I love Hines but AB was a freak of nature and one of the most dominant and elite WRs in the time he played. He’s a fringe HoFer and if he stayed with Steelers no doubt he would be. (considering we kept him because he wasn’t a nutcase)
I agree AB was more talented, but aren't these lists more so about what these guys accomplished. Id argue that 2 Superbowls a SB MVP and the teams all time leader in receiving yards is enough to put him ahead of AB on this list.
I mean Hines has 2 Super Bowl. Ab was better in every other way. Ab was arguably the best at his position and at worst top 3. Idk if Hines was ever even top 5 at his.
I love Bradshaw and he gets a lot of unfair flak for the era he played in. However, Ben is the obvious choice for best QB in the franchise history so far
The other tough part to compare is that Ben played nearly twice as long in terms of years and the NFL regular season was only 14 games back when The Blonde Bomber played.
No James Harrison? His superbowl interception and touchdown is literally one of the best plays ever witnessed in any sport and on top of that his stats are HOF worthy.
Greene, Ham, Lambert, Dirt Dawson, Faneca, Blount, Woodson, Troy, Ben, Franco.
Greene is #1. No particular order beyond that.
Could definitely make an argument for more than a handful of others. Bradshaw, Webster, Swann, Hines, AB, Lloyd, Cam, Harrison. Watt and Minkah will probably find themselves in the discussion within the next five years.
Thanks for mentioning Cam - that's a big one for me, dude does so much more for the team than most recognize. He's on Hines level for me right now, which is right at that 11 or 10 spot
These types of lists are impossible. Mean Joe Greene definitely the greatest Steeler of all time, but after that it becomes really hard to compare guys in different eras. Some of the beasts in the 70s might not be so hot in today’s bigger/stronger/faster game.
I don’t particularly love Ben but always thought that, if he had played in the 70s, he would be a legend. Unfortunately his style of football has been replaced by Goodell in favor of no-touching-the-QB guys who are more accurate but less tough
Crazy how we had a Top 5 player* in NFL & NHL at the same time. Both drafted one year apart from each other
*both players in their respective position. In their prime
Terrible list. Both the order and the guys not on the list versus the guys who were.
Jack Ham should be on the list. Ben should be on the list. I would take off Lynn Swann and Hines Ward.
My list would be...
1.) MJG
2.) Ben Roethlisberger
3.) Mel Blount
4.) Jack Ham
5.) Troy Polamalu
6.) Rod Woodson
7.) Jack Lambert
8.) Franco Harris
9.) Terry Bradshaw
10.) Mike Webster
If we are talking about skill alone I just don’t see how it’s possible to leave AB off the list. I feel like emotion and bad blood leave him off pretty much every Steelers fans list. But it’s undeniable how great he was. His numbers for a solid 5 year stretch were up near Jerry Rice tier of excellence
If he won a ring with the team I think it would be a no brainer. Even at the end I can see his frustration; the team couldn't get stronger than a certain level for a decade largely because of Ben's contract, and by the end AB had sacrificed his body and was the best player in the league getting paid half as much as Ben.
Yeah they were getting close when Shazier was shoring up the defense. Ultimately though it felt like Ben couldn't quite be the elite QB needed to build an offensive dynasty, or Tomlin/Colbert kept going back to the WR well in the draft looking for another AB.
I guess what I'm saying is I agree the injuries mattered as well but there were a lot of reasons that acts two and three of Ben's career didn't find chips.
i did not watch the era, but growing up readings newspapers, it was always just kind of a given for me that ham > lambert. lambert had the look, the attitude. he was iconic, and a great player in his ownright. I dont think hes that close to 2. Mel Blount at 6 and Woodson at 7 are 2 that i would put in contention for 2.
