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The Pittsburgh Steelers Legends team represents the franchise's best players from the pre-1970 era. The team was chosen by a small group of Steeler officials and journalists and presented as a part of the Steelers' 75th season celebration in 2007. The club also presented an updated and expanded All-Time team at the same time, which was determined on the basis of fan voting. [1]

While the All-Time team represented the top 33 players in the team's first 75 years, [2] club officials recognized that the All-Time team was selected by fans who had a natural bias toward choosing more recent players due to the team's poor record prior to 1970, and the fact that many Steelers fans would never have seen the older players perform.

As such, many noteworthy players from the team's first four decades were overlooked. The Legends team was created to address this oversight, [3] with Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney saying "There were a lot of great Steelers prior to 1970 who were as good as today's superstars, but fewer people got to see them play. We are looking forward to welcoming the Legends Team and having today's fans see some of the great Steelers from the pre-1970 era." [3]

The eight-person selection committee that named the Legends team included Dan Rooney, Steelers Vice President Art Rooney Jr., team scout Bill Nunn, former long-time coach Dick Hoak, long-time Steelers broadcaster Myron Cope, former sports editor of the Pittsburgh Press Roy McHugh, and former team officials Joe Gordon and Ed Kiely. This panel chose the top 24 players in the club's pre-1970 history: eleven on offense, eleven on defense, one punter, and one placekicker. [3]

Offense

Position Jersey No. Player Years on Team # of Pro Bowls Hall of Fame Honors Ref.
1Quarterback 22 Layne, Bobby Bobby Layne 19581962 6 Yes 1950s All-Decade Team [4]
2Running back 42 Hoak, Dick Dick Hoak 19611971 1 No [5]
2Running back 35 Johnson, John Henry John Henry Johnson 19601965 4 Yes [6]
3Wide receiver 87 Jefferson, Roy Roy Jefferson 19651969 3 No 1969 Steelers MVP [7]
3Wide receiver 25 Mathews, Ray Ray Mathews 19511959 2 No [8]
4Tight end 81 Nickel, Elbie Elbie Nickel 19471957 3 No [9]
5Center 21 Cherundolo, Chuck Chuck Cherundolo 19411942, 19451948 2 No [10]
6Guard 62 Sandusky, Mike Mike Sandusky 19571965 1 No [11]
6Guard 66 Van Dyke, Bruce Bruce Van Dyke 19671973 1 No [12]
7Tackle 71 Bradshaw, Charlie Charlie Bradshaw 19611966 2 No [13]
7Tackle 74 Varrichione, Frank Frank Varrichione 19551960 5 No [14]

Defense

Position Jersey No. Player Years on Team # of Pro Bowls Hall of Fame Honors Ref.
1Defensive tackle 76 Eugene Lipscomb Eugene Lipscomb 19611962 3 No [a] [15]
1Defensive tackle 70 Stautner, Ernie Ernie Stautner 19501963 9 Yes 1950s All-Decade Team [16]
2Defensive end 60 McGee, Ben Ben McGee 19641972 2 No [17]
2Defensive end 84 McPeak, Bill Bill McPeak 19491957 3 No [18]
3Linebacker 60 Dodrill, Dale Dale Dodrill 19511959 4 No [19]
3Linebacker 66 Pottios, Myron Myron Pottios 1961, 19631965 3 No [20]
3Linebacker 33 Shipkey, Jerry Jerry Shipkey 19481952 3 No [21]
4Defensive back 80 Butler, Jack Jack Butler 19511959 4 Yes 1950s All-Decade Team [22]
4Defensive back 35 Dudley, Bill Bill Dudley 1942, 19451946 3 Yes 1946 NFL MVP
1940s All-Decade Team
[23]
4Defensive back 11 Hartley, Howard Howard Hartley 19491952 - No [24]
4Defensive back 28 Thomas, Clendon Clendon Thomas 19621968 1 No [25]

Specialists

Position Jersey No. Player Years on Team # of Pro Bowls Hall of Fame Honors Ref.
1Placekicker 17 Niccolai, Armand Armand Niccolai 19341942 - No [26]
2Punter 18 Brady, Pat Pat Brady 19521954 - No [27]

Notes

Names in bold indicate the player spent his entire playing career with the Steelers.
a Finalist in 1970 & 1977 [28]

References

  1. ^ Dvorchak, Robert (October 25, 2007). "Steelers name 33 players who stand above rest to its All-Time Team". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  2. ^ "Steelers Announce All-Time Team as Part of Club's 75th Season Celebration". Steelers.com. October 2007. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  3. ^ a b c "Steelers Announce Legends Team as Part of 75th Season Celebration Twenty-Four Honored as Best Pre-1970's Players in Club History". Steelers.com. October 2007. Archived from the original on 5 June 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2010.{{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown ( link)
  4. ^ "Bobby Layne bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  5. ^ "Dick Hoak bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  6. ^ "John Henry Johnson bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  7. ^ "Roy Jefferson bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  8. ^ "Ray Mathews bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  9. ^ "Elbie Nickel bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  10. ^ "Chuck Cherundolo bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  11. ^ "Mike Sandusky bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  12. ^ "Bruce Van Dyke bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  13. ^ "Charlie Bradshaw bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  14. ^ "Frank Varrichione bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  15. ^ "Eugene Lipscomb bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  16. ^ "Ernie Stautner bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  17. ^ "Ben McGee bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  18. ^ "Bill McPeak bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  19. ^ "Dale Dodrill bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  20. ^ "Myron Pottios bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  21. ^ "Jerry Shipkey bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  22. ^ "Jack Butler bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  23. ^ "Bill Dudley bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  24. ^ "Howard Hartley bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  25. ^ "Clendon Thomas bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  26. ^ "Armand Niccolai bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  27. ^ "Pat Brady bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  28. ^ "Hall of Famers: Yearly Finalists". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 26 March 2010.