Steelers highest-graded defensive players by PFF since 2006

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had their share of great defensive players over the years. Here are PFF’s top graded Steelers each year since 2006.

Pro Football Focus graded their first NFL season back in 2006, and have been an extremely popular source of football data ever since. The Steelers are offered a lot of familiar faces (particularly on the defensive side of the football) in the 2000’s, and PFF took notice.

A tweet recently released by PFF Steelers displayed the highest graded Pittsburgh defensive players all the way back to 2006:

There aren’t a lot of surprises about the recipients of the highest graded players on this list. Some of the most notable players the league has seen stood out in a big way for Pittsburgh.

Let’s break down each of the highest graded Steelers defensive players since 2006:

Troy Polamalu: 2006, 2008, 2011, 2013

It’s not surprising in the least bit to see one of the best safeties ever on this list four times. Polamalu was a 4-time All-Pro and former Defensive Player of the Year.

He earned impressive grades – including a score of 90.8 in the 2008 season leading up to the Super Bowl. Troy Polamalu was a once-in-a-lifetime talent. Despite having 7 years where he failed to play a full season, the 8-time Pro Bowler should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

James Harrison: 2007, 2010, 2015, 2016

Keeping pace with the great Troy Polamalu is one of the best edge rushers in Steelers history. James Harrison earned the highest grade on the Steelers defense in 4 seasons, spanning nearly a decade.

Despite not starting for Pittsburgh full-time until he was 29 years old, Harrison played 35 more games  than Polamalu in his 15-year NFL career. Like Polamalu Harrison earned a Defensive Player of the Year award of his own in a season where he produced 101 tackles, 16.0 sacks, and 7 forced fumbles.

Cameron Heyward: 2014, 2017, 2018

Cameron Heyward didn’t play in the same era as Polamalu and Harrison, as such there was less competition over the earning the honor of the highest graded defensive player in the team.

However, Heyward has an All-Pro honor to his name and earned his 2nd Pro Bowl appearance last season. Heyward just hit 30 years old, and could very well see his name on this list again in the future.

LaMarr Woodley: 2009

Steelers former outside linebacker, LaMarr Woodley saw his name once on this list since entering the league in 2007. With Polamalu not playing a full season in 2009, Woodley outperformed Harrison to take the tittle with a grade of just 79.2

LaMarr Woodley mostly played ‘Robin’ to Harrison’s ‘Batman’ until 2013, where he played just 16 more games with Oakland and Arizona before retiring at the age of 31.

Lawrence Timmons: 2012

Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley were drafted together back in 2007 – Mike Tomlin’s first draft class with Pittsburgh. Timmons proved to be a solid pick with a long productive career with the Steelers from age 21 to 30.

In 2012, Polamalu played just 7 games, while James Harrison notched 13. Lawrence Timmons stepped up in their absences with 106 tackles, 6.0 sacks, and 3 interceptions.

It’s somewhat surprising to see only four Steelers players earn the honor of the highest graded player on defense dating all the way back to 2006. In all likely hood, there would have been just three names in this list if Polamalu and Harrison were healthy in 2009 and 2012.