Compressing the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers into five players is impossible. Ten players from the 1974 Steelers alone are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
However, let's attempt to do the franchise justice by spotlighting the best players to ever don the black and gold.
5. Mike Webster, C
While I felt confident about the top four players on this list, the final spot changed several times. Franco Harris, who is Pittsburgh's all-time leader in rushing yards and touchdowns, drew consideration. Mel Blount, who won the 1975 Defensive Player of the Year award, caught my eye. Often overlooked linebacker Jack Ham also made a case, but what would a top-five list be without the greatest center of all-time?
The Steelers selected Webster in the fifth-round of the 1974 NFL Draft. He took over as the team's full-time starter at center in 1976 and didn't give up the role until he left the team in 1989. In total, Webster spent 15 seasons with the Steelers.
Webster went to nine Pro Bowls during his career, including eight straight from 1978 to 1985. He also earned five First-Team All-Pro selections in six seasons. A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's All-1970s and All-1980s teams, Webster holds the record for most games played in Steelers history with 220.
4. Terry Bradshaw, QB
The first passer to win a Super Bowl with Pittsburgh, Bradshaw is the most accomplished quarterback in team history. The Steelers selected Bradshaw with the first overall pick in the 1970 NFL Draft, but he didn't become an immediate star.
It took several years for Bradshaw and head coach Chuck Noll to see eye-to-eye, but everything eventually clicked. Bradshaw guided the Steelers to four Super Bowl titles and even won the league MVP in 1978. He also took home MVP honors in Super Bowl XIII and Super Bowl XIV.
His career numbers don't jump off the charts, but Bradshaw is one of the best quarterbacks of all-time. He transformed from a struggling gunslinger to a clutch performer and champion. At the time of his retirement in 1983, Bradshaw held franchise records in completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns, and wins by a quarterback.
3. Ben Roethlisberger, QB
While Bradshaw accomplished more during his career, Roethlisberger is the most talented quarterback in Steelers history. He joined Pittsburgh in 2004 and propelled the team to a 15-1 record as a rookie. Since then, Big Ben has built a Hall of Fame resume and helped restore Pittsburgh's greatness.
Roethlisberger led the Steelers to Super Bowl victories during the 2005 and 2008 seasons. He also got the team to Super Bowl XLV in 2010, but Pittsburgh came up short against Green Bay.
Big Ben led the NFL in passing yards per game three times in the past six seasons. He's first in franchise history in completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns, game-winning drives, and wins by a quarterback.
Last year, Roethlisberger became the longest-tenured player in Steelers history. His sixteenth season with the franchise surpassed Webster's previous record of 15. Roethlisberger is only three games away from breaking Webster's franchise record for games played as well.
2. Jack Lambert, LB
The Steelers teams in the 1970s boasted some of the fiercest defenders to every play. Lambert certainly fell into that category. While the Kent St. product was tall and wiry, he packed a punch.
The 46th overall pick in 1974, Lambert's toothless snarl disguised one of the best football minds of his time. He diagnosed plays with ease and tore apart opposing teams' game plans.
In 11 seasons with the Steelers, Lambert made nine Pro Bowls and earned six First-Team All-Pro selections. He participated in all four Super Bowl victories and won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 1976.
1. “Mean” Joe Greene, DT
Greene tops a list dominated by superstars from the 1970s. At his peak, the former fourth overall pick was one of the ten best defenders in NFL history. An unstoppable force in the middle, Greene took home the Defensive Player of the Year award in 1972 and 1974.
In 13 seasons with the Steelers, Green made ten Pro Bowls and earned four First-Team All-Pro selections. When NFL Network aired The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players back in 2010, Greene was the fifth defensive player to appear and ranked 13th overall.
No player in history epitomizes what it means to be a Steeler more than Greene.
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