The Steelers Were The Surprising Team Sean "Diddy" Combs Wanted To Play For Prior To His Fame

It appears the Pittsburgh Steelers were a desired landing spot for music legend, Sean "Diddy" Combs before he ventured into the hip-hop world. The Global Icon Award winner confessed his long-time dream to play for the team at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. 

The rapper was welcomed by friend and partner Mary J. Blige, who gave a statement highlighting their friendship and 30-year working relationship.

“I started out as a paperboy at 12. And then, I was gonna be an NFL football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t know this, but I planned on being a football player and my leg got broke the last year…”

He continues by saying how he became a rapper after his dream of being a football player was diminished.

“...and I would be in the clubs, dancing in New York, doing my ‘Diddy Bop,’ and then people would see me, and they would cast me for videos. And that’s how I fell in love with the music industry. I saw the executives and I wanted to chase that dream.”

Diddy expressed thanks for how his life and career had turned out as he concluded his speech.

"Sometimes, we get hit with those hard things; as I said, I thought I was going to be playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers," Combs said. "But God made another choice. And I thank God for this choice that he made for me to be able to touch you with my music, give you a good time, make you dance, make you feel good. That's the only intention."

At the time, the Steelers may not have been aware of him, but their attention was certainly captured on Tuesday night when they responded to a post on social media acknowledging his recent victory. Their response included a celebratory gesture in the form of a raising hands emoji, accompanied by hearts in the iconic black and gold colors that represent the team.

During a solid and uninterrupted period from the early 1990s to the early 2000s, Combs, known at different times as Puff Daddy, Diddy, and now Love, dominated the music scene with an onslaught of hits. His impact went beyond just hip-hop, as he was the driving force behind the fusion of hip-hop and R&B, and later played a crucial role in its domination of mainstream pop. Combs became the face of hip-hop's insatiable ambition, its relentless drive for success, and its unapologetic influence on American pop culture, business, politics, and various other aspects of society.

During the time Combs came to prominence in 1990, the Steelers, meanwhile, had ended their season 9-7 with Head Coach Chuck Noll. In the aftermath of their disappointing 13-3 defeat to the Cleveland Browns in the opening week of this year, tensions flared between Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Bubby Brister and Noll. Brister, feeling frustrated with the team's performance, publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with Noll's coaching abilities, igniting a captivating saga within the Steelers organization. This dilemma delves into the dramatic dynamics surrounding the 1990 Steelers, highlighting the clash between their head coach and their quarterback.

Before this year and in contrast to the successful era of the 1970s, the Steelers of the 1980s fell short of expectations. Despite their disappointments, Noll demonstrated his ability to lead the team to the playoffs on four occasions throughout the decade. Remarkably, in 1984, Noll guided the Steelers to the AFC Championship game, even with the relatively unknown Mark Malone as quarterback, showcasing his exceptional coaching prowess. Following a period of playoff drought, 1989 posed as a critical moment for Noll, with some fans questioning his capability. Despite this, he orchestrated a remarkable comeback after a discouraging start to the season, proving his resilience and expertise.

If his initial dream came true and he was given the chance to play for Pittsburgh, how do you think Combs could have made an impact? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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