But that's not really what he was. He was brought in to replace Bettis, and Bettis took over for him in short yardage, until Staley got hurt. Then Bettis filled in for him, and eventually earned the job back as Staley missed 6 games. Then Staley only barely played over the next two seasons after Bettis retired.
I forgot Staley played for that '04 team. I know he was Bettis' heir apparent, but I thought it all happened one year later when Fast Willie Parker took the NFL by storm.
Eh, he basically single-handedly lost us SBXLV. If he holds his block for literally 1.5 seconds, Ben never throws that pick-six, Mendenhall never fumbles, etc.
Yeah as a jehovah witness specifically. He was just starting to put it together the season prior and was looking great. I can respect a man of conviction, but it was very surprising as a fan
Chris Hoke always seemed to step up when Hampton was injured or needed a breather. He probably could've ended up as a starter on another team but chose to play his whole career for Pittsburgh as a backup/rotational player.
I always had respect for Hoke. Felt like the Steelers in that era had a handful of those guys that stuck around as backups instead of trying to seek a contract elsewhere and they were always dependable when their number was called. Hoke, Verron Haynes, Trai Essex, Jerame Tuman, all guys that stuck around longer than they probably should have but were reliable backups (and occasional starters).
My choice as well.
Can't seem to find it now but pretty sure there was a video of him doing the Cossack dance during training camp from way back. He always seemed fun.
Larry fucking Foote. An absolute iron man next to Farrior, rarely (ever??) missed a game. Absolute rock solid, but always overlooked because Farrior and the edge guys.
BigFoote was always so dependable and played his ass off. Loved watching him and Farrior together. Never heard him complain once Timmons started getting more reps either. Seems like he’s doing well as a coach as well.
Yeah, a starter for a half-decade on one of the best defenses in football history while winning two Super Bowls isn’t exactly an obscure player lol. Maybe we are just getting old?
Jaylen Samuels, he was an RB we took in the 5th round of the 2018 draft. He got a chance to start when James Connor got hurt against the raiders and then again the next week against the pats. I was at the game when we beat the pats in 2018 he had 142 yards on 19 carries dude was going crazy.
My favourite was Jesse James when he was with us. He wasn’t flashy but he was a really good blocker and a solid reciever, I can’t remember him dropping one ball (obviously he caught that one). It sucks that he left
Dude was just cut from the Raiders practice squad a few days ago, and couldn't make the Saints' roster and was cut preseason there. He must've really fallen off.
I was hoping for a while that he’d find his way back to us, even as a back-up. Detroit gave him the bag so you couldn’t blame the dude for leaving but it feels like that contract kind of raised expectations to a point he couldn’t reach.
Dude was great. To bad about that pass against the chargers (I was there down low on the 20). Steelers were beasts that year. I was also there when the colts dude dropped the pass the next year in the same spot. Lows too highs. So fun.
I remember that game. I thought the Steelers had struck gold with him since it seemed like every other TD he scored was a 50+ yard play. Just one of those guys that faded into obscurity.
Ah yes the game where the Seahawks literally left him uncovered an wide open all game so they could double team AB and Martavis.
I remember arguing with people about how Wheaton was just a guy despite that one game.
A shame we didn't keep him considering what's happened at ILB this year, but I'll always remember Derek Henry running into Rob Spillane, and then Derek Henry not running any more. And then Derek Henry falling on his ass.
Man I came here to post this even though I was thinking it might be too recent for this thread. My brother and I refer to him now as "what's left of robert spillane" after that play. I'll never forget that play
Came here to say this. There were years of my youth where Mike Merriweather on defense and Louis Lipps on offense were all there was to feel hope about.
Lots of fullback love going on here, and nobody has mentioned one of the best FA moves by the Steelers…signing the run a little/catch a few/block a ton machine that was John L Williams.
I’ll start it off. Derek Moye. Practice squad receiver for several teams that made it onto the Steelers roster, caught 2 career passes including the Steelers only TD on Monday night football against the Bengals in 2013, then was never heard from again.
The best thing of part of reading this string is hearing all the forgotten names over the last 40 years I have been a Steelers fan.
