5 Steelers who were the best in the NFL at their position at one point
For our latest rankings, we decide on five Pittsburgh Steelers players who were the best at their position at a point in time in the NFL.
This list was troubling to construct, surprisingly. As easy a thought to choose the subject, the Pittsburgh Steelers legends of legends were not only the best at their position at one point but possibly the best to ever play their position.
There’s the 1974 class that may be the most exceptional NFL draft class of all-time & could fill this list alone. Then, the defensive talent scattered across the 2000s era, the “Triple B’s” offense, and now a young EDGE defender who’s already on a Hall of Fame trajectory.
Five isn’t enough, and the names that won’t appear have every right to an argument for when they dominated their respective positions. The likes such as CB Rod Woodson, LB Jack Lambert, WR Lynn Swann, and even FB Franco Harris are prime examples that can bid a claim, but that’s how deep the Pittsburgh’s roster is in its history to leave them idle.
QB Terry Bradshaw
There are just specific names for each team in the league that you have to associate with every organization. Detroit Lions, Barry Sanders. San Francisco 49ers, Joe Montana. New York Giants, Eli Man- Lawrence Taylor. Typically responsible for the most significant moments within their teams, it’s you can’t have that without them.
As stout as those rosters were for the Steelers in the 70s, the dynasty flashed behind QB Terry Bradshaw. The number one overall pick in the 1970 NFL draft, two-times Super Bowl MVP, and the first individual to win three & four rings in the NFL.
Even 37 years since his retirement in 1983, Bradshaw remains the only player in Pittsburgh’s franchise history to win the NFL MVP. A near-perfect QB season, leading the league in touchdowns (28) and his team to a 14-2 record, the accomplishments only began the regular season.
In the 78’ playoffs, Bradshaw would put up career post-season highs in passing yards (790), passing touchdowns (8), yards per game (263.3), and QB rate (104.1). Outplaying Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach by leading in every QB category between the two in Super Bowl XIII, Bradshaw would throw four TDs triumphing Dallas 31-28 and being named SB MVP.
It was a year that showed the best of the best for that Steelers dynasty but to tip the cap to a treasured Bradshaw career that was near its ending.