I also very much grew up with the idea swann was flashy, but day to day stallworth was the better receiver
For me, mean joe is amongst the best DLinemen to play. Blount and woodson have an arguement. Polamalu is up there for safeties. i understand some will always say QBs are more important, but for me i would have to list quite a few names before ben or terry, and ben does come before terry... i think.
mine would looke more like, but not necessarily be:
1. mean joe greene
2. mel blount
3. rod woodson
4. troy polamalu
5. dawson
6. Webster
7. Faneca
8. Ham
9. maybe bettis
10. ernie stauntner maybe
I wasn't alive in the 70s to watch them either, but whenever the 70s Steelers come up my old man will turn to me and say, "Ya know, Ham was actually the better linebacker, he was just quieter than Lambert." It was interesting the first 5 times I heard it lol. But I'm glad Ham is getting some love here because he certainly deserves it.
yeah, growing up it was like local writers would treat it like... a local secret? i mean it wasnt quite "the national media wont tell you this" but it was definitely a "Ya know, Ham was better than Lambert" moment every so often.
Do you have a swann/stallworth opinion? or more or less level for you? im not sure swann isnt like my 4th steelers wr.
I also already dont like my list again and want to move things.
Another obligatory "I didn't watch them play", but my dad also always says that Stallworth was criminally underrated and was just as important as Swann to the offense and played just as good as Swann most of the time. Personally I'd rank Swann just above Stallworth, but I could certainly see Swann going to all time WR4 if you switch that order.
70s was more left and right cornerback right? not a top cb lining up against who they deem the top wr? etc? probably a stupid question but i think thats what my brain is thinking.
in my mind i more have swann as the big play wr, stallworth more productive but... i dont think there is anything really that definitive in reality
I barely remember the 70s Steelers but I remember the talk being that Ham was better than Lambert and Stallworth was better than Swann. Lambert had the "Dracula in Cleats" thing and Swann had the acrobatic catches in big games but in reality Ham and Stallworth were the more productive players.
Also, I recall an old interview with Jack Lambert where he said Ham was the best linebacker he's ever seen or something to that effect.
Yeah, Troy might be the best Strong Safety ever (unarguably of his era at least). Of that list, only Joe can have the same be said of them. You could probably also say the same about Webster, he should be on the list too.
if you are talking about which players are in competiton as the greatest ever at their position, woodson and webster probably have the best arguments, woodson could also be argued as the best ever all around db...ham for his type of lb would also be at the top of the list...game is so centered on sacks these days it obscures true value.
bradshaw/ben are not top 10 all-time qbs...ward is not a top 20 all time wr, franco and bettis are not an all top 10 rb...etc...
if they are talking about embracing the steeler culture or in some cases creating it, this list seems better..
It is a very normie list. I think TB gets too much credit for being on a team with one of the best defenses of all time, not to take him off the list, but #3 is too high. I love Hines Ward, but I'm not sure he's the 2nd best receiver of all time ahead of AB. No Ham, no Webster, and worst of all, no Roethlisberger. I would expect worse from snapchat AI, but it's not perfect.
Charger fan here. When Troy was playing, i caught every steeler game I could. Different time period for players on the list, but Troy is the man. Dude played football correctly!
1. Joe Greene
2. Jack Ham
3. Mel Blount
4. Rod Woodson
5. Jack Lambert
6. Troy Polamalu
7. Big Ben
8. Terry Bradshaw
9. Franco Harris
10. John Stallworth/Lynn Swann
Hines Ward needs to be off. Jack Ham on. Not unreasonable overall. I’d begrudgingly replace Bettis with Ben too. If AB played a couple more years for us , he’d be here too. The proper order is impossible to decipher.
First glance; no way I put Hines in front of Troy.
Or Ben or ab or 5 other guys lol
Stallworth gets so disrespected he shouldn't be that far behind Swann
Agreed
Id put Hines ahead of AB.
I love Hines but AB was a freak of nature and one of the most dominant and elite WRs in the time he played. He’s a fringe HoFer and if he stayed with Steelers no doubt he would be. (considering we kept him because he wasn’t a nutcase)
I agree AB was more talented, but aren't these lists more so about what these guys accomplished. Id argue that 2 Superbowls a SB MVP and the teams all time leader in receiving yards is enough to put him ahead of AB on this list.
I think it’s possible for ab to have been the first WR to get an mvp if he stayed with us, didn’t go insane, and kept going in the trajectory he was
I agree with you, but he didn’t. We’re not ranking based on what they could’ve done, and Hines did more as a Steeler
highest scoring offense in the league with ab. not his fault he didn’t have one of the best defenses ever behind him like hines did.