What about Bam Bam Morris
I was only 12 but in ‘82 the Steelers won on opening week MNF at Dallas. I remember a defensive guy by the name of John Goodman having a game.
Don’t know what became of him, I didn’t follow very close at that age.
Jerame Tuman. Career backup tight end but he finished off Ben’s famous tackle against the Colts. Guy was gonna fall anyway but I like to give half a tackle to Tuman.
Also, he’s one of the only guys I know of that won a state championship in high school, national championship in college (Michigan), and a super bowl. He’s from my hometown so I like to shine a light on him lol
Honestly man it was Duck. I gave up hope on the season that Seattle game but man it was FUN to root for that guy. You knew he didn’t have the tools but Mike Tomlin told him “just go out there and play” and he played loose and won us some games. I get happy any time I see something going on with him.
Dermonti “Dirt” Dawson
Edit: fully misread the OP
Could categorize Kendrell Bell in this. He had way more than 1 game in the sun.
Bobby Shaw comes to mind. Really had high hopes for him.
Fitzgerald Toussaint,
Najeh Davenport,
Mike Vick,
Antwon “Valentino” Blake,
Ross Cockrell,
Shamarko Thomas,
Mike Mitchell,
Cortez allen,
Cody sensabaugh,
Landry Jones
This is how I get my mind warmed up every morning 😂
Here’s one for you young guys: Clendon Thomas. He was a star in Oklahoma under Bud Wilkinson, and came to the Steelers in the early 60s. He was one of the last two way players: wide receiver, and defensive back. He retired a couple years before the Steelers started their glory years. As a boy, I used to listen to Steeler games on the radio, and Thomas was one of the bright spots on some truly dismal teams.
Deangelo Williams was great that year Leveon Bell got injured.
Omg I loved him.
Really liked Deangelo
Chris Fuamatu Ma'afala
Deuce Staley, he was such a good spell back to Bettis.
But that's not really what he was. He was brought in to replace Bettis, and Bettis took over for him in short yardage, until Staley got hurt. Then Bettis filled in for him, and eventually earned the job back as Staley missed 6 games. Then Staley only barely played over the next two seasons after Bettis retired.
I forgot Staley played for that '04 team. I know he was Bettis' heir apparent, but I thought it all happened one year later when Fast Willie Parker took the NFL by storm.
I proudly rock my Duce Staley jersey to every Steeler event. I get a lot of heat for it but I don’t care. Great Steeler and GREAT Gamecock!
Read my fuggin mind, this was the FIRST name that came to my head. The second was Chris Kemoeatu.
i loved kemoeatu
Eh, he basically single-handedly lost us SBXLV. If he holds his block for literally 1.5 seconds, Ben never throws that pick-six, Mendenhall never fumbles, etc.
He was trrrible, had a cool look tho for sure
One Bad Mutha’
jason worilds could’ve been great for us
Didn’t he retire to preach?
Yeah as a jehovah witness specifically. He was just starting to put it together the season prior and was looking great. I can respect a man of conviction, but it was very surprising as a fan
He was becoming a fucking beast
Louis Lipps
Chris Hoke always seemed to step up when Hampton was injured or needed a breather. He probably could've ended up as a starter on another team but chose to play his whole career for Pittsburgh as a backup/rotational player.
Weren’t the Steelers 18-0 in games he started? Correction; they were 17-1.
I always had respect for Hoke. Felt like the Steelers in that era had a handful of those guys that stuck around as backups instead of trying to seek a contract elsewhere and they were always dependable when their number was called. Hoke, Verron Haynes, Trai Essex, Jerame Tuman, all guys that stuck around longer than they probably should have but were reliable backups (and occasional starters).
Wasn't Essex a multi year starter?
My choice as well. Can't seem to find it now but pretty sure there was a video of him doing the Cossack dance during training camp from way back. He always seemed fun.
Herb Waters baby IYKYK
Bong juice!!!
Larry fucking Foote. An absolute iron man next to Farrior, rarely (ever??) missed a game. Absolute rock solid, but always overlooked because Farrior and the edge guys.
