Pittsburgh Steelers Legends team


The Pittsburgh Steelers Legends team represents the franchise's best players from the pre-1970 era. The team was chosen by a small group of Steeler officials and journalists and presented as a part of the Steelers' 75th season celebration in.
The club presented an updated and expanded All-Time team at the same time, which was determined on the basis of fan voting. The All-Time team represented the top 33 players in the team's first 75 years. However, club officials recognized that since the All-Time team was selected by fans who had a natural bias toward choosing more recent players — due both to the team's and because many fans never saw the older players perform — many noteworthy players from the team's first four decades would be overlooked. The Legends team was created to address this oversight.
Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney summed up the sentiment to create the Legends team thus: "There were a lot of great Steelers prior to 1970 who were as good as today's superstars, but fewer people got to see them play. We are looking forward to welcoming the Legends Team and having today's fans see some of the great Steelers from the pre-1970 era."
The eight-person selection committee that named the Legends team included Dan Rooney, Steelers Vice President Art Rooney Jr., team scout Bill Nunn, former long-time coach Dick Hoak, long-time Steelers broadcaster Myron Cope, former sports editor of the Pittsburgh Press Roy McHugh, and former team officials Joe Gordon and Ed Kiely. This panel chose the top 24 players in the club's pre-1970 history: eleven on offense, eleven on defense, one punter and one placekicker.

Offense

PositionJersey No.PlayerYears on Team# of Pro BowlsHall of FameHonorsRef.
1Quarterback22Layne, BobbyBobby Layne-6Yes1950s All-Decade Team
2Running back44Hoak, DickDick Hoak-1No
2Running back35Johnson, John HenryJohn Henry Johnson-4Yes
3Wide receiver87Jefferson, RoyRoy Jefferson-3No1969 Steelers MVP
3Wide receiver25Mathews, RayRay Mathews-2No
4Tight end81Nickel, ElbieElbie Nickel-3No
5Center21Cherundolo, ChuckChuck Cherundolo-, -2No
6Guard62Sandusky, MikeMike Sandusky-1No
6Guard66Van Dyke, BruceBruce Van Dyke-1No
7Tackle71Bradshaw, CharlieCharlie Bradshaw-2No
7Tackle74Varrichione, FrankFrank Varrichione-5No

Defense

PositionJersey No.PlayerYears on Team# of Pro BowlsHall of FameHonorsRef.
1Defensive tackle76Eugene LipscombEugene Lipscomb-3No
1Defensive tackle70Stautner, ErnieErnie Stautner-9Yes1950s All-Decade Team
2Defensive end60McGee, BenBen McGee-2No
2Defensive end84McPeak, BillBill McPeak-3No
3Linebacker60Dodrill, DaleDale Dodrill-4No
3Linebacker66Pottios, MyronMyron Pottios, -3No
3Linebacker33Shipkey, JerryJerry Shipkey-3No
4Defensive back80Butler, JackJack Butler-4Yes
4Defensive back35Dudley, BillBill Dudley, -3Yes1946 NFL MVP
1940s All-Decade Team
4Defensive back11Hartley, HowardHoward Hartley--No
4Defensive back28Thomas, ClendonClendon Thomas-1No

Specialists

PositionJersey No.PlayerYears on Team# of Pro BowlsHall of FameHonorsRef.
1Placekicker17Niccolai, ArmandArmand Niccolai--No
2Punter18Brady, PatPat Brady--No