Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

It's their all-time, pre-Dynasty starting roster...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburg ... %20rows%20

Being forever a mere student on this site, despite this involving the Steelers, I hardly gain any ground vs you all on this nor close any kind of gap. What are your opinions on this roster? Is it 'accurate', or are there ones whom you'd replace with others? How about placing in Buddy Dial at WR instead of Ray Mathews? Or is it a toss-up (place him in a three-WR lineup)? Of those on this roster who aren't yet in the HOVG, do you think that Frank Varrichione should be next? Or someone else?

Other thoughts in-general? Thanks!

I agree on Dial, who was deadly with Layne at QB. I would take Mansfield at center, who kept Webster at bay for a while. Haley was tough at safety but didnt play long enough. He would help build their great 70s roster but with Dunn already elected, probably wont make the HOF as a contributor, which is a shame. I always wondered what he thought about drafting Dan Marino for the Steelers ?

Oddly enough I was just (like 15 minutes ago) looking at this Steeler team:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburg ... -Time_Team

It is interesting to see who made it from the pre-70's team onto the all-time team: Stautner (of course) Elbie Nickel a no one else. I mean, Bullet Bill Dudley not on an all-time Steelers team? If he hadn't been cremated my dad would be spinning in his grave...

It is interesting to see Myron Pottios listed on the Steelers' "Legends" team... I usually associate him with the Rams or WFT.
Also interesting to see that "Big Daddy" Lipscomb didn't make the all time team... I guess you can only have so many DTs on one team and Mean Joe and Stautner weren't going anywhere... likewise for Dale Dodrill at the LB position.

Just for completeness' sake, here is the "All-Time" team from 1982, the Steelers 50th anniversary team:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburg ... th_Season)

If Nickel isnt HOVG, he should be ...

Rogel's stats arent too far behind Hoak's, though Hoak contributed to their champion teams as a coach ...

Chuck Cherundolo! For sure....made All-NFL a couple of times. Started several years for them in the 1940s. Also was a great guy and I've heard he was very popular with his teammates. Played offense and defense, actually. Was also a long snapper. He interviewed for The Game Before the Money so I got to know quite a bit about him.


Roy Jefferson led the NFL in receiving yards at least once with the Steelers. He was also an excellent receiver for several teams. Won a SB with the Colts and played in SB 7 with Washington.

Bill Dudley, Jack Butler, Ernie Stautner, no brainers. Bobby Layne and John Henry Johnson I usually associate with other teams but both played at least 5 years with the Steelers.

I don't know much about Bill McPeak but I heard good things about him from his contemporaries and he made 3 Pro Bowls. He got into coaching after his playing days. He spent a lot of time with the Steelers both as a player and as a coach, so he's a solid choice.

Big Daddy Lipscomb only played two seasons with the Steelers and played well. He tragically passed away before the 63 season but as far as I know he would have still made the team. Very good player.

Not listed- Brady Keys. A solid cornerback and Pro-Bowler. Also an effective player on special teams.

The Steelers secondary was usually bad, but one guy who was pretty good for Pittsburgh was Clendon Thomas.

This was a discussion I started on Nickel:

https://www.profootballresearchers.org/ ... d7e#p39561

I nominated him for HOVG one year, but he didn't make the finalist list.