Latest news with #ImmaculateReception
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Steelers countdown to kickoff — No. 32: a history of the number and who wore it best
The Steelers countdown to kickoff is here — and we're at 32 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. 32 and the players who wore it best. Current Steelers No. 32 wearer: N/A There hasn't been a Steeler to wear No. 32 since the greatest to ever wear the number retired in 1984 — and rightfully so, as he was arguably the greatest running back in franchise history. Last five Steelers to wear No. 32: Best No. 32 in Steelers history: RB Franco Harris There is zero debate here — the greatest Steeler to ever wear No. 32 is the man responsible for arguably the greatest play in NFL history: RB Franco Harris. Selected with the 13th overall pick in the 1972 NFL Draft, Harris made his impact felt right out of the gate, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year for his 1,235 yards from scrimmage and 11 total touchdowns in 1972 — and who could forget his role in the Immaculate Reception that very season? Over his 12 years with Pittsburgh, Franco produced 14,234 yards from scrimmage and 100 total touchdowns, as well as owning the Steelers' career rushing records of 11,950 yards and 91 touchdowns. Franco's Italian Army will be the first to tell you how successful he was throughout his Steelers tenure — being named to nine Pro Bowls, earning one First-Team All-Pro selection, two Second-Team All-Pro selections, and winning four Super Bowls, as well as being named Super Bowl IX MVP. He was also named to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team, the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. His impact wasn't just on the field, as he was named NFL Man of the Year in 1976 — proving he was as excellent a human being as he was a running back. Harris' legacy in Pittsburgh is as untouchable as his right to be named the best Steeler to ever wear No. 32. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Steelers countdown to kickoff — No. 33: a history of the number and who wore it best
The Steelers countdown to kickoff is here — and we're at 33 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. 33 and the players who wore it best. Current Steelers No. 33 wearer: OLB Jack Sawyer Projected as one of the biggest steals of the 2025 NFL Draft, rookie OLB Jack Sawyer is the current No. 33 wearer on the Steelers roster. Selected with the 123rd pick of the fourth round, Sawyer checks all the boxes coming out of college — a perfect complement to an already loaded OLB room and a surefire lock to make the 53-man roster. Best No. 33 in Steelers history: RB John "French" Fuqua One of the most memorable Steelers of the '70s — RB John "Frenchy" Fuqua is the greatest wearer of No. 33. The New York Giants selected Fuqua with the 273rd pick in the 11th round of the 1969 NFL/AFL Draft — but he was traded to Pittsburgh after just one season. In his seven years as a Steeler, Fuqua produced 4,178 yards from scrimmage and 24 total touchdowns. He also played a massive role in Steelers and NFL history — as he was QB Terry Bradshaw's intended target on the pass that led to the Immaculate Reception from the legendary RB Franco Harris. Frenchy Fuqua would win two Super Bowls with Pittsburgh before retiring in 1977 — leaving behind a legacy deserving of the title: best Steeler to ever wear No. 33. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Daily News & Links: Joe Haden on T.J. Watt's Minicamp Holdout; Sleeper Steelers Fantasy Pick
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson runs with the ball at OTAs on June 5, 2025. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now Steelers Daily News & Links: Your daily stop for all of the news and links. 🏈 Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joe Haden is confident that T.J. Watt will remain a Steeler. 🏈Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus thinks Steelers rookie running back Kaleb johnson is a sleeper fantasy pick. Advertisement 'He might be one of the most fantasy-relevant backups,' Jahnke said. 🏈 The Steelers had the third-fewest average yards gained (22) on opening drives in 2024, according to Warren Sharp of Sharp Football. 🏈 Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman has been blown away by Najee Harris. 🏈 Friday marked the 11-year anniversary of the passing of former Steelers head coach and Hall of Famer Chuck Noll. 🏈 With a brutal late-season stretch, the Steelers will have to get out to a fast start in the first 10 weeks. 🏈 The Pittsburgh Sports and Exhibition Authority approved the team's proposals to overhaul the lawn and to install a new electronic screen at Acrisure Stadium, according to Adam Babetski of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Advertisement The Pittsburgh Steelers' upcoming 'South Lawn Project,' on the corner of North Shore Drive and Art Rooney Avenue, will convert approximately 10,000 square feet of lawn space into an artificial turf field that the team will use 'for the enjoyment of youth athletes' before and during Steelers games and events, the SEA's facilities director, Hillary Frisbie, said. A new electronic sign spanning 1,117 square feet will replace — and significantly dwarf — the 154-square-foot sign multipurpose sign currently located at the site near Gate A. The team estimated the video board will cost between $700,000 and $750,000, but has not given an estimate for the turf field. 