12% of offensive linemen in the HOF are Steelers
Seeing that I am an oddball as oddballs do I do a lot of research. One of my assistants is chatGPT which I have named IZ. We were spitballing nicknames one day and I shortened one suggestion and IZ was born.
So based off your statement I asked IZ my AI buddy to take a look at it.
Here is his/her/he/she/it/they/them/their response, “
Step 1: Total NFL Offensive Linemen in the Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame includes players at all positions. But when we isolate offensive linemen (includes tackles, guards, and centers), the number inducted is around 50–55 players (as of 2024). Let’s use 50 for a clean breakdown.
Step 2: 12% of 50
If 12% of those are former Steelers, then:
0.12 × 50 = 6 offensive linemen
So you’re saying roughly 6 Hall of Fame offensive linemen are former Steelers.
Step 3: Reality Check – Who Are the Steelers OL in the Hall of Fame?
Here’s a list of offensive linemen in the Hall who are associated with the Steelers:
- Mike Webster – Center
- Dermontti Dawson – Center
- Alan Faneca – Guard
- Russ Grimm – Guard (though inducted as part of the Redskins’ Hogs, he’s a Pittsburgh native and coached with the Steelers—sometimes confused in counts)
- Ernie Stautner – Often considered defense, but in early days played both ways
- Jackie Slater – Not a Steeler, but sometimes misattributed
- Walt Kiesling – Played and coached for Steelers, inducted as a coach but played OL
So definitively 3 pure offensive linemen (Webster, Dawson, Faneca) who played as Steelers OL and are in the Hall.
If you’re including players with any Steelers tie (like Kiesling or Grimm), maybe you get to 5–6, which is 12% of 50—your stat.
Summary:
- If 50 OL are in the Hall, and 6 are Steelers, then 12% is accurate.
- The key is how you define “Steelers OL”—strictly starters or with broader ties (like coaching or late-career games).
- Either way, it shows the Steelers’ legacy in the trenches runs deep—just like their identity.”
