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Pittsburgh Steelers: Top 10 linebackers in franchise history

By Samuel Teets

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: Devin Bush of Michigan reacts after being chosen #10 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: Devin Bush of Michigan reacts after being chosen #10 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 02: Former NFL player Andy Russell attends the Taste of The NFL 28th anniversary celebration of Party With A Purpose at The Cobb Galleria Centre on February 2, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Taste Of The NFL)
ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 02: Former NFL player Andy Russell attends the Taste of The NFL 28th anniversary celebration of Party With A Purpose at The Cobb Galleria Centre on February 2, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Taste Of The NFL) /

5. Andy Russell (1963-76)

Andy Russell has largely been forgotten by NFL history. Maybe it’s because he wasn’t one of the many gems that Chuck Noll assembled through the draft. Maybe it’s because he played alongside so many Hall of Famers, including fellow linebackers Jack Ham and Jack Lambert. It could even be because he wasn’t around for the second back-to-back Super Bowl run.

One thing is for sure, though: Russell quietly built a great legacy and remains a pillar of the 1960s and 70s teams in the minds of Steelers fans.

Russell was taken in the 16th round with the 220th overall selection in the 1963 NFL Draft. The Steelers weren’t very good at the time. They were so bad that Noll was already Russell’s fourth coach when he took over in 1969. Noll famously went about fixing the roster, drafting replacements for many players already on the roster. Russell, who made his first Pro Bowl in 1968, was one of the few holdovers from the previous regimes.

Under Noll, and with the help of a duo of famous draft picks in the 1970s, Russell’s career blossomed. From 1970-75, he went to six straight Pro Bowls. In 1974 and 1975, he was a part of the Steelers first back-to-back Super Bowl run. When the team fell short of the Super Bowl in 1976, Russell’s age-35 season, he decided to retire.

During his career, Russell was routinely selected to First All-Conference Teams by the Associated Press, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News and UPI, but he only ever made one of the Associated Press’ NFL Second All-Pro Teams.

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