Pittsburgh Steelers: A Tribute To the Best Offensive Players of All Time

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some great Hall of Fame players over the years on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

People tend to forget about the Steelers offense because of the dominant defenses the team has had from the Steel Curtain of the 70’s to its current day form.

In this article I will attempt to compile the 10 best offensive players to ever have played for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

10. Gary Anderson

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH Ð OCTOBER 16: Place kicker Gary Anderson #1 of the Pittsburgh Steelers follows through on a kick during a NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Three Rivers Stadium on October 16, 1994 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated t

Some people might not think a kicker deserves to be on any all time best list however, you can not just overlook the impact of a really great kicker.

Gary Anderson was an undrafted free agent coming out of college and is the Steelers all time leading scorer by a large margin with 1343 yards and made 309 field goals in his tenure with Pittsburgh.

Anderson ended his career as one of the best kickers in NFL history and is currently second all time with 2434 total points.

9. Mike Webster

Mike Powell/Getty Images

PITTSBURG - SEPTEMBER 4: Offensive lineman Mike Webster #52 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Three Rivers Stadium on September 4, 1988 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers won 24-21. (Photo by Mike Po

A 5^th round draft pick in 1974, Mike Webster is in my opinion the best offensive lineman the Steelers have ever had.

He split time his first two seasons before starting 150 consecutive games at center and playing in a Steelers’ record 15 seasons and 220 games.

Offensive linemen do not get the publicity they deserve especially since the offense would not go anywhere if not for the guys up front.

Webster was the Steelers offensive captain for 9 seasons and was elected to 9 Pro Bowls in his career on route to his Hall of Fame enshrinement in 1997.

8. Lynn Swann

Lynn Swann was selected in the first round of the 1974 draft, and in his first season, set the team record for punt return yards at the time with 577.

With great speed and an amazing leaping ability, Swann was one of the most exciting players in NFL history.

He was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2001, not for his regular season numbers, which do not really pop out at you, but for his play in the postseason.

In his career, Swann amassed 907 yards and 9 touchdowns in the playoffs with 364 yards and 3 touchdowns coming in the four Super Bowls he participated in.

7. John Stallworth

Taken in the 4^th round of that great 1974 draft for the Steelers, John Stallworth was also known more for his postseason play early in his career.

During the Steelers great run in the 70’s, Stallworth set the Super Bowl record for career average per catch and also caught 12 touchdowns in the playoffs.

When Stallworth retired in 1987, he was the Steelers all time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.

Then in 2002, John Stallworth was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

6. Ben Roethlisberger

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers drops back against the New York Jets in the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Jets 24 to 19.

Ben Roethlisberger was the 11^th overall pick in the 2004 draft and led the Steelers to the championship game along with accruing the best record for a rookie quarterback at 13-0.

He followed that up in his second season by leading the Steelers to their 5^th Super Bowl win against the Seahawks and has since won a second and has a chance for a third this season.

Ben is now 2^nd in team history in yards, touchdowns and wins as a starter and is 2^nd in NFL history in win percentage with a 10-2 postseason record.

People can say what they want about Ben and his style of play but he already has 2 Super Bowls, possibly a third, and is not done winning in his career and not done moving up this list.

5. Kordell Stewart

Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH- NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Kordell Stewart #10 of the Pittsburgh Steelers scrambles for yards during the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field on November 24, 2002 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh won the game, 29-21. (

Kordell Stewart or “Slash” was drafted by the Steelers in the 2^nd round of the 1995 draft and was given his nickname by the late Myron Cope because of his ability to play pretty much any position on the offense.

In his prime, Slash was one of the most exciting players to watch on the field and actually has the longest rushing touchdown for a quarterback at 80 yards.

Kordell ended his career 2^nd in career passing yards, touchdowns, and wins as a starter, 14^th in rushing yards, 3^rd in rushing touchdowns, 9^th in total touchdowns, and 16^th in total points.

4. Hines Ward

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 15: Wide Receiver Hines Ward #86 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after defeating the Baltimore Ravens 31-24 in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Heinz Field on January 15, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregor

Hines Ward was a 3^rd round pick in the 1998 draft and has become the most prolific receiver in Pittsburgh Steelers history.

He is 46 receptions from 1000 and is the Steelers all time leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns, along with being 5^th all time in overall scoring.

Hines is generally considered as the best run blocking receiver in the league and in 2010 had his 186 game streak of at least one reception snapped which was 3^rd longest in NFL history.

Hines Ward was the MVP of Super Bowl XL and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame when he retires.  

3. Terry Bradshaw

Terry Bradshaw was the number one overall pick in the 1970 draft and led the Steelers to 4 Super Bowls.

He was named MVP of two of those Super Bowls and amassed 932 yards and 9 touchdowns in total in the postseason.

Terry is the Steelers leader in passing yards, touchdowns, and is 4^th all time in rushing touchdowns.

Bradshaw was the passer in the famed “Immaculate Reception” and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.  

2. Jerome Bettis

Harry How/Getty Images

DETROIT - FEBRUARY 05: Running back Jerome Bettis #36 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates on the field after defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL at Ford Field on February 5, 2006 in Detroit, Michigan. Bettis announced his retirement after t

The Steelers have always loved the big back and Jerome Bettis was a perfect fit when he came over from the Rams in 1996 with his power and nimble feet.

He put up 6 straight 1000 yard rushing seasons and rushed for a career total of 10571 yards and 78 touchdowns with Pittsburgh.

Bettis finished his career 2^nd in both rushing yards and touchdowns in Steelers history and 5^th all time in NFL history in rushing yards.

Jerome retired following the Steelers Super Bowl XL win and will be in the Hall of Fame.

1. Franco Harris

Franco was the Steelers first round pick in the 1972 draft and was really the driving force in the offense in the 70’s.

The Steelers identity has always been to pound the rock and Franco Harris rushed for more yards than any other Steelers player.

He is 13^th all time in NFL history in rushing yards and tied at 10^th overall in the NFL in rushing touchdowns.

Franco Harris was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990 and is the Steelers best running back and best offensive player of all time.