Steelers Great Shares Embarrassing Story About Being Rude To Art Rooney Sr When He Was Drafted

The Pittsburgh Steelers began their ascent into greatness in 1969. It started with the hiring of new Head Coach Chuck Noll. No one knew then that Noll would be only one of three coaches the team would have in more than five decades. Noll also changed the destiny of this franchise, winning four Lombardi Trophies during his 23 seasons. That started with Noll's first draft and the players he selected that year, including Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Terry Hanratty, and offensive tackle, Jon Kolb.

Kolb recently told former Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats that he thought the Steelers would be the least likely team to draft him. He said they played the North-South Senior Bowl back then, and scouts would come and look at players. The Dallas Cowboys scouted him heavily. They attended practices, gave him psychological tests, and had him run all kinds of physical tests. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, had shown zero interest. He said he'd never met with anyone from the team. 

Unfamiliar with the draft process and without anyone to guide him, Kolb said he believed the draft to be about 15 minutes long. He said he likened it to a schoolyard pick for tag. The people who'd joined him for the draft kept asking where he thought he'd go, and he said he just knew it wouldn't be the Steelers. So when it was about 11 o'clock, he said he assumed he hadn't been drafted. That's why when his phone rang, he didn't believe it was Art Rooney, Sr. 

"A little bit later, somebody I'd never heard of named Mr. Rooney calls me. Mr. Rooney talked like this (mimics speaking very slowly), 'Jon,' my name's only got three letters in it, but it took Mr. Rooney 10 minutes to say my name. I said, 'Yes sir, who is this,' and he said, 'It's Art Rooney Sr.' I didn't know who that was and I said, 'Right.' He said, 'The Pittsburgh Steelers have just drafted you.' And I went, 'Right.' And then he said to me, I will never forget, he said, 'Are you excited to come to Pittsburgh,' and I said, "No.' I thought somebody's grandpa was putting this on."

Kolb said he hung up and assumed it was a prank call, still thinking no one drafted him. He said he didn't get any other calls, and not knowing what the process was for newly drafted players, Kolb said he just went on about his business. 

However, the Steelers did draft Kolb in the third round of the 1969 NFL Draft with the 56th overall pick. Kolb discovered this when he woke up the next morning in his hometown of Owasso, Oklahoma. 

"The next day in the Daily Oklahoman, I opened up the paper, Eddie Hinton going to the Baltimore Colts from Oklahoma. Terry Brown, my roommate, is going to Minneapolis to the Vikings. Jon Kolb going to Pittsburgh. Oh my gosh! I called Mr. Rooney on Monday morning. I was in tears. I'm going, 'Mr. Rooney, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. He thought it was funny. But here's the thing, when they picked me up at the Pittsburgh Airport and took me to St. Vincent College, you know who was waiting to shake my hand? Mr. Rooney. Mr. Rooney was the first person that said hi to me in Pittsburgh."

Kolb was a key member of the Steelers' offense, helping them win those four championships. He was considered one of the strongest players in the league and showed that talent on the field. He easily went up against some of the toughest defenders in the NFL, protecting Terry Bradshaw on his blind side and making holes for Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier. 

Steelers' John Kolb Put His Strength To Good Use 

When Kolb's playing days were over, he stayed with the Steelers as a strength and conditioning coach. After all, who better than a man who routinely competed in and won Strong Man Competitions to help the players get in top physical shape? 

He and his family also founded an organization in Western Pennsylvania called Adventures in Training with a Purpose (ATP). ATP's mission is to support veterans, civilians, and first responders with physical and mental health services that improve quality of life. Kolb said that his son is currently leading a group of veterans on a mountain climbing expedition. 

Are you surprised to hear that the Steelers selected Kolb without even meeting with him? Click to comment below. 

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