NFL History: The 50 Best Players, Coaches and Owners to Never Win a Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is the grand prize of NFL achievement. Every player, coach and owner would consider giving their firstborn to win the Lombardi Trophy.

Unfortunately, only one team each year gets to proclaim, "I am Super Bowl champion!"

With only 45 Super Bowls having been played in the history of the NFL, there are plenty of great players, coaches and owners who have never won the biggest game of the year.

Here are the 50 best.

The Current Players

There are a handful of current NFL players who are worthy of consideration as the best the game of football has seen.

Here are the seven best current players who haven't won a Super Bowl.

Champ Bailey, CB

As one of the greatest cover cornerbacks in NFL history, it is a shame that Champ Bailey has never even had a chance to participate in a Super Bowl.

His 10 Pro Bowl selections is first all-time for cornerbacks, and he is considered a lock for the Hall of Fame. After signing a four-year contract with the Denver Broncos in 2011, it is highly unlikely that Bailey will ever see the field in a Super Bowl.

Tony Gonzalez, TE

There may never be another tight end as proficient as Tony Gonzalez. His 1,100-plus receptions and nearly 13,000 receiving yards will be long-standing records for a tight end.

These past few seasons have been Gonzalez's best chances to win a Super Bowl, as the Atlanta Falcons have been one of the better teams in the NFC. However, with only one or two years left of playing time, Gonzalez's window for a Super Bowl ring is quickly closing.

Randy Moss, WR

Yes, I know that Randy Moss is currently retired, but I'm considering him a current player because he may still return in 2012.

Moss is quite possibly the greatest deep threat in the history of the NFL. He is a top five receiver all-time, maybe even the second greatest behind only Jerry Rice.

There were two great teams that Moss was a part of, the 2007 New England Patriots and the 1998 Minnesota Vikings. Even though those teams had combined regular season records of 31-1, both fell short of a Super Bowl victory for Moss.

Terrell Owens, WR

Terrell Owens is another player that some might consider "non-current," but like Randy Moss, Owens doesn't seem ready to be away from the NFL.

While Owens off-field antics have sometimes overshadowed what he does on the field, there is no doubting that he was one of the best receivers of his time. Few players were as consistently good as Owens was throughout his career.

He will always be remembered for coming back extremely early from a broken leg to play in the Super Bowl for the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite his best efforts, the Eagles and Owens came up short.

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB

When LaDainian Tomlinson retires, he will go down as one of the best running backs in the history of the NFL.

During his time with the San Diego Chargers, Tomlinson was a MVP candidate nearly every year. He would often be near the league lead in rushing yards and total touchdowns, as he has a knack for finding the end zone.

Tomlinson is another player who has never had the opportunity to even play in a Super Bowl.

Donovan McNabb, QB

Very few quarterbacks have been as ridiculed as Donovan McNabb throughout their career. Even when he was winning for the Philadelphia Eagles, it always seemed like the city was looking for another quarterback.

McNabb had several chances with the Eagles to get his team to the Super Bowl, but was only able to win one NFC Championship game. He lost in his lone Super Bowl appearance to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

It now seems extremely likely that McNabb's career as a starter is over, so the only way he gets that Super Bowl ring will be in a backup role for a really good team.

Ed Reed, S

Out of all the current players just listed, Ed Reed has the best shot to still win a Super Bowl. The Baltimore Ravens look like a team that will contend for the next several years.

Since Reed entered the league, he has been one of the best safeties in the league. Each year, Reed shows off his incredible ability of making play after play in the secondary. Few defensive backs in the history of the NFL have ever been able to make plays like Reed does.

Reed was drafted two years after the Ravens won their lone Super Bowl, and has yet to have the opportunity to play on the biggest stage.

The Owners

While most great owners are capable of getting the right personnel in place to win a Super Bowl, there are a handful who have come so close, but fallen short.

Here are the seven best owners to never win a Super Bowl.

