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. With a total of six victories in the Super Bowl, they reign supreme. In fact, since the 1970s, there has not been a decade that did not have at least one of its Super Bowl games with the Steelers as a participant. Their greatest years, however, would have to be that period that saw them win four Super Bowl titles under one single quarterback: the Steelers legend Terry Bradshaw.

The man with the arm of steel
Though modern fans may not know it, given his current status as a sports analyst and commentating partner of the great Howie Long, Bradshaw was once better known as Mister Steel Arm. During his fourteen years with the Steelers, he had one of the strongest arms in the game – an arm that was only dwarfed by his ability to project an image of solid steel on the field. As a player who made the play decisions from the huddle himself, Bradshaw was undoubtedly one of the finest quarterbacks ever to lead any team. Though credit is often given exclusively the Pittsburgh’s famed Steel Curtain defense in the 1970s, the play of Terry Bradshaw was as responsible as anything else for the incredible success those Steelers teams enjoyed.

As a leader
As the number one draft selection of the Steelers in 1970, Bradshaw had little to do in his first season with the team. When he did start in that second season, he had some trouble adjusting to the game at the professional level. That fact, along with his southern accent and continual interceptions led many in the media to assume that he was just a dim-witted country boy who was in over his head. Terry ignored the comments and concentrated on his play, eventually becoming the best of his generation. Those who argue that fact have only to consider the eight divisional titles and four total Super Bowls he won as a member of the Steelers.

How good was he?
Forget everything you have heard about how Bradshaw was good only because the Steel Curtain defense was great. That’s sheer nonsense. The fact is that much of that defense’s strength came from the fact that Bradshaw had an arm like a cannon. With the ever-present threat of a Bradshaw long ball, opposing defenses had to loosen their grip at the line, allowing the Steelers running game to be more powerful than it otherwise might have been. The Steelers defense was thus able to get plenty of rest while their offense dominated the clock. Bradshaw was never as dumb as he was accused of being either. His response to such insults has always been to remind the listeners that football has never been the equivalent of rocket science – though if it was rocket science, Bradshaw would have been a PhD.

Author Bio: Ivan Jamison is a big sports fan. You can check out his Pittsburgh Steelers Watch or his Texas Rangers Watch or his Boston Red Sox Watch

Category: Sports
Keywords: Pittsburgh Steelers