Behind the Steel Curtain
Welcome to Part II of our countdown of the 30 greatest Pittsburgh Steelers of all time.
Part I featured multiple Hall of Fame players from multiple eras, as well as legends from before the Steelers became one of the blue blood franchises of the NFL. Today, four wide receivers and five Hall of Famers highlight No. 20-11 on our countdown.
From undrafted to the Hall of Fame, Donnie Shell was another key cog in the Steelers’ defenses of the 1970s. He plays in north of 200 games, earned a handful of Pro Bowls (when they still meant something) and multiple All-Pros sprinkled in, as well. – Don Chedrick
Few players in the history of the NFL have aged as gracefully as Cam Heyward. He’s been selected to six All-Pro teams in his career – two came after his 35th birthday. He enters the 2026 season just eight sacks away from joining the 100 sack club, despite being an interior defensive lineman – an incredible feat to reach. He will walk into the Hall of Fame once he is first eligible, but judging by the fact that he is under contract through the 2027 season, that resume will be even greater when the time comes. – Jarrett Bailey
Hines Ward wasn’t the prototypical wide receiver of his era. While names like Marvin Harrison, Andre Johnson, and Chad Johnson helping innovate the game with aerial attacks all over the NFL, Ward was the gritty, hard-nosed receiver that did the dirty work while still being able to take the top off of defenses. Ward was a Pro Bowler from 2001-04 and recorded 90+ receptions each season from 2001-03. He’s one of the best receivers of his era, and is the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions. – Jarrett Bailey
