Another thrilling NFL season came to a close with Patrick Mahomes leading the Kansas City Chiefs to victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII in Arizona. It was a heartbreaking loss for the Eagles who started the game as slight favorites. It was a bittersweet game for Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts who equalled Terrell Davis’ Super Bowl record by scoring three rushing touchdowns. Hurts also threw for 304 yards, but his second-quarter fumble, which was returned for a touchdown, allowed the Chiefs to tie the score at 14-14. 

It was a crucial moment in the game. Had the Eagles scored a touchdown to lead 21-7, it would have given them control of the game, but the score swung momentum the Chiefs’ way, and they were able to secure victory by scoring three touchdowns and a game-winning field goal on each of their four second-half possessions. Hurts was left with eight seconds to rescue a lost cause for the Eagles, but the quarterback was unable to provide a miraculous finale. The challenge now for Hurts is to make sure this is not his one and only chance to win a Super Bowl and the Eagles will be among the favorites with many of the leading NFL betting sites to win Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas next year.

A lot of very talented players, including Hall of Famers, have fell at the final hurdle and never managed to get their hands on the Vince Lombardi trophy. We've put together the best XI offensive, defensive players and a kicker who ended their illustrious careers without a Super Bowl win. Between them, the 23 players played in 26 Super Bowls, but their playing achievements are missing the prize every player dreams of winning. 

QB: Dan Marino

1983-1999
Games Played: 260
Attempts: 9,045
Completions: 5,352
Yards: 65,871
Touchdowns Passes: 452
Super Bowl Appearances: 1 

When Joe Burrow led the Cincinnati Bengals offense in their loss to the Los Angeles Rams last year, many tried to console the quarterback by saying he'll be back to win it in years to come. The same can be said of Hurts as both players have the talent to get back to a Super Bowl and win it. However, there are many cautionary tales in the history of the NFL to remind him that stars like them might only get one chance to call themselves a Super Bowl champion. 

During the 1984 season, Dan Marino exploded onto the scene with a record-breaking season with 5,084 passing yards and 48 touchdown passes, and led the Miami Dolphins to Super Bowl XIX. Marino was the league's MVP, but he faced Joe Montana's San Francisco 49ers in the big game. The 49ers won 38-16 and Marino heard many people say - 'he'll be back to win one of these one day'.

That day never came and Marino was, in many people's eyes, the best player never to win a Super Bowl. When Marino called time on his career, he owned every passing record in the NFL. Dolphins head coach Don Shula relied on Marino's arm too much, and neglected to provide a running game to add another dimension to Miami's offense. Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly lost four successive Super Bowls, and deserves a mention in this team. The omens are not great for Hurts. The last 16 quarterbacks to lose their first Super Bowl have never made it back. Hurts will hope he can win a Super Bowl before he finishes his career. 

WR: Terrell Owens

1996-2010
Games Played: 231
Receptions: 1,132
Receiving Yards: 16,685
Receiving TDs: 158
Super Bowl Appearances: 1

When Terrell Owens entered the league, he quickly set about redefining the wide receiver position. He set the bar high and led the way for future players to express themselves in the receiver position. Owens brought a new level of excitement to the NFL, which made it must-watch TV. His speed and agility set him above the rest, and while he put up some crazy numbers, he failed in his quest to win the biggest prize of all.

Owens was drafted by the 49ers in 1996 and spent eight seasons in San Francisco catching passes from Steve Young before concussion ended his career and Jeff Garcia replaced him as starting quarterback in 1999. Realizing his hopes of winning a Super Bowl were dwindling, the five-time, first-team All-Pro had spells at the Eagles, Cowboys, Bills and Bengals. During the 2004 season, the Eagles reached the Super Bowl. 

However, a severely sprained ankle and a fractured fibula threatened to rule Owens out of the game. Owens required surgery and 49 days after the injury, he caught nine passes from Donovan McNabb for 122 yards. But it wasn't enough as Philadelphia lost 24-21 to the New England Patriots. That was the only Super Bowl appearance for Owens, who ended his career with 1,132 catches for 16,685 receiving yards and 158 touchdowns. 

