7 Pittsburgh Steelers who contributed to black history

Bill Nunn

All of the previous names are legends of Steelers history and many of the fans are familiar with them. Here is a Steelers you might not have heard of but should remember. Bill Nunn did not want to be famous and died of a stroke recently. His story is still worth remembering.

Nunn made his mark on the Steelers as a scout was the Steeler’s connection to black colleges. It was him that was able to connect the Steelers to black players.

As a sports reporter, he faced racism while covering the Pirates. He was unable to sit in the press box despite it being three years after Jackie Robinson had broken the color barrier.

Nunn’s greatest accomplishment was in the 1974 draft picking four Hall of Famers for the Steelers. One of those players was John Stallworth according to Andrew Conte of Trib Live.

His mark was his connection to great talent for the 70s Steelers. I think he gave them a strong competitive advantage with his connection to black colleges. One thing that marked the 70s Steelers was their ability to draft players from small schools.

Conclusion

These black figures cannot be forgotten in black history and the contribution that has had on American history. These were just seven names who changed the game of football but there are many more. The Steeler’s intention toward black culture and equality made them a great organization.

It makes them a great organization not just because they stood for equality, but because they embraced black culture and it made them one of the most storied franchises in history.

Your history books may forget names like Franco Harris, Bill Nunn, and Mike Tomlin but people know who these people are because of the fruit of their labor. They brought something to black history because of their success.

Certainly, the NFL is predominantly black in the players that are in the league because it is a meritocracy but the Steelers also emphasize blackness in the staff they hire to managerial positions.