Larry Fitzgerald (Photo : Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Super Bowl 51 will feature the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons. Many NFL players want to be in a position to win a Super Bowl championship. However, no matter how good a player can be, he might not have a Super Bowl ring to show for it.
Some of the greatest NFL players like Dan Marino, Barry Sanders, Eric Dickerson, Randy Moss and Junior Seau did not win the Super Bowl during their careers. The same can be said about these ten active players and future Hall of Famers who still don't have a Super Bowl ring.
Larry Fitzgerald, WR - Cardinals
Fitz is one of the greatest wide receivers of all time and he might have played his final NFL season, per NFL.com. However, his retirement is not yet official so he still counts as an active player. The 33-year-old wide receiver is third all-time in career receptions and all-time consecutive games with a reception.
Antonio Gates, TE - Chargers
Gates went from being an undrafted free agent in 2003 to a future Hall of Fame tight end. The 36-year-old is only lacking a Super Bowl ring in his impressive resume. He is sixth in the all-time career touchdown receptions and he is also one of the best tight ends in NFL history.
Frank Gore, RB - 49ers, Colts
The 33-year-old is still playing at a high level despite his age. He came close to winning a Super Bowl title in 2013 with the San Francisco 49ers. He is one of the best running backs ever and he still has a chance of winning one if he continues to play at a high level.
Brandon Marshall, WR - Broncos, Dolphins, Bears, Jets
A Super Bowl ring is not the only thing missing from Marshall's resume but a playoff appearance. It's hard to believe that the 32-year-old wide receiver has not appeared in the postseason. He led the NFL in touchdown catches in 2015 and he still has some time to get into the playoffs, all the way to the Super Bowl.
Julius Peppers, DE/OLB - Panthers, Bears, Packers
Peppers had a chance to win his first Super Bowl in 2003 but the Panthers lost a heartbreaker against the Patriots. He is fifth in most sacks in NFL history and he is the only player to record at least 100 sacks and 10 interceptions. He is already 35 years old but playing with Aaron Rodgers gives him some hope to win his first Super Bowl.
Adrian Peterson, RB - Vikings
Peterson is one of the greatest running backs of his generation and he holds several NFL records. He was the NFL MVP in 2012 and seven-time All-Pro. He is expected to become a free agent this offseason and he could seek to win his first Super Bowl ring with the Giants, Buccaneers or Texans, per ESPN.
Philip Rivers, QB - Chargers
The 35-year-old QB is one of the best of his generation whether you like it or not. His resume is only lacking a Super Bowl ring but it would be difficult for him to win it with the state of the Chargers. Nevertheless, Rivers will continue to play at a high level until he decides to retire.
Joe Thomas, OT - Browns
The lone bright spot in the Cleveland Browns for the better part of the decade is Thomas, who is a future Hall of Famer. It's sad to know that he only have one winning season in his career and it will only continue unless he gets out of Cleveland.
J.J. Watt, DE - Texans
Watt might have been in the league for six seasons but he is considered as the best player in the league from 2012 to 2015. He had an unforgettable 2016 season due to injuries but expect him to be back at full strength next season. At 27 years old, Watt has a lot of time to win his first Super Bowl championship.
Jason Witten, TE - Cowboys
Many people believe that Witten is a top-five tight end of all-time. He is seventh in receptions in NFL history and only the second TE to catch 1,000 or more receptions. At the age of 34, he is in the twilight of his career but the Cowboys are one of the favorites to win next year's Super Bowl.