WR: Randy Moss

1998-2012
Games Played: 233
Receptions: 1,036
Receiving Yards: 16,269
Receiving TDs: 166
Super Bowl Appearances: 2

Randy Moss made it to two Super Bowls, but lost both. He caught five passes from Tom Brady for 62 yards and a touchdown as the Patriots lost 17-14 to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII. Brady agreed to amend his contract to free up space on the salary cap to allow the Patriots to sign Moss. 

Moss made his name in Minnesota where he and Cris Carter struck fear in the heart of the defensive coordinators they came up against. Moss returned to the Vikings after failing to win a Super Bowl in New England before ending his career in San Francisco via a short spell as a Tennessee Titan. Moss retired and missed the 2011 season before the 49ers took a punt on the receiver. 

It was a decision that paid off, as San Francisco represented the NFC in Super Bowl XLVII. However the Baltimore Ravens kept Moss to just two catches for 41 yards as the 49ers lost 34-31. The impact Moss made in the NFL cannot be underestimated, so much so that when a receiver makes a stunning catch similar to one made by Moss throughout his career, the defender is said to have been 'Mossed'. Moss ended his career with 1,036 catches, 16,269 and 166 touchdowns (including the playoffs). 

RB: Barry Sanders

1989-1998
Games Played: 159
Carries: 3,153
Rushing Yards: 15,655
Rushing TDs: 100
Super Bowl Appearances: 0

There's a lot to be said about loyalty in the NFL and one of the two running backs named to our team paid the price for his loyalty to the team that drafted him. When the Detroit Lions selected Barry Sanders number three overall in the 1989 Draft, behind quarterbacks Troy Aikman and offensive tackle Tony Mandarich, they couldn't have wished for a better outcome. 

Sanders made an immediate impact on the struggling Lions. In his rookie season, Sanders rushed for 1,470 yards on 280 carries and 14 touchdowns as his elusive style of running made it very difficult for defenders to tackle him. Sanders rushed for at least 1,115 yards every season in his 10-year career, which was spent entirely in Detroit. The Lions had not won a playoff game since winning their one and only title in 1957, and hope was high that the acquisition of Sanders would bring the good times back to the city. 

In his third season as a Lion, Sanders led the team to the playoffs. Detroit earned the number two seed and following a bye, they beat the Dallas Cowboys 38-6. The following week, they lost to Washington, who went on to beat Buffalo in Super Bowl XXVI. The Lions' win over the Cowboys remains their only postseason victory in 65 seasons. While Sanders earned a place in the Hall of Fame with 15,655 rushing yards and 100 touchdowns (including the playoffs), he was badly let down by the offense around him. Few would argue Sanders deserved a Super Bowl win for his brilliance on the ground. 

RB: Frank Gore

2005-2020
Games Played: 250
Carries: 4,403
Rushing Yards: 16,668
Rushing TDs: 86
Super Bowl Appearances: 1

The second running back to make our team is Frank Gore, who despite signing for five teams in 16 seasons, only got to play in one Super Bowl. Gore is currently ranked third in the NFL's all-time rushing stats, after 15 seasons that included spells at San Francisco, Indianapolis, Miami, Buffalo and the Jets, where in 2020, he finished his career with 4,403 carries, 16,668 rushing yards and 86 touchdowns (including the playoffs). 

It was during his time in San Francisco that Gore excelled, helping them to three successive NFC Championship games. In between losses to the Giants and Seahawks, was a victory over the Falcons in Atlanta. In his one and only Super Bowl appearance, Gore rushed 19 times for 110 yards and a touchdown as the 49ers fell to a 34-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

When Gore retired, he had played in 250 games, a record for the most games played by a running back, which is arguably the most demanding position to play. Gore was named in the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2010s, and racked up 20,820 scrimmage yards and 106 total touchdowns when he left the field for the final time. 

