Hall of Famers, champions abound on all-time Steelers roster
Hall of Famers, champions abound on all-time Steelers roster
In terms of team personnel in the Hall of Fame, the Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the most successful. The team has appeared in eight Super Bowls, and 22 Steelers who have made considerable contributions to the club are now enshrined in Canton. The number includes 17 players, two coaches, team founder and longtime owner Art Rooney, his son, Dan, who is the current owner, and Bert Bell, who co-owned the franchise with Art Rooney in the 1940s. Here is a look at Pittsburgh’s star-studded all-time team.
Coach: The team has had incredible stability, with just three coaches manning the franchise over the past 50 years. Chuck Noll had a 193-148-1 in 23 seasons, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993. Noll led the Steelers to the playoffs 12 times, including seven AFC Championship Games and victories in all four Super Bowls the team played in during his tenure (IX, X, XIII, and XIV). His successor, Bill Cowher, led Pittsburgh to a 149-90-1 record and 10 trips to the playoffs in 15 seasons. Before becoming a CBS studio analyst, Cowher took the Steelers to six AFC Championship Games and two Super Bowls (a loss in XXX and a win in XL). Current coach Mike Tomlin has a 125-66-1 record in 12 seasons. Under his leadership, the team has made the playoffs eight times and reached the Super Bowl twice (a win in XLIII and a loss in XLV). Walt Kiesling only went 30-55-5 with the Steelers, but he was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his contributions both as a player and a coach.
Quarterback: Terry Bradshaw is a Hall of Famer who led the Steelers to four Super Bowl wins. He was the league’s MVP in 1978, made the Pro Bowl three times, and threw for 27,989 yards and 212 touchdowns. Ben Roethlisberger may soon join Bradshaw in Canton. “Big Ben” has won two Super Bowls, was selected to the Pro Bowl six times and was the 2004 Offensive Rookie of the Year. His career totals of 55,894 yards and 363 touchdowns are both franchise records. Neil O’Donnell started for the Steelers in their Super Bowl XXX loss to the Cowboys, and he also was a Pro Bowler in 1992.
Running Back/Fullback: The club has Hall of Famers starting at both positions. Fullback Franco Harris tops the franchise charts with 11,950 yards and 91 touchdowns. In addition to four Super Bowl titles, Harris was MVP of Super Bowl IX, made nine straight Pro Bowls, was a 1977 All-Pro and ran for 1,000 yards or more eight times. Jerome Bettis is second in team history with 10,571 rushing yards and 78 scores. “The Bus” had six 1,000-yard seasons, was an All-Pro in 1996, and played in two Super Bowls, with his final game being a victory in Super Bowl XL. The backup fullback, John Henry Johnson, is also in the Hall of Fame. He was a three-time Pro Bowler in the 1960s and totaled 4,381 yards. Willie Parker was part of two championship teams and made two Pro Bowls. His 5,378 yards includes three seasons with 1,000 or more. Le’Veon Bell is fourth in team history with 5,336 yards and third with 35 touchdowns. He made three Pro Bowls and was a two-time All-Pro. Dick Hoak amassed 3,965 yards and was a Pro Bowler in 1968. After his playing career, he spent 35 years as Pittsburgh’s running backs coach. Barry Foster was a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1992 when he ran for 1,690 yards and 17 scores. Robert “Rocky” Bleier was a four-time champion who ran for 1,036 yards in 1976.
Wide Receiver: Hines Ward has team records in receptions (1,000), yards (12,083) and touchdowns (91). He is a two-time champion, the MVP of Super Bowl XL, and a four-time Pro Bowler who has six 1,000-yard seasons. Antonio Brown is second in all three categories with 837 catches, 11,207 yards, and 74 scores. He had 1,000 or more yards seven times, went to seven Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro four times. John Stallworth and Lynn Swann have similar resumes. Both are Hall of Famers, four-time champions and three-time Pro Bowlers. Stallworth, a 1979 All-Pro, is third with 8,723 yards and 63 touchdowns. Swann was a 1978 All-Pro, the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner in 1981, and the MVP of Super Bowl X. Louis Lipps had 6,108 yards and 39 touchdowns. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1984. Gilbert “Buddy” Dial made two Pro Bowls and totaled 4,723 yards and 42 scores in five seasons. Mike Wallace started in Super Bowl XLV and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2011. Ray Matthews was selected to two Pro Bowls and Plaxico Burress had two 1,000-yard seasons in Pittsburgh. Santonio Holmes was the Super Bowl XLIII MVP.
Tight End: Heath Miller appeared in three Super Bowls, including two victories. His 592 receptions rank third in team history. The two-time Pro Bowler also had 6,569 yards (fourth) and 45 touchdowns (fifth). Elbie Nickel is a three-time Pro Bowl selection who is fourth on the team list with 51 touchdowns.
Tackle: Four-time champion Jon Kolb played in 177 games and was a starter for nine seasons on the left side. Opposite him is Tunch Ilkin, who started for 10 years and made the Pro Bowl twice in the 1980s. Converted tight end Larry Brown was Kolb’s teammate on four title squads, and he also made the Pro Bowl in 1982. John Jackson started for nine years and appeared in 11 playoff games, including Super Bowl XXX.
Guard: Alan Faneca was named to seven straight Pro Bowls and was a six-time All-Pro. He was the starter at left guard for the team’s Super Bowl XL victory. Current right guard David DeCastro has been named to four straight Pro Bowls and is a two-time All-Pro. Sam Davis and Gerry Mullins started on four championship teams, and Ramon Foster played in 11 playoff games, including Super Bowl XLV.
