All-Time Pittsburgh Steelers team: Who makes the cut?

Honorable mention: defense

22 Nov 1995: LINEBACKER GREG LLOYD OF THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS DURING THE STEELERS 31-15 WIN OVER THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS AT THREE RIVERS STADIUM IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

Outside Linebacker:

Greg Lloyd

One of my favorite players ever, Lloyd was just flat-out intimidating.  I honestly miss the style of defense we played back then.  There was very little finesse in Lloyd’s play; if he had played hockey, he would have been an “enforcer”.  In his ten seasons with us, he was voted to the Pro Bowl five consecutive times, while earning All-Pro honors in three consecutive years.  So why did he not make the cut?  You’ll find out soon enough.

Kevin Greene
Another one of my favorite players ever, Greene only played for us for three seasons, but he made the Pro Bowl twice and was named All-Pro once during his tenure.  Greene and Lloyd both embodied what it meant to be a Steelers linebacker.

Greene finished his career having been voted to the Pro Bowl five times, having been named All-Pro twice and ultimately being inducted into the Hall of Fame.  Had Greene finished his career with us (he played four more seasons after leaving the Steel City), I often wonder what the defense could have accomplished.

LaMarr Woodley
Although Woodley only made one trip to the Pro Bowl, he was a dominant force on the left side of the defense.  He was the Robin to James Harrison’s Batman.  A one-time Super Bowl champ, Woodley finished his seven-year Steelers career with 57 sacks.

Andy Russell
In my opinion, Russell should be in the Hall of Fame along with Jacks Ham and Lambert.  In twelve seasons, Russel was named to the Pro Bowl seven times, six times in consecutive years.  He also was a two-time Super Bowl champ. Russel finished his Steelers career with 18 takeaways-not bad for a sixteenth-round draft pick.

Defensive Tackle: 
Casey Hampton
A five-time Pro Bowler and a two-time Super Bowl champ, Hampton was the prototypical DT (nose tackle) for our 3-4 defensive scheme.  He commanded a double team and was surprisingly nimble for a big man.  He was a run stuffer extraordinaire, to be sure.

Ernie Stautner
Although he played before my time, I had heard of Stautner as my Steelers knowledge expanded.  What I did know was that his number was the only number to have been officially retired until Mean Joe’s number was retired a few years ago.  Stautner played fourteen seasons, earning seven consecutive Pro Bowl appearances and nine total appearances.  He was named All-Pro once and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.