Fansided

Top 10 first-time eligible candidates for the Hall of Fame in 2021

By Russell S. Baxter

INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 02: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts throws a pass during NFL game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 02: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts throws a pass during NFL game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 21: Tight end Heath Miller #83 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the football after catching a pass during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Heinz Field on December 21, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Chiefs 20-12. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 21: Tight end Heath Miller #83 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the football after catching a pass during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Heinz Field on December 21, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Chiefs 20-12. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

8. Heath Miller, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a proud history of pass catchers. The list includes a pair of Pro Football Hall of Famers in John Stallworth and Lynn Swann, Super Bowl MVPs Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes and other exceptional performers in Louis Lipps and Antonio Brown.

If you actually sorted through the enclosed numbers, Ward (1,000) is first and Brown (837) is second in club annals in career receptions, respectively. But third on the list is the team’s first-round pick in 2005 in University of Virginia tight end Heath Miller (592).

Miller spent 11 seasons in the Steel City, missed only eight games and seemed to get better with age. He was pivotal in the team’s successful Super Bowl runs in 2005 (XL) and 2008 (XLIII) and more of an intermediate target. In his first four years, he totaled 168 receptions for 1,932 yards and 21 scores.

But it was a different story his final seven seasons starting in 2009. As quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was given more freedom on offense, he started to look for Miller more often. It added up to a combined 424 receptions for 4,637 yards and 24 scores as well as Pro Bowl invites in ’09 and 2012. And he totaled 50-plus receptions in six of his final seven campaigns. He makes for an intriguing candidate.

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