Ron Yary, USC Football Legend, Couldn't Conquer the Super Bowl

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Ron Yary is considered one of the greatest football players to come out of USC, making the Pro Football Hall of Fame after a standout career with the Minnesota Vikings. However, despite leading the Vikings to four Super Bowl appearances, Yary never won the big game, making him the unluckiest USC football legend when it came to the Super Bowl.

Why it matters

Yary's story highlights the cruel nature of the Super Bowl, where even all-time great players can be denied the ultimate prize despite sustained excellence over their careers. His inability to capture a championship also underscores the Vikings' own Super Bowl futility in the 1970s, a decade-plus trail of tears that predated the Bills' own Super Bowl struggles.

The details

Yary was a dominant offensive lineman who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1968 NFL Draft. He helped transform the Vikings into an instant contender, leading them to four Super Bowl appearances in the 1960s and 1970s. However, the Vikings lost each of those Super Bowls, including defeats to the Chiefs, Dolphins, Steelers, and Raiders. Yary's greatness was undeniable, but the Super Bowl eluded him despite his sustained excellence over nearly two decades in the NFL.

• Yary was drafted No. 1 overall by the Vikings in 1968.
• The Vikings made their first Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl IV in the 1969 season.
• The Vikings returned to the Super Bowl in Super Bowls VIII, IX, and XI in the 1973, 1974, and 1976 seasons, respectively.
• Yary played in the NFL from 1968 to 1981.