Pittsburgh Steelers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Author:
Eric Dockett
Updated:
Aug 12, 2022
Original:
Oct 5, 2020

Former Steelers linebacker Kevin Greene gives his acceptance speech during the 2016 NFL Hall of Fame enshrinement.
© Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Honoring Greatness in Pro Football

If you watch any NFL football game, you will hear broadcasters describe players using some of the most glowing, hyperbole-ridden, superlative-packed language ever spoken. Not since the days when Caesar ruled the Roman Empire has one man gushed over another in such an adoring and worshipful manner. Their flattery gets a little crazy, and when Tom Brady is on the field, these commentators give the impression Brady might raise his arms out to his sides and levitate himself into the sky at any moment.

Is it annoying? Sometimes. But often, broadcasters are putting into words what the rest of us are thinking. Pro football players are unbelievable athletes, and they seem to be made of something other than the stuff of mere mortals.

The NFL distinguishes the most elite players from this throng of Earthbound gods by bestowing Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors, Player-of-the-Year awards, and other accolades. But any player can have one good year and win an award. While awards are indications of superior play in a given season, there is only one real measure of a player’s greatness throughout their career: enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

There are 362 individuals enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Players and coaches must be retired for five years before they can be nominated. After nomination, there is a rigorous, multi-step selection process that whittles the nominees down to a small class of no more than eight individuals (excepting 2020's 20 inductees), a truly elite group. These men are officially enshrined in the Hall of Fame during a ceremony every August.

The Steelers currently have 32 former players, coaches, and executives enshrined in the Hall. They played a major role in making the Steelers franchise—and the NFL—what it is today.

Steelers Hall of Famers: The Complete List


Player	Jersey Number	Position	Year Enshrined	Seasons
Terry Bradshaw	12	Quarterback	1989	1970–83
Franco Harris	32	Fullback	1990	1972–83
Joe Greene	75	Defensive Tackle	1987	1969–81
Jack Lambert	58	Linebacker	1990	1974–84
Lynn Swann	88	Wide Receiver	2001	1974–82
John Stallworth	82	Wide Receiver	2002	1974–87
Jack Ham	59	Linebacker	1988	1971–82
Mike Webster	52	Center	1997	1974–88
Mel Blount	47	Cornerback	1989	1970–83
Jerome Bettis	36	Running Back	2015	1996–2005
Rod Woodson	26	Cornerback	2009	1987–96
Dermontti Dawson	63	Center	2012	1988–2000
Ernie Stautner	70	Defensive Tackle	1969	1950–63
Bobby Layne	22	Quarterback	1967	1958–62
Jack Butler	80	Defensive Back	2012	1951–59
Bill Dudley	35	Running Back	1966	1942, 1945–46
John Henry Johnson	35	Fullback	1987	1960–65
"Johnny Blood" McNally	15	Back	1963	1934, 1937–38
Cal Hubbard	35	Offensive Lineman	1963	1936
Marion Motley	36	Fullback	1968	1955
Kevin Greene	91	Linebacker	2016	1993–95
Len Dawson	16	Quarterback	1987	1957–59
Walt Kiesling	35	Offensive Lineman / Coach	1966	1937–39, 1940–42, 1954–56
Donnie Shell	31	Safety	2020	1974–87
Troy Polamalu	43	Safety	2020	2003–14
Alan Faneca	66	Guard	2021	1998-2010
Art Rooney	n/a	Owner, Founder, Chairman	1964	1933–88
Dan Rooney	n/a	President, Chairman	2000	1955–2017
Chuck Noll	n/a	Head Coach	1993	1969–91
Bert Bell	n/a	Co-owner	1963	1941–46
Bill Cowher	n/a	Head Coach	2020	1992–2006
Bill Nunn	n/a	Asst. Director of Player Personnel, Scout	2021	1968-2013

Primary Steelers Hall of Famers

Primary Steelers Hall of Famers refers to players who played all or a significant portion of their career with Pittsburgh. These are some of the greatest Steelers of all time. Some won championships, some set records and all are beloved in the Steel City.

Terry Bradshaw

Though he is known today as the best Steelers quarterback of all time, Terry Bradshaw struggled when he came into the NFL in 1970. The Steelers were one of the worst teams in pro football, and their 1–13 record during the 1969 season had allowed them to choose Bradshaw with the number-one overall pick.

