25 Most Intimidating Pittsburgh Steelers in Franchise History

The Pittsburgh Steelers have always had one of the league's most imposing defenses and are one of the most successful franchises in NFL history. Part of both of those facets of the team's long history is a glut of intimidating players who can impose their will on any game.

Here's a look at the 25 most intimidating players in the franchise's history. As always, feel free to chime in on who was missed or who should be ranked higher.

25. Levon Kirkland

Years: 1992-2000

The Story

Kirkland played inside linebacker for the Steelers in the 90s and was known as one of the league's toughest hitters. Kirkland's size (he was large for a linebacker) and fierce, slashing style made him a feared opponent for any quarterback or running back.

Kirkland was one of the league's finest run-stuffing linebackers.

24. Jack Butler

Years: 1951-1959

The Story

It's an interesting question to ponder what Butler's career would have been like had he not been forced to retire early due to a nagging knee injury. For the time he was on the field, Butler was a feared defensive back. He was part of the NFL's 1950s All-Decade team.

For his career, Butler notched 52 interceptions and was a dangerous defender for quarterbacks to throw against, something that makes him very intimidating. He was the team's first real threat in the defensive backfield.

23. Bill Saul

Years: 1964-1968

The Story

Though Saul had only a short career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, anyone who's seen the video highlights from his time in black and gold knows he was a fierce hitter with a terrifying mean streak and a foul mouth. He hit in a similar fashion (although without the same talent) as James Harrison.

Saul was one of the few bright spots in the mid-1960s when the Steelers were either mediocre or awful for most of the decade.

22. Bill McPeak

Years: 1949-1957

The Story

Bill McPeak played on the defensive line in the early 1950s, and his career has largely been lost due to the fact he played during some of the very lean years in the franchise's long history.

McPeak was, however, a fierce hitter. A local product out of Pitt, he recovered seven career fumbles and was a terror for offensive linemen to deal with for nearly a decade. He later went on to a long career as a coach for several other NFL teams.

21. Dick LeBeau

Years: 1992-1996, 2004-Present

The Story

The father of the zone blitz, LeBeau is one of the greatest Steelers of all time. He also qualifies for this list because his defense is one that few teams have any desire to face off against. Why? LeBeau has a knack for finding weaknesses.

LeBeau is responsible for creating some of the most intimidating defenses and also helping to nurture some of the most intimidating players in the NFL today. That alone qualifies him for this list.

If you need further proof, take a look at what LeBeau did in his playing days. I wouldn't want to be quarterbacking against him.

20. Ernie Stautner

Years: 1950-1963

The Story

The only Steelers player to have his number retired officially, Stautner is considered to be one of the best players in franchise history. A defensive end, he manned the Steelers defense for 14 seasons and was named to several honor teams.

Stautner was a cornerstone of the team's brutish defense and was known as being adept at recovering fumbles. Despite being small for his position, Stautner was fierce and able to hit hard on every play.

19. Bill Cowher

Years: 1992-2006

The Story

"The Chin" roamed the Pittsburgh sidelines for over a decade and a half and was one of the league's most intimidating coaches. He was known for his finger-pointing brow beatings of officials and his vicious look.

Cowher was often daring as a coach and even took the risk of a surprise onside kick in the Super Bowl. He was hard to defeat in the strategy department and also helped create a team that embodied his fierce personality and desire to never back down.

18. Andy Russell

Years: 1963, 1966-1976

The Story

One of the original members of the Steel Curtain defense, Russell won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and was known as one of the team's best linebackers. He went to seven Pro Bowls, mostly because of his ability to make big plays from the linebacker position.

Russell was one of the faces of the defense from his arrival until the time he retired and only missed the two years during his career because he took time off to serve in the army.

17. Donnie Shell

Years: 1974-1987

The Story

Shell stands as one of the longest-tenured Steelers and was a fierce defensive back. He, along with Mel Blount, inherited the mantle left by Jack Butler and later passed on to Rod Woodson and Troy Polamalu.

During his impressive career, Shell intercepted 51 passes and recovered 19 fumbles, making him an intimidating big-play machine for Pittsburgh's stellar defenses of the 1970s and 1980s. Shell seems like someone waiting for a Hall of Fame call.

16. Jason Gildon

Years: 1994-2003

The Story

Gildon was known as one of the most intimidating linebackers in the NFL in the mid- and late-1990s and still holds the Pittsburgh team record for sacks in a career (77). He helped nurture the talents of Joey Porter, who eventually replaced him as a team leader and sack artist.

Gildon made three Pro Bowls during his time in Pittsburgh and is still considered one of the best linebackers in the team's rich history at the position.

15. Jerome Bettis

Years: 1996-2005

The Story

Known affectionately as "the Bus" by fans and teammates, Bettis was a bruising running back known for his ability to simply run over people. Perhaps no highlight of Bettis' long career in Pittsburgh is more telling than a big run against Chicago in 2005, in which Bettis ran straight over linebacker Brian Urlacher.

A congenial man, Bettis was tough when on the field and nearly impossible to bring down. Imposing as a runner, he was able to consistently grind out tough yards and push through large gobs of defenders.

14. Ernie Holmes

Years: 1972-1977

The Story

Holmes was considered by many to be simply crazy as a player and a person. He had an odd personality best personified by his unique haircut (pictured). Holmes was a key cog in the Steel Curtain defense of the 1970s and was part of the team's extremely tough defensive line.

Like many defensive linemen in team history, his statistics don't do justice to his play, but Holmes was a terror for offensive linemen thanks to his size and mean streak.