TE: Tony Gonzalez

1997-2013
Games Played: 277
Receptions: 1,325
Receiving Yards: 17,355
Touchdowns: 115
Super Bowl Appearances: 0

The NFL is currently in a golden age of tight ends with Kansas City's Travis Kelce and San Francisco's George Kittle battling it out to be the best in their position. There's even a 'Tight Ends Day' to celebrate the position that was played with great distinction by Tony Gonzalez, who spent 12 of his 17 seasons in the league as a Chiefs player. 

Gonzalez was regarded as the best of his era and he was rightly selected first-team All-Pro six times. Gonzalez was also a highly respected basketball player at the University of California, but he opted for a career in the NFL, which proved to be the best decision for everyone. Gonzalez ended his career with 1,325 receptions and 17,355 yards and 115 touchdowns (including the playoffs). 

No tight end has more receptions or receiving yards than Gonzalez, but that could change with the new generation of tight ends currently playing in the league. The current crop of tight ends owe a lot to what Gonzalez did before them. 

LT: Anthony Munoz

1980-1992
Games Played: 193
Pro Bowls: 11
Super Bowl Appearances: 2

When Anthony Munoz entered the 1980 Draft, he was regarded as a risk. The left tackle missed the majority of his final year at the University of Southern California after suffering torn ligaments in his knee in their season opener. Munoz ended his college career with just 16 games played in his final two years.

The Cincinnati Bengals were rewarded for selecting Munoz third overall, with one of the best careers for a left tackle, whose job is to protect the quarterback’s blind side. When the dust settled on his career in 1992, Munoz was named to 11 Pro Bowls and was a nine-time first-team All-Pro. Four of his seven receptions resulted in touchdowns which added another dimension to their red zone offense. 

As for his injury history? Munoz missed just three games in his first 12 years in Cincinnati and finished with 185 appearances in the NFL. Munoz made the Super Bowl twice, but lost both times to Joe Montana and the 49ers in Super Bowls XVI and XXIII. 

LG: Mike Munchak

1982-1993
Games Played: 169
Pro Bowls: 9
Super Bowl Appearances: 0

When it comes to loyalty in the NFL, Mike Munchak perhaps did it better than anyone else. Munchak spent 31 consecutive seasons with the Houston Oilers as they were called then. The first 12 were as left guard, before joining the coaching staff upon his retirement after the 1994 season. 

Even when the franchise moved to Tennessee, Munchak's association continued, but after a disappointing 7-9 third season as head coach, he was fired, ending three decades with the team. Most recently, Munchak was employed by the Denver Broncos passing on his expertise to their offensive line. 

During his brilliant career, Munchak received recognition for his work, by being named first-team, All-Star twice and went to nine Pro Bowls. His shirt number 63 has been retired by Oilers/Titans and he was also named in the 1980s All-Decade Team. Munchak made it to the playoffs in seven straight seasons, but he and the Oilers never made it past the divisional round. 

C: Kevin Mawae

1994-2009
Games Played: 248
Pro Bowls: 8
Super Bowl Appearances: 0

To the casual observer of the NFL, the center is just a player who starts every offensive play by snapping the ball to the quarterback directly behind him. However, the role of center is so much more than that. They have to be able to snap the ball and be ready to block the defender lining up against them. Failure to do this would give a direct path to the quarterback. 

Centers can make adjustments to the offensive line if and when they see fit. Kevin Mawae was one of the best to ever line up at centre. Mawae was drafted in the second round by the Seattle Seahawks in 1994, and while he spent four seasons in Seattle, his time at the New York Jets was where he made his name. While there are no direct stats to highlight how good a center is, it is important to note that with Mawae under center, the Jets averaged the third most yards in the league with 357.2 yards per game.