Within two years, Bradshaw led the Steelers to their first-ever playoff victory, and in 1974 he brought a Super Bowl win to the Steel City. By the end of the 1970s the Steelers had become known as one of the greatest teams in NFL history and the team of the decade. Bradshaw won four Super Bowls during his career as a Steeler and earned the MVP award for his performances in two of them.

Enshrinement Class: 1989
Position: Quarterback
Years With Steelers: 1970–83
Steelers Accolades: 3 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro selection, 1978 NFL MVP award, 1978 Bert Bell Award (NFL Player of the Year), 4 Super Bowl championships, Super Bowl XIII MVP, Super Bowl XIV MVP
Steelers Stats: 168 games; 27,989 passing yards; 212 passing TDs; 2,257 rushing yards; 32 rushing TDs

Franco Harris

Franco Harris came to the Steelers in 1972 and earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors right out of the gate. By the time he left in 1983, he had become the third all-time leading rusher in NFL history.

Harris was the feature back in a running attack that carried the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories. He earned the Super Bowl MVP award for his 158-yard performance in Super Bowl IX and is today ranked second all-time in playoff rushing yards.

Harris finished his career with the Seahawks in 1984, but for 12 seasons he was one of the best ever to wear the black and gold.

Enshrinement Class: 1990
Position: Fullback
Years With Steelers: 1972–83
Steelers Accolades: 9 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro selection, 4 Super Bowl championships, Super Bowl IX MVP, 1972 Offensive Rookie of the Year
Steelers Stats: 165 games; 11,950 rushing yards; 4.1 yards per carry; 91 rushing TDs

Joe Greene

Defensive tackle Joe Greene came to the Steelers in 1969 as the first-ever draft pick of new head coach Chuck Noll. The Steelers went 1–13 in Greene's first season, their worst record ever. But changes were coming to Pittsburgh, and through smart draft choices Noll built a championship team. Greene took home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 1969 and went on to become one of the most dominant defensive tackles the NFL had ever seen.

Many football historians consider "Mean" Joe Greene the greatest Steeler of all time. He was the start of the Steelers' 1970s dynasty. As the cornerstone of the Steel Curtain defense, he was a key player in four Super Bowl championships.

Enshrinement Class: 1987
Position: Defensive tackle
Years With Steelers: 1969–81
Steelers Accolades: 10 Pro Bowls, 4 All-Pro selections, 4 Super Bowl championships, 1969 Defensive Rookie of the Year, 1972 Defensive Player of the Year, 1974 Defensive Player of the Year
Steelers Stats: 181 games, 1 interception for 26 yards, 16 fumble recoveries

Jack Lambert

As a rookie in 1974, Jack Lambert stood 6’4" and tipped the scales at just over 200 pounds. That is about the size of many wide receivers. Few would have guessed that the skinny kid from Kent State would become one of the most feared middle linebackers in NFL history.

Lambert was fierce and ruthless on the field, both a vicious run stopper and a ball hawk who managed to grab 28 interceptions in his career. Along with defensive tackle Joe Greene, he set the tone for the legendary Steel Curtain defense of the 1970s.

Enshrinement Class: 1990
Position: Linebacker
Years With Steelers: 1974-–84
Steelers Accolades: 9 Pro Bowls, 6 All-Pro selections, 1974 Defensive Rookie of the Year, 1976 Defensive Player of the Year, 4 Super Bowl championships
Steelers Stats: 146 games, 28 interceptions for 243 yards, 17 fumble recoveries, 8 sacks*

^{* The NFL did not begin tracking sacks until 1982.}

Lynn Swann

Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw earned the nickname the "Blonde Bomber" due to his powerful arm and fondness for tossing deep passes. In the 1974 Draft, the Steelers acquired a pair of receivers who were as skilled at catching bombs as Bradshaw was at throwing them.

One was Lynn Swann, a wide receiver whose acrobatic catches have become the stuff of NFL legend. Swann hauled in many long passes, but he wasn’t only a deep threat. He was also tough, fearless in traffic and reliable. He helped the Steelers win four Super Bowls, and his 161-yard performance in Super Bowl X earned him the MVP award.