🏈 Award-winning filmmaker Bill McAdams Jr. will delve into the extraordinary journey of one of the most iconic pieces of memorabilia in NFL history — the ball from the Immaculate Reception. Advertisement The film will specifically center around Jim Baker, a former insurance salesman from West Mifflin, Pa., who is known for having the Immaculate Reception ball in his possession for several decades, according to Variety. STEELERS NOW CONTENT FROM JUNE 13 🏈 Steelers Salary Cap Update after Aaron Rodgers Signing 🏈 Former Steelers WR Antonio Brown Wanted for Attempted Murder 🏈 Five Takeaways from Steelers Minicamp Day 3: Payton Wilson Eyes 3-Down Role, Another New Guy Who Gets it NEWS FROM AROUND THE SPORTS NOW NETWORK Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Boko is Back! Penguins Sign Imama & Acquired Prospect Fernstrom Advertisement Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Perrotto: Paul Skenes Becoming Modern-Day Ralph Kiner Pittsburgh Sports Now: Pitt Volleyball's Izzy Masten Reclassifies and Joins 2025 Roster West Virginia Sports Now: WVU Athletics: How 2024-25 Spending Compares to the Big 12 Nittany Sports Now: Penn State Hockey Lands Projected 1st-Round Pick Pittsburgh Soccer Now: Riverhounds Notebook: Center back corps maintain club's stout defensive standard This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Daily News & Links: Joe Haden on T.J. Watt's Minicamp Holdout; Sleeper Steelers Fantasy Pick Related Headlines
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Steelers insider predicts bad news on Terry Bradshaw having his number retired
Terry Bradshaw is one of the greatest Steelers QBs of all time — and to honor the four Super Bowls he won with Pittsburgh, no other player has donned his legendary No. 12 since he left. However, the number isn't officially retired — and insider Gerry Dulac recently stated it may take a while. During Wednesday's Steelers chat on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dulac was asked for an update on when Pittsburgh will retire Bradshaw's No. 12 — and the Steelers insider provided some bad news: Advertisement "I don't think it's happening anytime soon." His pessimism is founded in reality, however, as only three Steelers have had their jerseys officially retired: Ernie Stautner, 'Mean' Joe Greene, and the late, great Franco Harris. Stautner joined the Steelers in 1950 — playing in 173 games over his 14 years with Pittsburgh — and his contributions to the Steel City earned him the honor of having his No. 70 jersey retired in 1964. Arguably one of the greatest defensive linemen in NFL history, Greene's 181 games with Pittsburgh over a 13-year span earned his No. 75 the distinction of being the second number retired, in 2014. Harris was the third and most recent Steeler to have his number honored for eternity — as his No. 32 was retired on the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception in 2022. All three of these Steelers legends were honored with having their numbers officially retired — but Bradshaw will likely have to settle for the unofficial recognition for the time being. Advertisement Should any other Steelers legends have their jerseys retired — and if so, who should be next after Bradshaw gets his turn? This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Dulac: 'Steelers unlikely to retire Bradshaw's number anytime soon'
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Steelers insider predicts bad news on Terry Bradshaw having his number retired
Steelers insider predicts bad news on Terry Bradshaw having his number retired Terry Bradshaw is one of the greatest Steelers QBs of all time — and to honor the four Super Bowls he won with Pittsburgh, no other player has donned his legendary No. 12 since he left. However, the number isn't officially retired — and insider Gerry Dulac recently stated it may take a while. During Wednesday's Steelers chat on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dulac was asked for an update on when Pittsburgh will retire Bradshaw's No. 12 — and the Steelers insider provided some bad news: "I don't think it's happening anytime soon." His pessimism is founded in reality, however, as only three Steelers have had their jerseys officially retired: Ernie Stautner, 'Mean' Joe Greene, and the late, great Franco Harris. Stautner joined the Steelers in 1950 — playing in 173 games over his 14 years with Pittsburgh — and his contributions to the Steel City earned him the honor of having his No. 70 jersey retired in 1964. Arguably one of the greatest defensive linemen in NFL history, Greene's 181 games with Pittsburgh over a 13-year span earned his No. 75 the distinction of being the second number retired, in 2014. Harris was the third and most recent Steeler to have his number honored for eternity — as his No. 32 was retired on the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception in 2022. All three of these Steelers legends were honored with having their numbers officially retired — but Bradshaw will likely have to settle for the unofficial recognition for the time being. Should any other Steelers legends have their jerseys retired — and if so, who should be next after Bradshaw gets his turn?
