All-Time Favorite Steelers

I wouldn't even know where to start this list if I were asked to put them in some kind of order. Since I would agree with almost every single reply here ( except the guy that doesn't think Hines Ward is such a big deal ) I think I'll add my $.02 with some of the Steelers who maybe weren't the best players, but truly embodied what Steeler football is all about.

Kevin Greene - Remember...the other half of Quiver and Quake?
Charles Johnson - Flashes of greatness, but always dependable
Brentson Buckner - Great defensive lineman, made his mark in Carolina unfortunately.
Carnell Lake - Took it on the chin being converted to CB the year we lost Woodson in game 1.
Levon Kirkland - Anyone remember his INT while clinging to TE Keith Jackson of Miami? Stellar!
Chad Brown - All aboard the Pain Train....choo choo
 Jonathan Hayes - The George Foreman of TE's.
Deion Figures - Solid DB, and wasn't afraid to bring a little wood to the trenches.

All these guys were part of some of the great teams assembled under Cowhers tenure, and most if not all were part of SB XXX. Overlooked, but important players. You could probably add another 6-7 of these type players to this list. Greene might be the exception, as he was pretty formidable when he arrived from the Rams, but definitely in the late stages of his career, and made an impact. Might even be a future HOF inductee, and hopefully as a Steeler.

 My favorite all time Steelers:  Rocky Bleier; Mel Blount, Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann; Mean Joe; Jack Lambert & Jack Hamm  -- of the old era . . ..

Hines Ward, Troy Polamalu, James Farrior, Heath Miller, Big Ben, Casey Hampton, Mewelde Moore and Willie Parker of the new era.

Love the Black & Gold.

 MARK BREUNER - One of the greatest blocking tight ends of all time.  Sure hands when his number was called.  Ultimate team player...never ever complained about not getting the ball thrown to him more.  Understood his role within the Steelers smash-mouth running offense.  I remember, multiple times, seeing Mark SPRINT across the field to give Bettis a hand getting up after he was tackled...if you counted, I'd bet he helped up the running back 95% of the time.  And finally, ultimate nice guy.  Always positive attitude, always friendly with the media.

 I really like the list but would've liked to see an offensive lineman (Mike Webster, Jon Kolb, Alan Faneca) and more DBs (Rod Woodson, Mel Blount, Donnie Shell).  One thing that has always been great about the Steelers is that they have always been about TEAM, Community and respecting the Steelers organization as a whole.  I think that is why so many players stay in the Pittsburgh area after playing because the fans and the city loves them so much.  I live in Denver now but will never go against the Black and Gold!! Being at the 2005 AFC Championship in Denver was one of my top highlights of my life!  GO STEELERS!!!!

Gary from Centennial Colorado

 # 58 was BEST STEELER EVER!!!!!!!!!!! He is  what symbolized the great  teams of the 70,s!!!Never seen him play , but i can see it  in my fathers eyes when he talks about him!!!  BY the way this is my real name!!!LOL  GO STEEELERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Like many others, I would not know where to begin to name a favorite Steeler.  I think everyone I would put on my list embodies the spirit of what we all know and feel in our bones as Steelers Football.  Many fans mention players old and new.  I do not think there is any denying the accomplishments of a group of players - many the same - who won four Super Bowls in six seasons.

But, players come and go, sometimes due to contract situations, and also due to end of careers.  The team and the franchise live on.  So, I want to acknowledge some things that allow us all to have such a cornucopia of player choices. 

Two excellent head coaches from 1960 through 2006.  Unparalled in the league.  Chuck Knoll is the one that turned it around.  Bill Cowher simply exhuded Steeler football.  It also appears that a solid choice has been made as our third head coach covering 40 seasons.  Incredible.

A pretty consistent commitment to a style of football for most of the time mentioned.  Hard-nosed, strong, punishing defense, stength in running backs, sprinkled with some star receivers, and - when lucky - a star quarterback to put it together.

This leads me back to one place and one place only.  Ownership.  Pittsburgh is a storied franchise, but we are not a flashy franchise.  We are not in the news every week with controversy.  We don't need sexy cheerleaders.  What we are blessed with is quiet, efficient ownership.  Maybe we have wished from time to time that they might have thrown some money around at a player or two, but we really cannot complain on balance.

