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What better place to begin our journey into the Pittsburgh Steelers greatest NFL Drafts than to start at the single greatest draft in NFL History. A draft where four future NFL Hall of Fame players were taken by one team, and one was signed as an undrafted free agent! The Steelers were coming off their second highest win total in their 40-year history, and because of that, they were picking 21st out of 26 teams. You wouldn’t think a team about to select four future Hall of Fame players in their first five picks would be drafting so late in the rounds. But that’s exactly what transpired.
With their first pick, the Steelers netted an acrobatic and sure handed speedster from USC: Lynn Swann. He would become the first wide receiver to earn a Super Bowl MVP as he racked up three Pro Bowls and three All Pro nods during his nine year career. Swann would always be known as one of the best big game receivers to ever play, as his clutch, gravity defying catches would help his team earn four Super Bowl victories.
The second round saw 2 Hall of Fame players get drafted back to back. Dave Casper, the tight end from Notre Dame was taken by the Oakland Raiders just before the Steelers selected Jack Lambert, the heavy hitting linebacker from Kent State. Lambert was thought to be “too small” to play linebacker when he measured just under 6’4” and 204lbs as a rookie. But before he could pack on any weight, he was thrust into the starting middle linebacker role and earned Rookie Defensive Player of the Year honors. Two years later, he was named Defensive Player of the Year. In 11 seasons, he was named to nine Pro Bowls and eight All Pro teams while winning four Super Bowls as a starter. He will go down as one of the most athletic and feared defenders to ever play the game.
Bill Nunn, Dick Haley, V. Tim Rooney, and Art Rooney Jr. – 1974 Steelers War Room
Lacking a third round draft pick, the Steelers had two picks in the fourth round, and hit another home run with their first pick: wide receiver, John Stallworth. In 11 seasons, Stallworth was named to three Pro Bowls and three All Pro teams while winning four Super Bowls. He would retire as the team leader in receptions, receiving yardage and second in touchdowns scored to fellow Hall of FamerFranco Harris. The second pick in the fourth round was a talented defensive back named Jimmy Allen, who served as a special teams player and sub package defender. He would finish his Steelers career with seven interceptions before leaving to play with the Detroit Lions. In Detroit, Allen would amass another 24 interceptions in four seasons as a starting safety.
In the fifth round, the Steelers drafted their center, who would be known as one of the greatest centers to ever play: Mike Webster. “Iron Mike” played 17 seasons, earned nine Pro Bowl selections and seven First-Team All Pro nods. He played in 245 games, finishing one game back for most games played by a center. Webster would take over for the greatRay Mansfield during the 1976 season and hold it until 1988 while next missing a game.
Rounds 6-17 didn’t see any more players of note, but the Steelers were able to sign significant players as undrafted free agents that year too. The Steelers signed tight end Randy Grossman from Temple University, who would start 45 games for the Steelers over eight seasons. Grossman retired following the 1981 season.
But the cream of the undrafted crop ended up being a hard hitting safety from South Carolina State: Donnie Shell. He started off playing special teams, and spot duty on defense until 1977 when he became a full-time starter. From that moment on, in his next 11 seasons, he would be named to five Pro Bowls, four All Pro teams, and finished his career with 51 interceptions. That number is third best in team history, but #1 for Steelers safeties. Shell would be inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the 2020 Class after a long over due wait.
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With their first pick, the Steelers netted an acrobatic and sure handed speedster from USC: Lynn Swann. He would become the first wide receiver to earn a Super Bowl MVP as he racked up three Pro Bowls and three All Pro nods during his nine year career. Swann would always be known as one of the best big game receivers to ever play, as his clutch, gravity defying catches would help his team earn four Super Bowl victories.
The second round saw 2 Hall of Fame players get drafted back to back. Dave Casper, the tight end from Notre Dame was taken by the Oakland Raiders just before the Steelers selected Jack Lambert, the heavy hitting linebacker from Kent State. Lambert was thought to be “too small” to play linebacker when he measured just under 6’4” and 204lbs as a rookie. But before he could pack on any weight, he was thrust into the starting middle linebacker role and earned Rookie Defensive Player of the Year honors. Two years later, he was named Defensive Player of the Year. In 11 seasons, he was named to nine Pro Bowls and eight All Pro teams while winning four Super Bowls as a starter. He will go down as one of the most athletic and feared defenders to ever play the game.
Bill Nunn, Dick Haley, V. Tim Rooney, and Art Rooney Jr. – 1974 Steelers War Room
Lacking a third round draft pick, the Steelers had two picks in the fourth round, and hit another home run with their first pick: wide receiver, John Stallworth. In 11 seasons, Stallworth was named to three Pro Bowls and three All Pro teams while winning four Super Bowls. He would retire as the team leader in receptions, receiving yardage and second in touchdowns scored to fellow Hall of FamerFranco Harris. The second pick in the fourth round was a talented defensive back named Jimmy Allen, who served as a special teams player and sub package defender. He would finish his Steelers career with seven interceptions before leaving to play with the Detroit Lions. In Detroit, Allen would amass another 24 interceptions in four seasons as a starting safety.
In the fifth round, the Steelers drafted their center, who would be known as one of the greatest centers to ever play: Mike Webster. “Iron Mike” played 17 seasons, earned nine Pro Bowl selections and seven First-Team All Pro nods. He played in 245 games, finishing one game back for most games played by a center. Webster would take over for the greatRay Mansfield during the 1976 season and hold it until 1988 while next missing a game.
Rounds 6-17 didn’t see any more players of note, but the Steelers were able to sign significant players as undrafted free agents that year too. The Steelers signed tight end Randy Grossman from Temple University, who would start 45 games for the Steelers over eight seasons. Grossman retired following the 1981 season.
But the cream of the undrafted crop ended up being a hard hitting safety from South Carolina State: Donnie Shell. He started off playing special teams, and spot duty on defense until 1977 when he became a full-time starter. From that moment on, in his next 11 seasons, he would be named to five Pro Bowls, four All Pro teams, and finished his career with 51 interceptions. That number is third best in team history, but #1 for Steelers safeties. Shell would be inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the 2020 Class after a long over due wait.
Do you have any thoughts on this amazing draft? Please share them below!
#SteelerNation
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
