Top 100 most influential people in Steelers history: 51 – 60
If you’ve been following this series, you know that I decided to put together a listing of the most influential people in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Coaches, owners, scouts, players, and anyone who was important in the history of the franchise.
This entry in the series will close out the first 50 people on that list, so far we’ve covered 100 – 61. That means that with this group, we are halfway home. The next few groups will start to get fewer names that only some of us know, and more names that all of us know. Should be interesting.
Anyway, off we go with 51-60.
60 – Bobby Layne
Quarterback, 1958 – 1962
Layne only played for the Steelers for 5 out of 15 seasons. He was part of the Buddy Parker era, as Parker traded for Layne at the cost of Earl Morrall and a draft choice in 1959 and 1960. Layne still had some game, but his best days were behind him. Earl Morrall was no great loss, but I have no clue how to determine the draft picks from the previous years. Layne was a future HOFer, so that makes a good case for why he belongs on the list, but there are others who didn’t make it.
In the end, the reason I included Layne was that in an interview with him he said one of the great regrets he had as a player was not being able to win a championship for Mr. Rooney. How could I leave out a guy who said that?
59 – Marvel Smith
Tackle, 2000 – 2008
Look, as I’ve stated before, this list is based on the Steelers I could name off the top of my head without doing any initial research and spending very little time thinking about it. That was the genesis of this whole concept. Yes, this is probably too high for Marvel, but you know what, I met him in an Olive Garden in New Jersey, and he let me try on his Super Bowl Ring, so you could argue that a guy who does that might be worthy of some consideration!
Plus, he was maybe the best lineman we had during the years he played for us. He only made one Pro Bowl (2004), but he might have made more if he hadn’t started having back issues.
Regardless, he’s a 2x Super Bowl champion, and he’s the only Steeler who ever let me try on a real Super Bowl ring.
58 – Kevin Colbert
Director of Football Operations/General Manager, 2000 – 2010 / 2010 – present
Did you know that Kevin Colbert is the first General Manager the Steelers have ever had?
He was originally the Director of Football Operations, but his influence and his knowledge of players and the game earned him that GM title. He had a large part in the construction of the two Super Bowl winning teams we had in the early 2000’s.
Just think of the players who have been drafted during the tenure of Colbert and Tomlin/Cowher. Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Maurkice Pouncey, Antonio Brown, Heath Miller, Casey Hampton, David DeCastro and so much more. Those guys I listed are all legitimate threats to one day be in the Hall of Fame, and have at one point or another in their careers, been considered among the best, if not the best, in the league at their positions.
That’s an impressive record and shows the overall impact Colbert has had on the Steelers organization.
That’s why Colbert is on the list.
57 – Casey Hampton
Nose Tackle, 2001 – 2012
PS4L
I’m sorry but Casey “Big Snack” Hampton maybe needs to be higher than this. There are guys above that are higher for reasons, but as I’m writing this, I feel like Casey should be higher!
5 Pro Bowls, and a great nickname. Casey was the rock man – he ate up blocks and was the immovable force in the middle for some of the very best Steeler’s defenses ever. One of the reasons you have to love Casey is his personality, and attitude. There is a story which says that Casey was asked about the legendary Steelers defensive playbook and how complicated it was. He looked at the guy who asked the question and just said “I have 3 plays – straight, right and left”. I don’t remember where I heard this or read this but it cracked me up and I’ll never forget it.
Because Casey (and Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel) played on Dick Lebeau defenses that asked the line to eat blockers so that the linebackers could thrive, they will never get the recognition they deserve. In my mind, Casey is a HOF caliber player. I doubt he’ll ever get in, but in my humble opinion, he should.
Plus, that nickname!
56 – Glen Edwards
Safety, 1971 – 1977
A 2 time Super Bowl champ, 2 x Pro Bowler (1974, 1975) and an All-Pro in 1976, Edwards prowled the secondary and was a key part of the Steel Curtain during the first half of the Steelers Dynasty of the 70’s.
He intercepted a pass against Dallas in SB X, and I’m pretty sure he put a hit on a receiver that led to an interception by Mel Blount in SB IX. He was an above average player on a defense filled with all-timers so I think he sometimes gets overlooked, but he was a key contributor.
He finished up his career with 4 seasons in San Diego and 1 with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL, but he spent his prime years in Pittsburgh.
55 – Maurkice Pouncey
Center, 2010 – present
I hear you “Injury Prone” haters out there! I hear you!