Without the Rooneys, we would not have had the consistency in coaching, attitude, and commitment to football.  I think the Rooneys look for character and attitude first and it pays off later in talent on the field.

We are so fortunate to have this team and franchise as a part of our lives.  Just look around the league and there are very few franchises that can match us for consistency on and off the field, that can match us for fan commitment and support, that can match us for quality of people. 

Hail to the Chief and his progeny!

Since there's a limited number of players that can be posted, I agree with the choices. For me, The Bus and Hines Ward are simply the best ever, with Lambert and Franco Harris very close second choices. Our newest additions to the Steelers elite, James Harrison and Willie Parker, are simply magnificent. The fact is, The Steelers have been and remain the classiest team - and group of individual players - in the NFL.  

 ANDY RUSSELL - Forgotten for too long.  A Class Act who is still in de "Burgh.

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 All time favorite.....Jack Lambert......I started watching the Steelers in the early 70's......I don't know how I got interested in football because no one in my family watched......But I watched groing up in southern Ky.  and I guess the fact that they were the most dominating team was the reason I fell in love with the Steelers.......But watching Jack play was something special....I have not seen but 2 or 3 players play with even close to the same intensity that Jack played with......Being really young and watching the games; I don't remember who the Steelers were playing; but I remember as the ball was snapped...........Jack leapt over the defensive line and tackled the Quarterback before he could even get away from center.......What an amazing athelete.....Haven't seen that done again since........

Mental_Giant:

 Art Rooney

 How can you top that?  He created the Steeler way.

What a tough question!  IMO - Lambert, Woodson, Blount, Webster, Bradshaw, Ward, Stallworth....we all could just keep going on...

My hard hat is off to all of the guys that have help win six football Holy Grails! They have all been a part of something that is about a "CITY" and not just themselves or team sprit. The people of the “Steel City” have always worked hard everyday the players know that and take that to heart on the field. We all work and play with passion to win 24/7.

Thanks, Dale

I think your all-time favorite list is great and there are many hall-of-famers that were chosen.  However, I believe that there are many Steeler players that are not on your list and not even in the hall-of-fame.  One of those players in Andy Russell.  Game in and game out he played his position better than most and yet has always seemed to be a little under-rated. 

He is a great guy on and off the field and I got the chance to meet him in person several times.  He was one of the players that remained on the Steelers team when they were pretty bad.  He was kept on the team as a building block and the Steelers added draft picks all around his position during the 70's.  He continued to make play after play and was a key person in helping the Steelers achieve the run of 4 Super Bowls.

OK - I'll give away my age and say - Ernie Stautner!!  OK, seriously I couldn't begin to pick just one.  All those we already know and Wagner Shell Webster Russell Layne  ah you know what I mean.

Favorite Steeler of All-time?

I only really know since 1974 and if I had to choose one "favorite of all-time" it would have to be Hines Ward for his inimitable spirit and joy on top of his determination and ability.  His tears for losing...and then his tears for winning.

Second for "favorite" after Hines would have to be Swann for the glory and beauty of his act. Omigod.  Swann was a football god.  

But if asked to pick the Greatest Steeler of Time since '74, it would have to be Joe Greene, no contest.  As it is always pointed out, he was the Beginning.  In the Beginning was Joe and he showed the way...led the way.  He's the Steelers all-time avatar.

After that, another close follow up to Hines for favorite personage would have to be Franco, somehow our patron saint in a helmet.  Franco glowed.  

I visited training camp once in the mid 70s, the year after Greene's injury.  I caught his eye and the look seared thru me.  Not happy to see me or anybody else there.  But later in the day Stallworth walked by me and gave me one of the nicest smiles I've ever received from anybody.   Stallworth an all-time favorite - not to mention his catches and runs against LA in the Super Bowl.  He was radioactive at one point there. 

The humor and joy of Dwight White?  Unique.

Barry Foster: wasn't it a joy to have somebody who could tear up the field like that?  A pounder.  Foster where did you go?

There have been so many, as everybody has said, but these guys I've mentioned transcended their personalities for me, became icons.  

Anybody else...from the field of play?  

Not for me.  The rest remained human beings.