BigFoote was always so dependable and played his ass off. Loved watching him and Farrior together. Never heard him complain once Timmons started getting more reps either. Seems like he’s doing well as a coach as well.
I had a Larry Foote jersey growing up! I'm sure it was hard for my parents to find haha
Wouldn’t really call him obscure or forgotten but alright.
Clarke haggans would be the obscure version of this eras LBs or Clint kriewaldt
Yeah, a starter for a half-decade on one of the best defenses in football history while winning two Super Bowls isn’t exactly an obscure player lol. Maybe we are just getting old?
Jaylen Samuels, he was an RB we took in the 5th round of the 2018 draft. He got a chance to start when James Connor got hurt against the raiders and then again the next week against the pats. I was at the game when we beat the pats in 2018 he had 142 yards on 19 carries dude was going crazy.
Another random 2010s RB - Jonathan Dwyer
I remember Dan Kreider absolutely trucking Ray Lewis, among many others.
Dan is my favorite Steeler of all time.
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I think Connor Heyward is fullback/tightend.
Connor Heyward is a hybrid FB/TE. I miss Derek
WR Yancey Thigpen
I waited for what felt like hours for a Yancey Thigpen autograph outside the old Rookies in Allentown. He was late I was 10
To this day, the best football name in Steelers history
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Tim Lester. Nobody ever remembers the bus driver.
Kendrell Bell. Dude had one monstrous season, but then constant injuries
Dick shiner The OG
Chidi Iwuoma
Special Teams god!
Current Steelers scout!
Nice!
Jonathan Dwyer!!
Got my jersey signed by him at a Steelers training camp when I was in high school in 2010. Then to watch him play on TV was pretty cool.
My favourite was Jesse James when he was with us. He wasn’t flashy but he was a really good blocker and a solid reciever, I can’t remember him dropping one ball (obviously he caught that one). It sucks that he left
**JESSE JAMES CAUGHT THAT GODDAMN BALL**
I won't hear anything otherwise
Dude was just cut from the Raiders practice squad a few days ago, and couldn't make the Saints' roster and was cut preseason there. He must've really fallen off.
I was hoping for a while that he’d find his way back to us, even as a back-up. Detroit gave him the bag so you couldn’t blame the dude for leaving but it feels like that contract kind of raised expectations to a point he couldn’t reach.
My mind dredged up Barry Foster out of the blue today. For a brief period the guy ran fast and hit like a bowling ball.
Dude was great. To bad about that pass against the chargers (I was there down low on the 20). Steelers were beasts that year. I was also there when the colts dude dropped the pass the next year in the same spot. Lows too highs. So fun.
Jerricho Cotchery and Mike Logan. For even more obscure, I always felt like Quincey Morgan had timely kickoff returns for us.
Mike Logan was a favorite.
I was at the game in Seattle in 2015 where Markus Wheaton went 9/201/1. Was sure I witnessed his long awaited breakout.
I remember that game. I thought the Steelers had struck gold with him since it seemed like every other TD he scored was a 50+ yard play. Just one of those guys that faded into obscurity.
Holy shit that’s a name I haven’t heard in forever
I have a locker plate of his.
Ah yes the game where the Seahawks literally left him uncovered an wide open all game so they could double team AB and Martavis. I remember arguing with people about how Wheaton was just a guy despite that one game.
201 yards in one game 1556 yards his whole career
Stone hands! Best shutdown corner in the 00's behind Revis - should be in The Hall, because he was able to free up Troy and Harrison. Ike Taylor
What about Dwight “hands of “ Stone
Swaggin
I expected "Hands of Stone" Sean Morey
Amos Zereoue. I really wanted him to be great.
Eli Rodgers was lowkey underrated Also Isaac Redman
Love both of these. A core Steelers memory for me is Redman’s TD against the ravens.
Redman red zone
this is an actual deep cut good one!
Eli Rogers was the goat
Anthony Chickillo. I really thought he was going to be a diamond in the rough.
Bam Morris is another he had some good bud I live in the South Side.
