Pittsburgh Steelers: The Black and Gold's All-Time Great Names Teams

Introduction

All teams in all sports have had their share of freaky players names throughout history, and in researching my last three Steelers stories, I came across some pretty cool names.

I then scoured the Steelers all-time roster and decided to compile them into first-team and second-team (as well as an Honorable Mentions list) to share them with all you black and gold-bleeding readers.

Enjoy.

First Team Offense

QB Dick Shiner
RB John "Frenchy" Fuqua
RB Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala
WR Louis Lipps
WR Weegie Thompson
TE Mike Mularkey
OL Tunch Ilkin
OL Ken Longnecker
OL Chukky Okobi
OL Park Glass
C Si Titus
K Thurlow “Tad” Weed
P Shayne Edge
KR Cannonball Butler
COACH Greasy Neale

First Team Defense

DL Ikponmwosa Igbinosun
DL “Mean” Joe Greene
DL Orpheus Roye
DL Ziggy Hood
LB Buzz Nutter
LB Ray May
LB Dirt Winston
CB Fred Foggie
CB Chidi Owuama
S Chick Cichowski
S Troy Polamalu

Second Team Offense

QB Bubby Brister
RB Fernandars Gillespie
RB Mewelde Moore
WR Lynn Swann
WR Limas Sweed
WR Antwaan Randle El
OL Flozell Adams
OL Steve August
OL Stan Sheriff
OL Si’ulagi Jack (Lonnie) Palelei
OL Buddy Aydelette

Second Team Defense

DL Elbie Nickel
DL “Big Daddy” Lipscomb
DL Dwight White
LB Jack Ham
LB Zack Valentine
LB Larry Foote
LB Mortty Ivy
DB Busit Warren
DB Glenn Glass
DB Mel Blount
DB Henry Ford

Honorable Mentions

Here are a few other somewhat strange names that I couldn’t find spots for on my first or second teams:

Bobby Layne, Franco Harris, Rock Richmond, Joey Clinkscales, Red Mack, Lethon Flowers, Ainsley Battles, Claude Hipps, Marquis Maze, Rocky Bleier, Duce Staley, Charlie Batch, Ryan McBean, Tee Martin, Arnaz Battle, Booth Lusteg and Dermontti Dawson.

Also, Silvio Zaninelli, Plaxico Burress, Amos Bullocks, Edgar Cherry, Nakia Codie, Urban Henry, Dick Hoak, Gene Izo, Gene Mingo, Lou Tsoutsouvas,  Carnell Lake, Frank Ivy, Johnny “Blood” McNally, Elmer Merkovsky, Gene Mingo, Don Shy, Yancey Thigpen and Maurkice Pouncey made my big list but not the first or second teams.

Sorry fellas, Your freaky names just weren’t freaky enough.

Conclusion

In researching all this silliness, I found some other things worth mentioning.

Since their inception in 1933, the Steelers have had a whole lot of guys named Brown (15), Smith (15), Williams (15), Johnson (13), and Davis (12).

In 1973 Pittsburgh had four Davis’s: Dave, Henry, Sam, and Steve; in 1987, it had four Williams: Albert, Gerald, Ray, and Joe; and, in 1999, it had four Browns: Anthony, Ernie, Kris, and Lance.

In 1984, the Steelers had a mouthful of confusion with Craig Wolfley, David Woodley, Dwayne Woodruff, and Rick Woods, and a year later (1985) they had a Long (Terry), a Little (David) and a Small (Fred) on their roster.

Also, in 2005, Pittsburgh  had a Chris Hope and a Chris Hoke.

And if I had to pick "The Five Best Pittsburgh Steelers Names Ever,” I would have to go with Tunch Ilkin, Dick Shiner, Fred Foggie, Buzz Nutter and Ikponmwosa Igbinosun.

So if it weren’t for the black and gold, we’d probably never know that someone’s mother ever decided to name their sons Tunch and Ikponmwosa.

Now, everybody cross your Super Bowl-ringed fingers and hope the spell check doesn't blow up...

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