Greatest NFL Players Without a Super Bowl Ring

Even some of the NFL's greatest players never managed to win a Super Bowl ring.

Greatest NFL Players Without a Super Bowl Ring

The Super Bowl only comes once a year, and the winning team receives the ultimate prize — a diamond-encrusted Super Bowl ring designed with the team's name prominently on display.

But even some of the NFL's greatest players never managed to achieve this accomplishment. Here, we want to highlight the best retired NFL players without a Super Bowl ring, the ones who probably wish for a do-over to enhance their legacies.

30. Champ Bailey

Career: 15 seasons (1999-2013)

Teams: Washington Redskins (1999-2003), Denver Broncos (2004-13)

Regular season statistics: 215 games played/52 pass interceptions/6 fumble recoveries/ 3.0 sacks

Bottom Line: Champ Bailey

One would think that a 12-time Pro Bowler named Champ would be that many times over. But nooooo — his best chance at Super Bowl glory didn’t come until his final season, and it was a full-blown disaster. (Seattle Seahawks 43, Broncos 8.)

Oh, and he’s the only defensive back on this list, not to rub it in or anything.

29. Carson Palmer

Career: 14 seasons (2004-17)

Teams: Cincinnati Bengals (2004-10), Oakland Raiders (2011-12), Arizona Cardinals (2013-17)

Regular season statistics: 182 games played/.625 pass completion percentage/46,247 pass yards/294 pass touchdowns

Bottom Line: Carson Palmer

What did this talented but star-crossed quarterback do to deserve the Bengals and Cardinals for the brunt of his career?

Through the 2021 season, neither team had won it all in 73 years.

28. Boomer Esaiason

Career: 14 seasons (1984-1997)

Teams: Cincinnati Bengals (1984-92, 1997), New York Jets (1993-95), Arizona Cardinals (1996)

Regular season statistics: 187 games played/.570 pass completion percentage/37,920 pass yards/247 pass touchdowns

Bottom Line: Boomer Esaiason

Norman (his real name) was this close to a Super Bowl XXIII victory.

Then, Joe Montana (and John Taylor) lowered the boomer with 34 seconds left to play.

27. Curtis Martin

Career: 11 seasons (1995-2005)

Teams: New England Patriots (1995-97), New York Jets (1998-2005)

Regular season statistics: 168 games played, 14,101 rush yards, 3,329 pass yards, 100 total touchdowns

Bottom Line: Curtis Martin

The 10-time, 1,000-yard rusher was drafted by the Patriots six years too soon.

Alas, his best shot at Super glory came with the Drew Bledsoe-Bill Parcells edition, not the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick bunch.

26. Jack Youngblood

Career: 14 seasons (1971-1984)

Teams: Los Angeles Rams (1971-84)

Regular season statistics: 202 games played/151.5 sacks/10 fumble recoveries/2 safeties

Bottom Line: Jack Youngblood

If all it took were sweat and guts to win championships, then five-time All-Pro would have to grow fingers to wear so many Super Bowl rings. His best chance came in Super Bowl XIV when the underdog Rams had the Pittsburgh Steelers on the ropes but couldn’t close the deal.

Blood fun fact: He played the final two-plus games on a broken left leg that postseason.

25. Derrick Thomas

Career: 11 seasons (1995-2005)

Teams: Kansas City Chiefs (1998-2005)

Regular season statistics: 169 games played/126.5 sacks/19 fumble recoveries/3 safeties

Bottom Line: Derrick Thomas

There was no better edge rusher than this one in the 1990s decade. And few more frustrated ones at the same time.

His teams were one-and-done in the playoffs five times, two-and-done once and blown out in their only AFC Championship Game appearance.

24. Warren Moon

Career: 17 seasons (1984-2000)

Teams: Houston Oilers (1984-93), Minnesota Vikings (1994-96), Seattle Seahawks (1997-98), Kansas City Chiefs (1999-2000)

Regular season statistics: 208 games played/.584 pass completion percentage/49,325 pass yards/291 pass touchdowns

Bottom Line: Warren Moon

After six seasons in the Canadian Football League and seven more with mediocre Oilers teams, Moon finally got his big chance at 35 years of age.