Bud Adams, Tennessee Titans

As owner of the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans, Bud Adams is currently one of the longest tenured owners in the NFL.

Unfortunately, Adams greatest opportunity at a Super Bowl victory came up a yard short against the St. Louis Rams back in 1999.  Since then, the Titans have been very up-and-down, and appear to be a few years away from becoming real contenders in the AFC.

Ralph Wilson, Buffalo Bills

Sure, Ralph Wilson may be one of the cheapest owners in NFL history, but during the early 1990s, there were few teams as good as the Buffalo Bills.

From 1990-1993, the Bills won four straight AFC Championship games, but lost four consecutive Super Bowls. After years of mediocrity, Buffalo finally appears to be moving in the right direction.

Jeffrey Lurie, Philadelphia Eagles

Since Jeffrey Lurie took over the Philadelphia Eagles in 1994, he has done a fantastic job at making his team a relevant NFL franchise year after year.

This year was supposed to finally be his year after Lurie brought in big name free agents like Nnamdi Asomugha, Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins. Unfortunately, this season seems to be at a loss with Philadelphia sitting at 3-6, their door to the playoffs quickly closing.

Bill Bidwell, Arizona Cardinals

It wasn't until just recently that the Arizona Cardinals have actually had some relevance in the NFL. Most of that is due to the fact that Bill Bidwell is finally willing to put some money into his team's payroll.

Bidwell and the Cardinals came up just barely short of a Super Bowl victory a few years ago when Kurt Warner led them to an improbable playoff run. Now Bidwell is hoping that Kevin Kolb, who he made a huge offseason trade for, will be able to lead them back.

Arthur Blank, Atlanta Falcons

Few owners have ever had to deal with adversity in their franchise like Arthur Blank and the Atlanta Falcons when Michael Vick got into trouble with the law.

However, Blank did a fantastic job at bringing in the right people to turn the franchise around. Now Atlanta boasts one of the better teams in the NFC, and are legitimate contenders for a Super Bowl appearance in the next few years.

Paul Allen, Seattle Seahawks

One thing that Paul Allen has done a great job of is getting the people of Seattle to love their football team. The Seattle Seahawks boast one of the best home field advantages in the league, as was evident by their home playoff victory over the New Orleans Saints last year.

I'm not sure how long the people of Seattle are going to be able to keep up their positive attitude if the Seahawks keep playing like they have been this season. Even with a victory over the Baltimore Ravens this past Sunday, this team is still one of the worst in the league.

In order for Allen to get that elusive Super Bowl victory, he is going to need to find a true franchise quarterback.

Alex Spanos, San Diego Chargers

Alex Spanos has had a bunch of talent on his San Diego Chargers franchise since he took over in 1984. However, all that talent has yet to bring him a Super Bowl championship.

Every year it seems the Chargers are poised to make a run at the Super Bowl, yet every year they fall short along the way. Now with Philip Rivers and a young defense, this team looks to be a dangerous threat for the next few years.

The Coaches

Head coaches are often the forgotten part of a Super Bowl-winning team. While they don't throw or catch the football, they still play an extremely vital role.

Here are nine head coaches who have coached their brains out, but have never had the opportunity to lift the Lombardi Trophy.

Dennis Green: Minnesota Vikings/Arizona Cardinals

Dennis Green was a rather intense man roaming the sidelines. He would yell, scream and holler to get his team to perform at a high level.

While he may be best known for his press conference rants, Green was a great at planning for each week. His teams were also extremely potent offensively.

John Fox: Carolina Panthers/Denver Broncos

John Fox is a defensive juggernaut and there is absolutely no debating that fact. He built the Carolina Panthers into a great defensive team before moving to the Denver Broncos this year.

While the Broncos offense leaves much to be desired, their defense has played very well for being such a young unit. It is only a matter of time before Fox has this team in contention for the AFC West divisional crown.

Jim Mora Sr.: New Orleans Saints/Indianapolis Colts

Jim Mora Sr. is best know for this. Or this. Either way, he is one of the most animated coaches in NFL history.

