Terry Bradshaw

 Terry Bradshaw, the Steelers 1st-round pick, as well the first pick over-all of the 1970 NFL was one of the highest rated college players that year. From Louisiana Tech, the strong armed passer was on every team’s want list.

 But Terry quickly learned the NFL was a much different game than college. He experienced a mistake-laden rookie season that had many Steeler fans doubting the wisdom of using such a draft high choice to take him. He gave up safeties in each of his first 3 games and even led the NFL with 24 interceptions in 1970. What didn’t help was the perception that he lacked the intelligence to play quarterback at the professional level. The “country hick” persona seemed to dog him during his early days in Pittsburgh. And on top of it all his relationship with head coach Chuck Noll appeared very strained.

 After struggling through his first few seasons Terry Bradshaw began to eliminate the mistakes and focus. His play began to improve. Against the Vikings in Super Bowl IX he threw the game clenching TD – a 4 yard score to Tight End Larry Brown with less than 4 minutes to play. And his supporters have always said it was his scrambling that enabled the Immaculate Reception to happen. In 1975 Bradshaw had his best year to date as the Pittsburgh Steelers won their second Super Bowl and Terry was named to the Pro Bowl. He completed 57.7% of his passes for 2055 yards and 18 touchdowns. But most notably, he only threw 9 interceptions. Against the Cowboys in Super Bowl X he finished with a 122.5 passer rating – 2 passing scores, one a 64-yarder to Lynn Swann.  And again – he threw no interceptions.

 In 1978 he would enjoy his best season ever. Leading the league with 28 touchdown passes he made the NFL All Pro Team and was named the season’s NFL MVP. With Bradshaw under center Pittsburgh won their third Championship with a 35-31 win over the Cowboys in Super Bowl XIV. This time though it was Terry Bradshaw who would be named the game’s MVP with 318 passing yards and 4 touchdowns – one a 75-yard strike to John Stallworth. He finished this game with a 119.2 QB rating.

 Making a third Pro Bowl in 1979 the Steelers repeated again as Champions. Holding off a scrappy LA Rams team in Super Bowl XV as he was named the game’s MVP a second time. That made 4 NFL Title games that Bradshaw led the Steelers too.

 He retired in 1983 as the Steelers All time leading passer in just about every category. Even today he ranks as the Steelers #2 franchise passing leader. After football he began announcing and today is one of sport media’s most recognizable faces. He’s even had successful acting roles. He was named to Hall of Fame in 1989.

Not bad for a country boy from Shreveport.