He outplayed John Elway and the Denver Broncos for three quarters in the 1991 AFC divisional round, only to have his team blow an eight-point lead in a 26-24 loss on the road.

23. Isiah Robertson

Career: 12 seasons (1971-82)

Teams: Los Angeles Rams (1971-78), Buffalo Bills (1979-82)

Regular season statistics: 168 games played/25 interceptions/24.5 sacks/15 fumble recoveries

Bottom Line: Isiah Robertson

The 1970s Rams' defenses are some of the most underappreciated of the expansion era. Butch was its best athlete and all-around talent. (Got that, Hall of Fame selectors?)

If only the six-time Pro Bowler could have played quarterback...

22. Thurman Thomas

Thurman Thomas, Leonard Marshall, Kyle Clifton

Career: 13 seasons (1988-2000)

Teams: Buffalo Bills (1988-99), Miami Dolphins (2000)

Regular season statistics: 182 games played/12,074 rush yards/4,458 pass yards/88 total touchdowns

Bottom Line: Thurman Thomas

Yeah, the Thurmanator came up empty in four Super Bowl tries, all right. But how many players would have traded a pinkie finger for even one such opportunity?

He almost certainly would have been the Super Bowl XXV Most Valuable Player, but, you know, Wide Right.

21. Donovan McNabb

Career: 13 seasons (1999-2011)

Teams: Philadelphia Eagles (1999-2009), Washington Redskins (2010), Minnesota Vikings (2011)

Regular season statistics: 167 games played/.590 pass completion percentage/37,276 pass yards/234 pass touchdowns

Bottom Line: Donovan McNabb

An elusive victory was right in front of the QB in Super Bowl XXXIX when he gagged in the fourth quarter. Literally. In front of millions of people.

“I’ve talked to teammates since then and know for a fact that he was out the night before the biggest game pretty much of all of our careers there,” teammate Terrell Owens claimed per Bleacher Report. “There were people that saw him out and said he was drinking. I think that contributed to him throwing up in the huddle.”

20. Willie Roaf

Career: 13 seasons (1993-2005)

Teams: New Orleans Saints (1993-2001), Kansas City Chiefs (2002-05)

Regular season statistics: 189 games played/4 fumble recoveries

Bottom Line: Willie Roaf

The 11-time Pro Bowl tackle had a super-sized chance with the 2003 Chiefs, which had won more games and scored more points than any team in franchise history at the time.

But 31 points weren’t enough in a seven-point loss against Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC divisional round.

19. Jim Kelly

Career: 11 seasons (1986-96)

Teams: Buffalo Bills (1986-96)

Regular season statistics: 160 games played/.601 pass completion percentage/35,467 pass yards/237 pass touchdowns

Bottom Line: Jim Kelly

Throw out four Super Bowl failures, and Kelly owns the sixth-best postseason record (9-4) among quarterbacks.

If coach Marv Levy hadn’t taken his foot off the pedal on the final drive of the first loss, I wonder if Bills' history would have played out differently.

18. Carl Eller

Career: 16 seasons (1964-79)

Teams: Minnesota Vikings (1964-78), Seattle Seahawks (1979)

Regular season statistics: 225 games played/133.5 sacks/23 fumble recoveries/2 safeties

Bottom Line: Carl Eller

Los Angeles Rams ball carrier Larry Smith (38) is chased by Minnesota Vikings Carl Eller (81)

The six-time Pro Bowler never won the Big One, but at least he had chances. Lots of chances.

Only 11 d-linemen took part in more postseason games (19) in league history.

17. Merlin Olsen

Career: 15 seasons (1962-76)

Teams: Los Angeles Rams (1962-76)

Regular season statistics: 208 games played/91.0 sacks/9 fumble recoveries

Bottom Line: Merlin Olsen

Here’s another member of the 1970s Rams' defense who got a raw deal. In his nine playoff games, their offense scored all of 14 touchdowns. (The D scored three itself.)

As the Hall of Fame tackle would discover in his second career, the cast of “Little House on the Prairie” couldn’t have done much worse.

