The Pittsburgh Steelers have had hundreds of players put on a black and yellow uniform over the past twenty years. Here are the 30 best players to do so.
The Steelers are one of the most prolific franchises in the National Football League, and I was intrigued with the idea of ranking the greatest players I grew up watching.
After weeks of formulating my list of every player the Steelers have drafted or signed since the year 2000, I was challenged with the difficult task of narrowing my list down to just 30 players out of the hundreds that have stepped onto the field for the Steelers in the past twenty years.
It was no easy task trying to compare players across positions and generations, and I have invested countless hours into this list, but it is finally complete. You may be already trying to do the math in your head and figure out which 30 players I saved for last. I promise, there shouldn’t be any big surprises in here, and this should all make sense after I explain my reasoning.
As always, I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter, so please leave a comment and help get the discussion rolling.
My criteria for this list restricted me to using players who entered the NFL in the year 2000 or later. They could be players who were either drafted or signed in free agency by the Steelers. Because of this, some prominent players like Alan Faneca, Joey Porter, Hines Ward, and Aaron Smith were drafted a bit too early to be included on this list.
With that in mind, here are my greatest 30 Pittsburgh Steelers of the 2000s:
30. Kendall Simmons, G (2002)
Kendall Simmons might be the most forgotten about former 1st round draft choice of the 2000s. Oftentimes, it’s easy for an offensive lineman to go unnoticed. However, it’s rare that we completely forget about a former 1st round draft choice.
That’s probably because Kendall Simmons was somewhere right in the middle.
If a former 1st round choice was really bad (like Jarvis Jones) it tends to linger with us for a long time as we think about all of the other players the Steelers could have drafted in his stead. Likewise, we won’t soon forget about a former 1st round pick who turned out to be very good.
Kendall Simmons, however, was neither great nor awful. Combine this with the fact that he was an offensive guard, and you can see why he might have slipped through the cracks.
Remarkably, Simmons dressed for 80 games with the Steelers and started all 80 – spanning from 2002 to 2008. Simmons played just 4 games into the 2008 season before tearing his Achilles tendon and landing himself in injured reserve.
The following season at just 30 years old, Simmons tried to come back but played just 3 games for Buffalo and 1 with New England before calling it quits on his NFL career.
29. Joe Haden, CB (2010)
There aren’t many players who made my ‘Top 30 Steelers of the 2000’s’ list with just two years of experience in a black and yellow uniform, but Haden is one of them.
Joe Haden is as solid as a cornerback that the Steelers have had since Ike Taylor in his later years. Haden is a physical, long-armed corner that provides sticky coverage.
Unlike most cornerbacks to put on that Steelers uniform in the 2000s, Joe Haden has a knack for taking the ball away. He has done it three times since 2017 but has a whopping 29 interceptions in his 11-year career.
Though his interception totals have taken a dip since coming to Pittsburgh, Haden has proven to be a leader and the most stable piece in the Steelers secondary.
Joe Haden is now 32 years old, and his prime years left in the tank are dwindling down. His journey with the Cleveland Browns was excellent as he was a two-time Pro Bowler and was considered one of the best cornerbacks in the league. However, in a Steelers uniform, Haden finds himself just 29th on this list.
28. Devin Bush, LB (2019)
You will have to excuse me for making an exception to my criteria, but Devin Bush is the one player I will do that for. Though Bush’s second NFL season was cut short due to an ACL injury, I am still confident he is going to be a great addition to their defense.
Devin Bush was one of the best prospects coming out of the 2019 NFL Draft. In fact, he was a top 10 player on my draft board (7th overall). The last time the Steelers drafted a player I had ranked inside the top 10 was David DeCastro in 2012 (T.J. Watt and Ryan Shazier were just outside the top 10 on my boards).
If there is one thing I am confident in, it’s my ability to properly assess talent. Devin Bush has an array of it, and that talent will soon be on display for the world to see on Sundays. Bush possesses an incredibly rare combination of play speed and instincts, as he has almost a ‘Polamalu-like’ ability to react to a play before it happens. He was a two-time defensive captain and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2018.
Devin Bush won’t be the biggest guy on the field, but he should make his presence felt from day one. Bush is the only exception to my criteria, but I can assure you it won’t be a mistake slotting him this high on my list. A few years down the road, he will have the chance to elevate his name even higher.
27. Mike Wallace, WR (2009)
Mike Wallace may have only been a 3rd round pick back in 2009, but it didn’t take him long to explode onto the NFL scene.