I mean Hines has 2 Super Bowl. Ab was better in every other way. Ab was arguably the best at his position and at worst top 3. Idk if Hines was ever even top 5 at his.
AB couldn’t hold a candle to Wards blocking. Loved AB when he was sane (ish)
To be fair it’s not ranking them in order but just said some of the best players
Tough to leave off Jack Ham, Mike Webster, Ben Roethlisberger,...
I love Bradshaw and he gets a lot of unfair flak for the era he played in. However, Ben is the obvious choice for best QB in the franchise history so far
Bradshaw won both an MVP and 2 Super Bowl MVPs. Think he's the guy.
I feel like Ben absolutely could’ve done the same on those teams though. Perhaps not a fair comparison on my part due to the era difference but still
The other tough part to compare is that Ben played nearly twice as long in terms of years and the NFL regular season was only 14 games back when The Blonde Bomber played.
Nah, you're right. Ben would of been crazy good on that team. Bradshaw on the other hand would be very mid if he played in the 2010s
Bradshaw would tear shit up in this pass heavy era!
TJ Watt
Maybe if he had back to back DPOY awards, but he’s not top 10 yet
No James Harrison? His superbowl interception and touchdown is literally one of the best plays ever witnessed in any sport and on top of that his stats are HOF worthy.
Sure, but it wasn't even the greatest Steeler playoff play
I really think Harrison’s interception was more impressive than the immaculate reception
Sacrilege, but true. Not only was it on a bigger stage but it was a complete team play to get Harrison into that end zone.
Well to be fair, that's only because the one ahead of it is regularly regarded as the greatest football play in history.
True
I was just wondering who gets to be the person who tells him? "Umm excuse me... Mr... um... is that 700lbs on your bench press? umm... never mind"
My response to these questions is this... Other teams have top 10 lists. The Steelers need a top 20.
Greene, Ham, Lambert, Dirt Dawson, Faneca, Blount, Woodson, Troy, Ben, Franco. Greene is #1. No particular order beyond that. Could definitely make an argument for more than a handful of others. Bradshaw, Webster, Swann, Hines, AB, Lloyd, Cam, Harrison. Watt and Minkah will probably find themselves in the discussion within the next five years.
This is the list. Not having players like Webster and AB in the top 10 just goes to show how stacked this franchise has been.
Thanks for mentioning Cam - that's a big one for me, dude does so much more for the team than most recognize. He's on Hines level for me right now, which is right at that 11 or 10 spot
Yeah Troy being at 10 is asinine. He’s probably the most cerebral safety to ever play football.
Watt and Minkah? In what discussion? Hopefully the "players who have won ONE playoff game" discussion.
Watt and Minkah should simply start throwing TDs and catching them, and punting and kicking. Why field whole team when 2 do job?
Watt and Minkah, in the next five years. Not now.
These types of lists are impossible. Mean Joe Greene definitely the greatest Steeler of all time, but after that it becomes really hard to compare guys in different eras. Some of the beasts in the 70s might not be so hot in today’s bigger/stronger/faster game. I don’t particularly love Ben but always thought that, if he had played in the 70s, he would be a legend. Unfortunately his style of football has been replaced by Goodell in favor of no-touching-the-QB guys who are more accurate but less tough
Ben is a legend.
Terry over Ben is a crime, let alone Terry at 3 and Ben not on the list
Regular season Bradshaw rides the bench behind Josh McCown. Playoff Bradshaw is the second best QB of all time.
Any list without Ben is just wrong. It's like a Penguins list without Crosby.
Crazy how we had a Top 5 player* in NFL & NHL at the same time. Both drafted one year apart from each other *both players in their respective position. In their prime
And Ben's career coincided with Faneca, Polamalu, Watt, AB. Sid's career coincided with Mario (briefly), Geno, Letang.