A running game is only as good as the offensive line, and with Mawae snapping the ball, Jets running back Curtis Martin set a franchise record by running for over 100 yards in eight straight games in 1998. Because of the combative nature of playing in such a key position, Mawae’s achievement of playing 177 games in a row, should not be underestimated. One appearance in the AFC Championship game was as close as Mawae got to playing in a Super Bowl for the Seahawks, Jets or Titans.

RG: Will Shields

1993-2006
Games Played: 232
Pro Bowls: 12
Super Bowl Appearances: 0

They say in sport, the best ability you can have is availability. Will Shields was available for every game the Kansas City Chiefs played during his 14-year career, all spent in Kansas. Shields was drafted 74 overall, in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft.

The Nebraska Cornhusker lined up at right guard for all 232 games in the regular season and postseason, and made it to 12 straight Pro Bowls. During his time with the Chiefs, Kansas City were consistently ranked in the top five in rushing offense, with Marcus Allen, Larry Johnson and Priest Holmes all benefitting from Shields’ presence in the offensive line.

While Shields never made it to a Super Bowl, his work in the community through his ‘Will To Succeed’ Foundation, helped him win the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Shields was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015, four years after being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

RT: Jackie Slater

1976-1995 
Games Played: 278
Pro Bowls: 7
Super Bowl Appearances: 1

To play 10 years in the NFL is quite an achievement, playing 20 is something special. Very few players have such longevity in the NFL, where every player is one tackle away from having retirement forced on them. Jackie Slater racked up 259 games, and 19 more in the playoffs, during his career as a Los Angeles Ram. To put that into context, Slater helped protect 24 different quarterbacks. 

One of those 278 games was a Super Bowl, when in Super Bowl XIV, the Rams were beaten 31-19 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, which was their fourth Super Bowl in six seasons. Slater had to wait for his opportunity to shine for the Rams, but after impressing on special teams and also as a back-up, he was a regular starter from 1979 onwards. 

One stat that Slater can be proud of, is that he blocked in 107 games in which Rams running backs including Eric Dickerson, Charles White and Jerome Bettis rushed for 100 yards or more. Slater was also part of a Rams offensive line that in 1983, led the league with just 23 sacks allowed. 

DE: Bruce Smith

1983-2003
Games Played: 299
Sacks: 214.5
Interceptions: 2
Safeties: 3
Super Bowl Appearances: 4

In 2003, Bruce Smith finished his playing career with 214.5 sacks (including playoffs), and that record remains intact 20 years after his retirement. Von Miller is the nearest active player with 123.5, and he’s 33. Ask any quarterback who they feared playing against, and Smith’s name would be near the top of the list every time.

Smith could and should have finished his career with more sacks, but teams had no choice but to double-team him and sometimes even put three men on him to limit the damage he could do. With Smith destroying quarterbacks on a regular basis, the Buffalo Bills won the AFC East six times and got to the Super Bowl four straight years. Smith would happily swap all his personal accolades, that includes two Defensive Player of the Year awards, for a Super Bowl ring. 

Smith is one Buffalo player who did not deserve to be on the losing end of four successive Super Bowls. In those four losses, Smith had a total of 13 tackles, two sacks, one for a safety and he also forced a fumble in the 52-17 loss to the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXVII. The Bills haven't been back to a Super Bowl since 1994, but they are near the top of next season's market with many NFL betting apps.

DE: Jason Taylor

1997-2011
Games Played: 242
Sacks: 139.5
Interceptions: 8
Fumble Return For TD: 6
Super Bowl Appearances: 0

When Jason Taylor entered the Hall of Fame in 2017, the Miami Dolphins defender ranked sixth in sacks with 139.5. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, Taylor’s arrival in Miami coincided with the closing stages of fellow Hall of Famer Dan Marino’s career. The two were team-mates for just two seasons, but they were unable to lead the Dolphins to a Super Bowl win. 

