The Pittsburgh Steelers and Terry Bradshaw connection has existed since they drafted him number one overall in the 1970 NFL Draft. It was the last time the Steelers had the first pick. Pittsburgh has only had two top 10 picks in the 21st century, Plaxico Burress in 2000 and Devin Bush in 2019. Tim Worley was picked seventh in the 1989 NFL Draft, and is the highest selection for the Steelers since Bradshaw donned the black and gold.
Associated Press
Steelers' Terry Bradshaw is sacked in his final NFL game on December 10th, 1983, against the New York Jets.
Technically, Bradshaw insists he did not retire. He played his last game in 1983 to secure the AFC Central title for the Steelers and reinjured his elbow. The following season, he took a CBS broadcast analyst job. He was happy to still be in football, but was unhappy calling games. In 1990, CBS moved him into the studio, and a star was reborn. Four seasons later, when CBS lost the NFC television package, Fox Sports hired Bradshaw to be the star of their new studio show.
Fox Sports is celebrating the 30th anniversary of broadcasting NFL games this season. Bradshaw, Howie Long, Michael Strahan, and Jimmy Johnson have an undeniable on-air chemistry. Curt Menefee does a fantastic job keeping the jovial group on track, but on Sunday, even he couldn't keep Long from poking fun at his good friend Bradshaw. It all started when Bradshaw contradicted Long and gave credit to the Cleveland Browns, and Johnson agreed with his observation. The two-time Super Bowl MVP crowed that the panel elders had experience.
“Is that what you call senior citizenship,” Long quipped.
Johnson, at 80, is the team's oldest member, followed by Bradshaw, at 75. Long is no spring chicken at 63 and isn't far from crossing into that territory. Bradshaw, during his recent health scare, famously declared that he would not mind passing away on air.
Terry Bradshaw, national treasure, with thoughts on his career, mortality, etc.: “I told Fox, if I could just die on the show -- think about the ratings, right? I mean, are we not about ratings? That'd be huge. Not only that, it'd be a huge carry-over. …” pic.twitter.com/SHNwLHPpU7
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) February 7, 2023
America and especially Steeler Nation, even in this age of media, are not on board with Bradshaw's plan to expire during an NFL on Fox broadcast. A small segment of social media takes every opportunity to call for the Hall of Fame quarterback to be fired every chance they get, but it doesn't appear anyone is rooting for his death. Most have expressed genuine concern for his health when he has obviously struggled on air.
Jerry Sisskind / Reuters via CNS
Steelers' Dan Rooney smiles as Terry Bradshaw holds up the pen he used to sign his rookie contract in 1970.
Steeler Nation owes a lot to Bradshaw, who persevered through some awful treatment by the fans. If social media existed in 1970, it is worth wondering if Bradshaw would have gotten multiple chances to become the Steelers franchise quarterback. Teams rarely let rookie quarterbacks play in that era, and Bradshaw's constant interceptions would not sit well on Twitter/X.
Chuck Noll was all too willing to yank Bradshaw during his early years and sit him down in favor of Terry Hanratty and Joe Gilliam. Pittsburgh had an atrocious record of evaluating the quarterback position before free agency. According to Al Davis, he was the reason that Noll put the ball back in Bradshaw's hands on the run to Super Bowl IX. If the Steelers, who cut or traded Johnny Unitas, Len Dawson, Earl Morrall, and Jack Kemp in the late 1950s, had been under the current rookie contract structure, who knows what would have happened?
Younger fans who have only seen Ben Roethlisberger under center are not familiar with the franchise's history. The current quarterback carousel is just business as usual for the Steelers. It can be infuriating for a young player, but the Steelers have never been shy about changing quarterbacks.
Steelers.com
Steelers' Terry Bradshaw throws a pass against the then-Oakland Raiders.
Steelers Legend Terry Bradshaw Has Soaring Praise For Kenny Pickett
Bradshaw struggled during his early years in Pittsburgh, but fought through it. It forged a significant amount of real and imagined slights that affected his relationship with the organization and the fan base. It appears that Bradshaw has forgiven, but not forgotten how poorly he was treated during his early years in the NFL. He has publicly mended fences and seems to have genuinely embraced Kenny Pickett, who is going through his ordeal in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers have only retired three numbers in the history of the franchise. Ernie Stautner's 70, Joe Greene's 75, and Franco Harris' 32. Bradshaw is 75 years old, a four-time Super Bowl champion, and a two-time Super Bowl MVP. He was the only league MVP in the franchise's history. Bradshaw was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1989 and is one of the last links to the dynasty of the 1970s.
Wally Fong / ap photo
Steelers legends Franco Harris, Terry Bradsha,w and Gerry "Moon" Mullins share a light moment while traveling.
Art Rooney II should give older fans one more opportunity to cheer for Bradshaw at Acrisure Stadium and retire his number before he leaves the national stage. The Steelers are never going to assign that number to another player again. With all the recent questions about the "Steelers Way," it would be a fitting way to rekindle the fire before it goes out for good.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Do you want to see Bradshaw get an opportunity to stand on the field at Acrisure Stadium and watch the organization acknowledge his contribution permanently while he still can? Please comment below, or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
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