Enshrinement Class: 2001
Position: Wide receiver
Years With Steelers: 1974–82
Steelers Accolades: 3 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro selection, 4 Super Bowl championships, 1 Super Bowl MVP
Steelers Stats: 336 receptions; 5,462 receiving yards; 51 receiving TDs

John Stallworth

Even if opposing defenses managed to stop Lynn Swann, they still had to contend with receiver John Stallworth. Stallworth came to the Steelers in the same draft as Swann. From 1974 to '82, they were the main players in one of the most dangerous receiving corps in the NFL, and essential to Pittsburgh’s four Super Bowl wins of the 1970s.

Swann retired in 1982, but Stallworth continued his career until 1987. He won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in 1984 and finished his career as the top receiver in Steelers history.

Enshrinement Class: 2002
Position: Wide receiver
Years With Steelers: 1974–87
Steelers Accolades: 3 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro selection, 4 Super Bowl championships, 1984 NFL Comeback Player of the Year
Steelers Stats: 165 games; 537 receptions; 8,723 receiving yards; 63 receiving TDs

Jack Ham

Jack Ham was athletic, tough and smart—the perfect fit for a defensive scheme that asked a lot of its outside linebackers. His greatest strength was his versatility, as he was equally adept when rushing the quarterback, stopping the run around the outside of the line or dropping back into pass coverage. In 12 seasons with the Steelers, he earned six All-Pro nominations in a row and made eight straight Pro Bowls.

Today, Ham is regarded as one of the best outside linebackers in NFL history. He was a key part of the Steelers dynasty of the 1970s that won four Super Bowl championships.

Enshrinement Class: 1988
Position: Linebacker
Years With Steelers: 1971–82
Steelers Accolades: 8 Pro Bowls, 6 All-Pro selections, 4 Super Bowl championships
Steelers Stats: 162 games, 32 interceptions for 218 yards and 1 TD, 21 fumble recoveries for 1 TD, 3 sacks*

^{* The NFL did not begin tracking sacks until 1982.}

Mike Webster

“Iron Mike” came to the Steelers as one of the picks in the legendary 1974 Draft, when coach Chuck Noll chose four future Hall of Famers. Though undersized as a rookie, Webster packed on another 30 pounds through strength training and built himself into one of the best centers in the NFL. He played in 220 games with the Steelers from 1974 to '88 and had a streak where he started 150 straight games. When he finally left the Steel City, he was the last remaining player who had contributed to all four Super Bowls in the 1970s.

Enshrinement Class: 1997
Position: Center
Years with Steelers: 1974–88
Steelers Accolades: 9 Pro Bowls, 5 All-Pro selections, 4 Super Bowl championships
Steelers Stats: 220 games

Mel Blount

Few NFL cornerbacks have made as big an impact as Mel Blount did in the 1970s. Tall for his era at 6’3", Blount had the size and strength to play the run, but also the speed for man-to-man coverage. His tenacious harassment of receivers in bump-and-run coverage led to the NFL's current interpretation of the illegal contact rule. In other words, Blount was so dominant they had to change the rules.

In 200 games over 14 seasons, Blount racked up 57 career interceptions and helped win four Super Bowls. He made two All-Pro teams, five Pro Bowls and earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1975.

Enshrinement Class: 1989
Position: Cornerback
Years With Steelers: 1970–83
Steelers Accolades: 5 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pro selections, 4 Super Bowl championships, 1975 Defensive Player of the Year
Steelers Stats: 200 games, 57 interceptions for 736 yards and 2 TDs, 13 fumble recoveries, 2 TDs

Jerome Bettis

Jerome Bettis started his career with the Rams, and he came to the Steelers in 1996. Pittsburgh had just lost Super Bowl XXX to the Cowboys and had dismissed Bam Morris, a powerful running back with off-the-field issues.

At around 250 pounds, Bettis’s punishing downhill running style matched the Steelers offense perfectly. He quickly became a fan favorite and earned the nickname “The Bus.”

Bettis ended his career with a Super Bowl XL victory in his hometown of Detroit, one of the greatest wins in Steelers history. He exited the NFL as one of the leading rushers of all time.

Enshrinement Class: 2015
Position: Running back
Years With Steelers: 1996–2005
Steelers Accolades: 4 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro selection, 1 Super Bowl championship
Steelers Stats: 145 games; 10,571 rushing yards; 3.9 yards per carry; 78 rushing TDs

Rod Woodson

The Steelers struggled in the mid-to-late 1980s. Gone were most of the big names from the glory years of the '70s. There were no more superstars in the Steel City.

