The best Steelers player ever to wear each jersey number still in circulation

Jersey #98 Casey Hampton

Casey Hampton would get the nod here if only because he had a 12-year career and retired as a member of the Steelers. Of course, his career is kind of quirky. Certainly, he was a great player it’s just his stats have a lot to be desired. Especially for a player drafted 19th overall.

In 12 seasons, he has four forced fumbles, nine sacks, and 398 combined tackles. Not exactly Hall of Fame numbers, but then despite that, he did play in five pro bowls. However, he does have two rings to hs credit. But he was exceedingly durable; in 12 years, he only missed 19 games. Although of that 19, ten were in 2004. Unless someone else comes along, he will be associated with this jersey for a while.

Jersey #99 Brett Keisel

Somewhere in 2002, the NFL must have made a rule change allowing Vikings into the NFL, not the ones from Minnesota, the ones from Scandinavia who lived in the 8th century. That’s how you would have to classify Brett Keisel. By the end of his career, he looked like the comic strip Hagar the Horrible.

Nevertheless, he was a dominant defensive end and a fan favorite. He played for 13 seasons, racking up 30 sacks and 408 combined tackles, seven forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, and two interceptions. Don’t forget those two rings in 2004 and 2008.  

Despite that, he only played in one pro bowl, but his longevity allowed him to play in 156 games. You would have to credit Keisel as one of the top 10 or 15 Steelers defensive pass rushers of all time, and on looks alone, he would have fit in perfectly with the Steelers in the ‘70s.