Wallace was known really for one thing: his blazing speed. At the NFL Combine, Wallace clocked an official 4.33s in the 40-yard dash. However, that doesn’t do him justice for his play speed on the football field.
Mike Wallace would burn defensive backs so often that they started giving him 10-15 yards of cushion underneath. In fact, oftentimes you wouldn’t even be able to see the cornerback in a broadcast view from your television set, because they played so far back – afraid to get beat deep by Wallace.
Wallace reeled in a remarkable 756 yards and 6 touchdowns on just 72 targets as a rookie. In just his second NFL season, Wallace managed 1,257 yards and 10 touchdowns on 98 targets. To put that into perspective, Antonio Brown had 1,284 yards and 12 touchdowns on 154 targets in 2016.
Mike Wallace really was a one-trick-pony, but that trick was so special, that the things he couldn’t do didn’t even matter. He provided a whole new level of speed to the position for the Steelers.
26. Stephon Tuitt, DL (2014)
Stephon ‘do it’ Tuitt is a big powerful staple to the Steelers’ defensive line. Much Like 2019 rookie linebacker, Devin Bush, Tuitt was just 20 years old until after the NFL Draft.
Because Tuitt entered the league at such a young age, he is already entering his 6th NFL season despite turning just 26 years old in May.
Stephon Tuitt flashed as a 22-year-old back in 2015 with 6.5 sacks, an additional 8 tackles for a loss, and an interception. However, nagging injuries have slowed him throughout his career and he has never played a 16-game season because of them.
Last year, Tuitt fought through an elbow injury that hindered his 2018 season. However, he still managed 5.5 sacks and received an 81.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus a season ago.
Tuitt reminds me much of a poor man’s Aaron Smith in terms of his ability to stuff the run and anchor at the point of attack. However, Tuitt flashes potential at times that is even greater.
Tuitt was finally healthy in 2020, and it showed. In 15 games he earned 11.0 sacks, 10 tackles for a loss, and 25 quarterback hits. The powerful defensive lineman should still have some great years ahead of him.
25. Alejandro Villanueva, LT (2014)
We all know Alejandro Villanueva for his remarkable back story and his decision to become an Army Ranger. After serving three tours in Afghanistan, he returned to football and was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles.
However, his journey in Philly was short-lived and he was signed by the Steelers. Former offensive line coach, Mike Munchak, saw something desirable in Villanueva and pounced at the opportunity.
Big Al played wide receiver in 2009 for Army and garnered 34 catches for 522 yards and 5 touchdowns as a senior. Already with a 6’9” frame, Villanueva bulked up to 320 pounds to play left tackle for the Steelers.
Upon the departure of Kelvin Beachum, Villanueva took over. He quickly developed into a solid blindside protector for Ben Roethlisberger, and after just three years at his new position, Villanueva went on to receive back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances in 2017 and 2018.
Villanueva is now with the Baltimore Ravens, and some fans will resent him for that choice. However, there’s little doubt he will go down as one of the best free-agent pickups in Steelers history.
24. Plaxico Burress, WR (2000)
It’s almost hard to believe Plaxico Burress was drafted over 19 years ago. Some of the earliest Steelers football I can remember consisted of Plaxico Burress and Hines Ward at receiver.
Burress was a massive wide receiver at 6’5” and 232 pounds, according to Pro Football Reference. In today’s game, he may have been a player that would have made the transition to a ‘move’ tight end.
Regardless, Plaxico was a big-bodied target for Ben Roethlisberger in his rookie season. Ben actually didn’t arrive until four years after Burress had already been with the team. Because of this, some of Burress’s prime years were spent with Kordell Stewart and Tommy Maddox at the helm.
Despite below-average quarterback play, Burress was still able to manage a 1,000-yard season, a 1,300-yard season, and an 860-yard season before Ben’s arrival in 2004. He also reeled in 17 touchdowns during this time.
He played one year with Roethlisberger before joining Eli Manning and the New York Giants. Over the next three seasons in New York, he would go on to average 1,000 yards and nearly 10 touchdowns per season.
Burress missed the entire 2009 and 2010 season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. In 2012, Burress returned to the Steelers as a 35-year old veteran. He played four more games in Pittsburgh and added one more touchdown to his resume before retiring.