While ranting and raving about how awful your team is might not be the best way to motivate, it sure makes for entertaining television. Mora now hopes that his son doesn't have the same lack of Super Bowl success like he did.

Don Coryell: San Diego Chargers

For those of you who aren't familiar with the "Air Coryell" offense, the originator is the man above, Don Coryell.

He was the mastermind behind the offense that made Dan Fouts, Charlie Joiner, Kellen Winslow and others so proficient. None of those great offenses were able to bring Coryell a Super Bowl, though.

Andy Reid: Philadelphia Eagles

Andy Reid became well known as the quarterback coach for the Green Bay Packers. When he moved over to the Philadelphia Eagles, everyone expected him to work wonders with whatever quarterback he finally got.

That quarterback turned out to be Donovan McNabb, and while McNabb never led Reid to a Super Bowl victory, he certainly gave him the best chance to win one. Now Reid is putting his Super Bowl hopes on Michael Vick from here on out.

Bud Grant: Minnesota Vikings

Bud Grant was the first head coach to ever lose four Super Bowls during his coaching career. He lost them all with the Minnesota Vikings, a team that he coached for nearly 20 years.

Grant was best known for showing absolutely no emotion while coaching games. I bet he didn't even cry after losing each Super Bowl.

Dan Reeves: Denver Broncos/New York Giants/Atlanta Falcons

A head coach for three different teams, Dan Reeves brought two of those teams—Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos—to a Super Bowl.

Over 23 coaching seasons, Reeves posted a 190-165-2 career record. While that isn't a great record, Reeves was often tasked with rebuilding a franchise, and he did a fantastic job at it.

Marv Levy: Kansas City Chiefs/Buffalo Bills

There are very few head coaches who have produced as many other coaches as Marv Levy. Guys like Wade Philips, Ted Cottrell and Bill Walsh were all once assistants under Levy.

He was the head coach for the Buffalo Bills' dynasty that lost four straight Super Bowls to start the 1990s. Levy is one of the greatest teachers to ever coach the game.

Jeff Fisher: Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans

When Jeff Fisher left the Tennessee Titans this offseason, the entire state of Tennessee went into mourning.

During the 1999 season, Fisher finally led the Titans to their first and lone Super Bowl appearance. Going up against the upstart St. Louis Rams, Fisher and the Titans came up just a yard short of a victory.

The Retired Players

The following players have all had their chance at a Super Bowl victory come and go.

These are some of the greatest players to ever play the game of football.

Dick Butkus, LB

As one of the most feared NFL linebackers of all time, Dick Butkus drove fear into every offensive player that he faced.

As the centerpiece of the Chicago Bears’ franchise for many years, Butkus was never able to bring home the Lombardi Trophy to the city of Chicago. That fact hasn’t ruined Butkus’ standing in NFL history. He is still widely considered one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

Earl Campbell, RB

When Earl Campbell entered the league for the Houston Oilers, not many people had seen a running back play with such sheer determination. Highlight clips of Campbell running over defenders while his jersey is torn are extremely common.

His aggressive style of running was what made watching the Oilers so enjoyable. To this day, he is considered one of the toughest running backs to ever play the game. 

Eric Dickerson, RB

Eric Dickerson was able to put up some incredible statistics over the course of his career. To this day, he still holds the record for most rushing yards in a single season.

In fact, Dickerson was only in his second season in the league when he rushed for 2,105 yards to surpass O.J. Simpson’s record. From the day he stepped into the league he was considered one of the best running backs in the game.

Dan Fouts, QB

There will be numerous “old school” San Diego Chargers on this list due to the potency of their offense in the late '70s and early '80s. The leader of that offense was none other than Dan Fouts.

Due to the nature of the offense that he ran, Fouts was a consistent fixture atop the statistical leaderboards for passing yards and touchdowns. Many consider him to be one of the best players to never win a Super Bowl.

