Dan Marino Miami Dolphins
Dan Marino holds every meaningful passing record in NFL history, throwing for more than 60,000 yards and 420 touchdowns during a glittering 17-year career. But Marino never won a Super Bowl ring. His only appearance in the title game came in 1985 against the San Francisco ***** in Super Bowl XIX. In just his second season, Marino and the Dolphins were beaten 38-16.
The popular thought following that game was that Marino in his second season would return to many Super Bowls. In fact, he never played in another Super Bowl.
Barry Sanders Detroit Lions
Sanders retired in 1999 as the second leading rusher in NFL history when he was on course to eventually become the best of all time. Sanders led the league in rushing four times in 10 seasons. He retired with 15,269 rushing yards and 99 touchdowns but never got anywhere near playing in a Super Bowl with the mediocre Lions.
Dick Butkus Chicago Bears
There is no question Dick Butkus can be considered one of the best if not the best defender of all-time, but he has no Super Bowl ring to show for his efforts. Butkus was an intimidating force at middle linebacker and he ruled the NFL for nine seasons that were full of bone-crunching hits. But his Chicago Bears were distinctly average at that time (1965-1973) and no Super Bowl appearances came Butkus way.
He was voted to eight consecutive Pro Bowls and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.
Fran Tarkenton Minnesota Vikings
Until Dan Marino came along, Fran Tarkenton held every passing record in the book and was a star with the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants from 1961 to 1978.
Tarkenton threw a record 342 touchdown passes during his Hall of Fame career and reached three Super Bowls with the Vikings, losing on each occasion.
The diminutive passer is still considered one of the games greats and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986. At the time of his retirement, Tarkenton held NFL records for attempts (6,467), completions (3,686), yards (47,003) and touchdowns.
Gale Sayers Chicago Bears
Gale Sayers was a magical, breathtaking running back who broke into the NFL in 1965 by scoring a rookie record 22 touchdowns. He led the league in rushing in 1966 and 1969 and was voted to three Pro Bowls. Like Butkus, Sayers had the misfortune of playing on some bad Bears teams and never even got a sniff of the Super Bowl action. Also, a career-ending knee injury meant Sayers only played seven seasons in the NFL. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977.
Anthony Munoz Cincinnati Bengals
Anthony Munoz was a rock on the offensive line of two Cincinnati Bengals teams that went to Super Bowls in the 1981 and 1988 seasons on both occasions they lost to the San Francisco *****. Munoz starred for the Bengals from 1980 to 1992 and was often hailed as the greatest offensive lineman of all time. He was an All-Pro choice for 11 straight seasons and was selected to play in 11 Pro Bowls in a row. Capped career by being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.
O.J. Simpson Buffalo Bills
The Juice was one of the most explosive running backs in NFL history but had the misfortune of playing for the weak Buffalo Bills teams of the 1970s. In 1973, Simpson became the first player in league history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season (14 games) and finished his career having won four rushing titles. Retired with 11,236 yards and no Super Bowl rings to his name. Became a member of the Hall of Fame in 1985.
Earl Campbell Houston Oilers
One of the most physical and punishing running backs of his generation, Earl Campbell was the driving force of the Houston Oilers from 1978 to 1984, and for two seasons with the New Orleans Saints. Campbell racked up 9,407 rushing yards and scored 74 touchdowns during his Hall of Fame career. But despite leading the Oilers to a pair of AFC Championship Games, he never made it to the Super Bowl.
Eric Dickerson Los Angeles Rams and Indianapolis Colts
Eric Dickerson was one of the premier runners in NFL history a slashing type who was hard to grab in the open field. Dickerson holds the single-season rushing record after gaining 2,105 yards in 1984. He played for the Rams, Colts, Los Angeles Raiders and Atlanta Falcons in a Hall of Fame career from 1983 to 1993.
He rushed for 13,259 career yards and was a five-time All-Pro selection and six-time Pro Bowl player. But like Simpson and Campbell before him, Dickerson could not run his teams into Super Bowl appearances.
Jim Kelly Buffalo Bills
Jim Kelly was the field general and master of the no-huddle offense that powered the Buffalo Bills to four consecutive Super Bowl appearances. Yet in each title game, the Bills ended up on the losing side (twice to Dallas, New York Giants and Washington). Kelly played for the Bills from 1986 to 1996 and passed for 3,000 yards or more eight times. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002 and the only thing missing from a glittering career is a Super Bowl ring.
Top 10 NON Superbowl Winners
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