bowl would be Jim Brown, but he stopped playing 2 years before the Super Bowl began. Therefore, the choice here is Ozzie Newsome. For 13 years Newsome was a star tight end that finished his time in Cleveland with 7,980 yards receiving and 47 touchdown receptions. He was a 2-time 1,000-yard receiver who earned induction into Canton in 1999. Newsome’s teams made the playoffs 7 times but never advanced to the Super Bowl.
Dallas Cowboys – Jason Witten
For 16 years Jason Witten was a star tight end. He made 11 Pro Bowls and finished with 1,215 catches for 12,977 yards and 72 touchdowns. The Cowboys have made 8 Super Bowls and have won 5 of them. Unfortunately for Jason Witten, the Cowboys did not reach a Super Bowl during his time in “Big D”, leaving a glaring hole in his resume.
Denver Broncos – Champ Bailey
Champ Bailey was a Hall of Fame cornerback who spent 10 of his 15 years patrolling the secondary for Denver. He was an 8 time Pro Bowl selection who had 34 interceptions during his time in a Broncos uniform, including a league-leading 10 in 2007. Bailey was the definition of a shutdown cornerback that dominated wide receivers. However, the one thing that Champ Bailey was unable to catch was a Super Bowl win.
Detroit Lions – Barry Sanders
What is there to say about Barry Sanders except that he is arguably the greatest running back ever? He had over 1,000 yards rushing each of his 10 seasons including 2,053 yards in 1997. Sanders won many awards, such as MVP, Offensive Rookie of the Year, was a 2x Offensive Player of the Year, was selected to 10 Pro Bowls, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame. But he had the unfortunate privilege of playing for the Detroit Lions, which was essentially a death knell for Super Bowl opportunities. Barry Sanders will just have to revel in the honor of making our list.
Green Bay Packers – James Lofton
James Lofton spent 9 of his 17 seasons playing for the Packers and accumulated 9,656 yards receiving and scored 49 touchdowns. In those 9 years, Lofton had over 1,000 yards receiving 5 times and made 7 Pro Bowls. But Lofton played for Green Bay during a playoff drought for the legendary franchise, only making the postseason once in his 9 years with the team. James Lofton was a very solid receiver for a long time but was just never able to win a title.
Houston Texans – JJ Watt
JJ Watt was an absolute giant on the defensive line. He spent 10 of his 12 seasons in the league playing with Houston, starting all 128 games there. Watt had 101.0 sacks, including 2 seasons with 20.5 sacks, made 5 Pro Bowls, and won 3 Defensive Player of the Year awards. The Texans made the playoffs in 6 of his 9 seasons but never made it out of the Divisional Round, earning JJ Watt his place on our list.
Indianapolis Colts – Edgerrin James
For a period of time in the early 2000s Edgerrin James was the best running back in the league. The first 7 years of his career were spent with Indianapolis where he rushed for 9,226 yards and scored 64 touchdowns. He was a 5-time 1,000-yard rusher and Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1999. Edgerrin James left the Colts after the 2005 season, two years before Indy won the Super Bowl, earning James his spot representing Indianapolis on our list.
Jacksonville Jaguars – Fred Taylor
In 11 years with the Jaguars, Fred Taylor rushed for 11,271 yards and added 62 touchdowns. He also rushed for over 1,000 yards in 7 seasons. While no one will ever confuse Taylor with the great running backs of the game, he was a consistent, solid back. Unfortunately, Jacksonville didn’t have a lot of playoff success when Taylor played there, never making it to a Super Bowl.
Kansas City Chiefs – Tony Gonzalez
Before there was Travis Kelce, before there was Rob Gronkowski, there was Tony Gonzalez. Over 12 seasons, he caught 916 passes for 10,940 yards and reached the end zone 76 times. Earning 10 straight Pro Bowl nods on the way to Canton, Gonzalez is widely considered to be the greatest tight end in NFL history. During his time in KC, they made the playoffs 5 times but never made it out of the Divisional Round. The only thing missing from Tony Gonzalez’s resume is a Super Bowl.
