Fansided

30 greatest players to never win a Super Bowl

By Russell S. Baxter

TAMPA BAY, FL - OCTOBER 2, 1994: Barry Sanders
TAMPA BAY, FL - OCTOBER 2, 1994: Barry Sanders /
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2 Dec 1990: Running back Thurman Thomas of the Buffalo Bills runs with the ball during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won the game, 30-23.
2 Dec 1990: Running back Thurman Thomas of the Buffalo Bills runs with the ball during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won the game, 30-23. /

23. Thurman Thomas, RB, Buffalo Bills

We will be getting to Thurman Thomas’ backfield mate at Oklahoma State in a little while. Here we will focus on the player that Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian opted to use a second-round draft choice on while with the Buffalo Bills in 1988.

You rarely heard about the statistic “total yards from scrimmage” until the versatile Thomas became a major force in Marv Levy’s backfield. In 13 seasons with the Bills (and a few stone crabs with the Miami Dolphins), he currently ranks 10th in league annals in 16,532 yards from scrimmage to go with 88 total touchdowns – 65 rushing and 23 receiving.

The five-time Pro Bowler ran for 1,000-plus yards eight times in his days with the Bills. From 1989-92, Thomas rolled up an astonishing 7,893 combined rushing and receiving yards and scored 49 touchdowns in 63 regular-season games. Of course, he was also part of those four consecutive AFC championship teams from 1990-93. And let’s not forget in 21 postseason games with Buffalo, Thomas rolled up 2,114 yards from scrimmage and made 21 trips to the end zone.

You could make a pretty strong case that Thomas was the best player on the field in Super Bowl XXV against the New York Giants. And there are those who thought he deserved to be named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Regardless, there would be three more Super Bowl appearances and no wins for the Hall of Famer and the enormously-talented Bills.

Next: No. 22

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