2 Former Steelers Offensive Linemen Plotted Tricks Against Chuck Noll To Get Playing Time

The Pittsburgh Steelers set the bar for excellence in the 1970s, and while the franchise has had its ups and downs, it is still considered one of the most storied teams in the league. The fact that they have only had three coaches in more than 50 years seems to add to the allure. 

Every season, we hear stories of players who want to come to Pittsburgh to play. But making it to the Steel City is only half the battle. You also have to crack the starting lineup, and that isn't easy. While good old-fashioned hard work and persistence are the best ways to get in, sometimes it doesn't hurt to skew the odds in your favor. 

That's exactly what Tunch Ilkin and Craig Wolfley did in Ilkin's second season. Ilkin, an offensive tackle, was drafted in the sixth round in 1980 and knew he would have to claw his way onto the team. 

In his book, In The Locker Room, he said his rookie season was a struggle. He didn't get on the field as an offensive lineman even once. During his second year, he said he finally got to come in at left tackle and stay in for two plays. It was like he was bitten by a bug and had to have more. 

Ilkin then derived a plan with his best friend and teammate Wolfley. He said he was both the backup center and tackle, so when Wolfley got a hip injury during a game against the Seattle Seahawks, Ilkin devised an idea. 

"Wolf [Craig Wolfley] got jacked on that play," wrote Ilkin. "He was lying on the ground with a hip pointer, and an idea hit me. I said, 'I think you should go out. That looks bad.' After talking Wolf into going out, I stayed in at guard, and Ricky [Donnalley] said, 'Wait a second! How come he's in?' Mike Webster said, 'You staying?' I said, 'Yeah, I'm going to make them grab me.' It turned out to be a great move because I found out from Kolby [Jon Kolb] later that Chuck [Noll] loved that I wouldn't come out."

It must have worked, and Head Coach Chuck Noll must have been pleased because Ilkin earned his first start the following week against the then-Oakland Raiders. The usual starting left tackle, Larry Brown was nursing a hamstring injury and wouldn't be able to play. 

Brown cheered Ilkin on from the sideline, offering pointers. He said it was the first game where he realized he might be able to be successful in the NFL despite going up against Oakland's monstrous defensive end, John Matuszak, who was 6'7" and 280 pounds. He wrote that he had a good game and appreciated the veteran players' support. 

Steelers' Tunch Ilkin Worried About Being Heckled

Ilkin didn't play well during his rookie year. In his book, he acknowledges that he struggled until he finally got locked into one position; trying to be good at the whole line was just too much. 

In that second season, as he was trying to make his mark, one thing that haunted him was legendary Steelers broadcaster Myron Cope, who made jokes about his struggles. Cope seemed to find it hysterical that Ilkin was the first Turkish football player and loved to say his name on air. Ilkin said as he was running onto the field, he could hear Cope in his head. 

"A typ-ical rook-ie mis-take by the young man from Turkey."

Ultimately, Ilkin would become integral to the Steelers' offense during a career that spanned 13 seasons. Ilkin watched the changing of the guard and remained. All of his friends from the old days, including Wolfley, Jon Kolb, and Mike Webster, had hung up their cleats, but Ilkin wasn't ready. He played a single season with the Green Bay Packers before returning to Pittsburgh to join the broadcast team. 

When Ilkin tragically passed from ALS in 2021, the whole city banded together to grieve a man who had given so much.  

Do you remember when Ilkin played, and were you surprised when he became a starter? Click to