Steelers Unveil First Hall Of Honor Inductees
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The Pittsburgh Steelers have quite a few busts in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, but Mel Blount says there are so many others deserving of recognition that will never get to be enshrined.
"We wouldn't be in the Hall of Fame if it wasn't for them," says Blount.
That is part of the driving force behind the creation of the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor.
The initial class of the Steelers Hall of Honor includes 23 HOF Steelers and four who are not in the HOF.
The list of inductees includes:
- Art Rooney
- Dan Rooney
- Chuck Noll
- Jack Butler
- Dick Hoak
- Joe Greene
- Terry Bradshaw
- Franco Harris
- Mike Webster
- Lynn Swann
- L.C. Greenwood
- Mel Blount
- Jack Ham
- Jack Lambert
- Andy Russell
- Rod Woodson
- Kevin Greene
- Jerome Bettis
- Donnie Shell
- John Stallworth
- Bobby Layne
- Ernie Stautner
- John Henry Johnson
- Bill Dudley
- Walt Kiesling
- John "Blood" McNally
- Dermontti Dawson
Greenwood, Shell, Russell and Hoak are not in Canton, but Blount says there contributions in Pittsburgh deserve recognition, which is why he appreciates the creation of the Hall of Honor.
"I feel like it's going to give guys an opportunity who won't make it to Canton, but they'll be recognized for their work with the Steelers organization," says Blount.
Each of the honorees will receive a specially-made steel football, and another will be included in the Hall of Honor along with a plaque.
The display will debut on Alumni Weekend when the class is introduced during the Steelers-Packers game on Nov. 26.
While the Hall of Honor will be on the river end of the FedEx Great Hall at Heinz field, Art Rooney II says, "We've talked about expanding into a museum-type presentation at some point. So I hope someday we can get to that. I think. for this year. we have a location picked out for the names and information about them, so it will be a good start."
The selection committee says it could have easily come up with a hundred inductees but whittled it down to 27. Players must have been with the team for three years, made an outstanding contribution, and be out of the league for three years.
Four more honorees will be added each year on Alumni Weekend.
"I'm humbled by it and I'm also grateful because I feel like it's going to give guys an opportunity who won't make it to Canton, but they will be recognized for the work they have done with the Steelers organization," Blount said.
