5 greatest undrafted free agents in Pittsburgh Steelers history

Sam Davis

While there are a few other players worthy of this spot, such as  Glenn Edwards, Greg Warran, or Willie Parker, you can not make a list such as this and omit Sam Davis, especially when he helped lead the Steelers to four championships in six seasons.

What even seems more amazing than the career he built as an undrafted free agent is that the Steelers signed him before Chuck Noll became the head coach. In his second year as Steelers head coach, Bill Austin signed Sam Davis out of Allen University; however, Davis did not start his first three years.

That all changed in 1970 when Chuck Noll tapped Davis to replace Larry Gagner as the left guard starter. So in an ironic sense, Davis was the second piece of what eventually became a dynasty next to Andy Russell whom the Steelers drafted in 1963. Nonetheless, everyone gives the initial credit to Joe Green as he was Noll’s first draft choice as head coach.

With Sam Davis, Chuck Noll then added John Kolb in 1969, and he became the starting left tackle beside Davis. Then, in 1971, Noll added Gerry Mullins and Larry Brown, culminating in drafting Mike Webster in 1974, giving Noll perhaps one of the best offensive lines ever assembled in the NFL. Their winning four titles in six seasons justifies that conclusion. Larry Davis had a huge role in that legacy.