That changed in 1987 when the Steelers drafted cornerback Rod Woodson. Woodson had blazing speed. Soon, pundits were calling him the fastest man in the NFL and one of the best defensive backs. He was a dangerous return man, as well, who could score any time he touched the ball. Woodson helped the Steelers return to form—and by 1995 Pittsburgh was back in the Super Bowl.

Enshrinement Class: 2009
Position: Cornerback
Years With Steelers: 1987–96
Steelers Accolades: 7 Pro Bowls, 5 All-Pro selections,1993 Defensive Player of the Year
Steelers Stats: 134 games; 38 interceptions for 779 yards and 5 TDs; 22 fumbles recovered for 1 TD; 257 punt returns for 2,362 yards and 2 TDs; 220 kick returns for 4,894 yards and 2 TDs

Dermontti Dawson

While Dermontti Dawson may not be as well known as some of the other Hall of Famers in this article, he is certainly among the most elite Steelers of all time. He made seven Pro Bowls and six All-Pro teams, and in the early-to-mid 1990s he was considered the best center in the NFL. Dawson paved the way for power backs like Barry Foster, Bam Morris and Jerome Bettis. He played a large role in the Steelers' Super Bowl season in 1995, under coach Bill Cowher. The Steelers have a tradition of great centers and tough offensive line play, and Dawson certainly made his mark during his career.

Enshrinement Class: 2012
Position: Center
Years With Steelers: 1988–2000
Steelers Accolades: 7 Pro Bowls, 6 All-Pro selections
Steelers Stats: 184 games

Ernie Stautner

Along with Joe Greene, Ernie Stautner is one of two Steelers to have their jersey numbers officially retired by the franchise. For 14 seasons, he was an undersized but overpowering defensive tackle on Steeler teams that lost more often than they won.

Stautner made nine Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team in his career. Perhaps as importantly, he played at a time when the Steelers were cementing their reputation as one of the toughest teams in the NFL. Stautner certainly had a part in building that reputation and the tough image that the Steelers carry with them to this day.

Enshrinement Class: 1969
Position: Defensive tackle
Years With Steelers: 1950–63
Steelers Accolades: 9 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro selection
Steelers Stats: 173 games, 2 interceptions, 23 fumble recoveries, 3 safeties

Bobby Layne

Unlike most of the players in this article who made their marks as Steelers, Bobby Layne was already a superstar when he came to Pittsburgh. He spent the prime of his career in Detroit, where he quarterbacked the Lions to three NFL championships.

Layne came to Pittsburgh via trade in 1958 at the age of 32 and led the Steelers to a winning season. He posted a career record of 27-19-2 as Pittsburgh’s quarterback, which was pretty impressive considering the Steelers’ usual fate back then. Layne retired after the 1962 season tied for the NFL record for most touchdown passes in a career (196).

Enshrinement Class: 1967
Position: Quarterback
Years With Steelers: 1958–62
Steelers Accolades: 2 Pro Bowls
Steelers Stats: 9,030 passing yards; 66 passing touchdowns; 382 rushing yards; 8 rushing touchdowns

Jack Butler

Jack Butler was a hard-hitting defensive back who played for the Steelers in the 1950s. In 104 games, he collected 52 interceptions and ran four back for touchdowns. He made four Pro Bowls and three All-Pro rosters, all during a career when his team didn’t post a winning record until his final two seasons. Butler’s league-leading 10-interception performance during a 12-game season in 1957 is impressive even by today’s standards. He also stepped in on offense from time to time and caught four touchdown passes in his career.

Butler was an old-school Steeler who never quite got the recognition he deserved. He was finally enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2012, a full 53 years after he had played his last down.

Enshrinement Class: 2012
Position: Defensive back
Years With Steelers: 1951–59
Steelers Accolades: 4 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pro selections
Steelers Stats: 104 games, 52 interceptions for 827 yards and 4 TDs, 10 fumble recoveries, 1 TD

Bill Dudley

Bill Dudley played for three teams during his NFL career, but he made his greatest impact in Pittsburgh as a runner, passer, kick returner and placekicker. He was also the punter. He made All-Pro during his rookie year and led the Steelers in both passing and rushing in 1942 and '46.

In 1943 and '44, World War II took him away from the NFL. Though he only played two full seasons with the Steelers, Dudley still totaled 1,504 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns and 948 passing yards during his time in Pittsburgh.

