5 players the Steelers regret passing on in the draft throughout history

Steelers chose Gabe Rivera instead of Dan Marino in the 1983 NFL Draft

This is considered the biggest draft blunder in franchise history for the Steelers. It was 1983 and the team needed a new quarterback after Terry Bradshaw retired. They selected Mark Malone in the first round of the 1980 draft and seemed primed to give him every opportunity to start at quarterback.

Although Malone was not the full-time starter, he got a lot of starts since Bradshaw was injured throughout his final seasons of play. He did not do well during those starts and should have been considered a backup. A search for another successor is something that Chuck Noll and the team should have been desperately looking for.

Dan Marino was a local guy that many fans loved for years. He played at Central Catholic before creating a great program with the Pitt Panthers. Many expected him to go in the first round, especially to the Steelers if he was still available.

The draft came around in 1983 and Marino was still sitting there when the Black and Gold selected. It was a shocker that the team passed on him and chose Gabe Rivera instead. Marino would go on to have a Hall of Fame career with the Miami Dolphins, while Rivera would have a tragic car accident and cut his professional career short. Many still wonder what Marino could have done with the Steelers, perhaps they would have another Super Bowl or two.

The Steelers have been one of the most successful franchises in recent history, but they made some mistakes. These draft decisions altered how much more winning they could’ve done.