Way back on October 3rd we told the story of how Patrick Mahomes very nearly became a New Orleans Saint. Because of an astute and aggressive draft day trade he became a Kansas City Chief instead. The link provided tells that interesting story in case you had not yet become a boomboomsroom.com reader.
Fast forward to today, January 18th. My, how the story has advanced. It’s likely when the MVP voting is done that Mahomes will win the award and edge out Drew Brees in doing so. It’ll be a one/two finish for sure. But, the even bigger story is that each of them will quarterback their teams this weekend in the AFC and NFC Championship Games. The winners head to the Super Bowl in lovely Atlanta. KC and NO are each three point favorites to do just that.
Should one or two slight upsets occur, Jared Goff and Tom Brady would lead either or both of the Rams and Patriots to the very lovely(ahem) and picturesque, beautiful Atlanta. Therefore, regardless of the outcome of the games, a “franchise” quarterback will eventually lead his team to the podium to cherish the coveted Lombardi Trophy. Brady and Brees are the old guard great qbs. Goff and Mahomes are the up and coming ones.
Roger Goodell will (we hope and think) get booed loudly prior to the presentation. But, we digress.
Super Bowl winners come in different shapes and sizes, but they usually have two things in common. One, they have a real good or great coach. And two, they have a real good or great quarterback. There are outliers of course. So, who might be those outliers?
We will begin to examine those very questions in our run up to the Super Bowl features starting today. We will continue with them by the middle of next week. Today we examine the question “who is the best quarterback to participate in, but not ever win, a Super Bowl?” Our take in reverse order is below.
3. Jim Kelly– The only qb to ever lose four Super Bowls, and four straight in 1990-1993 at that, was a first year eligible NFL Hall of Fame inductee. His K-Gun offense in Buffalo was electric. He threw for over 35,000 yards and 287 touchdowns in his NFL career after spending two years in the USFL amassing formidable stats there as well.
2. Fran Tarkington– A three-time SB loser, Tarkington played for 18 NFL seasons in what was a different era. Quarterbacks weren’t nearly as protected as today. The HOF inductee lead almost all career statistical QB measurements when he retired. He threw for over 47,000 yards and 342 touchdowns playing for the Vikings at the outset and conclusion of his career. A five year NY Giants stint was sandwiched in between.
- Dan Marino– Marino soared with his Dolphins all the way to the big show in just his second year and first as a full-time starter. It was a one way ticket as he never returned. His ticket to Canton was well-earned though. In 17 distinguished NFL seasons he went to the playoffs ten times. He threw for over 61,000 yards, and tossed 420 touchdowns. All of that and a bevy of game, season, and career records make him the clear choice for the “best ever to appear but never win.” Not bad for being the fifth QB drafted in a QB heavy, famous 1983 class.
Kelly, Tarkington, and Marino are three of the best. Collectively they played in 46 NFL seasons. They won 379 games. They played in eight Super Bowls. They won none.