Enshrinement Class: 1966
Position: Running back
Years With Steelers: 1942, 1945–46
Steelers Accolades: 1 Pro Bowl, 1 All-Pro selection
Steelers Stats: 1,504 rushing yards; 10 rushing touchdowns; 948 passing yards; 4 passing touchdowns

John Henry Johnson

If you ask Steelers fans to name the top five rushers in team history, chances are you’ll hear a lot of names before someone mentions John Henry Johnson. Johnson was a physical fullback who plowed over Steelers opponents from 1960 to '65. He is currently the fifth leading rusher in the history of the franchise, ahead of better-known Steelers greats such as Rocky Bleier, Barry Foster and Merril Hoge.

Johnson’s contributions in San Francisco and Detroit helped solidify his place in the Hall of Fame. He piled up a total of 6,803 rushing yards and 48 touchdowns in his career and contributed to Detroit’s NFL championship in 1957.

Enshrinement Class: 1987
Position: Fullback
Years With Steelers: 1960–65
Steelers Accolades: 3 Pro Bowls
Steelers Stats: 67 games; 4,381 rushing yards; 4.4 yards per carry; 26 rushing TDs

Donnie Shell

Donnie Shell was a smart, strong safety who started in two Super Bowls. He was a key player on a dominant Steelers defense throughout the 1970s and well into the ‘80s. At the height of his career, he made three All-Pro rosters and five straight Pro Bowls.

Shell holds the third spot in franchise history for career interceptions, behind fellow Hall of Famers Mel Blount and Jack Butler. During his 14-year career, he intercepted 51 passes, which he returned for 490 yards and two touchdowns.

After years of waiting, Shell finally took his rightful place in 2020 alongside his fellow 1970s-era Steelers in the Hall of Fame.

Enshrinement Class: 2020
Position: Safety
Years With Steelers: 1974–87
Steelers Accolades: 3 All-Pro selections, 5 Pro Bowls, 4 Super Bowl championships
Steelers Stats: 201 games, 51 interceptions for 490 yards and 2 TDs, 19 fumbles recovered for 47 yards and 2 TDs

Troy Polamalu

If there were an award for the defensive player who caused offensive coordinators to lose the most sleep during the 2000s, it would go to Troy Polamalu. He was an incredible athlete and fearless on the field. But what made him special was his instinct for the ball. He took chances and seemed to rely on an uncanny sixth sense to tell him where a play was going to go—and he was usually right.

He had an ally in Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau throughout most of his career. LeBeau allowed Polamalu the freedom to improvise and line up in places where the offense would never expect to find him.

The result was three Steelers Super Bowl appearances and two championships during Polamalu’s career. While he didn’t carry the Steelers there all on his own, he definitely played a massive role in their success.

Enshrinement Class: 2020
Position: Safety
Years With Steelers: 2003–14
Steelers Accolades: 4 All-Pro selections, 8 Pro Bowls, 2 Super Bowl championships
Steelers Stats: 158 games, 32 interceptions for 398 yards and 3 TDs, 7 fumbles recovered for 120 yards and 2 TDs

Alan Faneca

Alan Faneca was one of the best offensive linemen in the league during his time in the NFL. For 10 seasons, he anchored the Steelers' line at the left guard position. He was a powerful brawler who opened holes for Hall-of-Fame running back Jerome Bettis, and a skilled pass blocker who protected a young Ben Roethlisberger.

Faneca endured several years of snubs before getting the call to Canton in 2021. As a Steeler, he made seven Pro Bowls and six All-Pro teams. He was a leader on the 2005 team that brought Pittsburgh their first Super Bowl championship since 1980.

Faneca played three more seasons after leaving Pittsburgh in 2008. He earned two more Pro-Bowl nominations with the New York Jets, then closed out his Hall-of-Fame career with the Cardinals in 2010.

Enshrinement Class: 2021
Position: Guard
Years With Steelers: 1998-2007
Steelers Accolades: 7 Pro Bowls, 6 All-Pro selections, 1 Super Bowl championship
Steelers Stats: 158 games

Minor Steelers Hall of Famers

Minor Hall of Famers refers to players who spent the majority of their careers elsewhere. It would have been nice if they had hung around longer, but Steeler Nation can claim them as their own anyway.

