Steelers countdown to kickoff — No. 36: a history of the number and who wore it best
Current Steelers No. 36 wearer: N/A
There isn't a player currently wearing No. 36 on the Steelers roster — and for good reason, as the number was unofficially retired out of respect for one of the greatest running backs in franchise history.
Last five Steelers to wear No. 36:
Best No. 36 in Steelers history: RB Jerome Bettis
The Bus, one of the greatest power running backs of all time, and the best Steeler to ever wear No. 36 — Jerome Bettis' legacy is untouchable. Selected by the Rams with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft, Bettis would play just three seasons before being traded to Pittsburgh in 1996 — a blockbuster move that would be forever etched in the heart of the Steel City faithful.
During his 10 years as a Steeler, Bettis produced 10,571 rushing yards, 78 rushing touchdowns, 806 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns. Over the course of his 13-year career in the NFL, Bettis was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1993 and NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 1996, as well as earning six Pro Bowl nominations, two First-Team All-Pro selections, and one Second-Team All-Pro selection. He would retire on top of the world — winning a Super Bowl in his hometown of Detroit as the final Bus stop of a fruitful career. Bettis was also named Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2001 — proving he was more than just one of the greatest running backs of all time, he was also an amazing human being.
Bettis is recognized as one of the greatest Steelers running backs in franchise history, being named to the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team and the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor. He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015 — a pioneer of the rushing attack who never shied away from believing in his own abilities. There will never be another running back like Bettis — and there is no Steeler more befitting of the greatest to ever wear No. 36.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNET
2 hours ago
- CNET
Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints, Answers for Aug. 3 #314
Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today's Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles. Today's Connections: Sports Edition might be tough. The yellow category came together right away for me, but the so much. Read on for hints and the answers. Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That's a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn't show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic's own app. Or you can continue to play it free online. Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta Hints for today's Connections: Sports Edition groups Here are four hints for the groupings in today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group. Yellow group hint: Giddy up! Green group hint: Catch the football. Blue group hint: We want a pitcher. Purple group hint: Vintage hoops teams. Answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition groups Yellow group: Distances, in horse racing. Green group: Receiving routes for a running back. Blue group: 2025 MLB All-Star pitchers. Purple group: Original ABA teams, in singular form. Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words What are today's Connections: Sports Edition answers? The completed Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Aug. 3, 2025. NYT/Screenshot by CNET The yellow words in today's Connections The theme is distances, in horse racing. The four answers are furlong, length, mile and nose. The green words in today's Connections The theme is receiving routes for a running back. The four answers are angle, flat, swing and wheel. The blue words in today's Connections The theme is 2025 MLB All-Star pitchers. The four answers are Crochet, Fried, Gore and Skenes. The purple words in today's Connections The theme is original ABA teams, in singular form. The four answers are Chaparral, Colonel, Pacer and Rocket.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Liover Peguero's second home run of the game (3)
Liover Peguero drills a three-run home run to left field, his second of the game, extending the Pirates' lead to 4-0 in the top of the 5th
Chicago Tribune
4 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Sterling Sharpe joins his brother in Pro Football Hall of Fame as 4 new members are inducted
Sterling Sharpe stood on the podium a few feet from his bronze bust, took off his new gold jacket and gave it to his fellow Pro Football Hall of Fame brother. Shannon Sharpe had given Sterling his first Super Bowl ring, and now big brother was returning the favor on stage after the crowning moment of his football career. 'This is why I played football,' Sterling said, referring to his younger brother, who wrapped his arm around him and had tears streaming down his face. 'This is why I got out of bed; it wasn't work. It was because of this right here. 'Before I leave you, I want to do two things. The most precious gift I've ever received is the Super Bowl ring. … I wear this ring because of love. You gave me this not knowing you were going to get another one. And I prayed to God: 'Please, God, let him get another.' God blessed him with two. 'The second thing is, the last time I was here, you said that you were the only pro football player in the Hall of Fame that could say that you were the second-best player in your own family. I agree with that statement, but it would be an extreme privilege … for you to be the only player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with two gold jackets. You see, you have to learn to follow before you can lead.' Eric Allen, Jared Allen and Antonio Gates joined Sterling Sharpe as the Class of 2025 was inducted into football immortality during a ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, where the Los Angeles Chargers beat the Detroit Lions 34-7 on Thursday night to kick off the NFL preseason. Sterling Sharpe averaged 85 catches and 1,162 yards, finishing with 65 touchdowns in seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers. The wide receiver was named to five Pro Bowls and earned first-team All-Pro honors three times. A neck injury cut his career short, and he waited a long time to get the call from the Hall. Shannon Sharpe, who played tight end for the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens, was inducted in 2011. They are the first brothers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jared Allen was the first player in the new class to take the stage after Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas led the crowd in singing 'Happy Birthday' to former Buffalo Bills coach Marv Levy, who turns 100 on Sunday. Wearing his trademark cowboy hat, Allen talked about his motivation for success. 'Why is what makes you different; it's your long game,' he said. 'It's the motivation that drives you to do all necessary action steps to achieve your goal. My why can be summed up in three things: fear, respect and the pursuit of greatness. … I apply my why to everything in my life, to my walk with Christ, my marriage and being a father.' Jared Allen made five Pro Bowls, was a four-time All-Pro and had 136 sacks in 12 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers. His final game was Super Bowl 50, a Panthers loss to Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Eric Allen, a six-time Pro Bowl cornerback who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders, was presented by one of his four sons. Allen, who had 54 career interceptions, including eight returned for touchdowns, gave the obligatory 'Fly! Eagles! Fly!' to support the Super Bowl champions who drafted him in 1988. 'I grew up in Philadelphia. I became a man there. I have a special gratitude for the organization,' Allen said. Allen also thanked current Raiders owner Mark Davis, who was in attendance. 'Al Davis had a statement: Commitment to excellence,' Allen said. 'It's all over our building in Las Vegas. We are trying to make sure we fulfill that destiny, we fulfill what Al Davis was about.' Gates closed out the day with a 23-minute speech that began with him saying he wouldn't cry but included several emotional moments. Gates, who was presented by Chargers owner Dean Spanos, never played a down of college football yet became the 23rd Hall of Famer who was undrafted by NFL teams. He thanked former Chargers tight ends coach Tim Brewster for discovering him after he led Kent State's basketball team to the Elite Eight. 'Tim Brewster saw something special in me. He was pretty sure that I could make the team. He was adamant that I'd be All-Pro in three years,' Gates said. 'You see, the thing is, when switching sports or careers for that matter, it can be life-changing. The unexpected are often the most powerful ones because it can completely redirect your life if you're ready to take advantage and you're ready for the opportunity. 'Thank you to Coach Tim Brewster and Coach Marty Schottenheimer. They gave me an opportunity to play tight end in the NFL. Because of you, Coach Tim Brewster, NFL teams and NFL scouts will never look at college basketball players the same again.' Gates played all 16 of his NFL seasons with the Chargers, finishing with 955 catches for 11,841 yards and 116 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl eight times and was All-Pro three times, the first in just his second season.
