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10 greatest Pittsburgh Steelers of all time

By Russell S. Baxter

Pittsburgh head coach Chuck Noll with wide receiver coach Lionel Taylor, Hall of Fame defensive tackle Joe Greene and defensive tackle Ernie Holmes, during the closing seconds of the Steelers 16-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX on January 12, 1975 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sylvia Allen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
Pittsburgh head coach Chuck Noll with wide receiver coach Lionel Taylor, Hall of Fame defensive tackle Joe Greene and defensive tackle Ernie Holmes, during the closing seconds of the Steelers 16-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX on January 12, 1975 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sylvia Allen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 29: Safety Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the field during a game against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field on December 29, 2013 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Browns 20-7. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 29: Safety Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the field during a game against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field on December 29, 2013 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Browns 20-7. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

7. Troy Polamalu, S

Although the official ceremonies for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020 won’t take place for another year, Canton, Ohio, will definitely have a very big Pittsburgh Steelers’ feel to it that summer. Along with former head coach Bill Cowher and veteran safety Donnie Shell, the Hall will be welcoming standout safety Troy Polamalu, who was elected during his first year of eligibility.

The Steelers moved up in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft, orchestrating a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs to select the former USC product with the No. 16 overall selection that year. He played in all 16 contests but did not make one start. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t make an impression as he totaled 23 stops on defense and 15 more on special teams. There were two sacks, one forced fumble and four passes defensed.

A look at the career resume shows so much more. The eight-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro used guile and superb athleticism to carve out a Hall of Fame career. The 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year finished his 12-year career with 32 interceptions and seven fumble recoveries, with five of those turnovers returned for scores. And there was his pick-six in the 2008 AFC title game that sent then-rookie quarterback Joe Flacco and the rival Ravens home.

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