Center: This position is manned by a pair of Hall of Famers. Mike Webster is a four-time champion who was a nine-time Pro Bowl and five-time All-Pro selection. Dermontti Dawson made seven straight Pro Bowls and six straight All-Pro teams in 13 seasons. Ray Mansfield was a starter on the Steelers’ first two championship squads.
Defensive End: L.C. Greenwood and Dwight White, bookends on four Super Bowl winners, are the starters. Greenwood appeared in five Pro Bowls and was a two-time All-Pro. White was selected to two Pro Bowls and he also sacked Fran Tarkenton for a safety in Super Bowl IX. Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel both appeared in three Super Bowls. Smith was a 2004 Pro Bowl selection who totaled 44 sacks in 13 seasons. Keisel was a 2010 Pro Bowler who had 30 sacks. Keith Willis is fourth on the team’s list with 59 sacks, including 14 in 1983.
Nose Tackle: One of the most intimidating players in NFL history, “Mean Joe” Greene is a Hall of Famer and a four-time champion. He appeared in 10 Pro Bowls (including nine straight), was a four-time All-Pro and a two-time Defensive Player of the League selection, and was named the 1979 Walter Payton Man of the Year. Ernie Stautner is another Hall of Famer who was a nine-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1958. Casey Hampton appeared in three Super Bowls and five Pro Bowls.
Outside Linebacker: Hall of Famer Jack Ham won four Super Bowls, made eight straight Pro Bowls and was selected to six straight All-Pro teams. He also had 32 interceptions. James Harrison played in three Super Bowls and set the record for longest interception return, taking one back 100 yards for a score in Super Bowl XLIII. He is also a five-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. Harrison’s 80½ sacks are the most in team history, and his 16 sacks and seven forced fumbles earned him the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2008. Jason Gildon is second on Pittsburgh’s list with 77 sacks. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. Joey Porter is third with 60 sacks and had nine in his 2002 All-Pro season. The four-time Pro Bowler also played in Super Bowl XL. Kevin Greene is a Hall of Famer who had 35½ sacks in just three seasons in Pittsburgh, including a league-high 14 in 1994. His last game with the Steelers was Super Bowl XXX. LaMarr Woodley had 57 sacks, including 13½ in his 2009 Pro Bowl season. Greg Lloyd went to five straight Pro Bowls and was a three-time All-Pro. His 53½ sacks included 10 in 1994. Andy Russell played on two championship teams. He went to seven Pro Bowls and had 18 interceptions.
Inside Linebacker: James Farrior played in three Super Bowls, was a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2004. He totaled 30 sacks and made 100 or more tackles six times. Hall of Famer Jack Lambert went to nine straight Pro Bowls and was a six-time All-Pro. He recovered eight fumbles in his Defensive Player of the Year season in 1976, and he had 28 career interceptions. Lawrence Timmons played in two Super Bowls and was a Pro Bowler in 2014. He had 35½ sacks and made 100 or more tackles six times in 10 seasons. Levon Kirkland was a two-time Pro Bowler and a 1997 All-Pro, who had six years with 100 or more tackles. Robin Cole, a Pro Bowler in 1984, was a part of two championship teams.
Cornerback: The team boasts Hall of Famers at both starting spots. Rod Woodson is a seven-time Pro Bowler and a five-time All-Pro. His 38 interceptions are fourth on the team’s all-time list, and he returned five for scores. Mel Blount is a four-time champion. His 57 picks are the most in franchise history, and he had 11 in 1975, when he was named Defensive Player of the Year. Behind Blount on the right side is another Hall of Famer in Jack Butler. He went to four Pro Bowls, was a three-time All-Pro and returned four of his 52 interceptions for touchdowns. Dwayne Woodruff played in Super Bowl XIV and had 37 picks. Ike Taylor went to three Super Bowls and was a nine-year starter. Deshea Townsend played in two Super Bowls and registered 21 interceptions. William Gay went to two Super Bowls and returned five of his 11 interceptions for touchdowns. Chad Scott had 19 picks in eight seasons and brought back four for scores.
Safety: On the strong side, Donnie Shell ranks third in team history with 51 interceptions. He is a four-time champion who was selected to five Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams. Free safety Darren Perry was a member of the 1992 All-Rookie Team and had 32 interceptions. He appeared in 11 playoff games, including Super Bowl XXX. Mike Wagner won four championships in 10 seasons. He was a two-time Pro Bowler who had 36 interceptions, including a league-leading eight in 1973. Hard-hitting Troy Polamalu was selected as a Pro Bowler eight times and an All-Pro four times. He had 32 career interceptions and appeared in three Super Bowls. Carnell Lake was a four-time Pro Bowler, an All-Pro in 1997, and he recovered 16 fumbles in 10 years. J.T. Thomas played in three Super Bowls and was Pro Bowler in 1976. Glen Edwards appeared in two Super Bowls and two Pro Bowls, and he had 25 interceptions.
Kicker: Gary Anderson went to three Pro Bowls, and his 1,343 points include eight seasons with 100 or more. Jeff Reed appeared in three Super Bowls. He had 919 points, including 100 or more seven times. Roy Gerela is a three-time champion who played in two Pro Bowls.
Punter: Bobby Walden is a two-time champion and a 1969 Pro Bowler who had a 41.1-yard average over 10 seasons. Josh Miller averaged 42.9 yards per punt over eight seasons in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Returners: Woodson leads the team in both kickoff return (4,894) and punt return yards (2,362), and he returned two of each for touchdowns. Brown and Antwaan Randle El returned four punts for scores. Lipps led the league with 656 punt return yards in 1984.
Special Teams: The Steelers are one of two teams (the Jets are the other) that have never had a Pro Bowl selection at this position. Greg Warren played in 180 games and appeared in three Super Bowls as a long snapper.
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-By: Kevin Rakas