Las Vegas Raiders – Tim Brown
Tim Brown was a dual threat: a fantastic receiver and a great kick/punt returner. Over 16 years with the Raiders, he flexed those skills to the tune of 14,734 yards with 99 touchdowns receiving AND an additional 4,507 special team return yards with 4 touchdowns. The Raiders did make it to Super Bowl XXXVII, but Brown was barely utilized, finishing the game with 1 catches for 9 yards and no special teams appearances. Perhaps if the 9 time Pro Bowl selection was used more Oakland might’ve had better luck, but they didn’t and Tim Brown has the luck of being the Raiders entry on our list.
Los Angeles Chargers – Dan Fouts
Dan Fouts is another in the long line of great quarterbacks that didn’t win a Super Bowl. For most of his 15 years, he was the lone bright spot on some dismal Chargers teams. Despite the lack of a true supporting cast, Fouts passed for over 43,000 yards with 254 touchdowns. On three occasions he threw for over 4,000 yards in a season and reached 3,000 yards in another 3 years. Fouts proves that one doesn’t need a title to be considered a great quarterback, but not having one will earn a spot representing the Chargers on our list.
Los Angeles Rams – Eric Dickerson
Eric Dickerson was an amazing running back to watch carve through defenses. Although he was only there for 4 plus seasons, he definitely left his mark in Los Angeles en route to the Hall of Fame. He scored 56 touchdowns and rushed for 7,245 yards, including 2,105 yards in his second season. For 3 of the 4 years in LA, Dickerson led the league in rushing, earning Pro Bowl nods in all three of those years. While the Rams made the playoffs in his first 4 seasons, they just weren’t good enough to win a title, landing Eric Dickerson here.
Miami Dolphins – Dan Marino
Dan Marino is one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of professional football and arguably the greatest player to never win a Super Bowl. Over 17 years Marino dazzled fans and defenses with one of the quickest releases and pinpoint accuracy. He threw for 61,361 yards and 420 touchdowns, both records when he retired and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005. The Dolphins reached the Super Bowl in his second season but lost to the 49ers. Dan Marino never got another opportunity to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, but his rank as the Greatest Dolphins Ever cements his spot on our list.
Minnesota Vikings – Chris Carter
This came down to a choice between Cris Carter and Randy Moss. Both were worthy selections, but ultimately longevity won out. Carter quietly spent 12 seasons in Minnesota putting together a remarkable career. The 8-time Pro Bowl selection had over 1,000 receptions for 12,383 yards and 110 touchdowns. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009, it seems that the missing Super Bowl title unfairly keeps Cris Carter from being considered among the all-time greats.
New England Patriots – John Hannah
For 13 years John Hannah was a fixture on the offensive line for the New England Patriots, starting all 183 games he played there. He went to 9 Pro Bowls and even finished 7th in voting for Offensive Player of the Year in 1979, before being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991. The Patriots lost the one Super Bowl that John Hannah played in, Super Bowl XX to the Bears, earning him a spot on our list.
New Orleans Saints – Rickey Jackson
Rickey Jackson spent 13 years terrorizing offenses for the Saints. Along the way, he started all 195 of his games played in New Orleans. Jackson finished his time in the Big Easy with 123.0 sacks, 1,104 tackles, and 38 forced fumbles. The Saints only made the playoffs 4 times with Jackson on the roster, losing in the Wildcard Round all 4 times. Although Rickey Jackson earned Hall of Fame honors in 2010, he never was able to secure a Super Bowl title with New Orleans.
New York Giants – Tiki Barber
Tiki Barber spent 10 years in the Giants backfield but could also be a threat in the passing game. He finished his career with 10,449 yards and 55 touchdowns but added an additional 5,183 yards receiving. In fact, Barber had over 2,000 yards from scrimmage in 3 seasons. New York lost Super Bowl XXXV and Tiki never got another chance. In an unfortunate twist of fate, the Giants won the Lombardi Trophy the year after he retired.
