The Pittsburgh Steelers are among the most accomplished franchises in the NFL, winning six Super Bowls in their remarkable history. The only other team in the NFL that has won six Super Bowls is the New England Patriots.
Since being established in 1933, the Steelers have had an extensive amount of legendary players suit up for them. When you are able to win six Super Bowls and 36 playoff games, it's inevitable that you're going to have plenty of talented players that led to that success.
For the most part, most of Pittsburgh's success came during the 1970s, when they won four of their six Super Bowls. With the 2020 NFL Draft gradually approaching, here are the five best draft picks in Steelers history.
5. Mel Blount
Throughout the years, the Steelers have had quite a few cornerbacks inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Rod Woodson, who was inducted to Canton in 2009, was a spectacular player in Pittsburgh, recording 38 interceptions in his 10 seasons with the Steelers.
However, there's another cornerback that was a dominant member of Pittsburgh's defense in the 1970s. Early in the 1970 NFL Draft, the Steelers selected Mel Blount in the third round, with the No. 53 pick.
Blount would spend his entire 14-year career in Pittsburgh, making his imprint on the NFL. Altogether, in his 14 seasons, Blount tallied 57 interceptions and scored four defensive touchdowns. His 57 interceptions are the most in Pittsburgh's storied history. The longtime cornerback of the Steelers would be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.
4. Jack Lambert
When speaking about the best defenses of all time, there's no doubt that Pittsburgh's ‘Steel Curtain' defense in the 1970s is going to be mentioned. While it was a talented group of players, Jack Lambert was the enforcer of the Steelers defense in the 1970s.
The Steelers decided to select Lambert with the No. 46 pick of the 1974 NFL Draft out of Kent State. Even though they didn't record tackles or sacks earlier in his career, Lambert always found himself around the football.
Over his impressive career, Lambert was able to make nine Pro Bowls and was a four-time All-Pro. Additionally, he was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 1976. The tough-nosed linebacker would be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
3. Joe Greene
To continue the theme of defensive players to play for the Steelers in the 1970s, Joe Greene was a wrecking ball on the defensive line. Just a year before Pittsburgh drafted Blount, Green was taken with the No. 4 pick of the 1969 NFL Draft.
Similar to Lambert, for most of Greene's career, the NFL wasn't recording tackles or sacks for defensive players. Nevertheless, just by watching some vintage film of Greene, it's safe to assume he was arguably the best defensive player in the NFL while he played.
Prior to being inducted into Canton in 1987, Green was a 10-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro. Above all, he was able to secure two Defensive Player of the Year Awards, as Pittsburgh won four Super Bowls in the 1970s.
2. Terry Bradshaw
The Steelers have had a few quarterbacks over the years that have had success in the NFL. For fans that watched Pittsburgh play in the 1970s, most of them consider Terry Bradshaw to be the greatest quarterback to dawn a Steelers uniform.
Before Pittsburgh took Blount in the third round of the 1970 NFL Draft, they were able to get Bradshaw with the No. 1 pick of the draft. While Bradshaw's numbers wouldn't hold much weight in today's NFL, he was one of the best to play the quarterback position in the 1970s.
Even though the Steelers had a daunting defense in the 1970s, Bradshaw helped Pittsburgh win four Super Bowls in his first 10 seasons in the NFL. The Steelers wouldn't have six Super Bowls to their name without Bradshaw being part of their history.
1.Ben Roethlisberger
Last but not least, another quarterback makes the list for the Steelers. Despite it being controversial to some, Ben Roethlisberger is undoubtedly the best draft pick that Pittsburgh has made in their 88 years of existence.
Regardless of everyone's opinion of him as a person, Roethlisberger immediately made his presence felt once he was drafted with the No. 11 pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. In just his second season, Roethlisberger was able to lead the Steelers — as a Wild Card team — to their first Super Bowl victory since 1979.
Then, in 2008, Roethlisberger secured the second Super Bowl of his career. Despite it being an argument for years, even Bradshaw believes Roethlisberger is the greatest quarterback in Steelers history.
Follow Us
Subscribe