Former Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert struck gold when he selected wide receiver Antonio Brown in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Brown spent nine seasons with the team, establishing himself as arguably the best wide receiver in the league for much of his career in Pittsburgh before ultimately leaving the team with poor behavior.
During his time with the Steelers, Brown made five straight Pro Bowls and was named to four consecutive All-Pro teams. He amassed 837 receptions, 11,207 receiving yards, and 74 touchdowns during his tenure in the Steel City. The decision to allow Cordarrelle Patterson to wear Brown's former number 84 stunned some former teammates and led many to question Brown's legacy in Pittsburgh due to his tumultuous exit and off-the-field issues.
Colbert recently joined the All Things Covered podcast with Patrick Peterson and Bryant McFadden. When asked if Brown was a Hall of Famer, Colbert was unequivocal in his response, stating that the matter isn't even up for debate.
"Yes. We were talking about that when we were at Troy’s [Polamalu] event. I don't think that can even be debated.”
Steelers legend Troy Polamalu hosts an event in Pittsburgh known as the Resilience Bowl. During the event, Colbert explained that Brown's Hall of Fame candidacy was a topic of discussion. Everyone present agreed that Brown is undoubtedly a Hall of Famer.
Brown had fallen in the draft because he ran a slower-than-expected 40-yard dash. When asked what made him take a chance on Brown despite him falling in the draft, Colbert shared his insights into the decision.
"We all get caught up in 40 (yard dash) speeds, and I'm still gonna be the old school and just show me. Let's watch the film. Who's getting deep, who's making the plays? And AB could do that in every phase of wide receiver play. The thing he developed was that ability to make that contested catch against corners that were bigger than him."
No one was better at making toe-tap catches and big plays than Brown. He was electric during his time with the Steelers. If Ben Roethlisberger threw the ball, chances were high that Brown would track it down and make a big play.
One of the main reasons behind Brown's exceptional talent was his work ethic, which consistently amazed Colbert.
"The thing that separated AB was his work ethic. He might not have been the first in the building, but boy, when he got there, it was on. On the practice field, every rep he was trying to win and he was trying to dominate. And for the most part, he would."
There’s no doubt that Brown has the numbers and accolades to support his case for the Hall of Fame. However, his off-the-field issues and the infamous incident where he took off his jersey and left the field in his final game might influence voters' opinions. Yet, from a purely talent-based perspective, Brown is undeniably a Hall of Famer.
Steelers' Antonio Brown Had A Rollercoaster Of A Ride After Leaving Pittsburgh
Many Steelers fans miss Brown's talents, but by the end of his career in Pittsburgh, many were relieved due to the headaches he caused. He was traded to the then-Oakland Raiders, but problems arose before he even took the field. He was released just hours before his contract would have become guaranteed.
On the same day he joined the New England Patriots, Brown was cut by the team and briefly retired from the NFL. He later changed his mind and joined Tom Brady with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning a Super Bowl in his first season. However, in his second season with the Buccaneers, he quit on his team mid-game, effectively ending his NFL career.
There have been far too many incidents to recount regarding Brown's off-the-field actions, which were often problematic and will likely impact his Hall of Fame candidacy. Despite this, from a football standpoint, few wide receivers can compare to Brown. Colbert firmly believes that Brown is a Hall of Famer.