New York Jets – Curtis Martin
Curtis Martin is a Hall of Fame running back who spent 8 years of his career playing for the NY Jets. Over that time, he ran for 10,302 yards and scored 58 touchdowns. To say he was the heart of the Jets’ offense would be an understatement. Like many Jets before him, but not as great, the one thing Curtis Martin didn’t accomplish was winning a Super Bowl.
Philadelphia Eagles – Donovan McNab
Donovan McNabb might be the best quarterback in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles. At the end of his 11 years in Philly, McNabb held every major passing record in the team’s history. The one area where he didn’t have much success was in the postseason. Under his leadership, the Eagles went to five NFC Championship Games and Super Bowl XXXIX. Unfortunately, the Eagles lost to the Patriots in that game and McNabb remained without a Super Bowl victory on his resume.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Antonio Brown
Antonio Brown is one of those professional athletes who seems to have some self-destructive tendencies but possesses tremendous talent. There’s no questioning the on-field talent that Brown showed in Pittsburgh: 841 catches, 11,263 receiving yards, 2,932 return yards, and 80 touchdowns scored. In 2015 he had an incredible season with over 1,800 yards receiving. Brown was a 7-Time Pro-Bowler and was named to the NFL’s 2010 All-Decade Team, but he never won a Super Bowl with the Steelers.
San Francisco 49ers – Frank Gore
Frank Gore’s career could very well be the inspiration for Bob Seger’s hit song “Like A Rock”. Over his 16 years in the NFL Gore was a steady, consistent running back that will wind up being enshrined in Canton one day. In his 10 seasons with the 49ers, he rushed for 11,073 yards and 64 touchdowns. The 5 time Pro Bowl selection made the playoffs with San Francisco three times, including a Super Bowl loss in the 2012 season. For a team with 5 Super Bowl titles, Frank Gore is clearly the best 49er without one.
Seattle Seahawks – Steve Largent
Steve Largent was a model of consistency during his time with the Seattle Seahawks. He finished his career with 100 touchdowns and 13,089 receiving yards. Largent had 8 seasons with at least 1,000 yards receiving and even went 177 straight games with at least one catch. Seattle might be a great city, but during the 1980’s they were a face of NFL playoff futility, as Largent only played in 7 playoff games over 4 seasons. While he earned 7 Pro Bowl selections and a Hall of Fame induction, Largent never reached the big game.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Lee Roy Selmon
Lee Roy Selmon spent 9 seasons as a starter on Tampa Bay’s defensive front line where he started 117 of 121 games and had 78.5 sacks. He also earned 6 nods to the Pro Bowl and won the Defensive Player of the Year in 1979. The problem with Selmon’s career was timing. He played in Tampa during the 70s and 80s when the Bucs were essentially a doormat for their NFL competition. While they made the playoffs three times during his time there, Lee Roy Selmon never got to sniff the Super Bowl.
Tennessee Titans – Derrick Henry
Derrick Henry is an absolute beast in the backfield. Currently in his 8th year, Henry has rushed for 8,620 yards and 80 touchdowns. He is a 3 time Pro Bowl selection and in 2020 won the Offensive Player of the Year with over 2,000 yards on the ground. Make no mistake, Derrick Henry is on a trajectory that will lead him to Canton, but without a Super Bowl, he is the Titans representative on our list.
Washington Commanders – Ken Houston
Ken Houston was a Hall of Fame safety with seven Pro Bowl appearances as a member of Washington. He finished his career in Washington with 49 interceptions, 898 interception return yards, 21 fumble recoveries and 12 defensive touchdowns. Houston’s teams in the nation’s capital made the playoffs 3 seasons but lost in the Divisional Round all 3 times. In a cruel twist of fate, Washington did win a Super Bowl a short two seasons after Ken Houston retired.