John McNally

"Johnny Blood” McNally is a legendary figure from the early NFL. Also known as the “Vagabond Halfback,” he spent time with five different teams, including the Pottsville Maroons, Duluth Eskimos and Milwaukee Badgers. He played seven years with Green Bay and had two separate stints with Pittsburgh in 1934 and 1937–38. In his NFL career, he rushed for 386 yards and five touchdowns, caught 67 passes for 1,117 yards and 36 touchdowns and passed for 299 yards and four touchdowns, because halfbacks did that back then.

Inducted: 1963
Position: Running back
Years With Steelers: 1934, 1937–38

Cal Hubbard

Cal Hubbard was a member of the Steelers (then called the Pittsburgh Pirates) for part of his final year in the NFL in 1936. He spent the majority of his career with the Giants and the Packers. He made four All-Pro teams and won four NFL championships in his nine-year career.

Inducted: 1963
Position: Offensive lineman
Years With Steelers: 1936

Marion Motley

Marion Motley was a 230-pound fullback who trampled defenses for nine NFL seasons. He spent eight of those seasons with the Browns, one of the Steelers' biggest rivals, and only made a brief stop in Pittsburgh for his final year. As a Steeler, he only carried the ball twice for eight yards. As a Brown, he ran for 4,712 yards and 31 touchdowns. Motley made one Pro Bowl and two All-Pro teams as he helped the Browns win four AAFC championships and one NFL championship.

Inducted: 1968
Position: Fullback
Years With Steelers: 1955

Kevin Greene

Linebacker Kevin Greene terrorized quarterbacks as a member of the Rams for eight years before joining the Steelers in 1993. In three seasons in Pittsburgh, he racked up 35.5 of his 160 career sacks and played a key role in their Super Bowl appearance in 1995. He left to play for Carolina for the 1996 season, and eventually retired in 1999 ranked number three in NFL history for career sacks.

Year Inducted: 2016
Position: Linebacker
Years With Steelers: 1993–95

Len Dawson

Pittsburgh drafted Len Dawson in 1957 and parked him on the bench for three years. In 1960 they traded him to Cleveland, who didn’t treat him much better. By 1962 Dawson had won an AFL championship as the starting quarterback for the Texans. During his 19-season career, he made seven Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams, and he won one Super Bowl and three AFL championships.

Inducted: 1987
Position: Quarterback
Years With Steelers: 1957–59

Steelers Owners, Coaches, and Staff in the Hall of Fame

Art Rooney

The history of the Steelers starts with Art Rooney. Affectionately known as “The Chief,” Rooney was an NFL icon who founded the franchise in 1933 and served as team president until his passing in 1988. His dedication to the Steelers organization and the city of Pittsburgh is a big reason the team is so successful today. The Chief endured decades of losing until his beloved Steelers finally won a championship in January of 1975 (shortly followed by another three). The Rooney family has maintained majority ownership over the Steelers since the team’s inception, and Rooney was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1964.

Dan Rooney

Art Rooney’s son, Dan, played a major role in the Steelers’ success starting in the 1970s. He was the general manager responsible for hiring coach Chuck Noll, and he served as the team’s chairman from the time of his father’s passing in 1988 until his death in 2017. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000, he also had a career outside of football. From 2009 to '12, he served as ambassador to Ireland under President Barack Obama.

Chuck Noll

Coach Chuck Noll came to the Steelers in 1969. Before Noll, the Steelers had been perennial losers with only one playoff appearance in their history. By 1974 Noll had built a championship team. Under his leadership, the Steelers won four Super Bowls in the 1970s and are widely considered the team of the decade. Noll retired after the 1991 season with a record of 193-148-1. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

Bill Cowher

Bill Cowher was one of the best coaches in Steelers history. In 1992, at the young age of 34, he took over for the legendary Chuck Noll. By 1995 Cowher had brought the Steelers back to the Super Bowl, their first since 1979. They lost to the Cowboys, but it was the dawn of a new era in Steelers history. Cowher finally won a Super Bowl in 2005 by defeating the Seahawks. He resigned in 2007, still a young man. His career coaching record stands at 149-90-1. Coach Cowher was enshrined in the Hall of Fame with the class of 2020.