Charlie Joiner, WR

While Dan Fouts was the quarterback for the high-powered San Diego Chargers offense, Charlie Joiner was one of his top targets.

Joiner used his great speed and incredible hands to simply dominate the league for many years. He fit perfectly in the Chargers’ offense and was a huge reason why they were so successful for so many years.

Jim Kelly, QB

Not many players get four straight opportunities to win a Super Bowl, let alone fail to cash in on those opportunities.

Unfortunately, Jim Kelly is one of those very few players to lose four consecutive Super Bowls. As quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, Kelly will always be remembered for not winning a Super Bowl rather than leading his team to four in a row.

Steve Largent, WR

There are players that you look at and say, “Yeah, that looks like an NFL player.” Steve Largent wasn’t that type of player.

Largent was often considered undersized for a wide receiver, but that never stopped him from becoming one of the best the game has ever seen. With precise route-running and incredibly sure hands, Largent was able to do things that many thought impossible for a player of his size.

Year after year, he would continue to put up great statistical seasons while making his case as one of the best receivers in NFL history.

James Lofton, WR

When James Lofton retired, he was the Green Bay Packers leader in receiving yards. That record has since been broken by Donald Driver.

Lofton also played for the San Diego Chargers and three Super Bowls for the Buffalo Bills. He was a dominant player through three different decades.

Dan Marino, QB

Dan Marino is widely considered the greatest quarterback to never win a Super Bowl.

At the time of his retirement, Marino held nearly every passing record in the books. His 5,084 passing yards in a season is a record that has stood for nearly 20 years.

Some feel that Marino shouldn’t be praised as one of the best quarterbacks of all time because he never won a Super Bowl. However, there can be no doubt about his place in the history books regardless of Super Bowl victories.

Bruce Matthews, OL

Bruce Matthews was an incredible offensive lineman for the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans. For many years, he was the face of those franchises.

He was selected to 14 Pro Bowls over the course of his career, started 229 consecutive games and never missed a game due to injury.

Randall McDaniel, OL

As an offensive guard for the Minnesota Vikings, Randall McDaniel was almost guaranteed a Pro Bowl roster spot every year.

He was fantastic in both pass coverage and open-field blocking for his running backs. There may not have been a more versatile offensive lineman to play the game.

Warren Moon, QB

Had Warren Moon spent his entire career in the NFL it is very possible that he would have retired holding numerous records. However, Moon didn’t come into the league until later in his career.

Even with a shorter career, he was still able to put up some mind-boggling statistics.

Moon had a cannon for an arm and was one of the best quarterbacks at using his feet to move the ball. Had he been surrounded with more talent, there is no doubt that he would have won a Super Bowl or two.

Anthony Munoz, OL

They just don’t make offensive tackles like Anthony Munoz anymore.

Munoz was a dominant force on the left side of the offensive line for the Cincinnati Bengals. He is widely considered the benchmark for how an offensive tackle should play.

John Randle, DL

John Randle was a dominant pass rusher for the Minnesota Vikings. As a lifetime fan of the Green Bay Packers, I vividly remember cursing Randle’s name every time the Packers faced the Vikings.

He was one of the first defensive tackles to truly excel at getting after the quarterback. He is one of the greatest undrafted players in NFL history.

Barry Sanders, RB

Had Barry Sanders not abruptly retired at such a young age, there is no doubt that he would have shattered nearly every record for a running back.

No player should have been able to do what Sanders was able to do year after year. He is the prime example of an extremely good player on an extremely bad team.

Just imagine if Sanders had been on a team like the Dallas Cowboys or San Francisco 49ers. He might not have had enough fingers on one hand to hold all his Super Bowl rings.

Gale Sayers, RB

From the second that Gale Sayers stepped onto an NFL field he was a dominant force.

Sayers set an NFL record 22 touchdowns as a rookie, and just continued to get better throughout his career. He made it to four Pro Bowls and was voted to five All-Pro Teams.

