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The best current NFL players without a Super Bowl appearance
Steve Mitchell / USA Today Sports Images

The best current NFL players without a Super Bowl appearance

It's every NFL player's dream to play in — and win — the Super Bowl. For some, even the greats, that unfortunately never happens.

Some of the game's very best have never reached the sport's pinnacle game. Here are active players who fit that description.

 
1 of 25

Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers
Jeff Hanisch / USA Today Sports Images

Green Bay has failed to get to the Super Bowl during Adams' career, which began in 2014. Aaron Rodgers' go-to receiver has made five Pro Bowls, and was an All-Pro in 2020 and 2021.

 
2 of 25

Jamal Adams, S, Seattle Seahawks

Jamal Adams, S, Seattle Seahawks
Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today Sports Images

Adams was named an All-Pro in 2019, and was a Pro Bowler in three consecutive seasons. He did take a step back in 2021 due to injury.

 
3 of 25

Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
Denny Medley / USA Today Sports Images

It seems like only a matter of time before Allen is playing in a Super Bowl, but the Bills have lost to the Chiefs in back-to-back playoffs. The young quarterback has emerged as a truly elite signal caller through his first four seasons.

 
4 of 25

Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Robert Hanashiro / USA Today Sports Images

Allen has made five consecutive Pro Bowls as an elite wideout catching passes from Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert. He also has five 1,000 yard seasons for his career.

 
5 of 25

Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns

Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns
Ken Blaze / USA Today Sports Images

Chubb is part of an impressive young Cleveland core, and has made three consecutive Pro Bowls. His best season was in 2019 with 1,772 yards from scrimmage.

 
6 of 25

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Jerome Miron / USA Today Sports Images

Elliott doesn't have the same burst that he did early in his career, but he remains one of the game's top backs. He tallied his fourth career 1,000 yard rushing season in 2021.

 
7 of 25

Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Pittsburgh Steelers

Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Kyle Terada / USA Today Sports Images

Fitzpatrick has emerged as an elite NFL safety, becoming an All-Pro in his second and third seasons. He's recorded 13 interceptions over four seasons.

 
8 of 25

Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns

Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns
Scott Galvin / USA Today Sports Images

Garrett has emerged as an elite pass rusher since he was drafted first overall in 2017, but he has only one playoff appearance to show for it. He's recorded double-digit sacks in four consecutive seasons, including 16 sacks in 2021.

 
9 of 25

Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans

Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans
Winslow Townson / USA Today Sports Images

Henry led the NFL in rushing during 2019 and 2020. The latter season was historic, breaking 2,000 yards rushing and winning Offensive Player of the Year. He still averaged over 117 rushing yards per game in 2021, but missed much of the year with a foot injury.

 
10 of 25

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Arizona Cardinals

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Mike Dinovo / USA Today Sports Images

If Hopkins isn't the best wide receiver in football, he's certainly in the conversation. He went west to Arizona after seven seasons in Houston, and recording over 1,400 yards receiving in 2020 before an injury-plagued 2021 campaign.

 
11 of 25

Danielle Hunter, DE, Minnesota Vikings

Danielle Hunter, DE, Minnesota Vikings
Matthew Emmons / USA Today Sports Images

Hunter has 14.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons for Minnesota, emerging as one of their top defensive players. Unfortunately, he's been plagued by injuries over the last two seasons.

 
12 of 25

Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Tommy Gilligan / USA Today Sports Images

The NFL MVP in 2019, Jackson has struggled in the playoffs during his brief career. He remains one of the top quarterbacks in the game when he is healthy.

 
13 of 25

Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today Sports Images

Jefferson has put together arguably the greatest first two seasons by a wideout in NFL history. He had 1,400 yards in his rookie campaign and topped that with 1,616 yards in his sophomore season. He made the second team All-Pro in both seasons.

 
14 of 25

Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
Matthew Emmons / USA Today Sports Images

Kamara has become a star in five NFL seasons with New Orleans, making an annual trip to the Pro Bowl. He's surpassed 1,300 yards from scrimmage in each season.

 
15 of 25

Khalil Mack, LB, Chicago Bears

Khalil Mack, LB, Chicago Bears
Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today Sports Images

A true NFL star and one of the elite pass rushers in the game, Mack was an All-Pro for the third time in 2018 and has made six Pro Bowls. He has 76.5 career sacks over eight seasons.

 
16 of 25

Zack Martin, OG, Dallas Cowboys

Zack Martin, OG, Dallas Cowboys
Matthew Emmons / USA Today Sports Images

Over eight season, Martin has been a Pro Bowler seven times and an All-Pro five times. Those personal accolades haven't been matched by the Cowboys, as the team hasn't come close to the Super Bowl recently.

 
17 of 25

Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers
Jeremy Brevard / USA Today Sports Images

McCaffrey has become a unique star at the running back position in three seasons, and led the NFL with 2,392 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns in 2019. Unfortunately, he's been injured for much of the last two seasons, and the Panthers have also struggled.

 
18 of 25

Quenton Nelson, OG, Indianapolis Colts

Quenton Nelson, OG, Indianapolis Colts
Reinhold Matay / USA Today Sports Images

Just four seasons into his career, Nelson has been an All-Pro three times and Pro Bowler in all four years. The mauling guard hasn't come close to the Super Bowl yet.

 
19 of 25

Patrick Peterson, CB, Minnesota Vikings

Patrick Peterson, CB, Minnesota Vikings
Billy Hardiman / USA Today Sports Images

Peterson was a superstar early in his career with Arizona, making eight consecutive Pro Bowls. He's slowed down due to age and injuries more recently, playing 2021 with the Vikings.

 
20 of 25

Tyron Smith, OT, Dallas Cowboys

Tyron Smith, OT, Dallas Cowboys
Jerome Miron / USA Today Sports Images

One of the game's top left tackles, Smith has made eight Pro Bowls in 11 seasons. Unfortunately, Smith ahs struggled to stay healthy in recent years.

 
21 of 25

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
Grace Hollars / USA Today Sports Images

Taylor led the league in carries, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns in only his second NFL season. He finished second in the Offensive Player of the Year voting, but a late collapse by the Colts left him out of the playoffs.

 
22 of 25

Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints
Derick E. Hingle / USA Today Sports Images

Thomas established himself as arguably the best wideout in the game early in his career before ankle problems limited him in 2020 and 2021. He had one of the greatest seasons ever by a receiver in 2019, with 149 catches for 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns.

 
23 of 25

J.J. Watt, DE, Arizona Cardinals

J.J. Watt, DE, Arizona Cardinals
Jasen Vinlove / USA Today Sports Images

A three-time Defensive Player of the Year Award winner, Watt has led the NFL in sacks twice during his 11-year career. Injuries have hindered him since 2016, but he's made incredible returns through injury, including in 2021 with the Cardinals.

 
24 of 25

T.J. Watt, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers

T.J. Watt, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Charles LeClaire / USA Today Sports Images

T.J. is following in brother J.J.'s footsteps as one of the top pass rushers in the NFL, being named an All-Pro three times and winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. He's yet to find major playoff success in five seasons, but has led the league in sacks in consecutive years.

 
25 of 25

Trent Williams, OT, San Francisco 49ers

Trent Williams, OT, San Francisco 49ers
Darren Yamashita / USA Today Sports Images

Williams is arguably the best offensive lineman of his era, making nine Pro Bowls over 11 seasons. His 49ers just came up short in 2021, losing to the Rams in the NFC Championship.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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