16. Zach Thomas

Career: 13 seasons (1996-2008)

Teams: Miami Dolphins (1996-2007), Dallas Cowboys (2007-08)

Regular season statistics: 184 games played/17 interceptions/ 20.5 sacks/8 fumble recoveries

Bottom Line: Zach Thomas

Three times his teams advanced to the second round ... and were toasted by 35, 55 and 27 points. In consecutive years, mind you.

Dude, what did the five-time All-Pro linebacker do to deserve that exactly?

15. Randall Cunningham

Career: 16 seasons (1985-95, 1997-2001)

Teams: Philadelphia Eagles (1985-95), Minnesota Vikings (1997-99), Dallas Cowboys (2000), Baltimore Ravens (2001)

Regular season statistics: 161 games played/.566 pass completion percentage/29,979 pass yards/207 pass touchdowns

Bottom Line: Randall Cunningham

Not only did Ramblin’ Randall author one of the best regular seasons of any 30-something QB in league history, but he was every bit as great in the playoffs.

Then came the cruel kick of fate in the NFC Championship Game. (See teammate Randall McDaniel later on for details.)

14. Bruce Matthews

Career: 19 seasons (1983-2001)

Teams: Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans (1983–2001)

Regular season statistics: 296 games played/10 fumble recoveries

Bottom Line: Bruce Matthews

This warhorse played forever in the o-line, but not until 38 years of age was he on the cusp of team greatness.

The Super Bowl XXXIV dream crashed-landed three feet short of the goal line. Three. Stinkin’. Feet.

13. Philip Rivers

Career: 17 seasons (2004-20)

Teams: San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (2004-19), Indianapolis Colts (2020)

Regular season statistics: 244 games played/.649 pass completion percentage/63,440 pass yards/421 pass touchdowns

Bottom Line: Philip Rivers

Phillips was part of the loaded ’04 draft class, which included Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger behind center. He owns the best stats of the trio, but the others have the Super Bowl jewelry.

I mean, this guy has as many rings as J.P Losman, the fourth QB drafted in round one. That’s cold.

12. Randall McDaniel

Career: 14 seasons (1988-2001)

Teams: Minnesota Vikings (1988-99), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2000-01)

Regular season statistics: 222 games played/2 fumble recoveries

Bottom Line: Randall McDaniel

The 10-time Pro Bowl guard saw his only chance at Super Bowl glory sail wide by mere inches.

The ultra reliable Gary Anderson narrowly missed a field goal attempt that would have iced the 1998 NFC Championship Game — his only such hiccup of the season — then the Vikings took a kick in the groin in overtime.

11. Ken Anderson

Career: 16 seasons (1971-86)

Teams: Cincinnati Bengals (1971-86)

Regular season statistics: 192 games played/.593 pass completion percentage/32,838 pass yards/197 pass touchdowns

Bottom Line: Ken Anderson

Before Joe Burrow, there was Boomer Esiason. And before Esiason, there was Anderson, the first Bengals star quarterback to get close to Super Bowl glory — but no victory cigar.

At least this one had a Cincinnati beer named after him.

10. Brian Urlacher

Career: 13 seasons (2000-12)

Teams: Chicago Bears (2000-12)

Regular season statistics: 182 games played/22 interceptions/41.5 sacks/16 fumble recoveries

Bottom Line: Brian Urlacher

I don’t understand all the sympathy for this eight-time Pro Bowler. Da Bears have played without a quarterback since the Single Wing days.

No. 54 should feel damn lucky to have played in even one Super Bowl, although I would have picked somebody other than Peyton Manning on the other side of the ball.

9. John Hannah

All-pro guard John Hannah, left, and All-Pro tackle Leon Gray

Career: 13 seasons (1973-85)

Teams: New England Patriots (1973-85)

Regular season statistics: 183 games played/10 fumble recoveries

Bottom Line: John Hannah

In a perfect football world, the franchise GOAT lineman would have protected quarterback Tom Brady for at least part of his career.

He got the likes of Jim Plunkett 1.0, Steve Grogan and Tony Eason instead.

8. Edgerrin James

Career: 11 seasons (1999-2009)

Teams: Indianapolis Colts (1999-2006), Arizona Cardinals (2007-09)

Regular season statistics: 148 games played/12,246 rush yards/3,364 pass yards/91 total touchdowns

Bottom Line: Edgerrin James

A Super Bowl victory would have been a lovely parting gift for Edge at the end of his stellar career.