Taylor had 21 sacks during his University of Akron career and Miami knew they were getting a tall, powerful pass rusher who would go on to be the cornerstone of their defense for 15 seasons. In 2006, Taylor became the third Miami player to be named Defensive Player of the Year award, and the first Dolphin since Doug Betters in 1983.

At 6ft 6”, Taylor was one of the taller masters of his craft and his height allowed him to intercept eight passes and return three of them for touchdowns. Taylor’s search for a Super Bowl ring took him to Washington and the New York Jets for a season each, but to no avail. Remarkably, in nine playoff games, Taylor failed to register a sack.

DT: Alan Page

1967-1981
Games Played: 237
Sacks: 180.8
Blocked Kicks: 28
Fumble Recovery: 24
Super Bowl Appearances: 4

“A defensive player should think of himself as an aggressor, not as a defender.” That quote came from Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Alan Page, who let his actions on the field speak for themselves. After a stellar college career at Notre Dame, Page was picked by the Vikings in the first round of the inaugural combined AFL/NFL Draft in 1967. 

It took the Vikings three games to decide that Page would be their starter and he repaid their faith in him with a brilliant career. In 237 regular season and playoff games, Page had 180.8 sacks and was named to nine straight Pro Bowls. He also recovered 24 opponents’ fumbles during Minnesota’s heyday.

Page was part of the Vikings team that reached four Super Bowl, but he was unable to help bring the Vince Lombardi trophy to Minnesota. In the early 1970s, when there were some terrific defenses on show in the NFL, Page was Defensive Player of the Year twice in three years (1971 and 1973). But a Super Bowl win eluded him. 

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OLB: Sam Mills

1986-1997
Games Played: 187
Sacks: 20.5
Tackles: 1,319
Interceptions: 11
Super Bowl Appearances: 0

As undrafted players go, Sam Mills has to be one of the best to play in the NFL. The Cleveland Browns signed him as an undrafted free agent in 1981, but he was released at the end of preseason. Success in the Canadian Football League and the United States Football League made NFL teams sit up and take notice of what Mills was capable of. 

Mills helped the Philadelphia Stars win the USFL title, which led to head coach Jim Mora being approached by the New Orleans Saints. One of the first things Mora did as Saints coach was sign Mills, knowing the player better than anyone else. Mora described Mills as the best player he had ever coached. And the stats back up Mora’s claim.

Mills was part of the Saints’ Dome Patrol which also featured Rickey Jackson, Vaughan Johnson and Pat Swilling. When you are given a nickname in the NFL, you must be doing something right. Mills was doing something right, and he ended his career with 1,319 tackles, 20.5 sacks and 11 interceptions in the 187 games he played (Including the playoffs). Unfortunately, Mills never got to play in a Super Bowl for New Orleans or Carolina, where he finished his career at.

MLB: Brian Urlacher

2000-2012
Games Played: 189
Sacks: 43.5
Interceptions: 24
Touchdowns: 2
Super Bowl Appearances: 1

The Chicago Bears are renowned for having great defenders all throughout their existence. The 1985 Bears defense remains the benchmark for any team in the modern game. Brian Urlacher would certainly have fitted into that highly regarded defense, but his spell in Chicago ran from 2000 to 2012. In his first season, Urlacher was named Defensive Rookie of the Year and followed that up five years later with the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Urlacher led the Bear defense to Super Bowl XLI in Miami where they came up against Peyton Manning’s Indianapolis Colts. In the pouring rain, the Colts ran out 29-17 winners even though Devin Hester took the opening kickoff 92 yards for the game’s opening touchdown. 

Chicago’s defense were unable to stop Indianapolis from running the ball successfully, as the Colts finished with 191 yards on 42 carries. He left Bears fans with some memorable moments such as his 90-yard fumble return for a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons and an 85-yard pick-six off Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. 

