Legendary Steelers defenders ignored again by Hall of Fame Senior Committee

The Pittsburgh Steelers did not merit inclusion in the Pro Football Hall of Fame's three senior finalists for the class of 2024. The senior committee has selected linebacker Randy Gradishar from the Denver Broncos, defensive tackle Steve McMichael from the Chicago Bears, and wide receiver Art Powell from the then-Oakland Raiders. The criteria for this year's senior committee is players who stopped playing by the 1998 season.

The senior committee’s selections are once again dubious at best. In 2022, they elected Joe Klecko, who was a good player, but essentially had a two-season prime. The three players selected were chosen out of a pool that included Ken Anderson, Maxie Baughan, Roger Craig, Joe Jacoby, Albert Lewis, Eddie Meador, Sterling Sharpe, Otis Taylor, and Al Wistert. No Steelers made the list. 

Notice a pattern? Based on the criteria, LC Greenwood and Andy Russell did not rate making the final cut. The Pittsburgh Steelers' deserving veterans are being ignored by the senior committee, and it is high time that the Hall of Fame is called to account. Deion Sanders made news last year by saying he wants an “upper room” to separate Hall of Fame players. How about a transparent process?

Gradishar retired in 1983 after playing for the Broncos for 10 seasons. During his time on the ballot for the Hall of Fame, Gradishar was never voted to be a finalist for the Hall of Fame. He was the 1978 Defensive Player of The Year, a seven-time Pro Bowler, and a two-time All-Pro selection. The voters ignored Gradishar and he has only made it to the finalist stage as a senior committee selection. This is his fourth time being considered by the senior committee.

McMichael was part of the 1985 Chicago Bears defense and played 15 seasons in the NFL. He made the Pro Bowl twice and was an All-Pro twice. He is in feeble health and is gaining momentum to be selected before passing. The former Bears defensive tackle has never been a finalist for the Hall of Fame.

Gradishar and McMichael were solid NFL defenders who held places on iconic defenses. The Broncos "Orange Crush" defense made it to Super Bowl XII, but fell to the Dallas Cowboys and the Bears defense that dominated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX. The 1970s Steelers defense had a much longer stretch of dominance and an unprecedented four Super Bowl titles in six years.

The Steelers' 1970s defense has Joe Greene, Mel Blount, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, and Donnie Shell already in the Hall of Fame. It is incomprehensible to those who did not watch them play that seven Steelers defenders from that team were Hall of Fame players, not five. Russell and Greenwood being passed over by Gradishar and McMichael is a grave injustice.

The fact that Russell has never been a finalist for the Hall of Fame is mind-boggling. He joined the Steelers in 1963 and lost the 1964 and 1965 seasons as a Lieutenant in the US Army. When he returned, he was one of only five Steelers who made it from the 1968 season to Super Bowl IX. After Chuck Noll became the head coach, Russell made six of his seven Pro Bowls. He was a two-time Super Bowl champion and part of the greatest linebacking corps in league history.

Steelers LC Greenwood Ignored Again By The Hall Of Fame

Greenwood has been a finalist for the Hall of Fame six times. He was voted as a finalist three times before falling off the ballot. The senior committee considered him three times, the last time being in 2006. The case for Greenwood is clear, and I have been beating this drum since I joined Steeler Nation for his inclusion in Canton, Oh.

Unofficially, he was the franchise all-time leader in sacks until James Harrison passed him. Greenwood should have been the MVP of Super Bowl X with four sacks of Roger Staubach and is unofficially still the Super Bowl career leader in sacks with five. Greenwood played his best in the playoffs and Super Bowl. He needs a passionate advocate like Terry Bradshaw or Greene to plead his case publicly.

If the senior committee selects Gradishar or McMichael as a Hall of Fame defender to pair with the 2022 selection of Klecko, the process has to go public. It should be televised anyway, and the NFL is missing a potential cash cow by holding these committees behind closed doors.

This is not a matter of national security. It is a selection committee for a museum. Let these so-called experts make their deliberations public. What is the worst that could happen? We find out that people like Peter King have private fiefdoms that have the power to exclude deserving players. Even if you oppose more 1970s Steelers getting into the Hall of Fame, wouldn’t you like to know why Terrell Owens was held back for three years?

Please make it a show and put it on the NFL Network. The process screams for inclusion on reality TV. The sad truth is that it is held behind closed doors, so they don’t have to justify bizarre picks to anyone except their echo chamber. The Hall of Fame and the NFL desperately need more transparency in their decision-making. Canton, Ohio, doesn’t need an upper room. They need a window into a process that has been secret long enough.