Steelers countdown to kickoff — No. 72: a history of the number and who wore it best

USA Today

6 hours ago

The Steelers countdown to kickoff is here — and we're at 72 days until Pittsburgh faces off against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. In the spirit of the countdown, we're taking a look at the history of No. 72 and the players who wore it best.
Current Steelers No. 72 wearers: OG Doug Nester, DL Esezi Otomewo
Both Nester and Otomewo currently wear No. 72 for the Pittsburgh Steelers — a situation that's pretty common during the offseason.
After spending the 2024 season on the Steelers' practice squad, Nester signed a Reserve/Future contract with Pittsburgh this past January. He'll likely be given the opportunity to compete with Max Scharping and Spencer Anderson for the backup guard spot.
Otomewo signed a one-year deal with the Steelers last March. He has nine games of NFL experience, including two starts during his 2024 tenure with the Jaguars. He offers solid depth as both a capable pass rusher and run defender — but faces an uphill battle after Pittsburgh acquired multiple defensive linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft and free agency.
Last five Steelers to wear No. 72:
Best No. 72 in Steelers history: OG Gerry 'Moon' Mullins
Mullins was selected by the Steelers with the 86th overall pick in the fourth round of the 1971 NFL Draft. He played for Pittsburgh from 1971 to 1979 — winning four Super Bowls in the process. He played an important role in the Steelers' Super Bowl X victory over the Cowboys, recovering Dallas' onside kick attempt with 1:48 remaining. Mullins was selected to the Steelers' 50th Anniversary Team and was inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor. He served as one of the most dependable offensive linemen of his era and is, without a doubt, the best to ever don the No. 72 in Pittsburgh.
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