Coach's top 50 steelers since the AFL-NFL merger

[Coach]

Here is a list of my top 50 Steelers of all time since the AFL-NFL merger.

The rankings are based on three criteria. Relative performance to their peers 50%, key to winning a championship for the Steelers,30% ,and longevity on the Steelers. 20%

Current Steelers can rate as long as they have 10 seasons or more. This means Timmons, and Tomlin are not rated for now, but both would make the list if they retired today. It also means Ernie Stautner is not listed as he retried in the early 1960's before the AFL-NFL merger. The list does not include media personalities or writers either, but if were talking famous Cope would make the cut!



1. Chuck Noll - Head Coach
2. Joe Greene – DT
3. Terry Bradshaw - QB
4. Jack Lambert – MLB
5. Ben Roethlisberger - QB
6. Franco Harris - RB
7. Mel Blount - CB
8. Jack Ham – OLB
9. Mike Webster –C
10. Hines Ward –WR
11. Troy Polamalu –SS
12. Rod Woodson – CB * Woodson would rate higher if he played more seasons
13. John Stallworth – WR
14. Lynn Swann – Wr
15. James Harrison – OLB
16. Donnie Shell – SS
17. LC Greenwood – DE
18. Bill Cowher – Head Coach
19. Dermontii Dawson –C * lack of a ring makes him fall a bit
20. Aaron Smith – DE
21. Joey Porter –OLB
22. Casey Hampton- NT
23. Greg Lloyd – OLB
24. Carnell Lake – S
25. Jerome Bettis – RB
26. Levon Kirkland – ILB
27. Alan Faneca -G
28. Jon Kolb – OT * moved after feedback and a 2nd look
29. John Jackson – LT
30. James Farrior – ILB
31. Andy Russell – OLB
32. Ike Taylor – CB
33. Jason Gildon – OLB
34. Gary Anderson – K
35. Ernie Holmes – DT
36. Heath Miller - TE
37. David Little – MLB
38. Willie Parker – RB
39. Keith Willis – DE
40. Mike Wagner – FS
41. Dick Lebeau – Defensive coordinator
42. Joel Steed – NT
43. Dewayne Woodruff – CB
44. Darren Perry - FS
45. Max Starks – LT
46. Dwight White – DE
47. Louis Lipps – WR
48. Bryan Hinkle – OLB
49. Tunch Ilkin - OT
50 Larry Brown - OT

 

[madinsomniac]

Mostly good. I think Farrior is woefully underappriciated here, but still incredibly solid list. I think some of the lesser players from the 70's 90's and 00's might be rated better than the 80's guys on the list, but thats my opinion of course

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

I think putting levon Kirkland below Greg Lloyd and Joey porter is wrong.

And you have John Kolb rated way too high..

IMO

 

[Coach]

I think putting levon Kirkland below Greg Lloyd and Joey porter is wrong.

And you have John Kolb rated way too high..

IMO

We have 50 greats to choose from. There is not a huge difference between #21 and #26. IMO Porter was our best cover and blitz LB, and Lloyd meant more to the team than Kirkland.

Lloyd and Porter have more splash plays, and pro bowls. I wish we had any one of them back now as Timmons might be our best man on defense!

As for Kolb I think he's under rated. But on second look I'd move him down to #28. Kolb played 13 years. Super strong. Very good Left Tackle.

 

[topseed]

Max Starks ahead of Dwight White might be a point to reconsider. And Bryan Hinkle making the list at all.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

Where's Weegie Thompson and Bubby Brister?

 

[Steelerfan]

And Kordell is suspiciously absent.

 

[LeXX75]

you can debate the rankings of these guys till your blue in the face..hell I can start right at the top...Mean Joe is my top rated ...with no slight meant to Noll... I thank Ham should be above Franco and more..but I think its a very good list...and when you look at the list you see why we have 6....some great names on there

 

[Superman]

no Brad Wing? no Timmons?

 

[TazManianDevil]

Ya where is Bobby Shaw and Dewayne Washington? Lol

 

[Idioteque]

Farrior behind John Jackson? Yeesh.