23. Brett Keisel, DL (2002)
Brett Keisel may have only been the third-best defensive lineman for the Steelers for most of his career (likely behind Aaron Smith and Casey Hampton), but he is one of the most beloved members of the Steelers over the past twenty years.
Keisel was a former 7th round draft choice (pick 242 overall) who had to work his way up the ladder. He suffered an unfortunate setback in his second season – injuring his shoulder that would cost him his sophomore season in Pittsburgh.
For many, that would have been the end but not for Keisel. Remarkably Keisel had a combined zero NFL starts in his first four seasons, yet always found a way to hang around.
With the departure of Kimo von Oelhoffen after the 2005 season, Keisel finally got his chance to start in 2006. From there he didn’t look back.
Keisel started 114 games and played in 156 for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He finished his career with over 400 tackles, 30.0 sacks, and 36 batted balls. Though he will forever be recognized by his unruly beard, fans will remember Keisel’s dedication to Pittsburgh – the place where he played his entire NFL career, from age 24 to 36.
22. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR (2017)
Brett Keisel is not an easy player to follow. Though it can be challenging comparing across positions and across generations, I believe JuJu Smith-Schuster will ultimately go down as a better player than Keisel.
JuJu has already been everything the Steelers could have wanted and more. By age 22, JuJu had already eclipsed 100 receptions, 1,400-yard receiving yards, and his stock still seems to be trending up. JuJu is a player that excels at every level of the field and even adds value in the return game (though he is becoming too valuable to the organization to use him there.)
Without Antonio Brown across from him, JuJu really came back down to earth in 2019and 2020. Most in the national media no longer view him as a legitimate number one receiving option. However, JuJu is still very young and can continue to make improvements.
Smith-Schuster is heavily involved in the community of Pittsburgh, and I’m sure will be seeing a lucrative deal coming his way soon. If he continues this upward trend, he will have a chance to see his name much higher on this list.
21. Marvel Smith, OT (2000)
When you want to talk about a Steelers player who hasn’t received enough credit for their contributions, look no further than offensive tackle Marvel Smith.
Smith was drafted with the 38th overall pick back in 2000 (just 30 picks after they took Plaxico Burress). While second-round draft choices are expected to make significant contributions, Smith outdid himself with his.
Though he was selected to just one Pro Bowl in his 9-year NFL career, Smith was loyal to the Steelers. He started 108 of the 111 games he played in, and never put on another NFL uniform in his career.
Marvel Smith jumped around the line and spent most of his time at right tackle in his first three NFL seasons before finding a permanent home at left tackle in 2003.
Smith was part of an offensive line that paved the way for five 1,000 yard rushing seasons between Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker. Alejandro Villanueva will likely surpass Smith on this list, but he should still go down as one of the better tackles in Steelers’ history.
20. LaMarr Woodley, OLB (2007)
LaMarr Woodley is a name that fans should have no trouble remembering. The former 2007 2nd round draft choice was one of the first under newly hired head coach, Mike Tomlin.
The Steelers selected back-to-back outside linebackers that year (Lawrence Timmons being the first-round selection). However, both soon found themselves making significant contributions.
During Woodley’s rookie campaign, veteran Clark Haggans started all 16 games in Pittsburgh. However, he was rather unproductive – producing just 4.0 sacks and zero forced fumbles on the season.
Haggans signed with the Cardinals in the following season, and Woodley took over in 2008. In just his second season, Woodley exploded onto the scene with 11.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, an interception, and a defensive touchdown in just 15 games.
His counterpart, James Harrison, was the Defensive Player of the Year with 101 tackles, 16.0 sacks, and 7 forced fumbles. Though Woodley played second fiddle to Harrison during his time in Pittsburgh, he would go on to have a fantastic career for the Steelers.
Woodley averaged nearly 11.0 sacks per season from 2008-2011 and was a part of a Super Bowl-winning team in Pittsburgh. At 30 years old, he had a brief stint with the Raiders and the Cardinals before retiring at the age of 31.
Woodley finished his career with 58.0 sacks, 5 interceptions, 9 forced fumbles, and 2 defensive touchdowns.
19. Willie Parker, RB (2004)
‘Fast’ Willie Parker may have had a very short-lived career, but it was, at times, spectacular. The Steelers Pro Bowl running back played a huge factor in the biggest game on turf – breaking the record for the longest run in Super Bowl history with a 75-yarder he pulled out against the Seahawks.
Though that was certainly the defining play in his career, Parker was no slouch.
