Steelers History: The Most Controversial Players

As a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, you must shake your head at one or two new signings every season. Staff, players, and fans all rate different players in various ways, meaning heated debates abound. Some players also stir this up due to their antics off and on the field. Below, we discuss some of the most controversial players the Steelers have ever signed.

WR Antonio Brown

Overall, Antonio Brown's time in Pittsburgh solidified his status as one of the best wide receivers of his era, but it was also marked by a series of personal and professional controversies that followed him in later years. Brown was selected to the Pro Bowl five times (2013-2018) and was a First Team All-Pro four times. However, despite his on-field success, Brown's time with the Steelers ended tumultuously. Tensions with the organization grew, leading to a trade to the then-Oakland Raiders in 2019. Since then, the team has brought in players such as Scotty Miller to rejuvenate the wide receivers room in the Steel City.

The sports betting has the Steelers down as +5000 to win the Super Bowl in 2024, having been knocked out in the Wild Card round last season. While depth in the squad is vital to improving their chances, star players are what the fans have been calling out for.

Hines Ward 

Hines Ward is one who will always get an argument going. Playing as a wide receiver, he was selected by the Steelers in the 1998 NFL Draft and played for them his whole career. He was credited with much of their success during the 2000s era and is considered to be one of the best receivers of that decade. He was a poster boy for the team and football itself, even joining a series of Dancing with the Stars after his career.

On the field, it was a different matter. The team of this time had a play style that many people did not like. While they got the job done, plenty of other teams and even Steelers fans were critical of how they engaged. Ward at times was often labeled a "dirty" player because of his fierce blocking.

Ben Roethlisberger 

Ben Roethlisberger is an absolute legend in the eyes of Steeler Nation. He won two Lombardi Trophies and three AFC championships, yet some outside pundits still question his legacy as an all-time great. This mainly comes down to his propensity for unnecessary sacks during his playing days. 

The answer probably stems from the fact that he is a very powerful player. While he did not always make snap decisions with the football, he often managed to extend plays by scrambling outside of the pocket as a play was breaking down. This "backyard football" style of play got him into hot water, but often resulted in magical plays.  

Neil O’Donnell 

Neil O’Donnell is fondly remembered by many Steelers fans from his play during Super Bowl XXX. Many people will blurt out the phrase “Interception Machine” whenever they hear his name. If you watched that infamous game, you would probably think the same.  

Where he becomes controversial was for his part in the Super Bowl XXX loss to the Dallas Cowboys. In this game, you can see two of possibly the worst passes in his career. Both of these took place in the last three quarters, when O’Donnell should have stepped up, but instead folded under the pressure.  

Those who believe he is controversial due to this are being overly harsh. His rate of interception was second only to Aaron Rodgers, at 2.1%. He also provided stability to the role in a time of uncertainty. 

There have been many controversial players for the Steelers. Social media has also made this even more of a regular occurrence, with players' thoughts and actions often posted online for the world to scrutinize. The Steelers have always had a reputation, mainly gained through their play in the '70s and '80s, even during the days of James Harrison. If they can curb this, it will undoubtedly lead to discipline on the field and could be the antidote they need to regain a slot in the Super Bowl once again.