The best who never
played the Super Bowl
Offense
QB Dan Fouts
College: Oregon.
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Years pro: 1973-87 (San Diego Chargers).
How close: AFC title game, 1980-81.
RB Barry Sanders
College: Oklahoma State.
Years pro: 1989-99 (Detroit Lions).
How close: NFC title game, 1991.
RB Earl Campbell
College: Texas.
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Years pro: 1978-84 (Houston Oilers); 1984-85 (New Orleans Saints).
How close: AFC title game, 1978-79.
WR Cris Carter
College: Ohio State.
Years pro: 1987-89 (Philadelphia Eagles; 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings; 2002, Dolphins).
How close: NFC title game, 1998.
WR Steve Largent
College: Tulsa.
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Years pro: 1976-89, Seattle Seahawks.
How close: AFC title game, 1983.
T Dan Dierdorf
College: Michigan.
Years pro: 1971-83 (St. Louis Cardinals).
How close: NFC divisional playoffs, 1974-75.
G Mike Munchak
College: Penn State.
Years pro: 1982-93 (Houston Oilers).
How close: AFC divisional playoffs, 1987-88, 1991, 1993.
C Jeff Van Note
College: Kentucky.
Years pro: 1969-86 (Atlanta Falcons).
How close: NFC divisional playoffs, 1978, 1980.
G Joe Delamielleure
College: Michigan State.
Years pro: 1973-1979, 1985 (Buffalo Bills); 1980-84 (Cleveland Browns).
How close: AFC divisional playoffs, 1974, 1980.
T Willie Roaf
College: Louisiana Tech.
Years pro: 1993-01 (New Orleans Saints); 2002-05 (Kansas City).
How close: NFC divisional playoffs, 2000.
TE Ozzie Newsome
College: Alabama.
Years pro: 1978-91 (Cleveland Browns).
How close: AFC title game, 1986-87, 1989.
Defense
DE Elvin Bethea
College: North Carolina A&T.
Years pro: 1968-83 (Houston Oilers).
How close: AFC title game, 1978-79.
DT Merlin Olsen
College: Utah State.
Years pro: 1962-76 (Los Angeles Rams).
How close: NFC title game, 1974-76.
DT Joe Klecko
College: Temple.
Years pro: 1977-87 (N.Y. Jets); 1988 (Colts).
How close: AFC title game, 1982.
DE Deacon Jones
College: South Carolina State.
Years pro: 1961-71 (Rams); 1972-73 (Chargers); 1974 (Redskins).
How close: NFC divisional playoffs, 1967, 1969, 1974.
OLB Derrick Thomas
College: Alabama.
Years pro: 1989-99 (Kansas City Chiefs).
How close: AFC title game, 1993.
MLB Dick Butkus
College: Illinois.
Years pro: 1965-73 (Chicago Bears).
How close: Never in a playoff game.
OLB Clay Matthews
College: Southern California.
Years pro: 1978-93 (Cleveland Browns); 1994-96 (Atlanta Falcons).
How close: AFC title game, 1986-87, 1989.
CB Lem Barney
College: Jackson State.
Years pro: 1967-77 (Detroit Lions).
How close: NFC divisional playoffs, 1970.
CB Jimmy Johnson
College: UCLA.
Years pro: 1961-76 (San Francisco 49ers).
How close: NFC title game, 1970-71.
FS Larry Wilson
College: Utah.
Years pro: 1960-72 (St. Louis Cardinals).
How close: Never in a Super Bowl playoff game.
SS Kenny Houston
College: Prairie View.
Years pro: 1967-72 (Houston Oilers); 1973-80 (Washington Redskins).
How close: AFL title game, 1967.
Kickers
K Nick Lowery
College: Dartmouth.
Years pro: 1980-93 (Kansas City Chiefs); 1994-96 (New York Jets).
How close: AFC title game, 1993.
P Greg Montgomery
College: Penn State/Michigan State.
Years pro: 1988-93 (Houston Oilers); 1994 (Lions); 1996-97 (Baltimore Ravens).
How close: AFC divisional playoffs, 1988, 1991, 1993.
- Charles Bricker, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