MLB: Junior Seau

1990-2009
Games Played: 278
Sacks: 58.5
Interceptions: 19
Fumble Return For TD: 1
Super Bowl Appearances: 2

Junior Seau epitomized the spirit and passion needed to succeed in the NFL. Picked fifth overall in the 1990 draft, Seau was joining a San Diego Chargers team that just wasn’t very good. They ended the 1989 season with a 6-10 record, and while the record remained the same in Seau’s first season, there was hope in the air that success was within touching distance.

In his third year in San Diego, Seau and the Chargers were back in the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. In 1994, the Chargers made it to Super Bowl XXIX, but they found the San Francisco 49ers too hot to handle in a 49-26 loss. Seau search for a Super Bowl win took him to Miami and New England, where he featured in the Patriots’ 17-14 loss to the New York Giants. 

Seau’s stats don’t jump off the page, but you don’t get named onto the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s if you were not a good player. Seau, who was Defensive Player of the Year in 1992, had 10 or more tackles in 64 regular season games and finished with 58.5 sacks and 19 interceptions (including the playoffs). 

OLB: Derrick Thomas

1989-1999
Games Played: 179
Sacks: 132
Forced Fumbles: 45
Safeties: 3
Super Bowl Appearances: 0 

There is an elite group in the NFL of players who have registered seven sacks in a single game. The membership is one - Derrick Thomas. Thomas had the game of his life in 1990 when he sacked Seahawks quarterback Dave Krieg seven times. Everywhere Krieg turned that day, number 58 was there to throw him to the unforgiving astroturf at Arrowhead Stadium. 

Thomas sent a message to the league in his rookie season with 10 sacks for the Chiefs. It was no surprise to anyone that he was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1989. But it was in the 1990s that Thomas struck fear in the league’s best quarterbacks. No player registered more sacks in the decade than Thomas who bagged 116.5 regular season sacks. Sadly, a car accident after the 1999 season when he was 33, ended his life and deprived the NFL of one of the greatest defensive talents to play the game. 

Wherever Thomas found himself on the field, things happened. If it wasn’t sacking quarterbacks, Thomas was forcing fumbles, 45 during his career, four of which were returned for scores. Oh, and he also had three safeties in his illustrious career. Perhaps, if it wasn’t for that car accident, he could have won a Super Bowl before the Chiefs ended a 50-year wait for their second title in the 2019 season. The Chiefs will be favorites to win back-to-back Super Bowls with the best sports betting sites.

CB: Aeneas Williams

1991-2004
Games Played: 217
Interceptions: 61
Touchdowns: 11
Super Bowl Appearances: 1

Aeneas Williams set his own personal bar high during his college career where at Southern University, he led the nation in interceptions. NFL teams were put on notice, but remarkably, Williams was still available when the Phoenix Cardinals, as they were called, were on the clock in the 1991 draft.

Williams made a point of proving wrong the teams who passed on him before becoming a Cardinal with the 59th pick overall. His first 12 seasons were at cornerback, while he finished his career at safety. To highlight how good he was, Williams, who returned 11 of his 61 interceptions for touchdowns, made the Pro Bowl in both positions. 

The highlight of his career came in Super Bowl XXXVI where he lined up at left cornerback for the Rams in their 20-17 loss to the New England Patriots. He finished the game with three tackles and two assists. 

CB: Roger Wehrli

1969-1982
Games Played: 195
Interceptions: 41
Touchdowns: 2
Fumble Recoveries: 19
Super Bowl Appearances: 0

We go back to the 1970s for our second selection at cornerback in our defensive XI never to have won a Super Bowl. Roger Wehrli might not be a household name, but a history lesson should make his name more known throughout the league. 

Wehrli joined the St Louis Cardinals as a first-round draft pick in 1969 and the cornerback put in 14 years of tremendous service for the Cards. In his rookie season, Wehrli had three interceptions as he split his time on defense and special teams. 

His finest hour came against NFC East division rivals, the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys were playing catchup on the scoreboard and were relying on Roger Staubach to bail them out. However, Wehrli was in the right place at the right time to intercept Staubach twice in the fourth quarter, and for the third time in the game. 

