10 NFL records held by seven Pittsburgh Steelers

Most playoff fumble return yards career-93

Most playoff fumble return yards single-season: 93

Another two for one special. One Steeler still holds these two records set on the same play. One might assume Jack Lambert or Jack ham might have the record; however, it belongs to the most unsung linebacker to play in the steel curtain defense, Andy Russell. Andy, while a great linebacker, never got as much notoriety as the other players he played alongside. In part because Andy neared the end of his career as the steel curtain rose to dominance.

The Steelers drafted Andy in the 16th round (220th overall) in the 1963 draft coming out of Missouri. While playing the 1963 season, he missed 1964 and 1965 to military service. Upon his discharge, he resumed his career as a Steeler Linebacker in the 1966 season and played until he retired after the 1976 season missing out the last two Steeler Superbowl victories. Despite that, he played an instrumental part in the Steelers’ success in the early ’70s.

Which brings us to the record Andy set in the 1975 playoffs. The Steelers faced the Baltimore Colts in their first 1975 playoff game that season on December 27, 1975. At the end of the third quarter, the Steelers had a  14-10 lead. Early in the fourth quarter, the Steelers scored, increasing their lead to 21-10. Certainly, the Colts had the capability of coming back.  Then late in the fourth quarter Bert Jones fumbled, Andy recovered it, rambling 93 yards and scoring a touchdown helping to cement a 28-10 playoff victory.

Ironically, nearly 30 years later, The Steelers played the Colts in the playoffs, and Jerome Bettis fumbled on the one-yard line, and Nick Harper of the Colts recovered the fumble. He came close to returning the fumble for a touchdown and breaking the mark. He would have if not for Ben Roethlisberger’s shoestring tackle tripping Harper up just past midfield. As a result, Russell’s record stands to this day.