If Ben Roethlisberger hadn’t thrown the most insane touchdown pass ever in Super Bowl XLIII, it probably would be in his vault, too.

7. Dan Fouts

Career: 11 seasons (1973-87)

Teams: San Diego Chargers (1973-87)

Regular season statistics: 181 games played/.588 pass completion percentage/43,040 pass yards/254 pass touchdowns

Bottom Line: Dan Fouts

One of the most prolific passers in NFL history had a common theme in his postseason career. Fall behind early, throw like heck late.

His teams coughed up an average of 27.4 points in seven playoff games, six of which they trailed at halftime. The lone exception: the double-overtime win in The Epic in Miami, also known as The Kellen Winslow Game.

6. Dan Marino

Career: 17 seasons (1983-1999)

Teams: Miami Dolphins (1983-1999)

Regular season statistics: 242 games played/.594 completion percentage/61,361 pass yards/420 pass touchdowns

Bottom Line: Dan Marino

The best pure passer ever was a QB before his time.

If the guy played with the namby-pamby by today's rules, he would throw 50-plus touchdowns every season, win multiple Super Bowls titles and be in the GOAT conversation, I guarantee ya.

5. Bruce Smith

Career: 19 seasons (1985-2003)

Teams: Buffalo Bills (1985-1999), Washington Redskins (2000-03)

Regular season statistics: 279 games played/200.0 sacks/15 fumble recoveries/2 safeties

Bottom Line: Bruce Smith

This eight-time All-Pro end had the biggest sack of his career late in the second quarter of Super Bowl XXIV when he brought down New York Giants quarterback Jeff Hostetler in the end zone for a safety.

No way the favored Bills could blow a 12-3 lead against a second-string quarterback, right? Wrong!

4. Frank Tarkenton

Career: 18 seasons (1961-78)

Teams: Minnesota Vikings (1961-66, 1972-78), New York Giants (1967-1971)

Regular season statistics: 246 games played/.570 pass competition percentage/47,003 pass yards/342 pass touchdowns

Bottom Line: Frank Tarkenton

I wish we could put Scramblin’ Fran in a Way-Ahead Machine. The guy had the ideal skillset for the 2020s. He was more accurate than Lamar Jackson, more patient than Patrick Mahomes and comparable with his feet.

Give him a competent o-coordinator and wide receivers, and I say he carries the rest over the finish line.

3. Alan Page

Career: 15 seasons (1967-81)

Teams: Minnesota Vikings (1967-78), Chicago Bears (1978-81)

Regular season statistics: 218 games played/148.5 sacks/23 fumble recoveries/3 safeties

Bottom Line: Alan Page

I’m convinced that this physical freak was miscast as an undersized d-tackle — sort of like Adam Sandler in “The Longest Yard.”

Have him wreak havoc as an edge rusher, insert a beefy run-stuffer in the middle, and I bet the Vikings aren’t trucked in all those Super Bowl wrecks.

2. Anthony Munoz

Career: 13 seasons (1980-92)

Teams: Cincinnati Bengals (1980-92)

Regular season statistics: 185 games played/7 pass receptions/4 pass touchdowns/6 fumble recoveries

Bottom Line: Anthony Munoz

The Bengals' offense failed to score a touchdown in Super Bowl XXIII, yet it came within seconds of a huge celebration. This nine-time All-Pro would never get another chance.

“We had the ability to make at least a two-three year run,” he said per NFL Network. “I really believe that we didn’t have that drive.”

1. Barry Sanders

Career: 10 seasons (1989-98)

Teams: Detroit Lions (1989-98)

Regular season statistics: 153 games played/15,269 rush yards/2,921 pass yards/109 total touchdowns

Bottom Line: Barry Sanders

Dancing Barry was 23 years old in his postseason debut. Lions (Lions?) 38, Dallas Cowboys 6. Hey, no problem, right?

Well, the all-time No. 2 rusher in yards per game played only five more times in the playoffs, all of them losses. That just ain’t right.