Willie Parker played his entire career in Pittsburgh, though as a former undrafted rookie he didn’t see his first NFL action until he was 24 years old. By the age of 25 and in his second season, Parker took over as the Steelers primary running back and didn’t give up the reigns for the next four seasons.
Parker exploded in 2005 with 1,200 rushing yards in 15 games. The following season marked the best of his career, as Parker rushed for nearly 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns while adding another 3 scores through the air.
Parker’s production took a dip in 2007. Though he still managed 1,300 rushing yards, he punched in only 2 touchdowns on 344 total touches. Parker started 11 games the following season in 2008, but his efficiency had taken a major dip, and he was down to just 3.8 yards per rush.
Though his short career spanned from the age of 24 to 29 years old, Willie Parker will always be remembered for his blazing speed, and one of the best runs in Super Bowl history.
18. Larry Foote, LB (2002)
The Steelers have had some day three draft choices make significant contributions to their franchise, and Larry Foote was one of them. The former 4th round draft choice back in 2002 had to climb his way up the ladder in Pittsburgh, but once he did he made his presence felt.
Foote started just 3 games in his first two NFL seasons and collected a grand total of 26 tackles during that time. However, in 2004, the Steelers slotted him in next to James Farrior on the starting defensive unit, and that is where he would remain for the next six seasons.
Though Larry Foote never made a Pro Bowl, he had a way of always making his presence felt on the field. Foote was actually a poor athlete coming out of Michigan, but he played with fire and provided a spark the defense needed.
By his second season as a starter in 2005, Foote was playing at a high level on one of the league’s best defenses. He notched over 100 tackles that season and would continue to be productive throughout the glory days of the Steelers.
When it was all said and done, Foote was a member of the Steelers age 22 to 33. He was part of the team that won two Super Bowls and appeared in a third.
17. Ramon Foster, LG (2009)
Here’s a name you may not have expected to land this high on my list. However, I could certainly make the case that Ramon Foster may be the most underrated player on the Steelers over the past twenty years.
Unlike Maurkice Pouncey or David DeCastro, Foster did not have the draft status that came with fame from day one. He was not a first-round draft choice, and quite frankly nobody outside of the Tennessee Volunteer fan base knew his name.
Foster went undrafted in 2009 but was soon signed by the Steelers. He was able to put together 12 starts in his first two seasons. By year three, Foster became a full-time starter for the Steelers at left guard and remains there today.
Foster didn’t have any Pro Bowls to his name and has always played under team-friendly contracts, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t good. Ramon Foster is a large reason for the success the offensive line has experienced over the past five seasons and may be a part of the best group the Steelers have seen in their long history.
Ramon Foster started 145 games for the Steelers before hanging up his cleats following the 2019 NFL season. He will be forgotten by some fans, but the ones who really knew this team will cherish his contributions to the organization.
16. Lawrence Timmons, LB (2007)
Timmons was the first of two Pro Bowl players drafted in Mike Tomlin’s first season as head coach (the other being LaMarr Woodley). Both Timmons and Woodley were defensive ends in college, but the Steelers quickly transitioned Timmons to the inside in the NFL.
Lawrence Timmons contributed mainly on special teams as a rookie but was already making his presence felt by his second season. During his sophomore campaign in 2008, Timmons racked up 65 tackles, 5.0 sacks, an interception that he returned for 89 yards. He did all of this despite being credited with just two starts.
By year three, Timmons was a full-time starter at Mack linebacker next to James Farrior. During his 10 seasons in Pittsburgh, Timmons received just one Pro Bowl appearance in 2014 (though he always seemed to be bordering on Pro Bowl level of play).
Timmons was very young coming out of Florida State and had already played 10 seasons for the Steelers by the age of 30. He played one more season with Miami before retiring at 31 in 2017.
Timmons finished his career with 1,072 tackles, 35.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, and 12 interceptions.
15. Le’Veon Bell, RB (2013)
Le’Veon Bell is a player that probably still leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. After failing to let his team know that he wasn’t going to show up to start the year, Bell sat out the entire 2018 season – refusing to play on the franchise tag.
We can certainly question Bell’s motives after what he put the Steelers through and the drama he caused, but whether we like him personally or not, he still deserves a high spot on this list.
Le’Veon Bell was a 3-time Pro Bowler and 2-time All-Pro running back for the Steelers in his first 5 seasons in the league. Bell was never a burner, by any means. However, what he lacked in straight-line speed, he made up for with cunning agility and impressive patience.
