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 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

PositionJersey No.PlayerYears on Team# of Pro BowlsHall of FameHonorsRef.
1Quarterback22Layne, BobbyBobby Layne1958-19626Yes1950s All-Decade Team
2Running back42Hoak, DickDick Hoak1961-19711No
2Running back35Johnson, John HenryJohn Henry Johnson1960-19654Yes
3Wide receiver87Jefferson, RoyRoy Jefferson1965-19693No1969 Steelers MVP
3Wide receiver25Mathews, RayRay Mathews1951-19592No
4Tight end81Nickel, ElbieElbie Nickel1947-19573No
5Center21Cherundolo, ChuckChuck Cherundolo1941-1942, 1945-19482No
6Guard62Sandusky, MikeMike Sandusky1957-19651No
6Guard66Van Dyke, BruceBruce Van Dyke1967-19731No
7Tackle71Bradshaw, CharlieCharlie Bradshaw1961-19662No
7Tackle74Varrichione, FrankFrank Varrichione1955-19605No

Defense

PositionJersey No.PlayerYears on Team# of Pro BowlsHall of FameHonorsRef.
1Defensive tackle76Eugene LipscombEugene Lipscomb1961-19623No
1Defensive tackle70Stautner, ErnieErnie Stautner1950-19639Yes1950s All-Decade Team
2Defensive end60McGee, BenBen McGee1964-19722No
2Defensive end84McPeak, BillBill McPeak1949-19573No
3Linebacker60Dodrill, DaleDale Dodrill1951-19594No
3Linebacker66Pottios, MyronMyron Pottios1961, 1963-19653No
3Linebacker33Shipkey, JerryJerry Shipkey1948-19523No
4Defensive back80Butler, JackJack Butler1951-19594Yes1950s All-Decade Team
4Defensive back35Dudley, BillBill Dudley1942, 1945-19463Yes1946 NFL MVP
1940s All-Decade Team
4Defensive back11Hartley, HowardHoward Hartley1949-1952-No
4Defensive back28Thomas, ClendonClendon Thomas1962-19681No

Specialists

PositionJersey No.PlayerYears on Team# of Pro BowlsHall of FameHonorsRef.
1Placekicker17Niccolai, ArmandArmand Niccolai1934-1942-No
2Punter18Brady, PatPat Brady1952-1954-No