When the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers square off in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, more than the NFL championship for the 2023 season will be at stake. For the all-star players in the contest, the Super Bowl is an opportunity to add to their legacy.

Not all great players make it to the Super Bowl, of course, but getting to the big game only adds luster to the careers of the players who do play in it, adding the weight of history to all-star accolades.

Of the top 10 players on AL.com’s lastest list of the 100 greatest NFL careers for those from Alabama high schools and colleges, one – Don Hutson – played his entire career before the first Super Bowl on Jan. 15, 1967. But the next eight players on the list did reach the Super Bowl, and for DeMarcus Ware, Buck Buchanan, Joe Namath and Bart Starr, their performances on football’s biggest stage added to their iconic status.

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The first player on the list of the 100 greatest NFL careers who didn’t reach the Super Bowl is Derrick Thomas at No. 9. Here’s a look at the top 10 NFL players with Alabama football roots whose all-star careers did not include a trip to the Super Bowl (for those who played their entire careers in the Super Bowl era):

9. Derrick Thomas, outside linebacker (Alabama)

Kansas City Chiefs 1989-1999: Pro Bowl 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997; All-Pro 1990, 1991; NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year 1989, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009.

Kansas City went to the playoffs in seven of Thomas’ 11 seasons. The Chiefs reached the AFC Championship Game once but lost to the Buffalo Bills 30-13 on Jan. 23, 1994.

11. Robert Brazile, outside linebacker (Vigor High School in Prichard)

Houston Oilers 1975-1984: Pro Bowl 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982; All-Pro 1978, 1979; NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year 1975, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018.

The Oilers never did get that door kicked in against the Pittsburgh Steelers, as coach Bum Phillips wanted. Houston lost to Pittsburgh 34-5 in the AFC Championship Game on Jan. 7, 1979, then fell to the Steelers again the next year in the conference-championship game 27-13.

17. Ozzie Newsome, tight end (Colbert County High School, Alabama)

Cleveland Browns 1978-1990: Pro Bowl 1981, 1984, 1985; All-Pro 1984, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1999.

The Browns lost to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game three times in four seasons to keep Newsome out of the Super Bowl. The first loss featured The Drive by Broncos quarterback John Elway as Denver took a 23-20 overtime victory on Jan. 11, 1987. The second loss had The Fumble by Browns running back Earnest Byner as the Broncos took a 38-33 victory on Jan. 17, 1988. The third loss came by a 37-21 score on Jan. 14, 1990.

19. Philip Rivers, quarterback (Athens High School)

San Diego Chargers 2004-2016, Los Angeles Chargers 2017-2019, Indianapolis Colts 2020: Pro Bowl 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018.

Rivers played in 12 playoff games in seven seasons and threw for 2,965 yards. In his only appearance in the AFC Championship Game, Rivers played with a torn knee ligament and without star running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who had only two rushing attempts because of an injury, as the Chargers lost to the New England Patriots 21-12 on Jan. 20, 2008.

20. Willie Anderson, offensive tackle (Vigor High School in Prichard, Auburn)

Cincinnati Bengals 1996-2007, Baltimore Ravens 2008: Pro Bowl 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006; All-Pro 2004, 2005, 2006.

During Anderson’s 12 seasons as a mainstay at right offensive tackle for the Bengals, Cincinnati played in one postseason game. In Anderson’s final season, the Ravens reached the AFC Championship Game but fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers 23-14 on Jan. 18, 2009, in the last game of Anderson’s career.

27. Forrest Blue, center (Auburn)

San Francisco 49ers 1968-1974, Baltimore Colts 1975-1978: Pro Bowl 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974; All-Pro 1971, 1972.

The 49ers lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs in three consecutive seasons during Blue’s career, including back-to-back defeats in the NFC Championship Game. The Cowboys defeated San Francisco 17-10 on Jan. 3, 1971, and 14-3 on Jan. 2, 1972.

28. Takeo Spikes, inside linebacker (Auburn)

Cincinnati Bengals 1998-2002, Buffalo Bills 2003-2006, Philadelphia Eagles 2007, San Francisco 49ers 2008-2010, San Diego Chargers 2011-2012: Pro Bowl 2003, 2004; All-Pro 2004.

Spikes played in 219 NFL regular-season games and no playoff games.

31. Roddy White, wide receiver (UAB)

Atlanta Falcons 2005-2015: Pro Bowl 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011; All-Pro 2010.

In five postseason games, White had 34 receptions for 369 yards and three touchdowns, but the Falcons won only one of them. In the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 20, 2013, White had seven receptions for 100 yards, but the San Francisco 49ers defeated Atlanta 28-24.

32. Minkah Fitzpatrick, safety (Alabama)

Miami Dolphins 2018-2019, Pittsburgh Steelers 2019-2023: Pro Bowl 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023; All-Pro 2019, 2020, 2022.

Unlike the other players on this list, Fitzpatrick still has the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl. During his six NFL seasons, Pittsburgh has appeared in three playoff games and lost all of them.

33. Chris Samuels, offensive tackle (Shaw High School in Mobile, Alabama)

Washington Redskins 2000-2009: Pro Bowl 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.

During Samuels’ nine full seasons as Washington’s left offensive tackle, the Redskins went to the playoffs twice and posted a 1-2 playoff mark.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.