The Pittsburgh Steelers were blessed to have wide receiver Hines Ward spend his entire career dressed in black and gold. Ward was drafted in the third round in 1998, and his performance far exceeded his draft position. He had been an outstanding receiver and even played some quarterback at the University of Georgia. His versatility would later be a tremendous asset as Pittsburgh employed trick plays, where Ward received the ball from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and then passed it to another teammate.
Gene J. Puskar / AP
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger and Hines Ward.
During his 14 seasons, Ward helped the Steelers win two Super Bowls and was named the MVP of Super Bowl XL, thanks in part to the pass he caught from fellow trickster wide receiver, Antwaan Randle El.
He won the respect of nearly everyone because, for as talented as he was, he was never a diva. Ward was just as happy to help a teammate find success so the Steelers would win as he was to get the ball. He was never afraid to take a hit or deal one out. Ward was one of the best blocking receivers in the history of the NFL. That attitude made him a fan favorite and earned him the admiration of his teammates.
One teammate he won the respect of was former Bulldog, Champ Bailey. Like Ward, Bailey was an incredible athlete. During his time in Georgia, he played in all three phases of the game as a cornerback, kick returner, and wide receiver. In three years at Georgia, he had 147 tackles, eight interceptions, 59 catches for 978 yards, five touchdowns, 99 rushing yards, and 23 kickoff and punt returns for 511 yards. During their professional careers, while Bailey was with the then-Washington Redskins and the Denver Broncos, they met several times, occasionally for some big games.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' former OC Randy Fichtner.
Randy Fichtner spent 14 years coaching for the Steelers as a wide receivers coach, quarterback coach, and, ultimately, offensive coordinator. In his first three seasons, he said he was blessed to work with Ward on the What The H**l Do I Know Podcast. He knew that Ward and Bailey had an old college connection, but that didn't make the interactions bug him any less.
"We'd go out to Denver, and he was a game changer," acknowledged Fichtner. "All that little Hines Ward chest bump stuff they would do before the game used to p*** me off. ...They're over there, you know how they do (mimics chest bumping someone and then patting them on the back), 'That's my boy, that's my boy.' Then Hines is telling me all week how, 'I'm going to take him out.' 'You're going to take him out?' 'I'm going to take him out.'"
Ward and Bailey had a pivotal matchup before Fichtner arrived in the 2005 playoffs heading into Ward's MVP Super Bowl. The Steelers traveled to Mile High Stadium for the AFC Championship. Roethlisberger threw a pass to Ward in the end zone. Bailey deflected it slightly as it slipped through his fingers and hung in the air. Miraculously, Ward came down with the ball, despite simultaneously taking a big shot from John Lynch. Bailey punched the ground in frustration. The Steelers trounced the Broncos 34-17. These antics between Ward and Bailey would continue throughout their careers.
USATSI
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger celebrates a touchdown with Hines Ward In Denver.
Steelers' Randy Fichtner Had A Surprising Job
During his time in Pittsburgh, Fichtner worked with some excellent offensive coordinators, including Todd Haley and Bruce Arians. However, as he shared on the podcast, there are many big personalities in football, and sometimes, they clash.
He said he was surprised when he was moved from the booth to the field in 2017. Fichtner and Roethlisberger had formed a tight bond, but the same could not be said about Haley and Roethlisberger. They clashed so much that Fichtner had to work as an intermediary to keep the peace. That was just part of his job at that time.
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