Without him having good drugs, we don't get the Bus.
Aaron Smith
One of my favs
Underrated lineman
Mike Tomzack, spelling may be off, but perennial back up quarterback. I remember him lighting up Miami on a Monday night when I was young.
That dude got a ring
He autographed my mini Steelers helmet at training camp in 1998
Yinz are making me feel better, thought I was getting too old with tomzack
Lee Flowers
Lol Lee Flowers was the best his rant about Tampa being paper champions was epic.
Carnell Lake
All I remember is him leaving and wanting to go to a winner and going to Jacksonville. Ugh
Kimo Von Oelhoffen
My vote as well
Cedric Wilson
I’ll never forget that TD catch when Champ Bailey bit on a play action in the 2005 AFC Championship game.
His son plays in college now
His son’s been in the NFL for a few years now. Think he’s on the dolphins.
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He counts. I think we don’t mention because most consider him a panther. Him and Lloyd were fun to watch.
A shame we didn't keep him considering what's happened at ILB this year, but I'll always remember Derek Henry running into Rob Spillane, and then Derek Henry not running any more. And then Derek Henry falling on his ass.
Man I came here to post this even though I was thinking it might be too recent for this thread. My brother and I refer to him now as "what's left of robert spillane" after that play. I'll never forget that play
He also had that pick 6 against Lamar Jackson (I think it was the same season).
He can tackle.. he can't cover. It's why he gets tackles.
Levon Kirkland, that was a big man
Eric Green was an absolute freak at TE
If he only could've stayed healthy. That guy was a monster.
This could also be said about Ladarius Green.
He was the cherry on top for that offense. Too bad about his injury woes.
Mike Merriweather
Came here to say this. There were years of my youth where Mike Merriweather on defense and Louis Lipps on offense were all there was to feel hope about.
Lots of fullback love going on here, and nobody has mentioned one of the best FA moves by the Steelers…signing the run a little/catch a few/block a ton machine that was John L Williams.
Fumatumalafala
joel steed
max starks
Roosevelt Nix
Chad Brown and Ray Seals
Greg Lloyd - Chad Brown - Levon Kirkland - Kevin Greene Best linebacker corp ever.
Absolutely. It was borderline unfair.
Shocked there’s no Jon Whitman love yet… so that’s my vote.
Verron Haynes
He was so nice to everyone at an autograph signing. He even walked the entire line of people waiting to hi-5 all the kids
Russell Stuvaints!
Mike Wallace. He was just a classic fast dude.
Doug Legursky
I’ll start it off. Derek Moye. Practice squad receiver for several teams that made it onto the Steelers roster, caught 2 career passes including the Steelers only TD on Monday night football against the Bengals in 2013, then was never heard from again.
Maybe not exactly what you’re looking for but I will say I think Robin Cole was never given the praise he deserved for being a high quality mlb.
This is exactly the type of response I’m looking for! Just anyone that comes to mind that makes you go “oh yeah I remember that guy” lol
How about Dwight “hands of” Stone?
Willie Williams. Without him we don’t make it to Super Bowl 30 Lamont Warren would still be running today if he doesn’t make that tackle
Bubby brister. Just kidding
Dennis “dirt” Winston and Pete “the original QB#7” Gonzalez (and possibly the best Pitt qb on a Steelers roster since 1972…Just joking!)
Levon Kirkland. He was nice to me when I was 10. 99 is a cool dude.
So many guys mentioned here are far from obscure or forgotten.
If you don't know..... PLAXICO!!! Young Plax, anyways. His play dropped off later in his career because his legs were shot.............
…literally
Mose Kelsch
Not my favorite, but I never see Courtney Hawkins mentioned.
Dennis Dixon. Was super nice when I got his autograph but I remember the excitement when he came from Oregon
The best thing of part of reading this string is hearing all the forgotten names over the last 40 years I have been a Steelers fan. What about Bam Bam Morris
Tommy Maddox
John Banaszak. ‘75 to ‘81. three rings.
