From OJ To LT, The Greatest NFL Players Never To Reach A Super Bowl

The NFL regular season is slowly winding down but about to go to the next level as the postseason arrives. Over the course of the NFL’s 100 years of history, the postseason is when good players become great and great players become legends. But unfortunately for some of these legends, through no fault of their own, the opportunity to reach the pinnacle of their sport, the Super Bowl, has slipped their grasp. Not reaching, let alone winning a Super Bowl has taken nothing away from their vast achievements, but for some greats it’s the one glaring hole on their sparkling resumes.

Let’s take a look at some of the greatest to ever play the game and never reach the Super Bowl.

Deacon Jones, DE (1961-74)

Dubbed the “Secretary of Defense”, Jones terrorized opposing quarterbacks in an era when penalties like illegal hands to the face and even roughing the passer (what a time to be alive), weren’t even in existence. Known for his powerful head-slap that almost knocked out opposing offensive linemen, Jones accounted for 173.5 unofficial sacks (the “sack” didn’t become an official statistic until after he retired). However, even with all of that and playing with greats like Merlin Olsen, Jones’ Los Angeles Rams teams went 0-2 in the playoffs, twice losing in the Divisional Rounds. So close.

Dick Butkus, LB (1965-73)

Butkus was one of the original “Monsters of the Midway”, and set the template for the modern day middle linebacker. He was ferocious, and could single-handedly dominate a game on intimidation factor alone. However, none of this translated to a postseason appearance, let alone a Super Bowl, for the linebacker. Butkus got bupkis. *rimshot*

Gale Sayers, RB (1965-71)

Drafted by the Bears right behind Butkus in 1965, Sayers had a short but exemplary career in the NFL. He was the definition of a supernova at the running back position. Just watching his highlights on YouTube can be a jaw-dropping experience. Unfortunately for him and the Bears, that wasn’t enough. No postseason appearances in his career.

O.J. Simpson, RB (1969-79)

Before Simpson became literally Public Enemy No.1, he was one of the greatest running backs to ever play football. He carried the Buffalo Bills to his only playoff appearance, in 1974, where they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Round). The Steelers dominated the 1970’s, winning four Super Bowls, so Simpson and the Bills just happened to be playing in the wrong era.

Earl Campbell, RB (1978-85)

Campbell was known for his physical and bruising style of running. He dished out as much if not more punishment to would-be tacklers, essentially a bulldozer at the position. Unfortunately for him, he too played in the era of Steelers dominance. He did lead the Houston Oilers to six playoff games and a 3-3 record, but the furthest they ever got to the Super Bowl was back-to-back AFC Championship games in 1978 and 1979--ohhh, so close--where they lost to the Steelers on both occasions. Campbell was held in check by the Steelers defense in both of those games, only rushing for 77 yards combined, and didn’t score a touchdown in either. Those were the only two playoff games of his career in which he failed to score.

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB (2001-11)

Tomlinson may have the most hard luck of all the greats on this list. He played in nine playoff games in his illustrious career, going 4-5. His 2006 Chargers team was 14-2 and lost in the Divisional Round at home, and he made two AFC Championship games, losing both. The hard luck part comes in because three of his five playoff losses were by three point margins, and one was by four points.

Tony Gonzalez, TE (1997-2013)

It took Gonzalez 16 seasons to finally win his first playoff game (as an Atlanta Falcon and not a Kansas City Chief, no less), and when the Falcons led the 49ers 17-0 in the 2012 NFC Championship game, it looked like he was finally going to make it to his first Super Bowl. San Francisco had other things in mind, however, and came storming back to win that game 28-24. That would be the future hall of Famer’s last playoff game.

Warren Moon, QB (1984-2000)

Moon spent the late 1970’s and early 1980’s dominating the CFL, winning five ​consecutive ​Grey Cups (their Super Bowl) and two Grey Cup MVPs. He played in ten playoff games, going 3-7. He led the Houston Oilers to the Divisional Round in 1993 where they lost to Joe Montana and the Kansas City Chiefs, 28-20. However, Moon is best known for staking the Oilers to a 35-3 vs the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 1992 AFC playoffs, only to see the Bills comeback and win 41-38 in the greatest NFL comeback ever. So that one definitely wasn’t his fault. Social commentary: one wonders how many other chances Moon would’ve had if he was drafted into the NFL like he should’ve been, based on his merits as a collegiate player, but wasn’t because he was a black man playing a “white” position. End commentary.

All of these absolute giants of the game have two things in common: greatness and no Super Bowl appearances. That being said, not getting to that game in no way diminishes their achievements. Sometimes, that’s just the way the chips fall.

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*Credit to the main photo of this article belongs to Associated Press/File