The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted wide receiver Antonio Brown in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. At the time, no one expected him to become the star receiver he eventually became. Brown's nine seasons with the Steelers will be remembered for his extraordinary performance, particularly during an six-year stretch of dominance. However, the way Brown forced his way out of Pittsburgh is often frowned upon by Steelers fans.
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During his tenure with the Steelers, Brown was considered the best wide receiver in the league at his peak. However, towards the end of his career in Pittsburgh, he became unhappy with the organization. His dissatisfaction grew when the team awarded the MVP to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, which significantly contributed to his desire to leave Pittsburgh.
Today, Brown's legacy is viewed through a complex lens, partly due to his often controversial social media presence. He frequently makes outlandish and disrespectful comments online. Steelers insider Mark Kaboly joined 93.7 The Fan to discuss how Brown's legacy will be honored in Pittsburgh. Kaboly shared his perspective on the possibility of Brown being inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
"I think first of all, yes, he deserves it," Kaboly said. "I mean, he had that five, six year span like no other. But I mean, I can understand why [they] wouldn't do it. I think eventually maybe he would get in. It's not gonna be anytime soon."
Kaboly acknowledges that it's hard to overlook Brown's on-field production and talent. However, he pointed out another former Steelers player, James Harrison, who managed to regain the love of Pittsburgh fans. Harrison was beloved in Pittsburgh and played a significant role in their success, although he played for rival teams towards the end of his career.
Comparing Harrison to Brown isn’t ideal. Harrison rejoined the Steelers and only played for other teams because he believed he could still perform at a high level. In contrast, Brown forced his way out during his prime in a highly controversial manner.
"It's just too fresh and too out there for them to bring him back. I mean, you look at James Harrison when he left, he left on a bad taste too, but it didn't take long for him to get back in the good graces of the organization," Kaboly said. "I'm not quite sure Antonio Brown's willing to take that step yet, but number-wise, what he meant to the team, his talent, he deserves the Hall of Fame and Hall of Honor.
Kaboly joked with members of the show, saying they would all be done covering the Steelers by the time Brown gets inducted into the Hall of Fame.
"I think we all three will be retired by the time that happens... You got some curmudgeons on the Hall of Fame board that's not gonna allow that to happen."
The Hall of Fame voting committee has shown instances where a player's off-field behavior affected their chances of induction. Based purely on talent and production, Brown is undoubtedly a Hall of Fame player. However, his media antics and the controversial way he ended his career—removing his uniform mid-game and leaving—have left a bad taste in the mouths of football purists.
Despite this, Brown has a strong case for the Hall of Fame. Steelers fans have strong opinions about him due to the way he left the organization and his subsequent criticism of the team. Although his stance appears to have softened, his strong personality might still hinder his Hall of Fame chances.
Steelers Don't Seem To Care Much About Honoring Antonio Brown
Additionally, the Steelers seem reluctant to honor Brown's legacy because of his departure and post-football behavior. They allowed Cordarrelle Patterson to wear Brown's former number 84 in the 2024 season, indicating a lack of interest in honoring him.
It will be interesting to see if Brown is ultimately honored by the Steelers and makes it to the Hall of Fame. He will be eligible for the Steelers Hall of Honor next year and for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2027.