13. Joey Porter

Years: 1999-2006

The Story

Known for both his trash talk and his play, Porter managed to be one of the team's most intimidating players in the early 2000s and the spirit of the team's defense.

Porter was a man known for making big plays in both the offensive backfield and against the pass. He notched 60 sacks in his Pittsburgh career and made 10 interceptions. He was part of the team's Super Bowl XL squad and is one of the most beloved players in the team's history by fans.

12. Ben Roethlisberger

Years: 2004-Present

The Story

Roethlisberger is intimidating in a different way from most players on this list. His play and style intimidates opponents because he's so impossible to predict.

Roethlisberger can beat a defense with his feet, his arm and his mind. He's one of the most elusive players at his position and also has a knack for making a play in situations that would stop even another elite quarterback in their tracks.

11. Ryan Clark

Years: 2006-Present

The Story

Clark is one of the hardest-hitting defenders in today's NFL. He's known for being able to use his great speed and strength to dislodge the ball from opposing receivers, and he has made it nearly impossible for players to go over the middle against the Pittsburgh defense.

He's knocked more than one player out of a game in his time with Pittsburgh and has developed a reputation as someone to be feared.

10. Jack Ham

Years: 1971-1982

The Story

One of the team's greatest players, Ham is also one of the franchise's most intimidating members. In his long career, Ham was a winner of four Super Bowls and developed a knack for creating turnovers. He was a hard hitter and fierce competitor.

He teamed well with the other members of the Steel Curtain and eventually was elected to the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments.

9. Greg Lloyd

Years: 1988-1997

The Story

Like Ernie Holmes, Lloyd was known as a guy who was a bit crazy. He was one of the most feared NFL players of the 1990s and played with a ferocity that's matched today only by players like James Harrison and Ray Lewis.

Lloyd was a fierce hitter who seemed like he was trying to simply destroy anything in his path that happened to be holding onto or blocking his path to the football.

8. Hines Ward

Years: 1998-Present

The Story

For most receivers, being known as a good blocker would almost be an insult. Not Ward. Known as the best blocking receiver ever, Ward is an intimidating presence on the field. He's responsible for a rule about what kind of blocks are legal (stemming from one which broke the jaw of a linebacker).

Possibly the most intimidating wide receiver in the league, Ward is congenial off the field but a fierce competitor on it. He's known for smiling as he absolutely obliterates an opponent intent on making a play.

7. Rod Woodson

Years: 1987-1996

The Story

Perhaps the greatest defensive back of the modern era, Woodson was known for his ability to make huge plays from both the corner and safety positions. He got his start in Pittsburgh, where he was a weapon on defense and as a returner.

For his career in Pittsburgh, Woodson nabbed 38 interceptions and recovered 21 fumbles. A tough hitter as well, Woodson is possibly the only player to return from an ACL injury in the same season (1995).

6. Mel Blount

Years: 1970-1983

The Story

The premier defensive back in the NFL until Woodson emerged in 1987, Blount was the Steelers biggest play maker in the defensive backfield and also was quite the hitter.

He took back 57 interceptions in his career and was also responsible for 13 fumble recoveries. He's another player known for being nice off the field, but being a dangerous nemesis on it for opposing quarterbacks.

5. Lamarr Woodley

Years: 2007-Present

The Story

Lamarr Woodley has quickly developed into one of the premier linebackers in the NFL and also is becoming one of the league's resident sack masters. He just signed a huge new contract, and he's already making it pay off for the Steelers, with some stellar play in 2011.

Woodley is a feared pass rush specialist who can also make a ton of plays against the run and in pass coverage. He's someone to avoid if you're a quarterback and is nearly impossible to block regularly.

4. Troy Polamalu

Years: 2003-Present

The Story

Maybe it's the hair. Maybe it's the ability to appear virtually anywhere on the field within a second or two. Maybe it's the eyes. Whatever it is, Troy Polamalu is just scary as an NFL safety. His ability to make plays and anticipate things is second to none.

Polamalu has the ability to do anything the defense needs. He can cover, destroy someone over the middle, sack the quarterback or jump over a blocker to take down a running back.

3. Joe Greene

Years: 1969-1981

The Story

He's known as "Mean Joe" for a reason. Greene had a reputation for being ill-tempered when it came to dealing with opponents and was known to regularly punch offensive linemen before the ball was snapped. He also was a dominant force when it came to hitting.

Greene is one of the most fearsome players in franchise history and was a constant terror for opposing offensive players at any position. To get hit by Joe Greene was not something anyone enjoyed.

2. James Harrison

Years: 2002, 2004-Present

The Story

Harrison has had one of the most odd paths to stardom, but he has become possibly the most feared defensive player in the league today. An expert pass rush specialist, Harrison has become the premier linebacker in the NFL, able to sack any quarterback and make any play necessary to stop an offense dead.

Harrison has one of the most fierce stares in the league, something that must terrorize any quarterback who has taken a look in his direction before the snap. He gets held regularly like any good linebacker and is adept at beating that to make big plays.

1. Jack Lambert

Years: 1974-1984

The Story

As with Troy Polamalu and James Harrison, it's really something in the look of the player that makes him scary. Lambert, with his missing teeth, scary glare and thick hair, was a violent linebacker who hit players hard enough to knock them cold and also didn't ever seem to think the play was over.

Lambert is possibly the only player ever to have to talk his way out of being ejected from the Super Bowl, just one tale in a career full of them. Known for his fast-moving legs before the snap and his hard hits after it, he's perhaps one of the most-feared players in the history of the NFL and certainly the most intimidating in Pittsburgh's long history.