30 greatest players to never win a Super Bowl

10. O.J. Simpson, RB, Buffalo Bills

As difficult as it may be, forget the recent history of the man off the field. Again, those issues have nothing to do with the topic at hand. We are talking strictly football and in that case, it’s hard to ignore the accomplishments of running back O.J. Simpson.

The first overall pick in the 1969 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills, the sensation from USC and the 1968 Heisman Trophy winner would eventually elevate his team to a serious playoff contender. At times, he appeared to be a one-man show because in those days of NFL offenses, the ground game was the game. The San Francisco native played for a Buffalo team that during his first three seasons in the league was a combined 8-33-1. Then it all changed with the hiring of head coach Lou Saban in 1972.

Over the next five seasons, Simpson would lead the NFL in rushing yardage four times. He played in 70 regular-season games during that span and totaled 1,513 carries for 7,699 yards and 45 scores. Those were still the days of the 14-game schedule so imagine a workload where you averaged roughly 303 carries for 1,540 yards and nine scores. In 1973, Simpson became the first player in league history to run for at least 2,000 yards. Again, his total of 2,003 came in 14 games.

One season later, the Bills were in the playoffs for the first and only time in his career. The team would lose to the eventual Super Bowl champion Steelers. Simpson would end his NFL days with the 49ers but never really came close to winning it all with a team.

Next: No. 9