The Pittsburgh Steelers franchise has become synonymous with great defenses.  That got us to thinking, who are the Steelers top ten defensive players of all time?  Narrowing the field down to ten was not an easy exercise.  Here is our list with the understanding that all players are from 1970 on:

10.  James Harrison

Accolades:

2X Super Bowl Champion

NFL DPOY 2008

2X first team All-Pro, 2X second team All Pro, 5X Pro Bowl

Steelers all-time sack leader (80.5)

There was a time between 2007-2011 that James Harrison was arguably the best defensive player in football.  He was one of the most feared players of his time.  And who could forget James Harrison has one of the most iconic plays in Super Bowl history. https://youtu.be/uYtxoNgvIFI

9.  LC Greenwood

Accolades:

4X Super Bowl Champion

2X first team All-Pro, 6X Pro Bowl

Member of the 1970s All Decade team

Often overshadowed by his more famous teammates from the great 1970s Steelers defenses, LC Greenwood was a tremendous player in his own right.  Career highlights include his four sacks of Roger Staubach in Super Bowl X.  On any other franchise, LC Greenwood would be top five easily.

8.  Andy Russell

Accolades:

2X Super Bowl Champion

1X First team All-Pro, 3X Second team All-Pro, 7X Pro Bowl

Andy Russell predates the great Steelers teams of the 1970s.  He was a Pro-Bowl selection in 1968, just before Chuck Noll took over the franchise.  He was a key cog in those early 70s defenses however.  Russell was in the Pro-Bowl five straight years from 1970-1975.

7.  TJ Watt

Accolades:

3X first team All-Pro, 1X second team All-Pro, 4X Pro Bowl

NFL DPOY 2021

All time NFL single season sack leader (22.5 tie)

TJ Watt is only five years into his Steelers career, and he is already 7th on our list.  His 72 career sacks is already third best in franchise history.  If he can keep up this pace for a few more seasons, we may have to put him near the top of this illustrious list.

6.  Troy Polamalu

Accolades:

2X Super Bowl Champion

4X First team All-Pro, 2X Second team All-Pro, 8X Pro Bowl

NFL DPOY 2010

Member of the 2000s NFL All-Decade team

NFL Hall of Fame

On most other franchises, Troy Polamalu is the best defensive player ever.  Polamalu was one of the most athletic, and exciting players ever to wear the Steelers uniform.  He will go down as the greatest safety in franchise history.

5.  Mel Blount

Accolades:

4X Super Bowl Champion

2X First team All-Pro, 4X Second team All-Pro, 5X Pro Bowl

Member of the NFL 75th Anniversary team, NFL 100th Anniversary team

Member of the NFL 1970s All-Decade team

NFL Hall of Fame

Mel Blount was so dominant in the 1970s, the NFL made a rule limiting what corners could do to receivers.  They called it the “Mel Blount” rule.  He had 57 career interceptions in his incredible career for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

4. Jack Ham

Accolades:

4X Super Bowl Champion

6X first team All-Pro, 2X Second team All-Pro, 8X Pro-Bowl

Member of the NFL 75th Anniversary team, NFL 100th Anniversary team

Member of the NFL 1970s All-Decade team

NFL Hall of Fame

Jack Ham is one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history.  Among his many accolades is his 32 career interceptions, which ranks third all time for linebackers.  Ham was every bit as good as his more famous teammates on those incredible 1970s teams.

3.  Rod Woodson

Accolades:

1X Super Bowl Champion

6X First team All-Pro, 3X Second team All-Pro, 11X Pro Bowl

NFL DPOY 1993

Member of the NFL 1990s All-Decade team

Member of the NFL 100th anniversary team

NFL Hall of Fame

Rod Woodson gets dinged a bit for not getting all of his accolades in a Steelers uniform.  Still, there is no question this is one of the best Steelers players of all time.  Not only was he a great corner back for Pittsburgh, but he also may go down as the team’s best returner as well.

2.  Jack Lambert

Accolades:

4X Super Bowl Champion

6X First team All-Pro, 2X Second team All-Pro, 9X Pro Bowl

NFL Defensive Rookie of the year 1974

NFL DPOY 1976

Member of the NFL All Decade team 1970s, 1980s

Member of the NFL 75th Anniversary team, NFL 100th Anniversary team

NFL Hall of Fame

When discussing the Steelers top ten defensive players of all time, it’s more like 1A and 1B.  Jack Lambert takes a backseat to no one in terms of greatest Steelers ever.  His list of accolades speaks for itself.  He is one of the most iconic figures in the history of the NFL.

1.  Joe Greene

Accolades:

4x Super Bowl Champion

2x NFL DPOY 1972,1974

NFL Defensive rookie of the Year 1969

5X first team All-Pro, 3X Second team All-Pro, 10X Pro Bowl

Member of the NFL All Decades team 1970s

Member of the NFL 75th Anniversary team, NFL 100th Anniversary team

NFL Hall of Fame

”Mean” Joe Greene will go down as one of the most dominant defensive players in NFL history.  A fierce competitor, Green was the leader of the great 70s Pittsburgh Steelers defenses.  He is not only the greatest defensive player in Steelers history, he is among the best in NFL as well.

Honorable Mention:  Donnie Shell, Dwight White, Kevin Greene, Ernie Holmes, Greg Lloyd, Joey Porter, Levon Kirkland, Mike Merriweather