5 most violent and physical Pittsburgh Steelers of the 2000s

1. EDGE James Harrison

While Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu are certainly some of the most violent players of the 2000s for the Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s hard to argue against James Harrison at the number one spot on the team.

Harrison may have been 29 years old during his first season as a full-time starter, but he was more than your typical full-grown man. Though he was always matched up against bigger, taller, and longer offensive tackles, Harrison had unparalleled strength for a man his size. In fact, his unusual power raised so many eyebrows that he was consistently tested for performance-enhancing drugs.

As far as his football demeanor goes, there was nobody tougher on the field. He would thump any offensive player when given the chance and he was brutal on special teams. Harrison admitted that he would try to hit players as hard as he could, and he racked up incredibly steep fines because of it.

As a result, many labeled him as the dirtiest player in the NFL. Whether or not that’s true, we all can agree that Harrison was undoubtedly one of the most violent and physical players on the Steelers.

Pittsburgh has a history of physicality, and these five players will hardly be the last. Let’s hope this next generation can somehow play with the same physical demeanor as these five guys.