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The 10 best players in NFL history to never win a Super Bowl

By Erik Lambert

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 13: Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers reacts during the fourth quater in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the New England Patriat Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 13: Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers reacts during the fourth quater in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the New England Patriat Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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12 Jan 1991: Defensive lineman Bruce Smith #78 of the Buffalo Bills works against a New York Giants offensive lineman during Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Giants won the game, 20-19.
12 Jan 1991: Defensive lineman Bruce Smith #78 of the Buffalo Bills works against a New York Giants offensive lineman during Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Giants won the game, 20-19. /

03. Bruce Smith (Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins)

So many names get brought up regarding the greatest defensive linemen of all time. It’s amazing how many people continue to overlook Bruce Smith. In case they forgot, he’s still the reigning sack king in league history with 200. Think about that. A pass rusher today would have to average 10 sacks per year for 20 seasons to reach that mark. Utterly insane and a reminder of just how monstrous the former Buffalo Bills All-Pro was.

Amazingly though, it might be the sack he didn’t quite finish that defined his career. It came in Super Bowl XXV. He got hold of Giants QB Jeff Hostetler in the end zone for a safety. While it was a big play, Smith knows it should’ve been bigger. He had hold of Hostetler’s right wrist on the play, the same that held the football. By rights, it should’ve been a forced fumble with a likely defensive touchdown for a Buffalo. A score that would’ve made it 17-3 instead of 12-3.

That would’ve put the game out of reach for New York. Instead they came from behind to win in the final seconds. Smith would never get that close to a ring again despite making it to three more Super Bowls the next three years.

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