And just like that, the New England Patriots are back in the Super Bowl for the 13th time in franchise history. Patriots’ fans are hopeful that the team will be leaving Santa Clara hoisting their seventh Lombardi Trophy; however, they are in for a difficult matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, who’ve been dominant all season.
While the Patriots have been the winningest team in the 21st century, not all Patriots legends were fortunate enough to win a ring. Many fan favorites and cornerstone players weren’t able to enjoy a championship despite playing prominent roles with the team.
With that being said, let’s take a look at the 10 greatest Patriots who never won a Super Bowl in New England.
10. Ben Coates, TE, 1991-1999
Undoubtedly, Drew Bledsoe’s favorite target was Ben Coates. With tight ends becoming more involved in the passing game, Coates excelled as a downfield threat, recording 499 receptions for 5,555 receiving yards and 50 touchdowns in his nine years with the Patriots.
Coates helped transform the Patriots into a formidable team in the 1990s, earning five Pro Bowl honors during that time. He played a significant role in the team’s Super Bowl appearance against the Green Bay Packers and was a key contributor to two division titles.
Behind Shannon Sharpe and Tony Gonzalez, Coates was in the mix for one of the best tight ends of his generation. Coates could’ve gone up a few spots, but he wasn’t as vital a player as the others. Plus, he won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens in 2000, so we’ll put him in the 10th spot.
9. Raymond Clayborn, CB, 1977-1989
Raymond Clayborn is one of many players on this list who endured the Patriots' terrible early years. The minimal success the team enjoyed during his tenure was partly due to his substantial play on defense.
During his 13 years with New England, Clayborn established himself as one of the top corners in the league, earning three Pro-Bowl nods. Clayborn is tied with Ty Law for the franchise record in interceptions (36) and ranks third in franchise history for most interception yards (555).
Not only did Clayborn make a name for himself as a supreme defender, but he was also a terrific kickoff returner. Clayborn is tied with Ellis Hobbs for the franchise record for most kickoff returns for a touchdown (3) and ranks 11th in total kickoff return yards.
He was undoubtedly the most versatile player in Patriots history, and because of that, he gets the ninth spot.
8. Stanley Morgan, WR, 1977-1989
Throughout the dynasty era, the Patriots' offense had a plethora of playmakers. In their first 40 years, however, Stanley Morgan was one of the few shining stars on the Patriots' offense.
Morgan was a premier downfield threat, averaging 19.2 yards per reception. His 10,352 receiving yards mark the most in Patriots’ history, whereas his 534 receptions and 67 touchdowns rank second and fourth, respectively.
Morgan was an integral part of the Patriots' first Super Bowl appearance against the Chicago Bears and was consistently one of their best players. The fact that he produced at a high level despite having a revolving door at quarterback speaks to how incredible he was.
7. Steve Nelson, LB, 1974-1987
Steve Nelson was a tackling machine throughout his career. Nelson led the team in tackles in eight of his 14 seasons, racking up 1,776 career tackles. While Nelson was never regarded as one of the best linebackers in the league, he was still a very good one for New England.
Nelson was a fan favorite and a versatile contributor, shining against the run and pass. His excellent play, despite being on some horrendous Patriots’ teams, earned him three Pro Bowls.
Tough, gritty players like Nelson are often found on Super Bowl-winning teams. Though he never won one in New England, his legacy and impact on the Patriots were stamped forever when the team retired his number in 1988. Because of that, he gets the seventh spot.
6. Randy Moss, WR, 2007-2010
When Randy Moss was traded to the Patriots, it wasn’t a matter of if they could win a Super Bowl, but how many they would win. Pairing Tom Brady with Moss was a match made in heaven. The duo had the greatest season by a quarterback-wide receiver tandem in NFL history, which led the team to an 18-0 record.
However, the New York Giants ruined that historic season in Super Bowl XLII, and Moss would not appear in another Super Bowl with the team. In his four-year tenure, Moss logged 259 receptions for 3,904 yards and 50 touchdowns.
