Some quarterbacks rewrite the record books. Others hoist the Lombardi Trophy. But the truly cursed ones? They do everything right as a quarterback and still end up ringless.
Whether it was bad luck, bad timing, or just flat-out bad defenses, these 15 quarterbacks were all-time greats who never got to lift the ultimate prize. We’re counting them down from legends to Hall of Fame heartbreak.
Which great quarterbacks retired or remained ringless?
Carson Palmer
Quietly, one of the most productive QBs of his era. Palmer had a cannon arm, ran top-tier offenses in Cincy and Arizona, and came one game away from the Super Bowl in 2015. He always seemed to be a year or a ligament away from something bigger.
Michael Vick
The most electric quarterback of the early 2000s. Vick was a cheat code in cleats. He changed how the position was played, but a prison sentence and inconsistent accuracy kept him from ever reaching a Super Bowl. Impact? Massive. Ring? Still missing.
Cam Newton
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An MVP season, a 15-1 record, and a Super Bowl appearance in 2015. Cam was unstoppable that year. But Denver’s defense ate him alive in the big game. Between his bruising runs and rocket arm, Newton made defenders miserable. Just never sealed the deal.
Boomer Esiason
Took the Bengals to the brink in Super Bowl XXIII and watched Joe Montana rip it away in the final seconds. Esiason had an MVP, a Pro Bowl resume, and a rocket left arm. Like most Bengals quarterbacks before Burrow, it just wasn’t meant to be.
Lamar Jackson
Already an MVP and already in the record books. Lamar’s 2019 season was ridiculous with over 3,000 passing yards, 1,000 rushing yards, and 36 touchdowns through the air. The only thing missing is playoff success. Still young, still dangerous, and still has time to get off this list.
Matt Ryan
He had the trophy in his grasp. Up 28–3 in the Super Bowl, Ryan was already getting sized for his ring. Then it all crumbled. Still, he’s top 10 in all-time passing yards and touchdowns. One of the most accurate quarterbacks of the 2010s. Just cursed by the worst collapse in NFL history.
Steve McNair
Co-MVP in 2003. A warrior every year. McNair dragged the Titans to the Super Bowl in 1999 and came one yard short, literally. He was tough, clutch, and beloved by teammates. His body broke down before he could make another run. One of the toughest quarterbacks to ever play.
Randall Cunningham
Before there were quarterbacks like Lamar or Cam, there was Randall. He was ahead of his time with a dual-threat ability that changed games. That 1998 Vikings team should’ve won it all. He never made it back. One of the best what-ifs in NFL history.
Donovan McNabb
McNabb made the NFC title game five times and reached one Super Bowl. He had a cannon arm, extended plays, and made the Eagles contenders for a decade. Philly fans gave him a hard time, but he delivered every year. One ring would’ve changed everything.
Warren Moon
Nine Pro Bowls, nearly 50,000 yards, and zero apologies. Moon lit up the CFL before doing the same in the NFL. He changed perceptions and proved Black quarterbacks could thrive as pocket passers. He never got past the AFC title game, but his legacy is locked in.
Dan Fouts
The original “sling it 50 times a game” quarterback. Fouts and the Air Coryell offense were way ahead of their time. He led the league in passing yards for four straight years. He just never had the defense to back him up. He’s in the Hall of Fame for good reason, with or without the ring.
Philip Rivers
Played like a madman and talked trash like a pastor. Rivers was top 6 in passing yards and touchdowns when he retired. Never missed a game. Always showed up. His playoff runs were short, and he never got past the AFC Championship. All heart, no hardware.
Jim Kelly
Four straight Super Bowls. Four straight losses. That sentence alone tells you everything about Kelly’s career. He was the heart of the Bills dynasty and ran the K-Gun offense to perfection. If one kick had gone in during Super Bowl XXV, this list might look different.
Fran Tarkenton
He scrambled before it was cool. Tarkenton held every major passing record when he retired and led the Vikings to three Super Bowls. They lost all three, but he was constantly dragging teams further than they had any right to go. A pioneer quarterback and a winner, ring or not.
Dan Marino
No suspense here. Marino threw for 5,000 yards and 48 touchdowns in 1984 in an era where 3,000 was considered elite. He got to the Super Bowl in just his second season. Never went back. He broke every record and made it look easy. Greatest arm of all time. Zero rings. Football just isn’t fair sometimes.