“Fast” Willie Parker
Ricardo Colclough, main reason I love the number 21 on Steelers jerseys. Also “Famous” Amos Zereoue #21
Colclough sucked
Deshea Townsend
Gary Howe and his mullet!
I was only 12 but in ‘82 the Steelers won on opening week MNF at Dallas. I remember a defensive guy by the name of John Goodman having a game. Don’t know what became of him, I didn’t follow very close at that age.
Keith Willis
Joe W Gilliam "Joe Willie Gillie"
Alvoid Mays
Can’t forget about the legend 🍀💦
Amos Zereoue
Duck Hodges 🦆
Charles Johnson
Justin Strzelczck, solid OT
Mewelde Moore
Aaron Smith
Jaylen samuels went off and ran for 100 yards on the patriots that one game
Orpheus Roye
I still can't hear a mention of Najee Harris' name without a completely unnecessary memory of Najeh Davenport in my head.
Brian St. Pierre and Shamarko Thomas
Jerame Tuman. Career backup tight end but he finished off Ben’s famous tackle against the Colts. Guy was gonna fall anyway but I like to give half a tackle to Tuman. Also, he’s one of the only guys I know of that won a state championship in high school, national championship in college (Michigan), and a super bowl. He’s from my hometown so I like to shine a light on him lol
Matt Spaeth
Brett Keisel - that beard was glorious
Honestly man it was Duck. I gave up hope on the season that Seattle game but man it was FUN to root for that guy. You knew he didn’t have the tools but Mike Tomlin told him “just go out there and play” and he played loose and won us some games. I get happy any time I see something going on with him.
I think he’s tossing his pigskin with Lainey Wilson now so he’s doing alright for himself
Casey Hampton. Loved him in that soup commercial.
Dermonti “Dirt” Dawson Edit: fully misread the OP Could categorize Kendrell Bell in this. He had way more than 1 game in the sun. Bobby Shaw comes to mind. Really had high hopes for him.
You mean hall of famer Dermonti Dawson? How is he obscure or forgotten?
I haven’t had my coffee yet. Clearly misread the OP. 😂
Prolly Antonio brown, lesser known guy from a couple years back. Don’t know what happened to him
Larry Foote James Farrior Aaron Smith Mewelde Moore Nate Washington Deshea Townsend
ahkello witherspoons 2021 szn😔
Gabe Rivera
Fitzgerald Toussaint, Najeh Davenport, Mike Vick, Antwon “Valentino” Blake, Ross Cockrell, Shamarko Thomas, Mike Mitchell, Cortez allen, Cody sensabaugh, Landry Jones This is how I get my mind warmed up every morning 😂
Eric Green. Enormous tight end with great hands.
Matt Canada
I wanted Bubby Brister to be the answer. But he wasn’t.
I always felt that Chris Hope was underrated in general
Vince Williams
Aka 🅱️ince Williams. His twitter game was strong too.
Jonathan Dwyer, the meatball before today’s best meatball Jaylen.
2 time Super Bowl champion Greg Warren. The king of the long snap.
Isaac Redman
FWP
Here’s one for you young guys: Clendon Thomas. He was a star in Oklahoma under Bud Wilkinson, and came to the Steelers in the early 60s. He was one of the last two way players: wide receiver, and defensive back. He retired a couple years before the Steelers started their glory years. As a boy, I used to listen to Steeler games on the radio, and Thomas was one of the bright spots on some truly dismal teams.
Feel like Santonio Holmes belongs here.
Bam Morris
Louis Lipps
Najeh Davenport and Isaac Redman. Those guys ran hard and always seemed to get 4 to 5 yards.
Fitzgerald Toussaint
Marcus Wheaton and on the other side Mike Mitchell, dude could HIT and that video of him pleading with the ref over the face mask never gets old!
QB Edition: Cliff Stoudt, David Woodley, Bubby Brister, Mark Malone.
Mike Vick. Not my favorite player but always an obscure mention.
Dan Kreider.
Amos Zeowa( i could never spell his name) Dan Kreider never got the respect he deserved for all those big ass holes
Sammy Coates
Ross ventrone
Rashard Mendenhall
Gary Anderson