Other than that, pretty damn good

 

[Stryker]

I always liked Yancy Thigpen, but I can see why he's not on the list.

I also may be in the minority, but I feel Lynn Swann is an overrated player. He was a great big game receiver and made incredible catches, but he lacked the longevity and numbers to make the HOF. His years of service on NFL sidelines helped him get the votes later in life. Still no doubt a top 50 player.

There is one current player I'd put on that list and that is Antonio Brown. The kid has done nothing but set team records each year he's been here. This past year, he was the top receiver in both yardage and receptions (a feat no steeler has ever done in either). IMHO, He is behind Stallworth and Ward, but I can see him becoming the best. Louis Lipps may sink ships, but Antonio Brown knocks em down!

 

[Troglodyte]

Bettis at 25? He was the face of the team for several years and three time MVP.

 

[Coach]

AB's ( Antonio Brown ) is an amazing player for sure. Lipps is hard to rate. Lipps had Brister and Malone throwing him the ball.

 

[Coach]

Bettis at 25? He was the face of the team for several years.

The rankings are based on three criteria. Relative performance to their peers 50%, key to winning a championship for the Steelers,30% ,and longevity on the Steelers. 20%.

 

[IndySteel]

I would replace Max Starks with Eric Green.

 

[Punxsutawney]

Farrior behind John Jackson? Yeesh.

Other than that, pretty damn good

Jackson and Dawson were the anchors of great OL play for nearly a decade. I think Jackson is one of the more underrated Steelers ever, and Coach has him about right.

As for the list as a whole, it is pretty tight, though Lipps and Steed should be higher, IMO

 

[Troglodyte]

The rankings are based on three criteria. Relative performance to their peers 50%, key to winning a championship for the Steelers,30% ,and longevity on the Steelers. 20%.

Then Ben is too high. He has been behind Brady, Rodgers, Brees, and Manning for the most of his career, and the Steelers won XL despite Ben.

 

[Coach]

Then Ben is too high. He has been behind Brady, Rodgers, Brees, and Manning for the most of his career, and the Steelers won XL despite Ben.

Ben has played in three super bowls, and won two. Rodgers, P Manning and Brees have only one super bowl ring. Many feel Ben is better than Bradshaw. Its not Ben's fault the OL was shaky for many seasons ( not this year ), and the defense has declined.

 

[papillon]

For me I swap Franco and James Harrison, while JH probably won't make it into the HOF his persona reminds me of Joe Greene, he just refused to be intimidated and did most of the intimidating plus being a damn good OLB for 6 years.

Papillon

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

Ben is a tad too high. I think the top 10 would be reserved for obvious first ballot HOFer's. Ben may get there, but not at 1st ballot.

 

[slashsteel]

Ben led the league in passing when a O-line finally played well......... You might as well put him that high, as if he isn't worthy now he will be by the end of play. 3 SB appearances and still people underrate him IMO.

His time isn't complete so hard to judge if he will be a first round ballot. I would say win one more SB and it is a lock.

I also agree Eric Green should be on the list.

 

[Coach]

Ben led the league in passing when a O-line finally played well......... You might as well put him that high, as if he isn't worthy now he will be by the end of play. 3 SB appearances and still people underrate him IMO.

His time isn't complete so hard to judge if he will be a first round ballot. I would say win one more SB and it is a lock.

I also agree Eric Green should be on the list.

Green was only a Steeler for 5 years. He failed a drug test, rejected new contract and left on bad terms. His carer stats 362 catches for 4,390 yards and 36 TD's is good, not great.

If this was top 75 Steelers, He'd make the cut.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

What about marvel Smith? 8 seaons with steelers, 1 probowl, , 2 Superbowl victories. The guy was rock solid.

 

[Steel G]

The forgotten linebacker of the Steelers, because he played in the barren mid 80s and because he forced his own way out of town, was Mike Merriweather. But he was a three time pro bowler and a team MVP one year.