There is no arguing that the Pittsburg Steelers have been one of the more successful teams in the history of the National Football League, and have certainly been the most successful when it comes to the Super Bowl. During the team's 67 years as a franchise, they have played in the most title games in the AFC than any NFL team, and have also won more of those contests.
One of the truly elite teams in professional football, the Pittsburg Steelers played in a Super Bowl game one or more times during each decade for four straight decades. Four of their six Super Bowl victories, however, all took place during the reign of their legendary quarterback, Terry Bradshaw.
Mister Steel Arm
Younger fans of the game may only know Bradshaw from his current activity as a commentator for Fox Sports, and as a longtime verbal foil for Howie Long. There was a time, though, when "Mister Steel Arm" - as he was known during his time with the Steelers - was one of the best field generals of his time. Bradshaw had a strong arm, to be sure, but it was his strong presence on the field that played the largest role in his ability to lead the dominating Steelers teams of the 1970s. Never the flashiest of players (he seldom had games in which he threw the ball for more than a couple hundred yards), Bradshaw nevertheless knew how to win games and was allowed to make his own play calls for the fourteen seasons he spent in the NFL.
As a leader
Drafted by the team in 1970, Bradshaw did not become the starter until the following season. The early years of Bradshaw's tenure as quarterback gave little indication of the greatness that he would enjoy later. In fact, his frequent interceptions, and Louisiana accent, gave the media plenty of ammunition to support their narrative that he was perhaps not smart enough to lead a team at the highest level of the game. Once he hit his stride, however, he was undoubtedly the best of his time. During his fourteen seasons, the Steelers won eight division championships to go with a total of four Super Bowl titles.
Better than remembered
Today, Bradshaw is remembered - when he is remembered as a player at all - as a quarterback who relied primarily upon the Steel Curtain defense to win games and titles. Far too few fans of today's game recognize just how powerful his passing could be, and how the threat of a Bradshaw deep pass could loosen up any opposing defense and strengthen the running game. Bradshaw has always maintained a reserved perspective on his many accomplishments, and has even taken in stride the ridicule he experienced as a quarterback for his alleged lower than average intelligence. In response to the notion that he was not smart enough to have been as great of a field general as history records, Bradshaw has simply pointed out that he didn't have to be any smarter than he was because football isn't rocket science. The truth is that if it were, his accomplishments would qualify him as a rocket scientist!
Freddie Brister is a huge fan of all sports and recommends checking out his Pittsburgh Steelers Blanket and Pittsburgh Pirates bedding at his shop.
Tags: NFL Football by Freddie Brister
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