Bert Bell

As team owner and executive, Bert Bell was a key player in bringing the NFL to Pennsylvania. He was coach and founder-owner of the Eagles and had a stake in the Steelers from 1940 to '46. While he is revered today as an NFL executive he was also one of the worst coaches in NFL history. He led the Eagles and the Steelers to a combined record of 10 wins, 46 losses and 2 ties, giving him a career winning percentage of .179. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1963.

Walt Kiesling

Walt Kiesling is remembered in Pittsburgh as the Steelers' coach from 1939 to '44 and 1954 to '56, during which he posted a record of 30 wins, 55 losses and 5 ties. Before he retired and became a coach, he was a good player. Kiesling played guard and tackle for six different teams—including the Steelers—during his 13-year career, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966.

Bill Nunn

Nunn worked with the Steelers organization, first as Assistant Director of Player personnel, and later as a scout. His familiarity with Historically Black Colleges and Universities brought key players into the Steelers organization, including future Hall of Famers Johns Stallworth, Mel Blount, and Donnie Shell. Nunn was part of six Super Bowl Championships, earned over 46 years with Pittsburgh. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the Class of 2021.

Former Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame.
© Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers Hall of Fame Snubs

Selection to the NFL Hall of Fame caps a player’s legacy as one of the greatest of all time, but the process is far from perfect. Because of the small number of individuals inducted each year, some amazing players wait years or even decades to get in. If several nominated players played the same position, the Hall often seems reluctant to induct them all at once. As time passes and former players fall out of the public eye their chances of enshrinement diminish.

Several former Steelers probably deserve to be in the Hall of Fame today but have yet to make the cut, including:

L.C. Greenwood

Defensive end L.C. Greenwood was one of the most dominant pass rushers of his era. He lined up alongside Joe Greene as part of the Steelers’ Steel Curtain defense and helped bring four Super Bowl championships to the Steel City.

Hines Ward

Hines Ward is the best Steelers wide receiver of all time and one of only a few NFL players with 1,000 career pass receptions. He won two Super Bowls and was voted MVP in one. He’s missed the final cut four times so far.

Greg Lloyd

Outside linebacker Greg Lloyd racked up 54.5 sacks in an NFL career where he made five Pro Bowl rosters and three All-Pro teams. He played most of his career during a time when the Steelers struggled, at least by Steelers standards, but he was a major contributor to the Super Bowl run of 1995.

Carnell Lake

Carnell Lake was a former college linebacker and one of the best safeties in the league when All-Pro cornerback Rod Woodson went down with a knee injury in 1995. Lake stepped in at corner and made the Pro Bowl while helping the Steelers get to the Super Bowl. He made five Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team in his career.

Steelers Hall of Fame FAQs

Which jersey numbers have the Steelers retired?

Though the Pittsburgh NFL franchise has been around since 1933, the team has only retired two jersey numbers in its entire history: Ernie Stautner’s No. 70 and Joe Greene’s No. 75.

How many Steelers are in the Hall of Fame?

The Steelers have 32 representatives in the Hall of Fame. This includes 26 players plus six coaches and executives.

Is Troy Polamalu in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Yes! Polamalu is part of the Hall of Fame class of 2020.

Which Steelers receivers are in the Hall of Fame?

The Steelers have two pure wide receivers in the Hall of Fame: John Stallworth and Lynn Swann. Both played during the Super Bowl dynasty of the 1970s

Which NFL team has the most players in the Hall of Fame?

The Bears have the most Hall of Famers with 35 players, coaches and executives enshrined as of 2020.

Making the Hall of Fame

Every football fan believes more of their team’s players should be in the Hall of Fame. It is also easy to identify dozens of players who are worthy of induction yet remain on the outside. There lies the biggest problem with the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and halls of fame in general: If you let everybody in, it is no longer special. The Hall of Fame must truly represent the best of the best.

How does the NFL strike a balance between keeping the Hall of Fame exclusive while at the same time making sure great players get the recognition they deserve? It seems an impossible task.

Some people would like to see the classes expanded to include more players. The NFL will do exactly that in 2020, enshrining 20 new members as part of its 100th-year celebration. This will help fast track a few deserving players who have been waiting far too long.

Hall of Fame inductions and snubs give us one more thing to talk about (and argue about) when it comes to pro football. We all know the great players who are shoo-ins five years after retirement, and we know Tom Brady is going to fly there like Superman after he takes his final snap. However, the players in the gray areas make for some very interesting conversations. That, after all, is why we watch sports.