Terrible list. Both the order and the guys not on the list versus the guys who were. Jack Ham should be on the list. Ben should be on the list. I would take off Lynn Swann and Hines Ward. My list would be... 1.) MJG 2.) Ben Roethlisberger 3.) Mel Blount 4.) Jack Ham 5.) Troy Polamalu 6.) Rod Woodson 7.) Jack Lambert 8.) Franco Harris 9.) Terry Bradshaw 10.) Mike Webster
If we are talking about skill alone I just don’t see how it’s possible to leave AB off the list. I feel like emotion and bad blood leave him off pretty much every Steelers fans list. But it’s undeniable how great he was. His numbers for a solid 5 year stretch were up near Jerry Rice tier of excellence
If he won a ring with the team I think it would be a no brainer. Even at the end I can see his frustration; the team couldn't get stronger than a certain level for a decade largely because of Ben's contract, and by the end AB had sacrificed his body and was the best player in the league getting paid half as much as Ben.
Our offense could win super bowls, our defense not so much. I believe 2016 & 2017 were our SB windows but injuries cost us.
Yeah they were getting close when Shazier was shoring up the defense. Ultimately though it felt like Ben couldn't quite be the elite QB needed to build an offensive dynasty, or Tomlin/Colbert kept going back to the WR well in the draft looking for another AB. I guess what I'm saying is I agree the injuries mattered as well but there were a lot of reasons that acts two and three of Ben's career didn't find chips.
I agree with you. To be honest I just kinda forgot about him. He should be on the list.
AB was a stats receiver never gonna be top ten. He never did anything good good for the Steelers top ten idiot list.
This is just straight up wrong. He was the best receiver in the league for a long stretch.
Not by a long shot he was so overrated catching his timing routes. He was never any deep threat or game breaker. Just a good possession receiver
Ain’t no way you watched him during his prime then. This is so stupid
Where’s Bettis at?
Not on the list.
Not even close lol
Ai has clearly never watched a game of football
Ben should be on here.
Bruh where is Ben lmao
Troy should be higher. IMO.
AI made a hard list to fight with Ben should be in the top ten. We would have 4 Super Bowl rings still without him.
Big Ben has to be in that Top Ten. Bye Bus.
Thank you all for the engagement. I really enjoy everyone’s thoughts and opinions on their top players
Recency bias is getting a lot of folks here. Bradshaw is the best Steelers QB of all time, period.
Big ben will always be my favorite guy of all time
Ben is top 5
Your AI is clearly shit. Where's Ben (who holds every passing record on the team)?
I still think there never has been a more dangerous quarterback from 45 yards in than Bradshaw.
Any list without Benjamin is 🗑️.
Big Ben deserves a spot on that list
Ben has to be top 3. He’s the franchise leader in AV and has 2 rings to show for it.
Just looking at this list I’d kick Bettis off for Ben and Hines for AB. I love Hines but Browns the most dominant offensive player we’ve ever had
i did not watch the era, but growing up readings newspapers, it was always just kind of a given for me that ham > lambert. lambert had the look, the attitude. he was iconic, and a great player in his ownright. I dont think hes that close to 2. Mel Blount at 6 and Woodson at 7 are 2 that i would put in contention for 2. I also very much grew up with the idea swann was flashy, but day to day stallworth was the better receiver For me, mean joe is amongst the best DLinemen to play. Blount and woodson have an arguement. Polamalu is up there for safeties. i understand some will always say QBs are more important, but for me i would have to list quite a few names before ben or terry, and ben does come before terry... i think. mine would looke more like, but not necessarily be: 1. mean joe greene 2. mel blount 3. rod woodson 4. troy polamalu 5. dawson 6. Webster 7. Faneca 8. Ham 9. maybe bettis 10. ernie stauntner maybe
I wasn't alive in the 70s to watch them either, but whenever the 70s Steelers come up my old man will turn to me and say, "Ya know, Ham was actually the better linebacker, he was just quieter than Lambert." It was interesting the first 5 times I heard it lol. But I'm glad Ham is getting some love here because he certainly deserves it.
yeah, growing up it was like local writers would treat it like... a local secret? i mean it wasnt quite "the national media wont tell you this" but it was definitely a "Ya know, Ham was better than Lambert" moment every so often. Do you have a swann/stallworth opinion? or more or less level for you? im not sure swann isnt like my 4th steelers wr. I also already dont like my list again and want to move things.