FS: Brian Dawkins

1996-2011
Seasons: 16
Games Played: 242
Interceptions: 41
Touchdowns: 2
Super Bowl Appearances: 1

Before Andy Reid led the Kansas City Chiefs to two Super Bowl wins in four seasons, Reid coached the Philadelphia Eagles to four NFC Championship games. Key to their run to those games was a strong defense, and safety Brian Dawkins was an integral part. 

After losses to the Rams, Buccaneers and Panthers, Dawkins and the Eagles finally made it to the Super Bowl where they faced the New England Patriots. In the 24-21 loss in Super Bowl XXXIX, Dawkins had four tackles. 

No player in the history of the Eagles has more interceptions than Dawkins. His 34 regular season picks are tied with Eric Allen and Bill Bradley, and Dawkins was selected to nine Pro Bowls. Dawkins’ last three seasons were spent as a Denver Bronco, but he was unable to get back to the Super Bowl and he ended his glorious career without a ring.

SS: Paul Krase

1964-1979
Seasons: 16
Games Played: 226
Interceptions: 81
Touchdowns: 3
Fumble Returns: 19
Super Bowl Appearances: 4

Paul Krase may have retired at the end of the 1979 season, but his achievements are in danger of going unnoticed. Krase is the NFL’s all-time leader in interceptions with his final two picks coming in Minnesota’s 27-21 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the final game of the 1979 season.

Krase wasn’t just an interception machine. He was also Mr Reliable, missing just two games in his 16 seasons and he was in the right place to recover 19 fumbles. Not bad for a player who was traded by Washington after racking up 28 passes in four seasons in the capital. 

Unfortunately for Krase, the safety is one of the Vikings associated with the four Super Bowl losses handed to Minnesota in eight seasons. In his four Super Bowl appearances, Krase had just one interception.

K: Morten Andersen

1982-2007
Games Played: 393
Total Points: 2,621
PATs: 872
Field Goals: 583
Longest Field Goal: 60 yards
Super Bowl Appearances: 1

For 11 years, the NFL’s all-time scoring record was held by a man born in Copenhagen, Denmark. Morten Andersen was a prolific kicker who played for the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings. He returned to Atlanta to end his 25-year career as a Falcon. 

Despite spending a quarter of a century in the league, Andersen only made it to one Super Bowl, but that ended in defeat to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII. Andersen opened the scoring with a 32-yard field goal and added another field goal and extra point on a disappointing day for the Falcons. 

The ‘Great Dane’ kicked a total of 2,544 points in his career from 565 field goals and 849 extra points. He also kicked another 77 points in the playoffs. Incredibly, he only missed 10 of the 859 point-after attempts. Despite setting a formidable total, Andersen was overtaken by Adam Vinatieri in October 2018. Andersen is second on the league’s all-time list, and he should remain there for quite a while as 49ers kicker Robbie Gould is the nearest active player to him, 583 points behind. 

Head Coach: Marv Levy

1986-1997
Games Coached: 274
Wins: 154
Win %age: 56.2%
Super Bowl Appearances: 4

Head coaches want players on their roster who know what it takes to win a Super Bowl. Sadly for this squad, nobody knows how it feels to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Marv Levy had a number of quality players on his Buffalo Bills roster, but they failed at the final hurdle four years in a row. After the second loss, Levy could have been forgiven for thinking the following year would be third time lucky. 

It wasn’t, and after a fourth straight loss, Levy must have realized he was destined never to be able to call himself a Super Bowl-winning coach. To have a 49-15 record over a four-year spell, and not have a Super Bowl win to show for it, will go down as one of the unluckiest runs in NFL history.

Levy was a well-respected coach, but maybe, just maybe with this assembly of talented players, he could be the man to end his own Super Bowl drought and the drought of these players. Sadly, everyone listed will have to deal with the fact that the one thing missing from their brilliant careers was a Super Bowl win.