In fact, Bell was best known for being the most patient runner in the league. He would wait for a lane to develop and cut through the hole. Bell’s vision was superb at times – which is part of the reason why it was so easy for him to churn out 4-6 yards per carry.
Though Bell was never a home-run threat, he was a consistent runner and an added asset in the passing game. Bell was known for being one of the best receiving backs in the league and has compiled 2,660 receiving yards during his time in Pittsburgh.
Though I am a big believer that a running back is only as good as the guys blocking for him, Bell deserves credit for the plays he made and what he was able to accomplish for the Steelers.
14. Ryan Clark, FS (2002)
Ryan Clark was a former undrafted free agent who spent his first years with the Giants and the Redskins. During which time he bounced around at cornerback, strong safety, and even nickel linebacker.
However, the Steelers got the chance to land him in 2006, and they didn’t look back. With an All-Pro strong safety in Troy Polamalu, defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau moved Clark to free safety upon his arrival. That is where he played for the next 8 seasons in Pittsburgh.
Ryan Clark was a diamond in the rough for the Steelers and served as an excellent compliment to Polamalu. In his 13-year NFL career, Clark made the Pro Bowl just one time as a 32-year old in 2011, but his value to the team cannot be understated.
Clark was often asked to play single high – a safety blanket on the back end – and cover for Polamalu (who was too talented to be restrained to a single role or area of the field).
However, out of all of his traits, Ryan Clark was known best for his remarkable hit power. He was a missile in the back end and often hit opposing players so hard that he would sometimes injure himself.
It was a different league back then, and Clark would no doubt be flagged for unnecessary roughness on the regular today but Clark helped put fear in the offense and added physicality to the Steelers defense for nearly a decade.
He finished his long career with 928 tackles, 55 passes defended, and 16 interceptions on 152 starts.
13. Santonio Holmes, WR (2006)
The Steelers traded up to the 25th overall pick back in 2006 to land wide receiver, Santonio Holmes. And it’s a good thing they did.
Holmes was nowhere near the level of receiver as say, Antonio Brown. He didn’t have any spectacular traits, and despite playing football in the modern era, he ushered in just one season that eclipsed 1,000 yards in his 9-year career.
Holmes never earned double-digit touchdown marks in a season and played just four years with the Steelers.
So why is he so high on this list?
It’s simple, really. Santonio Holmes had one of the best drives in the Super Bowl that we had ever seen. Though it is a two-way street, and Ben Roethlisberger was remarkable on the final drive against the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, Santonio Holmes had a remarkable game.
During the Super Bowl, Holmes caught 9 of 13 targets for 131 yards. Most of his damage came during the final drive where Ben looked his way as the Steelers marched down the field.
Of course, Holmes is best known for making one the best catches in Super Bowl history – a top-tap sideline extension that helped seal the game for Pittsburgh.
Holmes played just four seasons in Pittsburgh, but the Super Bowl MVP will always be remembered for is his clutch performance during the biggest game in sports.
12. Ryan Shazier, LB (2014)
I know Shazier started just 41 games in a Steelers uniform, but if he doesn’t deserve to be on this list I’m not sure who does.
Shazier was just 25 years old when a spinal cord injury ended his season (and in all likelihood, his career). However, there weren’t many players in the league that could turn the tides like Shazier.
Shazier had a violent and physical play style. He sacrificed his body for the team every chance he got. Though it would end up being his downfall, Shazier played with an energy that couldn’t be matched.
This led to Shazier being banged up in each of his four NFL seasons, and he never played more than 13 games in a single year. However, Shazier did things that other linebackers could only dream about doing for their teams.
His high energy and physical play style gave the Steelers defense a chance in every game they played in. Shazier earned 6 interceptions over his last two partial seasons playing for the Steelers and was awarded back-to-back Pro Bowl honors in 2016 and 2017.
Shazier’s performance against the Bengals was the best I had ever seen from a linebacker, and Pro Football Focus handed out nearly a perfect grade, the best they have ever recorded at the position.
Shazier will be missed for many reasons, but his relentless effort was what made him one of the all-time greats. He sold his body for his teammates and the game he loves, and he deserves his name high on the list of my ‘Top 30 Steelers of the 2000s.’
11. Ike Taylor, CB (2003)
Ike Taylor has to be one of the greatest 4th round draft choices in the history of the Steelers. Taylor was part of a team that won two Super Bowls and Appeared in a third and was the best cornerback to put on a Steelers uniform over the past twenty years.