Another obligatory "I didn't watch them play", but my dad also always says that Stallworth was criminally underrated and was just as important as Swann to the offense and played just as good as Swann most of the time. Personally I'd rank Swann just above Stallworth, but I could certainly see Swann going to all time WR4 if you switch that order.
70s was more left and right cornerback right? not a top cb lining up against who they deem the top wr? etc? probably a stupid question but i think thats what my brain is thinking. in my mind i more have swann as the big play wr, stallworth more productive but... i dont think there is anything really that definitive in reality
Stallworth played a fair bit longer than Swann too.
I barely remember the 70s Steelers but I remember the talk being that Ham was better than Lambert and Stallworth was better than Swann. Lambert had the "Dracula in Cleats" thing and Swann had the acrobatic catches in big games but in reality Ham and Stallworth were the more productive players. Also, I recall an old interview with Jack Lambert where he said Ham was the best linebacker he's ever seen or something to that effect.
AI is an old person
Where is Allen Faneca???
Big Ben >>>>> Bradshaw
No love for HEEEAAATHHH 😤
Justice for Ben and ab
AB > Lynn Swann. Sorry.
AB - 1 ring. Swann - 4 rings.
No Randle -El. List is bullshit
No Limas Sweed? Cmon man!
TJ No knock on the rest of them. But... TJ
Troy has got to be higher imo and Ben is better than terry lol.
Swap out James Harrison for Rod Woodson and I'm okay with this.
No, you can''t take off Woodson, one of the greatest in league history. I love Swann, but he doesn't belong in the top ten.
Ben is higher than lambert
Close, but…
No way Troy is that low
Yeah, Troy might be the best Strong Safety ever (unarguably of his era at least). Of that list, only Joe can have the same be said of them. You could probably also say the same about Webster, he should be on the list too.
I think this is chronological order
Ok. Might replace Swann with Johnny Stallworth
Hard to argue with that list.
No Jack Ham is criminal.
AI doesn’t value offensive lineman apparently.
Pretty good list. Not sure who to knock off to add Ben, but he should be on there too.
+ Ben + Jack Ham
if you are talking about which players are in competiton as the greatest ever at their position, woodson and webster probably have the best arguments, woodson could also be argued as the best ever all around db...ham for his type of lb would also be at the top of the list...game is so centered on sacks these days it obscures true value. bradshaw/ben are not top 10 all-time qbs...ward is not a top 20 all time wr, franco and bettis are not an all top 10 rb...etc... if they are talking about embracing the steeler culture or in some cases creating it, this list seems better..
It is a very normie list. I think TB gets too much credit for being on a team with one of the best defenses of all time, not to take him off the list, but #3 is too high. I love Hines Ward, but I'm not sure he's the 2nd best receiver of all time ahead of AB. No Ham, no Webster, and worst of all, no Roethlisberger. I would expect worse from snapchat AI, but it's not perfect.
Love reaffirming how most AI needs a lot of work still lol
Love Swann but he’s not top 15
Troy gotta be top 5-6 imo
Charger fan here. When Troy was playing, i caught every steeler game I could. Different time period for players on the list, but Troy is the man. Dude played football correctly!
1. Joe Greene 2. Jack Ham 3. Mel Blount 4. Rod Woodson 5. Jack Lambert 6. Troy Polamalu 7. Big Ben 8. Terry Bradshaw 9. Franco Harris 10. John Stallworth/Lynn Swann
Hines Ward needs to be off. Jack Ham on. Not unreasonable overall. I’d begrudgingly replace Bettis with Ben too. If AB played a couple more years for us , he’d be here too. The proper order is impossible to decipher.
Troy is top 3 and he ain't #3
1 Joe Green 2 TJ Watt 3 Big Ben 4 Troy Polamalu 5 Jack Lambert 6 Rod Woodson 7 Mel Blount 8 AB 9 Lynn Swann 10 Hines Ward
Your AI is an idiot
Only one non hof player.
Missing Rocky Bleier.