The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some incredible offensive talent over the years. From those great 70s teams all the way down to today, there has been no shortage of offensive weapons. In this post we have narrowed it down to the top 10 Steelers offensive players in the modern era. Tell us what you think:
10. Heath Miller:
Can’t have a list of the top 10 Steelers offensive weapons without the greatest tight end in team history. Heath Miller was the complete package. He was an elite blocker, to go along with being an excellent weapon in the passing game. Miller is 4th all time in receiving yards with 6,569, and 45 career touchdowns. He was a two time Super Bowl champion, and two time Pro Bowler.
9. Hines Ward:
On almost any other franchise, Hines Ward is a top 5 offensive talent. Unfortunately for him he played for one of the most storied franchises in the NFL. Having said that, Hines Ward was still an incredible talent. He is the Steelers all time leading receiver with 12,083 yards, and in touchdowns with 85. Ward has a Super Bowl MVP, 4 Pro Bowls, and 2 Super Bowls on his resume. All this, plus being possibly the best blocking wide receiver in NFl history makes Hines Ward an all time Steelers great.
8. Jerome Bettis:
“The Bus” was an all time Steelers fan favorite in his time in Pittsburgh. Few players exemplified what it meant to be a Steeler like Jerome Bettis. Bettis is second all time in rushing yards (10,571), and rushing TDs (78) in team history. He was NFL rookie of the year in 1993, is a two time first team All Pro, and 6 time Pro Bowler. He capped of his career with a Super Bowl trophy, a key for any all time great with this franchise.
7. Lynn Swann:
Lynn Swann’s career did not last long enough to put up some of the gaudy numbers of others on this list. But in terms of talent, there may not have been a better offensive weapon in Steelers history. Swann list of accolades is still impressive. He is a 4 time Super Bowl champion, one Super Bowl MVP, 3 time All Pro, 3 time Pro Bowler, and led the NFL in touchdowns in 1975. All that combined with making some of the most acrobatic catches in Super Bowl history lands Lynn Swann 7th on our all time Steelers list.
6. Le’Veon Bell:
Le’Veon Bell probably ends up much higher on this list had he not held out for an entire season, and finished his career in Pittsburgh. There was no better instinctual runner in team history than Bell. He was equally good as a receiver making him one of the best all around weapons in the NFL during his peak. Bell is 4th all time in rushing despite playing in only 62 games with the team. He had three Pro Bowls, and one first team All Pro on his resume. One can only wonder how much better his career had gone if he stayed in Pittsburgh his entire career.
5. Terry Bradshaw:
Terry Bradshaw remains an under appreciated Steelers all time great. The accolades literally speak for themselves. He racked up 4 Super Bowls, 2 Super Bowl MVPs, 1 NFL MVP, 3 Pro Bowls, and 1 All Pro in his 14 NFL seasons. He’s second all time in passing yards (27989), and touchdowns (2120), while playing in an era where the passing game was much less utilized.
4. John Stallworth:
John Stallworth is a true legend in Steelers history. He is 3rd all time in receiving yards (8,723), and touchdowns (63). Stallworth had every bit the highlight reel Super Bowl catches that his teammate Lynn Swann had. What’s even more amazing about Stallworth is his late career renaissance. He had his best statistical season in his tenth year in the league in 1984. Stallworth had 1,400 yards receiving, and 11 touchdowns that year. He followed that up with a 937/5 campaign in 1985, well after his run of Super Bowls in the 70s.
3. Franco Harris:
Franco Harris is hands down the best running back in Steelers history. He is the team’s rushing, and touchdown all time leader. He of course is a four time Super Bowl champion, and has a Super Bowl MVP in the franchise’s first ever championship. Add that two his 9 Pro Bowsl, 1 first team All Pro, and the 1972 NFL rookie of the year, and you’re talking about one of the all time greats.
2. Ben Roethlisberger:
Ben Roethlisberger has it all in terms of being an all time Steelers great. He of course had the two Super Bowl rings, an absolute must to be considered highly on this franchise. He has far and away the most passing yards, and touchdowns in franchise history having triple the yards and double the TDs of his nearest competitors. Ben Roethlisberger is one of the all time greatest NFL quarterbacks, and the best in Steelers history.
1. Antonio Brown:
Set aside all the craziness, and nonsense of the latter years of Antonio Brown. For a six year stretch, Antonio Brown put up numbers on par with anyone in NFL history. He led the league in receptions twice, yards twice, and touchdowns once during that time. Brown caught no less than 100 balls from 2013-2018. He had 7 career Pro Bowls, and 4 All Pros as well. The lack of post season success in Pittsburgh would keep almost any other player off this list entirely. But Antonio Brown was that special of an offensive player. So much so, he is number one in Steelers history.