Taylor, however, didn’t start off this way. The former 4th round pick back in 2003 took a while to get the train rolling. He was a big tall cornerback from Louisiana but failed to make any significant contributions in his first two seasons.
By year three, Taylor had emerged as a full-time starter at left cornerback. Though he produced in the box score, his 91 tackles were misleading as he was still trying to get things worked out in coverage.
Eventually, Taylor pulled it all together and became a reliable cornerback whose run could match up with the opposing team’s best receiver. Ike Taylor played his entire career in Pittsburgh – from the age of 23 until 34 years old.
He was, in my opinion, a Pro Bowl snub a few times in his better years. Though he was a very physical cornerback who could mirror receivers down the field, Taylor lacked one thing as an athlete: hands.
They were so bad, in fact, that we began to expect Ike Taylor to drop anything thrown his direction. When Taylor did catch the ball for an interception, it was so few and far between that, we didn’t know what to do with ourselves.
Taylor finished his career with 14 picks in 12 NFL seasons, and there were 8 seasons where he posted one or fewer interceptions. Regardless, Ike was a lock-down cornerback in his prime, and the best the Steelers have had in the past twenty years.
10. Cameron Heyward, DL (2011)
Cameron Heyward is, by most accounts, one of the most likable Steelers in the locker room and off the field. But it takes much more than a stand-up personality to make it into the top 10 Steelers of the 2000s.
Heyward has a rich family lineage of football players, and he was no exception to the mold. As a former 1st round draft choice, Heyward did not disappoint. Cam Heyward had the luxury of waiting in the wings behind Brett Keisel and former first-round pick, Ziggy Hood. He even got to see Aaron Smith in action for his rookie season before Smith decided to call it quits.
While Ziggy Hood didn’t end up being the player the Steelers were hoping for, Cameron Heyward took advantage of his opportunity. By 2013, Heyward had taken over for Ziggy Hood and was impressive in his first major NFL action. He tallied 59 tackles and 5.0 sacks in 13 starts.
The following two seasons, Heyward exploded for a combined 14.5 sacks and established his name as one of the better 3-4 defensive ends in football. In recent years, Heyward was an All-Pro player in 2017 and has made four consecutive Pro Bowls from 2017 to 2020. He has currently started 114 games for the Steelers and only seems to be getting better with age.
With a recent extension, Heyward is set to play out the rest of his days as a member of the black and gold. He could still give Pittsburgh a few good seasons.
9. Heath Miller, TE (2005)
Heath Miller wasn’t as flashy as some of the tight ends we see in the NFL today, but if you want to talk about a well-rounded football player with a reliable pair of hands, look no further than Heath.
The 2005 1st round draft choice of the Steelers, was a security blanket for Ben Roethlisberger throughout his career. Though his numbers don’t jump off the page, Miller did a lot of work that went unnoticed.
Heath Miller was an exceptional blocking tight end, who could square up his pads and carve running lanes for his teammates. He was a selfless and humble player who you would never find arguing with the coaching staff or complaining about targets.
He wasn’t targeted as much as some of the other tight ends around the league, yet everyone knew that Miller was always one of the best in the business. Pro Football Focus acknowledged Miller on their ‘Page of Fame: Tight Ends’ article that graded the best tight ends from 2007 to 2013.
Heath never had an NFL season where he eclipsed 76 receptions or 816 receiving yards or 8 touchdowns, but everyone knew number 83. Heath will go down as one of the best (if not the best) tight ends in Steelers history.
8. Casey Hampton, NT (2001)
Back when teams ran the ball much more often, Casey Hampton was there to shut it down. The former 2001 1st round draft choice was virtually unmovable and nearly impossible to run on.
The Steelers used to play a lot more base 3-4 defense back in the early 2000s, and Casey Hampton was the nose tackle that made it all possible.
In today’s NFL, Hampton would be undervalued and unappreciated. He did so many things for the Steelers that didn’t go down on the stat sheet, and he didn’t care.
Hampton was a 6’1”, 325-pound wrecking ball who destroyed opposing run games. He earned just 9.0 sacks over the course of 12 seasons with the Steelers, but Pittsburgh knew his value didn’t come with his sack production.
Casey Hampton was an old-school defensive lineman in terms of what he did for his team, but he was a huge reason why the Steelers were able to have one of the best defenses in the league for such a long time.
