The Pittsburgh Steelers boast one of the most storied franchises in all of sports. Their history is marked by dominance, Super Bowl victories, and iconic players who have changed the game forever. Steelers fans often debate who belongs on their Mount Rushmore of greatest players. Recently, NFL Films revealed their picks for the four greatest Steelers players of all-time.
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The NFL Throwback YouTube channel reviewed all 32 teams and listed their Mount Rushmore of players. Notably, the Steelers' new quarterback, Russell Wilson, was named on the Seattle Seahawks' Mount Rushmore. For the Steelers, the four players who made the cut were Ben Roethlisberger, Jack Lambert, Joe Greene, and Terry Bradshaw.
“Big Ben Roethlisberger came through in big-time moments winning two titles in his first five seasons. He’s the team's all-time leader in every major passing stat. He played in 23 playoff games and has more career wins than any player in team history.”
Narrowing the list down to just four players was clearly a difficult task for the creators. The Steelers have had many great players over the years, but it was no surprise that their two legendary quarterbacks made the list.
“Before Ben, there was Bradshaw with a cannon for an arm. This gunslinger went on to guide Pittsburgh to the greatest stretch in team history. Terry Bradshaw’s Super Bowl throws are the stuff of legend. Did you know he also won NFL MVP in 1978? He led the league in passing touchdowns twice, but we will always remember his dimes on the game's biggest stage.”
Greene's inclusion on this list was no surprise. He dominated during his time in Pittsburgh and was a crucial part of their formidable defense that helped carry the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories in the 1970s.
“An imposing sight for anyone who came near 10-time Pro Bowler 'Mean' Joe Greene lived up to the name as he powered Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain, an elite unit for 13 seasons. Greene won two Defensive Player of the Year Awards and four Super Bowls. Talk about decorated.”
The creators of the film struggled with deciding between Lambert and Jack Ham. Ultimately, they gave the edge to Lambert.
“Lambert or Ham? It is like splitting hairs between the two Jacks. We gave the slight edge to Lambert who won Defensive Player of the Year in 1976. Lambert led the stellar linebacking unit. Playing in the middle, he was named First Team All-Pro six times. Pittsburgh had a top-five scoring defense in seven seasons from 1974-1984, all thanks to 58.”
As mentioned earlier, the Steelers' history features some of the most incredible NFL legends, making it incredibly difficult to pick just four players as the greatest ever.
One notable omission was iconic safety Troy Polamalu. While the creators believed he deserved a spot, they couldn't decide who Polamalu should replace on the Mount Rushmore.
“It was nearly impossible to pick just four players from this storied franchise. Perhaps the toughest omission being Troy Polamalu.”
Steelers' Mount Rushmore Honorable Mentions
While many great players were left off this list due to the depth of the Pittsburgh franchise, several were given honorable mentions. These included John Stallworth, Lynn Swann, Jerome Bettis, Mike Webster, Alan Faneca, Dermontti Dawson, Rod Woodson, Franco Harris, Ernie Stautner, Jack Ham, Mel Blount, and Polamalu.
The Pittsburgh franchise boasts 32 Pro Football Hall of Famers and 49 members in their Hall of Honor. With six Super Bowl titles, their history is remarkable, and they are likely to see many more former players inducted into the Hall of Fame. For now, the Steelers have a tremendous collection of all-time greats.
Seeing an unbiased source name the Steelers' Mount Rushmore is fascinating. Recently, the Steelers have struggled to give fans new history to celebrate. However, the franchise is hopeful that with all the offseason changes, the team can return to glory and re-enter the Super Bowl conversation in 2024.
