5 Steelers players that fans might have forgotten
Here's a former electrifying return man you haven't thought about in years, and a pair of players who had outstanding careers after leaving Pittsburgh.
By Tommy Jaggi
1. CB/KR Hank Poteat
Even though he played his college ball at Pitt, Hank Poteat is a name you probably haven't thought about in ages. The electrifying defensive back and return man was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 77th overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft in a class that included Plaxico Burress, Marvel Smith, and Clark Haggans.
Straight from the gate, Poteat was dangerous as a return man. In his rookie season, he compiled over 465 return yards both as a kick returner and a punt returner -- bringing the total special teams yards just under 1,000. Poteat averaged 19.4 yards per kick return as a rookie, but his 13.0 return yards per punt return was more impressive.
Over the next two years, Poteat came back down to earth as a return specialist where his production was much less spectacular. While he occasionally saw the field as a cornerback, he never recorded a start for the Steelers, and the team parted ways with him following his third NFL season.
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Hank Poteat would bounce around on four other NFL rosters including the Buccaneers, Patriots, Jers, and Browns before retiring after his age-32 season in 2009. In the later half of his career, Poteat played a bigger role on defense. Interestingly, he would only return one more punt and zero kickoffs for the remainder of his career after leaving Pittsburgh.