Along with his counterparts, Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel, Hampton led one of the most dominant defensive fronts in the league. The Steelers used to be so good at shutting down the run, that I remember getting irritated when opposing running backs would cross the line of scrimmage.
Hampton went on to receive 5 Pro Bowl honors with the Steelers before retiring at the age of 35 in 2012.
7. Maurkice Pouncey, C (2010)
Maurkice Pouncey is a player that has received national recognition for his play on the football field – and for good reason. The former 1st round pick has been one of the NFL’s best centers for nearly a decade now.
Pouncey has the resume to back up what Steelers fans have witnessed from him on the football field – including 7 Pro Bowls and 2 All-Pros before the age of 30. However, there are still some who have mixed feelings about Pouncey.
Pro Football Focus, for example, graded him very low for his lackluster performance in 2019 and 2020 – ranking him as one of the worst centers in the league in both years. Still, it’s hard to deny the impact the former 1st rounder out of Florida has made on the Steelers offensive line.
Over the past five NFL seasons, the Steelers have seen quite possibly the best offensive line play they have witnessed in their established history. Though much of this can be attributed to the brilliance of Mike Munchak, Pouncey has more than earned his stripes for the Steelers.
To the surprise of some, Pouncey retired during the 2020 offseason, but his reputation and resume is good enough to warrant Hall of Fame consideration someday.
6. David DeCastro, RG (2012)
David DeCastro doesn’t yet have the pedigree of Maurkice Pouncey but I think he will end up going down as the better offensive lineman of the two when it’s all said and done.
DeCastro is everything you could ask an NFL guard to be and more. He’s a hard-nosed player with good feet and a nasty mean streak. He can hold his own against the best pass rusher in the league, and cave roads like a bulldozer for the run game.
David DeCastro is the last player defensive lineman want to line up against when facing the Steelers because rarely does he let anyone get the best of him.
Since getting embarrassed by Fletcher Cox a few years back in a Steelers loss to the Eagles, DeCastro has been rock-solid for Pittsburgh.
The prolific guard now has had 6 straight Pro Bowl seasons and 2 All-Pro honors by the age of 30, and he only seems to be getting better with each passing season. Out of 64 starting guards in the NFL, DeCastro is still considered among the top players at his position. While guards typically don’t get the recognition they deserve, David DeCastro’s is warranted.
He may not uproot Alan Faneca as possibly the all-time best Steelers’ offensive lineman, but his name will certainly be close when it’s all said and done.
5. T.J. Watt, EDGE (2017)
You may think it is a little premature to have Watt ranked 5th out of all the Steelers to play over the past 20 years, but I don’t think that is going to be the case.
After playing just 4 NFL seasons, T.J. Watt embodies what it means to be a Pittsburgh Steeler: he’s a tough hard-nosed football player who sells his body on every play, and he’s starting to develop the reputation to prove it.
Much like Ryan Shazier, Watt is a player who puts winning above himself. Though he strives to be the best at his position, he doesn’t let anything come before the team.
As an edge rusher, T.J. Watt plays a very important position and is already doing it at an extremely high level. In his first four seasons, Watt is on record pace with 49.5 sacks, 59 tackles for a loss, 17 forced fumbles, and a whopping 111 quarterback hits. With a limitless athletic profile and a motor that is always firing on all cylinders; Watt will have a chance to hear his name called among the greatest Steelers to play the position someday.
T.J. Watt is embracing his new role as a leader of the defense and promises to get better as a player. He is currently the single most valuable defensive player to the Steelers franchise. When it is all said and done, I think Watt will have a chance to climb near the top of this list of the ‘Top 30 players of the 2000s.
4. James Harrison, OLB (2002)
James Harrison, by my account, is the best free agent pickup in Pittsburgh’s history, and the Steelers have at least one less Super Bowl without him.
Harrison came out of nowhere to surprise the football world with his unnatural ability to play the edge. Despite standing at just 6-feet tall, Harrison possessed unnatural strength and used his stout frame to create leverage on any tackle he was matched up against.
James Harrison stuck around early on for the Steelers but didn’t make it as a full-time starter until his 5th NFL season at the age of 29. When he finally got his chance, there was no looking back.
Harrison exceeded all expectations in his first season as a starter – securing 98 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 7 forced fumbles. He was even better in 2008 as he managed an eye-popping 101 tackles, 16.0 sacks, and 7 forced fumbles en route to Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Harrison made the Pro Bowl every year from 2007-2011 and had two All-Pro honors in between. Though he had a very late start to his career, Harrison made up for it by playing in the NFL until age 39.
