Steelers' Great Alan Faneca Had Lots Of Emotional Stress Put On Him While Waiting For 'The Knock'

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had numerous players make the Hall of Fame during their first year of eligibility. It's always a great celebration for these players, as all of their hard work and top-level play is being recognized as some of the best to ever happen in the game of football. There are many players that never get even close to reaching those highs, and it can sting for some. However, nothing stings harder than being so close to achieving that, but not being able to. 

Alan Faneca was one of the most reliable linemen of his time. He started and played in every single game but one from 2000 until his retirement after the 2010 season. During that time, he was voted onto All-Pro teams eight times (six First Team All-Pros), as well as nine Pro Bowls. He was also a key piece of the Steelers' championship run in 2005-2006, where he helped open a hole for Willie Parker on his 75-yard record-setting touchdown run in Super Bowl XL.

Faneca seemed like a lock to be voted into the Hall of Fame for everything that he did. Even after he left the Steelers, he continued his dominance with the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals. However, every time he went into that hotel room during the weekend of the NFL Honors, he never got "The Knock." Faneca talked with Rob King about how that affected him and his family.

"It gets frustrating. They do the production show, and they bring your family to the Super Bowl. You're getting ready, you're waiting for the knock, and your kids are running around the room because they know what's happening. You're getting dressed for the NFL Honors show, so it's a little tense, and you do that a couple years in a row, and you get the phone call instead of the knock; it starts to wear on you a little bit. It starts to wear on the kids, I think, and the family even more. They're trying to console me, but I'm trying to console them, like, "Let's just move on from this and keep moving forward. It's going to happen when it happens."

Faneca had to deal with the disappointing phone call five years in a row. As time goes on, the frustration keeps on building. He kept getting hyped up as a potential Hall of Fame inductee, but he never got the result he was expecting. He was all ready to go and show off for his big moment each time, but that big moment never came, until his sixth year. 

Steelers' Legend Eventually Made It To The Hall Of Fame

With COVID making everything virtual through early 2021, there was no "hotel room knock" to get worked up about. That made everything more special to Faneca when he finally did get it. Instead of waiting for it all throughout the day in his hotel room, David Baker went to his home to deliver the good news.

"I did get the knock when David Baker came and knocked on my door, but it was at the house. [It was] during COVID, so we didn't have to go sit at the hotel room; we were at the house and he actually kind of surprised me. It was nice, it was special. I was just ready for it. You miss out on the opportunity for a couple years there, and I think I told David, "Let's go, I'm ready. Let's do it." I was just ready to be a part of it."

While the news wasn't delivered how Faneca expected it to be, it's still got to be a great feeling to see Baker standing outside your door, telling you that you have officially made it to the Hall of Fame. It still must be great to know that all of your achievements, hard work, and dominance on the field will be immortalized in Canton, Ohio forever. 

While many people would do anything to have that kind of problem, Faneca got through it, and he uncovered his own bronze bust in the end. The thought of "will I ever make it" can torture any person in regard to anything, and it tortured the Faneca family until he finally received "The Knock."