There is no doubt that the Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the most respected franchises in all of sports, let alone the NFL. The organization's six Lombardi Trophies are tied for the most in league history with the New England Patriots. All six championships were won by Terry Bradshaw, who is currently in the Hall of Fame, and Ben Roethlisberger, who will likely be inducted the first year he is eligible. Both were drafted by the franchise and the argument of who the best in Steelers' history is will never be retired.
Steelers legendary quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger sits in the pocket and prepares to make a throw during a game at then-Heinz Field in his final NFL season. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
The two are undoubtedly the best signal-callers ever to play for the organization, but sometimes people forget that there are two big names that were drafted by Pittsburgh and ended up winning a Super Bowl elsewhere. Both Johnny Unitas and Len Dawson were tied to the black and gold at a point, but this happened well before Bradshaw was relevant and Roethlisberger's parents weren't even born when the Steelers drafted Unitas in 1955.
After Pittsburgh decided to release the ninth-round pick in Unitas shortly after drafting him, Dawson was selected a couple years later in 1957. He wasn't let go immediately and played in 19 games throughout a three-year period, but was later traded to the Cleveland Browns in 1960. It's safe to say that the team could have made the right decision and kept one of them long-term.
Both quarterbacks went on to have Hall of Fame careers and not hard to assume that Pittsburgh would have been in great hands if they committed to one of the two up until Bradshaw came to the Steel City in 1970.
Former Steelers legendary quarterback and Hall of Famer, Terry Bradshaw (#12) talks with his Head Coach, Chuck Noll. | Photo Credit: Pittsburgh Post Gazette Archives
Twitter user, The Sports E-Cyclopedia, brought up the incredible stat that Pittsburgh has drafted four different Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks in the history of the franchise. Shockingly, only eight teams have selected more than one.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have drafted four superbowl winning QBs. (Terry Bradshaw, Johnny Unitas, Ben Roethlisberger and Len Dawson)
— The Sports E-cyclopedia (@The_Ecyclopedia) May 30, 2023
Only 8 teams have drafted more than one!!
The Steelers are one of the most consistently well run franchises and it's hard to disagree! pic.twitter.com/4wFqbyFsvO
They are now
— Frank Fleming (@NjTank99) May 30, 2023
But pre 1970, they cut Unitas and Dawson
Fleming is a bit off about Dawson because he was traded, but the narrative still holds true. The organization could be easily recognized in 2023 as the clear-cut best franchise of all-time if one of either Unitas or Dawson hung around. It's still hard for fans to complain about six championships since the 1975 season, though.
Steelers 1957 draft pick, Len Dawson as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. | Photo Credit: Chiefs.com
Steelers Did Botch Quarterback Evaluations in the 1950s
Overall, Fleming has a point. Pittsburgh drafted two guys who had countless accolades throughout their careers. No team can make the right decision 100% of the time, but it certainly stings knowing two signal-callers who went on to be great practically did nothing in the black and gold. The good news is that Bradshaw, Roethlisberger and the organization made up for it as a whole with six Super Bowl victories.
Do you agree with Fleming's criticism? Let us know in the comments below!
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