Though he had a brief stint with the Bengals in 2013 and the Patriots in 2017, Harrison will forever go down as one of the best pass rushers in Steelers history. His interception return for a touchdown in the Super Bowl against the Cardinals will be remembered as one of the best plays in sports history.
3. Antonio Brown, WR (2010)
It’s easy to get caught up in focusing on Antonio Brown as the player who soiled the Steelers locker room and forced his way out of Pittsburgh (I am guilty of that myself). However, if we look past the personality and focus on the player, we should be able to appreciate the contributions Brown has made to the team.
Though he certainly wasn’t the most selfless player during his 9-year tenure with the Steelers, he was undeniably good at his craft. Brown exploded as a 23-year old wide-out back in 2011 with a 1,100-yard season. He was also an added weapon in the return game – chewing up nearly 11 yards per punt return and taking one back to the house.
After a minor setback in 2012, Brown became one of the most recognized receivers in the league in 2013 with 110 catches for nearly 1,500 yards and 8 touchdowns.
He followed that up with two of the best seasons the NFL has seen from the receiver position since Jerry Rice – averaging over 130 receptions,1,750 yards and 11 touchdowns between 2014 and 2015.
Compiling stats as a receiver is a two-way street, and it takes a good quarterback to get a good receiver of the ball. Still, Antonio Brown earned most of the targets that came his way and has developed into one of the best route runners and sideline receivers the NFL has seen.
Brown didn’t leave the Steelers on good terms, and his name will spark some unpleasant memories. However, there is no denying just how good Antonio Brown was in his prime for the Steelers.
2. Ben Roethlisberger, QB (2004)
Ben Roethlisberger is undeniably one of the best and most important players to put on a Steelers uniform. Some of you may be wondering why Ben isn’t the number one player on this list, but I will be explaining my reasoning shortly.
Ben Roethlisberger plays the most important position on the field. But no quarterback had as much help as Roethlisberger in his first few seasons.
When Ben took over as a starter in his rookie season, the Steelers already poised one of the league’s best defenses. In his first two NFL seasons, Ben never eclipsed 2,400 passing yards or 17 touchdowns. He also only threw the ball an average of 282 times during this span (which is significantly less than the 675 attempts he saw in 2018).
By his third year, and with one Super Bowl under his belt, Roethlisberger led the team to a 7-8 record in 15 games while throwing 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. However, as good quarterbacks typically do, Ben bounced back with a Pro Bowl season in 2007. He later went on to lead his team to two more Super Bowls and secured one more Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl XLIII.
Ben now has 17 NFL seasons in the bag, and recently took a pay cut to finish his productive career in Pittsburgh. Though he never once received first-team All-Pro honors to date, Ben Roethlisberger will still hear his name called to Canton one day, and he will certainly go down as one of the best players in Steelers history.
1. Troy Polamalu, SS (2003)
Troy Polamalu grabs my number one spot on the ‘Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers of the 2000s.’ I’m certainly not arguing against Ben Roethlisberger’s worth, but let me make my case for Polamalu.
At no point in time (at least from the general consensus) was Ben Roethlisberger considered the very best player in the league at his position. Likewise, Ben will not be considered one of the very best players at his position in the history of the league.
This is not the case for Troy Polamalu. Though he missed a large portion of his career with injuries, Polamalu is still a first-ballot Hall of Famer and will go down as one of the best safeties in the history of the league.
Though the quarterback position is clearly more valuable as a whole, the Steelers undeniably have two fewer Super Bowl victories without Polamalu.
The Steelers traded up to the 16th overall pick in 2013 to land Troy Polamalu, and that move would go down as one of the best decisions the franchise ever made.
Polamalu had a very aggressive playstyle. Though it would sometimes get him into trouble, his rare combination of instincts and athleticism helped him make many more plays than he missed.
Troy Polamalu played just 5 full seasons out of 12 in his career, yet remarkably managed to earn 8 Pro Bowl and 4 All-Pro honors. Polamalu was an absolute game-changer who opposing quarterbacks needed to account for on every play.
He finished his career with 778 tackles, 56 tackles for a loss, 32 interceptions, 12.0 sacks, 14 forced fumbles, and 5 defensive touchdowns. Polamalu will go down as one of the best players in Steelers history, and one of the most iconic players in the history of the NFL.