The Legacy of the Steelers “Jefferson Street” Joe Gilliam

The demise of Joe Gilliam’s career

When it comes to Chuck Noll, one would have to agree that he was a strict coach to some degree. However, he was about winning too. He wanted a Superbowl and was determined to do it.  If it meant benching Bradshaw to win one, Noll did just that. It would also be very hard to say the Rooneys prompted Noll to make the decision as well. The Rooney family has helped to overcome racism in the NFL if anything else. Dan Rooney was the architect of the now-famous Rooney Rule.

That aside, the Steelers did have an angry fanbase after the loss to the Raiders, and sometimes angry fans get what they want. In this case, they wanted Bradshaw. Never mind his passing stats paled to Gilliam’s. It was Bradshaw or bust. The Steelers knew this as they heard the loud chants for Bradshaw while he sat on the bench.

The situation, to some degree, was ugly. It would be safe to assume the drug use and how it affected Gilliam’s performance may have warranted his benching. One can not help but wonder if that was just a mere justification for something a bit more egregious. No one can say for certain, but there is no proof  Noll used did race as a motive.