As we enter the NFL Divisional Round and there are just eight teams remaining in the hunt for the championship, here is a look at six figures around the league who deserve to win their first Super Bowl title.
Here they are, presented in alphabetical order:
Los Angeles Rams WR Davante Adams
I was initially reluctant to include the veteran wide receiver on this list because of his recent petulant behavior during his time with the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets. But let’s not be so petty. Adams is a likely future Hall of Famer. We know the history. He won big with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, got antsy, asked to be traded to the Las Vegas Raiders to reunite with college quarterback Derek Carr. Adams, in a word, hated, his team in Las Vegas and wiggled a way to reunite with Rodgers with the Jets. That was a disaster. Adams, though, made the right call when he signed with the Los Angeles Rams in his first foray as a free agent in 2025. He’s a terrific player and he is a big reason why the Rams are considered a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen
This isn’t about Allen needing to take advantage of the post-season absences of Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. This is about Allen being a near perfect quarterback and the fact that he has been a brilliant postseason performer for nearly a decade. He’s an all-time great and he deserves his bling sooner rather than later.
Seattle Seahawks DT DeMarcus Lawrence
The veteran defensive tackle is in his first season with the Seahawks after spending the past 11 seasons in Dallas. He was a star for the Cowboys for most of his career. Yet, the Seahawks got a great deal in free agency after he was injured most of last season. Lawrence, 33, has had a huge first season in the Pacific Northwest and a major part of a nasty group. He’s deserves his ring in Year 12.
San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan
OK, let’s just give him two rings if he can get it done this season. Shanahan was probably the best coach in the league this season as he navigated through one major injury after another. It’s wild the San Francisco 49ers have gotten this far, but here they are. It’s because of Shanahan. In his 23rd year of his NFL coaching career, Shanahan, 46, is hoping this is the year he wins his first Super Bowl. We all know he’s been close, losing three times in bitter blown-lead defeats in the Super Bowl. The first was as the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive coordinator (in his final game before taking the head coaching role in San Francisco) in the infamous 28-3 game to the New England Patriots, and then losing to Kansas City in 2020 as the Chiefs outscored the 49ers 21-0 in the fourth quarter to win 31-20. Then, there was the overtime Super Bowl loss to Kansas City in Las Vegas four years ago. In a lot of ways, the game has been cruel to Shanahan. Maybe this is finally his year.
Seattle Seahawks DT Leonard Williams
I couldn’t list Lawrence without Williams and I couldn’t list the two Seattle veteran defensive tackles as a group. Williams, 31, has been a standout since coming to the league as a first-round pick from USC in 2015. He had to deal with a lot of losing with the New York Jets and Giants. He kept making plays. Williams has taken his game to the next level with Seattle for the past three seasons.
San Francisco 49ers OT Trent Williams
Williams has long been the best tackle in the game. He will get to the Pro Football Hall of Fame five years after he retires. He has everything —- expect a ring. He is a leader of the 49ers. The 16-year veteran shared Shanahan’s recent heartbreak in the Super Bowl. He is 37 and his time is running short. He’s dealt with injuries a lot in recent seasons, including last in this regular season. He may not play even next year. Who knows. Let’s get him that ring.
