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Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers

There are many that feel that the Pittsburgh Steelers really did not begin until the 1970s, but of course, that isn't true.

The origin of the Steelers dates all the way back in 1933, and they are the seventh oldest NFL franchise in existence.  They made the playoffs in 1947, but that was the only time they made it to a post-season from 1933 to 1971.  The Steelers would then become the power of the AFC, winning four Super Bowls in the 1970s, primarily on the strength of their potent "Steel Curtain" defense.

Their 70s success made them one of the most popular teams in the game, a status that they maintain today.  Pittsburgh never had another dynasty, but they did have success winning two more Super Bowls this millennium, giving them six, which is tied with the New England Patriots for the most.


Note: Football lists are based on an amalgamation of tenure, traditional statistics, advanced statistics, playoff statistics, and post-season accolades.

This list is active until the end of the 2022 Season.

1. Joe Greene

1. Joe Greene
Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
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When many publications or blogs come up with "Mean" Joe Greene as the greatest Pittsburgh Steeler of all-time, they seem to make the selection seem so any. We came up with Greene as our top player in franchise history, but it was a struggle with many legends who could have easily been placed at number one.  One thing above all else, though,…
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2. Jack Lambert

2. Jack Lambert
Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Steelers had already put together a powerful defensive corps before they used their Second Round Pick in 1974 to take Jack Lambert, the MAC Defensive Player of the Year two years before.
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3. Mike Webster

3. Mike Webster
Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
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After being drafted in the Fifth Round in 1974, Mike Webster worked on Special Teams, Center and Guard in his first two seasons, contributing to the Steelers in little ways while helping them win their first two Super Bowls.  What followed was one of the greatest runs ever by an NFL Center.
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4. Franco Harris

4. Franco Harris
Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
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With all due respect to the many great Running Backs that the Pittsburgh Steelers had, they are all in line behind Franco Harris, who is still the team’s all-time leading rusher.
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5. Jack Ham

5. Jack Ham
Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
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A 1971 Second Round Pick from Penn State, Jack Ham brought a speed dynamic to the Linebacking corps of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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6. Ernie Stautner

6. Ernie Stautner
Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
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Finally, we have a player who predated their 1970s Super Bowl era with Ernie Stautner, one of the toughest men from the toughest period of the toughest sport.
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7. Mel Blount

7. Mel Blount
Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
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If you got past the Steel Curtain, you were not that lucky.  You had Mel Blount to contend with.
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8. Rod Woodson

8. Rod Woodson
Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
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Rod Woodson may not have won a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers, unlike some of the other elite Defensive Backs on this list, but he was, without a doubt, the best player regardless of position for the team for nearly a decade.
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9. Troy Polamalu

9. Troy Polamalu
Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
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In terms of recent popularity, it is hard to come up with a player who exceeds Troy Polamalu.
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10. Ben Roethlisberger

10. Ben Roethlisberger
Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
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The 2004 NFL Draft yielded Eli Manning and Philip Rivers, but it was Ben Roethlisberger, the third QB taken, who won the Super Bowl first.
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11. Terry Bradshaw

11. Terry Bradshaw
Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
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Say what you want about how the help that Terry Bradshaw had with the Steel Curtain defense and Franco Harris in the backfield, but no Quarterback wins four Super Bowls without being an excellent player.
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12. Alan Faneca

12. Alan Faneca
Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
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A late First Round Pick from LSU, Alan Faneca became precisely the Left Tackle that the Pittsburgh Steelers hoped he would be.
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13. Antonio Brown

13. Antonio Brown
Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
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Antonio Brown wasn’t taken until the Sixth Round of the 2010 Draft, but the Wide Receiver from Central Michigan would become one of the best Wide Receivers of the decade.
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14. Dermontti Dawson

14. Dermontti Dawson
Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
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How good was the 1974 Draft Class for the Pittsburgh Steelers?
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15. James Harrison

15. James Harrison
Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
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James Harrison's road to professional football stardom with the Steelers was full of potholes.
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16. John Stallworth

16. John Stallworth
Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
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How good was the 1974 Draft Class for the Pittsburgh Steelers?
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17. L.C. Greenwood

17. L.C. Greenwood
Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
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With ten members of the 1970’s Pittsburgh Steelers already in the Football Hall of Fame, you would think that the team that won four Super Bowls in that decade would be sufficiently represented in Canton.  Some have said that they have the right amount, but the wrong representatives.  Those people point to L.C. Greenwood as the omission.
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18. Hines Ward

18. Hines Ward
Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
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A member of the Pittsburgh Steelers for his entire career, Hines Ward is one of the most successful Wide Receivers in team history, and that says an awful lot!
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19. Jack Butler

19. Jack Butler
Top 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
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Playing at St. Bonaventure, Jack Butler did not receive any attention from the NFL scouts, which reflected as he was not a Pick in the Draft.  Butler was able to find employment with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1951, and it worked out well for both parties. 
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