The simple truth is that Pouncey is, if not the best center in the league today, he’s top 3. The only reason he’s been hit with a few injuries is a brain fart by David DeCastro, and then being so good that he was in a position that probably no other center in the league could be in, and got rolled up on.
He’s not injury prone. He’s an awesome talent, and a perfect guy to continue the legacy of Mansfield, Webster, and Dawson. If he can continue the level of play he has shown, and avoid any more bad luck, he will join Webbie and Dawson in the Hall when he’s done. He’s a perennial Pro Bowler (2010-2012, 2014, 2016), and has made the All-Pro team 4x (2 first (2011,2014) and 2 seconds (2010,2012)).
That right there says he’s in the top 2 centers in the league.
Pouncey is the quarterback of the line, the heart, the very definition of “The Man In The Middle”.
54 – Kevin Greene
Linebacker, 1993-1995
Three years.
That’s all the time we had with Kevin Greene.
Three years of Lightning and Thunder – Greene and Lloyd. Man they were an awesome three years!
Again, I’m forced to say that if I was Kevin Greene and Greg Lloyd I would have spent hours doing unpleasant things to “he who shall not be named” for the loss in Super Bowl XXX. He was a Pro Bowler every single year he was with us. He’s a HOFer. If he had spent his whole career with us, he’d be so much higher on this list, but even with a short three-year stint, he’s good enough to be close to a top 50 Steeler. Not quite, but close.
53 – Larry Brown
Tight End / Tackle, 1971 – 1984
PS4L
Larry Brown played tackle and tight end for the Steelers during the dynasty years. He played in his first two Super Bowls as a tight end, and his second two as a tackle.
It’s that kind of versatility that puts him on the list at this point, and also because I’m admitting that as I was making the list I meant to keep him just above Kolb and Mullins, but I screwed up and I’m too lazy to go back and fix it now!
So, umm, he’s higher because of his versatility, and because I am going to blame Larry Brown for creating the fixation that many of Steelers Nation have with fantasizing about players switching positions. Shazier to Safety! Villaneuva to Tight End! Martavis Bryant to Cornerback!
It’s all Larry Browns fault.
NOTE: There is no evidentiary foundation for the above statements and they do not actually reflect my true opinions – rather, they are sarcasm, and intended for no other purpose than to distract people from the admission that Brown is only here because I’m made a boo-boo.
52 – Carnell Lake
Defensive Back / Coach, 1989 – 1998 / 2011 – present
A 5x Pro Bowler (1994–1997, 1999), an All-Pro multiple times (first team in 1997, second team in 1994, 1995 and 1999) and one of the best DB’s we’ve ever had.
I refuse to acknowledge where he played in 2001. That year is an aberration, and didn’t happen!
He played with Rod Woodson, which meant he was going to be targeted by the opposing QB’s, and he was still really good – maybe even HOF good if he hadn’t been overshadowed by perhaps the second (or some might say first) greatest corner in team (and maybe NFL) history.
He’s back in the fold as a coach now, and I think we’ve finally given him something to work with!
I’ll reserve judgment on Lake the coach until I see what he does with Artie Burns, Cam Sutton and Sean Davis (and my personal piece of wishful thinking, Brian Allen). He’s on-field play is still enough to put him solidly on the list.
51 – “Bullet” Bill Dudley
Halfback, 1942, 1945-46
He’s got a great nickname!
He led the team and the league in both rushing and interceptions at least once! (How cool is that?)
He’s a HOFer, and even though he couldn’t play for Jock Sutherland and as a result got traded to Detroit, he’s still an all-time great. I, of course, never saw him play, but he certainly deserves to be on this list, and maybe even a little higher.
It’s really the fact that he is way before my time that keeps him in the second 50, rather than the top 50.
Conclusion
That ends the first half ladies and gentlemen.
50 in the books and 50 more to go.
The next grouping is sure to start some arguments as we beginning hitting players of legendary stature. What bumps one guy up a spot, or down a spot? Remember, this isn’t necessarily the “best” or “greatest” 100 Steelers, but the most influential. That essentially means you might have individuals who were more impactful during their playing days, but overall were not at the same level of others who are ranked lower on the list.
Let the tomato throwing and mud slinging commence in earnest!
Next: 41-50.
Previous entries
- Top 100 most influential people in Steelers history: 91 – 100
- Top 100 most influential people in Steelers history: 81 – 90
- Top 100 most influential people in Steelers history: 71 – 80
- Top 100 most influential people in Steelers history: 61 – 70
