Welcome to Part II of our countdown of the 30 greatest Pittsburgh Steelers of all time.
Part I featured multiple Hall of Fame players from multiple eras, as well as legends from before the Steelers became one of the blue blood franchises of the NFL. Today, four wide receivers and five Hall of Famers highlight No. 20-11 on our countdown.
Meet the panel
- Jarrett Bailey, SB Nation
- Chris Carter, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Don Chedrick, 93.7 The Fan
- Dave Dameshek, Meadowlark Media
- Todd Haley, Former Steelers Offensive Coordinator
- Tommy Jaggi, FanSided
- Alan Saunders, Steelers Now
- Joe Starkey, 93.7 The Fan
20. Donnie Shell
Career stats
- Interceptions: 51
- Forced fumbles: 12
- Fumble recoveries: 19
Career accolades
- 5-time Pro Bowler
- 4-time All-Pro
- 3-time First-Team All-Pro
- 4-time Super Bowl champion
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (2020)
Player tribute
From undrafted to the Hall of Fame, Donnie Shell was another key cog in the Steelers’ defenses of the 1970s. He plays in north of 200 games, earned a handful of Pro
Bowls (when they still meant something) and multiple All-Pros sprinkled in, as well. – Don Chedrick
19. Cam Heyward
Career stats
- Tackles: 796
- Tackles for loss: 142
- Sacks: 92
- Forced fumbles: 9
- Fumble recoveries: 7
- Pass deflections: 64
Career accolades
- 7-time Pro Bowler
- 6-time All-Pro
- 4-time First-Team All-Pro
- 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year
Player tribute
Few players in the history of the NFL have aged as gracefully as Cam Heyward. He’s been selected to six All-Pro teams in his career – two came after his 35th birthday. He enters the 2026 season just eight sacks away from joining the 100 sack club, despite being an interior defensive lineman – an incredible feat to reach. He will walk into the Hall of Fame once he is first eligible, but judging by the fact that he is under contract through the 2027 season, that resume will be even greater when the time comes. – Jarrett Bailey
18. Hines Ward
Career stats
- Receptions: 1,000
- Yards: 12,083
- Touchdowns: 85
Career accolades
- 4-time Pro Bowler
- 3-time All-Pro (All Second-Team)
- 2-time Super Bowl champion
- Super Bowl XL MVP
Player tribute
Hines Ward wasn’t the prototypical wide receiver of his era. While names like Marvin Harrison, Andre Johnson, and Chad Johnson helping innovate the game with aerial attacks all over the NFL, Ward was the gritty, hard-nosed receiver that did the dirty work while still being able to take the top off of defenses. Ward was a Pro Bowler from 2001-04 and recorded 90+ receptions each season from 2001-03. He’s one of the best receivers of his era, and is the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions. – Jarrett Bailey
17. James Harrison
Career stats
- Tackles: 811
- Tackles for loss: 128
- Sacks: 84.5
- Interceptions: 8
- Forced fumbles: 34
- Fumble recoveries: 9
Career accolades
- 5-time Pro Bowler
- 4-time All-Pro
- 2-time First-Team All-Pro
- 2-time Super Bowl champion
- 2008 Defensive Player of the Year
Player tribute
One of the scariest players to ever don a Steelers uniform. Short in stature, Harrison waited years for his chance to be a starter. That chance finally came in 2007 when Mike Tomlin took over as head coach. He was a Pro Bowler and Second-Team All-Pro in his first season in a starting role and won Defensive Player of the Year in 2008. He capped off that season with what is, for my money, the greatest defensive play in Super Bowl history. – Don Chedrick
16. Lynn Swann
Career stats
- Receptions: 336
- Yards: 5,462
- Touchdowns: 51
Career accolades
- 3-time Pro Bowler
- 3-time All-Pro
- 1978 First-Team All-Pro
- 4-time Super Bowl champion
- Super Bowl X MVP
- 1970s All-Decade Team
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (2001)
Player tribute
Swann was often stereotyped as soft due to taking ballet lessons, but the future made a living out of getting up from big hits and making big catch after big catch in the biggest moments. His pair of memorable catches against the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl X secured him MVP honors, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. – Jarrett Bailey
15. T.J. Watt
Career stats
- Tackles: 354
- Tackles for loss: 136
- Sacks: 115
- Interceptions: 9
- Forced Fumbles: 36
- Fumble recoveries: 14
Career accolades
- 8-time Pro Bowler
- 6-time All-Pro
- 4-time First-Team All-Pro
- 3-time sack leader
- 2021 Defensive Player of the Year
Player tribute
When you have a brother that will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, that comes with pressure. However, T.J. Watt has carved out a Hall of Fame legacy of his own. He is the only player in NFL history to lead the league in sacks three times, and his 2021 season is one of the best we’ve ever seen from a defensive player. – Jarrett Bailey
14. Antonio Brown
Career stats
- Receptions: 928
- Yards: 12,291
- Touchdowns: 83
Career accolades
- 7-time Pro Bowler
- 5-time All-Pro
- 4-time First-Team All-Pro
- 2-time receptions leader
- 2-time receiving yards leader
- Super Bowl champion
- 2010s All-Decade Team
Player tribute
From the first day I met Antonio Brown, he had one goal that never changed – to be the best receiver in the NFL. And from 2012-17, he was that. No one practiced harder than AB, no one played harder than AB. To this day, he’s the hardest worker I’ve ever been around. – Todd Haley
13. John Stallworth
Career stats
- Receptions: 537
- Yards: 8,723
- Touchdowns: 63
Career accolades
- 3-time Pro Bowler
- 2-time All-Pro
- 1979 First-Team All-Pro
- 4-time Super Bowl champion
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (2002)
Player tribute
While Lynn Swann drew a crowd thanks to his acrobatic ‘showstopper’ ability, John Stallworth was the cog in the Steelers’ passing game that kept the engine running. At 6’2” and 190 pounds, Stallworth was a complete wide receiver with size, route-running precision, and soft hands. Stallworth played all 14 NFL seasons in Pittsburgh, recording 537 receptions for 8,723 yards and 63 touchdowns. The 1979 First-Team All-Pro receiver and three-time Pro Bowler is third all-time in receiving yards and touchdowns for the Steelers. – Tommy Jaggi
12. Dermontti Dawson
Career accolades
- 7-time Pro Bowler
- 6-time All-Pro (All First-Team)
- 1990s All-Decade Team
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (2012)
Player tribute
The Steelers were one of the best rushing offenses in the NFL throughout the 1990s, and Dawson was a big reason for that. The commander of Pittsburgh’s offensive line, Dawson helped spring Jerome Bettis to three seasons of 1,100+ yards, including 1,431 in 1996 and 1,665 in 1997. He was inducted into the the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012. – Jarrett Bailey
11. Alan Faneca
Career accolades
- 9-time Pro Bowler
- 8-time All-Pro
- 6-time First-Team All-Pro
- Super Bowl champion
- 2000s All-Decade team
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (2021)
Player tribute
It’s an accomplishment in and of itself when an NFL player can earn All-Pro honors. But to be considered arguably the best at your position for an extended period of time is a rare feat. This was the case for seven-time Pro Bowler and six-time First-Team All-Pro guard Alan Faneca. Faneca was inarguably the best offensive lineman in the Steelers’ second-most successful era in franchise history. The road-grading guard played a pivotal role in Super Bowl XL and was voted to the Associated Press’ 2000s All-Decade Team. – Tommy Jaggi
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