Butler, Dawson Set To Be Enshrined In Pro Football Hall Of Fame
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Six new players will be enshrined forever into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, this weekend and four of them have ties to Pittsburgh.
When you enter the newly-remodeled Pro Football Hall of Fame, you're entering what is now quickly becoming a shrine to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"There have been a lot of Steelers elected to the Hall of Fame. In fact, they have the third most with 20," said Joe Horrigan, the vice president of communications and displays at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "The Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers are just slightly ahead of the Steelers since 1921."
All of the Steelers greats are enshrined forever, starting with "The Chief" - Art Rooney, the great defensive members of the Steel Curtain including Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, Mel Blount, and perhaps the greatest of them all Joe Greene.
And now, one of the greatest unrecognized cornerbacks in NFL history will be inducted, Pittsburgh's own Jack Butler.
From 1951 to 1959, Butler was the premiere cornerback of his era and was a threat to any quarterback who dared to pass against him. Today, he would be making multiple millions of dollars a year.
But Butler's compensation was just fine as far he was concerned.
"My first year, I made $4,000," said Butler. "I made like $8,000 a year."
The great offensive players include Super Bowl IX MVP Franco Harris, Super Bowl X MVP Lynn Swann, John Stallworth and two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Terry Bradshaw. And now, joining Mike Webster is Dermontti Dawson.
"I just looked at Mike and see what he did. Mike was the first one in the weight room. I thought I was pretty early, film study, watching what he did in meetings - he wrote down every note even though he knew the offense better than the coaches," said Dawson. "So, I just tried to emulate some of the things that he did."
He replaced a legend, he was a perennial all-pro and he played in Super Bowl XXX. But there is one element of his career that Dawson will tell you he is most proud.
"The thing I'm most proud of, is being a Steeler my whole career," said Dawson. "I'm just proud to keep that tradition going."
RELATED LINKS:
Pro Football Hall of Fame
More Steelers News