Even though he played just 52 games as a Patriot, he distinguished himself as one of the best receivers of all time by playing a central role on one of the greatest offenses ever. While Moss was the most dominant player on this list, his limited time with the team plays a factor in his ranking.
5. Wes Welker, WR, 2007-2012
Wes Welker became one of the best slot receivers in the league upon being traded to the Patriots. Like Moss, Welker was a key figure in the Patriots' undefeated season and emerged as Brady’s security blanket.
In six seasons, Welker led the league in receptions three times and set a new Patriots record for career receptions (672). With Welker, the Patriots never finished a season outside the top eight in scoring, and he was a part of the only three Patriot teams to finish first in scoring.
The reason I have Welker ahead of Moss is that he was not only with the Patriots longer but was a highly productive player during his tenure.
Welker slots ahead of Moss in my ranking due to his longer tenure and his volume of production throughout his time with New England.
4. Logan Mankins, G, 2005-2013
Looking at the first half of the Patriots' dynasty, they had tremendous talent along the offensive line. Matt Light, Dan Koppen, and Joe Andruzzi were all phenomenal players, yet none exceeded the talent or sheer impact of Logan Mankins.
Throughout his career, Mankins was consistently regarded as one of the best guards in the league, allowing just 33 sacks in 130 games. In his nine seasons with the Patriots, Mankins made six Pro-Bowls and was named Second-Team All-Pro five times.
Mankins is by far the unluckiest Patriots player on this list. He was drafted after they won their third Super Bowl, endured the two Super Bowl losses to the Giants, and was traded before they won their fourth. Mankins gave everything he could to win a Super Bowl, even playing through both ACL and MCL tears in separate knees during the 2011 season.
For his dedication and his stretch of elite play, Mankins gets the third spot.
3. Bruce Armstrong, T, 1987-2000
Having a great left tackle is a premium in football, and the Patriots had exactly that with Bruce Armstrong. Over the course of his 14-year career with New England, Armstrong provided elite-level play at one of the most important positions, earning six Pro Bowls and two Second-Team All-Pro honors.
With the Patriots, Armstrong was dependable and consistently available, missing just 12 of a possible 224 games, starting the final 128 consecutive games of his career. Despite making the playoffs just four times, Armstrong played a significant role in protecting Bledsoe’s blindside in the Patriots' Super Bowl XXXI appearance.
Armstrong is one of, if not the best, left tackles in his era. This is extremely impressive considering he was going up against Bruce Smith, Kevin Greene, and Leslie O’Neal. For that, along with being one of eight players to have their jersey retired by the Patriots, Armstrong gets the third spot.
2. Andre Tippett, LB, 1982-1993
Just like the others, the brilliance of Andre Tippett was wasted away on some horrendous Patriots teams. This, combined with playing in the same era as Lawrence Taylor, Jack Lambert, and Mike Singletary, has made Tippett one of the most underrated players in NFL history.
Across his 11-year career, he earned five Pro Bowl nods and was the fourth Patriot to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Tippett holds the NFL record for most sacks by a linebacker over two years (35). He also owns the Patriots' record for career sacks (100) by a 22-sack margin. He was the heart and soul of the defense, excelling against the run and pass, making him, without a doubt, the greatest defensive player to don a Patriots uniform.
With Tippett leading the defense, the Patriots ranked in the top-10 in points allowed in five of his 11 seasons, even though they reached the playoffs just three times. For that, and being named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, Tippett gets the second spot.
1. John Hannah, G, 1973-1985
Before Brady, John Hannah was the undisputed greatest Patriots player of all time. Despite not being a skill position player, Hannah was one of the few stars in the pre-dynasty era.
Despite making the playoffs just four times in his 13-year career, Hannah played a prominent role, anchoring the Patriots' offensive line. He helped the 1978 team set the then-NFL record for most rushing yards in a season (3,165) and led the 1985 team to Super Bowl XX.
While he never hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, Hannah achieved some rare feats. Hannah became the first Patriots player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is also one of the few players to be named to multiple NFL All-Decades teams.
This is extremely impressive considering the lack of talent the Patriots’ offense had during this stretch. His production, consistency, and importance to the team make him the greatest Patriot without a ring.