While the overwhelming majority of Big Brother contestants only get one shot to compete on the summer TV staple, the best of the best have often received invites to come back. Whether it be a season full of all-stars or a blend of newbies and veterans, over a quarter of all seasons have featured at least one returning player.
Despite having such a large cast of returnees, some strong players have not made the return to the Big Brother house. Whether it be their own choice or just simply being on conflicting schedules, plenty of players who have gone down in BB history were never able to make it on a second season. That does not take away from their legacies, however, as plenty of houseguests are still in high regard despite only appearing once.
Jason Guy (Season 3)
A pioneer of early Big Brother strategy, Jason played a nearly flawless game all the way to the final three. His two closest allies, eventual winner Lisa and eventual all-star Danielle, flanked him in the final three. It seemed almost certain he would make finale night, but Lisa ended up cutting him off and evicting him during his first time on the block.
He was never really in any threat of danger during the entirety of his stay in the house and helped create one of the most brutal and funniest moments in Big Brother history when he voted to blindside Marcellas. He never shied away from the big move, while also having the restraint not to show his cards too early and play too hard.
Jun Song (Season 4)
Deservingly considered to be one of the smartest Big Brother players, season 4 champion Jun Song is also one of the most dominant houseguests to never make a return.
Jun perfected the now commonly used floater strategy, never really being fully committed to an alliance with anyone for an extended period of time. She was able to stay safe and never have a single vote cast against her despite winning only one HoH and Veto each. She used her cooking skills to curry favor with her fellow houseguests and gain valuable intel, a strategy not used as smartly prior to her appearance.
Drew Daniel (Season 5)
Drew is often glossed over when discussing the greatest winners in BB history, but he really shouldn't be. He played a phenomenal game, flying under the radar when needed, but ratcheting it up and making game-changing moves when needed as well.
His social game was impeccable, as he was nominated just once, and picked for veto every single time. In this older veto format, the nominees and HoH picked who would compete in it, so that statistic is all that is needed to show just how trustworthy the other houseguests found him. He also, maybe smartly, only won a single veto, so he did not have to show his cards by using it or not. Many of his decisions were extremely difficult ones to make, as he cut off many of his allies, including his showmance Diane. These moves may not have looked or felt good, but they were the right ones to reach the ultimate goal of winning the game.
Maggie Ausburn (Season 6)
Another ex-winner who has yet to make a return appearance, Maggie's less than stellar reputation may be unwarranted. She ran the Friendship Alliance, bringing her and fellow alliance member Ivette to the final two after picking off the fan-favorite Sovereign Six Alliance. While she did attack America's favorites, she still played a very strong game.
Her influence over fellow houseguests was impressive, with fans of the show dubbing her as a cult leader due to her persuasion powers. She voted with the majority every week she had a vote, a testament to just how good she was at getting her way. She has done a shockingly good job at staying out of the public spotlight since her victory, making it extremely unlikely she will ever return to the BB house.
Eric Stein (Season 8)
Season 8's Eric Stein is certainly a Big Brother player who deserves a second chance due to being unfairly impacted by twists, but that is not the only reason. He was a genuinely talented gameplayer who dramatically impacted his season and easily could have won in slightly different circumstances.
His decisions were never fully his own, as he was being instructed by America on certain decisions due to the season's twist. He had to constantly switch his allegiances and rework his plan to the end due to conflicting orders from America. He was still able to navigate his way to the final five due to his impressive seamless transitioning before being ousted by Evel Dick, someone America forced Eric to save earlier in the season.
Hayden Moss (Season 12)
Hayden was one of the few Big Brother alums to appear on another reality show, but he has not returned to defend his season 12 title. His accomplishments on his lone season make him a very strong competitor and someone who absolutely would deserve a reprise on the show.
He was the athletic juggernaut behind one of the most successful alliances of all time, winning four HoH's and a singular power of veto. He was instrumental in getting out the seasons saboteur, Annie, and the Brenchel showmance, while also correctly deciding to evict Enzo in the final three, leading him to victory. It is rumored he was an alternate for season 22 (per TMZ), so it still remains a possibility that he would return to compete again.
Derrick Levasseur (Season 16)
In addition to being the best one-and-done player, Derrick has a solid case as one of the best Big Brother winners in general. He put on an absolutely dominant performance during his season, cementing his place in BB history.
Derrick helped create arguably the most powerful duo in history, as he and his "Hitmen" partner Cody steamrolled their way to the final two, with Derrick not ever being nominated for eviction. He added three HoH victories to his resume, while also having the nominee he voted to evict go home every single time, thanks to his unmatched influence in the house. He was eventually voted as the rightful champion of Big Brother 16. Though asked back for season 22, Derrick took to Twitter to confirm he had to decline because his daughter didn't want him to leave her.
Vanessa Rousso (Season 17)
In addition to being the best one-time player, Vanessa Rousso could also be considered the greatest player to never win. She combined her impressive competition skills with an outstanding social and strategic game to be one of the most well-rounded players that Big Brother has ever seen.
Vanessa was a master manipulator, getting others in the house to do her dirty work while she collected minimal blood on her hands. She was calculated with her aggressiveness and was also able to gain power when she needed by winning four HoH competitions and three vetos. Her fingerprints were all over almost every eviction, making her a truly dominant figure in BB history.
Tiffany Mitchell (Season 23)
Tiffany hasn't yet had another chance to compete on Big Brother as she appeared in the most recent season, but until she does get the chance, it would be unfair to exclude her.
Tiffany was the mastermind behind the Cookout alliance, which is inarguably the most successful and one of the most entertaining alliances in Big Brother history. She created the master plan that would guide the alliances' strategic decisions week to week, helping them all reach the final six. Getting the alliance, entirely composed of Black players, was far more important to her than winning the game. She was the first causality when they were forced to attack each other, but her strategic prowess in advancing the whole alliance cannot be discounted.
Xavier Prather (Season 23)
Similarly to Tiffany Mitchell, Xavier also has not even had a season pass since his appearance, but his impressive gameplay is enough to warrant his inclusion here.
He also helped navigate the Cookout to the final six, while setting himself up for a masterful endgame that got him the victory. He protected his closest non-Cookout ally, Alyssa, all the way to the final seven when she was the final outsider evicted. He also was able to eliminate Tiffany, Hannah, and Kyland before it was too late, as they were far and away the biggest three threats to him winning. He sat in an easy final three alongside Azah and Derek, two players who he could easily defeat in the final HoH, and people who would most likely take him in the event he lost it.