Pittsburgh Steelers unofficial retired numbers that won't be used again

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a long and storied tradition that started with the 'Immaculate Reception' in 1972 and has endured ever since. While there were great players prior to 1972, I believe that playoff win against the then-Oakland Raiders set the franchise on a path that would see us claim four Super Bowl titles during a six-year span during the decade of the 1970s.

We did not win our first Super Bowl until 1974 thanks, in part, to a legendary draft class that would see four players from it enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Future Hall of Famers would continue to be drafted throughout the decades. What intrigued me the most growing up having watched those great teams of the 1970s was this: Once the iconic players retired, would their numbers ever be in circulation again?

The Steelers have plenty of numbers that could be officially retired, are not but won't be used any time soon

When I say that we have plenty of numbers that could be officially retired but are not, I realize, objectively speaking, that you can't retire every number of every great player that has played for the Steelers but you can assure that certain numbers will never be worn in my lifetime. Let's take a look at the numbers on offense that are unofficially retired.