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10 best players who were originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers

By Ryan Pawloski

PITTSBURGH, PA - CIRCA 1979: Quarterback Terry Bradshaw #12 and wide receiver Lynn Swann #88 of the Pittsburgh Steelers look on from the sideline during a National Football League game at Three Rivers Stadium circa 1979 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - CIRCA 1979: Quarterback Terry Bradshaw #12 and wide receiver Lynn Swann #88 of the Pittsburgh Steelers look on from the sideline during a National Football League game at Three Rivers Stadium circa 1979 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /
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American professional football player Johnny Unitas (1933 – 2002) (#19), quarterback for the Baltimore Colts, runs with the ball. (Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images)
American professional football player Johnny Unitas (1933 – 2002) (#19), quarterback for the Baltimore Colts, runs with the ball. (Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images) /

6. Johnny Unitas was drafted by the Steelers but made his career elsewhere

Johnny Unitas is a name that the Steelers missed out on. He was a local Pittsburgh product that would be drafted by his hometown team in the ninth round of the 1955 NFL Draft. He would not last long with the franchise as he was released before the regular season of his rookie year.

That was a big miss by the black and gold as they continued to be a laughingstock in the NFL during this time. Getting a player like Unitas could have made them more competitive and perhaps win a championship. Instead, they let a local guy go and the rest is history.

He would join the Baltimore Colts and win a Super Bowl championship there. This quarterback was also one of the best to ever play the game at his position. Throwing the ball started getting some more attention during this period rather than just an offense totally relying on their run game.

This was the type of player that the Steelers needed during this time in their history, but they sadly missed it. He would benefit the most as he went on to have a Hall of Fame career that spanned 18 years. They saw the talent from Unitas when they took him in the draft, but sadly they did not see it for long enough to see the benefits.

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