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 2007. The club also presented an updated and expanded All-Time team at the same time, which was determined on the basis of fan voting.
While the All-Time team represented the top 33 players in the team's first 75 years, club officials recognized that the All-Time team was selected by fans who had a natural bias toward choosing more recent players due to the team's poor record prior to 1970, and the fact that many Steelers fans would never have seen the older players perform.
As such, many noteworthy players from the team's first four decades were overlooked. The Legends team was created to address this oversight, with Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney saying "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
Position Jersey No. Player Years on Team # of Pro Bowls Hall of Fame Honors Ref.1Quarterback 22 Layne, BobbyBobby Layne 1958–1962 6 Yes 1950s All-Decade Team 2Running back 42 Hoak, DickDick Hoak 1961–1971 1 No 2Running back 35 Johnson, John HenryJohn Henry Johnson 1960–1965 4 Yes 3Wide receiver 87 Jefferson, RoyRoy Jefferson 1965–1969 3 No 1969 Steelers MVP 3Wide receiver 25 Mathews, RayRay Mathews 1951–1959 2 No 4Tight end 81 Nickel, ElbieElbie Nickel 1947–1957 3 No 5Center 21 Cherundolo, ChuckChuck Cherundolo 1941–1942, 1945–1948 2 No 6Guard 62 Sandusky, MikeMike Sandusky 1957–1965 1 No 6Guard 66 Van Dyke, BruceBruce Van Dyke 1967–1973 1 No 7Tackle 71 Bradshaw, CharlieCharlie Bradshaw 1961–1966 2 No 7Tackle 74 Varrichione, FrankFrank Varrichione 1955–1960 5 No
Defense
Position Jersey No. Player Years on Team # of Pro Bowls Hall of Fame Honors Ref.1Defensive tackle 76 Eugene LipscombEugene Lipscomb 1961–1962 3 No 1Defensive tackle 70 Stautner, ErnieErnie Stautner 1950–1963 9 Yes 1950s All-Decade Team 2Defensive end 60 McGee, BenBen McGee 1964–1972 2 No 2Defensive end 84 McPeak, BillBill McPeak 1949–1957 3 No 3Linebacker 60 Dodrill, DaleDale Dodrill 1951–1959 4 No 3Linebacker 66 Pottios, MyronMyron Pottios 1961, 1963–1965 3 No 3Linebacker 33 Shipkey, JerryJerry Shipkey 1948–1952 3 No 4Defensive back 80 Butler, JackJack Butler 1951–1959 4 Yes 1950s All-Decade Team 4Defensive back 35 Dudley, BillBill Dudley 1942, 1945–1946 3 Yes 1946 NFL MVP1940s All-Decade Team 4Defensive back 11 Hartley, HowardHoward Hartley 1949–1952 - No 4Defensive back 28 Thomas, ClendonClendon Thomas 1962–1968 1 No
Specialists
Position Jersey No. Player Years on Team # of Pro Bowls Hall of Fame Honors Ref.1Placekicker 17 Niccolai, ArmandArmand Niccolai 1934–1942 - No 2Punter 18 Brady, PatPat Brady 1952–1954 - No
Notes Names in bold indicate the player spent his entire playing career with the Steelers. Finalist in 1970 & 1977
References