30 greatest players to never win a Super Bowl

8. Merlin Olsen, DT, Los Angeles Rams

How highly regarded was Utah State defensive tackle Merlin Olsen coming out of college? The Los Angeles Rams made him the third overall selection in the 1962 NFL Draft. Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos chose his second overall in the AFL draft that year. Olsen opted to sign with the Rams and was part of a team that finished 1-12-1 that season – one of which he played in only 12 games. Still, those in the know named him to the Pro Bowl.

That would be the exception to the rule. Olsen would not miss a game in his final 13 seasons, all of which resulted in Pro Bowl invitations as well. And the Rams’ defense would become one of the great forces in the league. Olsen and his team would make six playoff appearances and his last three seasons in the NFL finished with losses in the conference title game.

As has been mentioned throughout this piece, sack numbers were not official for players until the 1982 season. That was six years after Olsen played in his final NFL game. What we do know is that being named to 14 consecutive Pro Bowls and not missing a game in any of his final 13 seasons shows the greatness of Olsen. The interior presence made life easier for the likes of fellow Pro Football Hall of Famers such as Deacon Jones and Jack Youngblood. We will paraphrase quarterback Archie Manning, who once stated that Olsen “was like the state fair. He gets better every year.”

Next: No. 7