NFL Icons Who Never Made It to the Super Bowl

RB Barry Sanders

Barry Sanders spent his entire career with the Detroit Lions, and the closest the team got to the Super Bowl was in 1991 when they lost to Washington in the NFC Championship game. In his career, Sanders won the NFL MVP award in 1997 and was named Offensive Player of the Year. Sanders rushed for 15,269 yards and 99 touchdowns during his time in the NFL.

LB Dick Butkus

Dick Butkus spent his entire career with the Chicago Bears (1965-1973) and is considered the greatest middle linebacker in NFL history. Not only did he never make the Super Bowl, but Butkus never played in the playoffs. Butkus was named to the Pro Bowl and the All-Pro Team in eight of his nine NFL seasons.

RB Earl Campbell

Earl Campbell was named MVP in 1979 and Offensive Player of the Year from 1978 to 1980. The closest Campbell has gotten to the Super Bowl is when the Houston Oilers lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1979 AFC Championship game.

QB Warren Moon

Warren Moon played for multiple NFL teams from 1984 to 2000 and finished with 49,325 yards and 291 touchdowns. The closest Moon got to the Super Bowl was in 1993 when he led the Houston Oilers to the divisional round of the playoffs.

TE Tony Gonzalez

Tony Gonzalez is arguably the best tight end in NFL history. It took 16 seasons for Gonzalez to earn his first playoff win, but he failed to make the Super Bowl when the Atlanta Falcons lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the 2012 NFC Championship game.

RB LaDanian Tomlinson

LaDanian Tomlinson was named MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and Walton Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2006. The closest he got to the Super Bowl was in 2010 when the Chargers lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2010 AFC Championship Game.

Other Notable Legends

DE Deacon Jones

WR Cris Carter

RB Eric Dickerson

RB O.J. Simpson

QB Dan Fouts

RB Gayle Sayers

LB Derrick Thomas