Injuries ruined what was a very promising career for Sayers.

O.J. Simpson, RB

O.J. Simpson has fallen rather far since he left the NFL. However, when he was on the field, he was one of the most exciting players to watch.

He was the first player to ever rush for 2,000 yards in a season, and he had the most rushing yards in a single season until Eric Dickerson broke his mark.

Simpson is one of the most recognized players to have never won a Super Bowl.

Bruce Smith, DL

The all-time leader in sacks is another prime example of how it takes an entire team to win a Super Bowl. Just because Bruce Smith was an absolute terror on the defensive line didn’t guarantee that the Buffalo Bills or Washington Redskins would win a Super Bowl.

Smith used his intense determination and drive to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. He wasn’t the greatest athlete or physical specimen, but that didn’t stop him from dominating the league for many years.

Fran Tarkenton, QB

Before there was Michael Vick, there was Fran Tarkenton. He truly advanced the quarterback position as far as mobility.

Tarkenton made nine Pro Bowls over the course of his career. He led the Minnesota Vikings to three Super Bowls, losing each.

Derrick Thomas, LB

As a pure pass rusher, there may have not been a better player than Derrick Thomas.

It was like watching an artist at work whenever Thomas would step on the field. He was so good that offenses would do everything in their power to stop him, but oftentimes they would still come up short.

Thomas was also one of the greatest and kindest players when off the field.

Thurman Thomas, RB

Thurman Thomas is another Buffalo Bills player who went to four consecutive Super Bowls and lost four consecutive times.

While Jim Kelly may have run the Bills’ offense, it was Thomas who was the best player on the team. He was a fantastic running back and a quality receiver out of the backfield.

I’m not sure if it is possible to be underrated while being a member of the Hall of Fame, but if it is, Thomas is absolutely underrated.

Kellen Winslow, TE

Before there was Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates, there was Kellen Winslow.

As a member of the famous San Diego Chargers high-powered offense, Winslow thrived as a pass-catching tight end. Winslow would often put up numbers that would make wide receivers jealous.

His greatest moment on the field was when he overcame numerous injuries to have one of the best individual performances in playoff history.

Jack Youngblood, DL

Jack Younglood is, without a doubt, the toughest player to ever play in the NFL. You are deserving of that title when you play in a football game with a broken leg, which is exactly what Youngblood did.

For many years, Youngblood was the most feared defensive lineman in the league. What makes everything that he was able to accomplish in his career even more impressive is the fact that he was extremely undersized.

Cris Carter, WR

With some of the best hands the NFL had ever seen, Cris Carter was able to make catches that would make your jaw drop to the floor.

It was almost like Carter had a sixth sense for where the sidelines were, and he made a living by barely keeping his second foot in bounds. Carter teamed with Randy Moss during the 1998 season to form one of the greatest scoring offenses in NFL history.

Fred Taylor, RB

I don’t know if there has ever been a player that has received so little recognition for being such a good player. All Fred Taylor did during his career was put together productive season after productive season for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Taylor was the poster boy for consistency. Every time he stepped on the field you just knew that he was going to have another solid game.

He was also extremely mild-mannered, which is probably why he didn’t get much media attention. It’s a shame, because Taylor was truly enjoyable to watch on the field.

Ken Houston, S

As a safety for the Houston Oilers and Washington Redskins, Ken Houston was one of the best play making safeties of his time. In fact, the Redskins thought he was so valuable that they traded five players for him.

Houston had a great ability to make plays on the ball while it was in the air. He finished his career with 49 interceptions and 12 Pro Bowl selections.

Charley Taylor, WR

When Charley Taylor finally retired from the NFL, he held almost every record for a wide receiver.

Of course, those records have been broken over the years, but Taylor is still regarded as a top receiver in NFL history. Taylor actually started his career as a running back, but made the move to wide receiver during his second season in the NFL.

It was a great move, as Taylor used the skills he had as a running back to excel as a wide receiver for numerous years.