Best Steelers Players Of All Time: Top 5 Pittsburgh Athletes, According To Fans

For nearly a century that the Pittsburgh Steelers have been in the NFL, there has been no shortage of great players. From high Super Bowl turnovers to record-breaking performances, these players have captivated NFL fans with their skill and talent. To find out which of them are the most beloved, here are five of the best Steelers players of all time.

Americans take football so seriously that half of them have ended a friendship over an on-field rivalry. A survey of 2,000 U.S. football fans examined how respondents celebrate game day, finding that 52 percent have called it quits with a friend because they support their favorite team’s rival. When their team loses, it takes an average of three days to get over the loss. Still, that hasn’t stopped fans from continuing to cheer for their favorite team from their favorite place.

Fans of the Steelers know that the team has a storied history of producing some of the NFL’s most iconic and talented players. From the legendary quarterback Terry Bradshaw, who led the team to four Super Bowl victories in the 1970s, to the indomitable Franco Harris, whose “Immaculate Reception” remains one of the most memorable plays in football history, the Steelers have consistently showcased top-tier talent. More recently, Ben Roethlisberger, the franchise’s all-time leading passer, has continued the tradition of excellence, solidifying his place among the greats of the league.

So, which athletes stand out in Steelers history? StudyFinds did the research, consulting 10 football and sports-related websites to bring you a list of the best Steelers players of all time. Our list comprises the five most frequently listed football legends from across these sites. Were your favorite Steelers players left off the list? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!

brown and black Wilson football
Football (Photo by Dave Adamson on Unsplash)

The List: Best Steelers Players, Per Sports Experts
1. Jack Lambert
Jack Lambert was the physical embodiment of Pittsburgh Steelers football during the 1970s. “A man who once said, ‘Give me a six-pack and let’s go play ’em again,’ Lambert brought a physical and intimidating edge to a Pittsburgh defense that was already pretty frightening heading into the 1974 season. But with Lambert in the lineup, the Steelers’ defense became arguably the greatest unit in NFL history,” says CBS Sports.

Lambert was a linebacker from 1974 to 1984, a nine-time Pro Bowler, six-time first-team All-Pro, and Hall of Fame Class of 1990. “In the 28 years that I helped evaluate prospects for the Cowboys, Lambert was the highest-rated defensive player I ever saw. He looked like Ichabod Crane, tall and thin, but when making a play on the football field, he got there in a hurry and was nasty. We haven’t seen a player like him since,” states Former VP of Player Personnel for the Cowboys, Gil Brandt.

According to Not In Hall Of Fame, “Lambert was arguably the final piece of the puzzle to create the Steelers dynasty, as Lambert, Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, and Franco Harris would win the Super Bowl that year. As we know, that would be the first of four Super Bowls of the decade, and Lambert was at the heart of all of them.”

2. Rod Woodson
For the first 10 years of his career, Rod Woodson played over 100 games for the Steelers. “Woodson holds the record for the most fumble recoveries by a defensive player and the most interceptions returned for touchdowns. He was selected for several All-Time teams and received the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 1993,” according to Steel City Underground.