There has been plenty of players over the years that have given the Steelers a hard time, either on or off the field. Some have used their mouths to piss off Steeler fans or players, and some have made Steeler Nation upset over their solid play on the field.
So with that, today we present our list of our “Top 10 Players Steeler Nation Hates.” As always feel free to add to our list, or you can always agree or disagree with our players on the list.
10. Natrone Means – This former San Diego Charger peeved a lot of Steeler fans and players off back in 1994 as a member of the team that upset the Steelers in the AFC Title Game. There was an everlasting shot of Means giving the business to Steeler players and waving a ‘Terrible Towel’ after the famous 4th-and-3 that failed that stopped the Steelers from going to the Super Bowl. His mouth never seemed to stop after that, that is until the Chargers were destroyed by the 49’ers two weeks later in Super Bowl XXIX.
9. Jerramy Stevens – A mouthy tight end that tried to ruin the celebration of what was the Steelers 5th Super Bowl win. During the week leading up to the game, Stevens declared he had heard enough of the talk about Jerome Bettis winning a Super Bowl in his hometown. “The story of Jerome Bettis returning to his hometown (Detroit) is heartwarming, but it’s going be a sad day when he doesn’t walk away with that trophy.” He and Joey Porter got into it during the week, and in the end, the Steelers won out as Stevens dropped a few passes and never was heard from again after the game.
8. John Elway – Another player that cost the Steelers a shot at the Super Bowl, as back in the 1997 AFC Title Game Elway rallied the Broncos to a win that started Denver’s run to two straight Super Bowl wins. Elway also stopped the Steelers from an upset win over Denver back in the AFC Divisional Playoff game in 1989. He’s a Hall of Fame QB, but a guy that frustrated Steeler fans and players more than once.
7. Eric Metcalf – The Browns had a run through the 80’s and early 90’s when they actually were able to beat the Steelers a few times, but no one game against Cleveland was as memorable as the first meeting back in 1993. In a battle for first place in the AFC Central, Metcalf ran back not one, but two punts for touchdowns that stopped the Steelers from a sure win and possession of first in the division.
6. Roger Staubach – He was the QB of the team that declared themselves “America’s Team,” this despite the Steelers beating them twice in Super Bowls. Staubach was a QB that made plays against the Steelers, but on a happy note at the end of the day the Steelers beat him more than they lost to him. Of course this doesn’t stop Steeler fans from hating a lot of what he represented as a QB and a member of an overrated team that lost to the Steelers twice in the big game.
5. T.J. Houshmandzadeh – It’s nice not to have to see this pony tailed punk of a receiver twice a season playing for the Bengals. He and fellow WR Chad Johnson gave the Steelers some fits over the years, but no other incident ticked off the Steelers and their fans more than when he shined his shoes with a ‘Terrible Towel’ after Cincy basically won the division with a win over the Steelers in 2005. He always seemed to have a disrespectful word for the Steelers and their fans, and it’s nice that now he’s stuck in Seattle with the bad Seahawks.
4. George Atkinson – A cheap shot artist that for whatever reason took it upon himself to try and ruin the career of Steelers Hall of Famer Lynn Swann. He gave Swann a shot to the head in the 1975 AFC Title Game that almost cost Swann a shot to play in Super Bowl X. Then in the 1976 season opener he gave Swann a forearm shot to the back of the head, this even though the ball wasn’t even thrown to Swann. Chuck Noll labeled Atkinson a criminal, and for good reason.
3. Ray Lewis – He’s been a major defensive thorn in the side of the Steelers for the past 16 seasons, and as long as the rivalry between the two teams are hot, he’ll continue to be on this list. He does that stupid dance coming out every time they play, and always seems to make a big play or two, either a sack or something else to stop a Steelers drive. Another guy that will end up in the Hall of Fame someday, but for now he’s a hated rival.
2. Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson – The Cowboys linebacker who made fun of Steeler Hall of Fame QB Terry Bradshaw, saying before Super Bowl X – “He couldn’t spell ‘Cat’ if you spotted him the ‘c’ and the ‘a’. Bradshaw went out and won the MVP of the game, so yeah, he got his revenge, but it doesn’t take away the hatred Steeler fans have for Henderson. Oh yeah, he also won $28 million in the lottery after he left the game.
1. Tom Brady – The only player to have a chapter dedicated to himself in my upcoming book – “100 Things Steelers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die,” entitled “Public Enemy #1.” Brady right now owns the Steelers, like it or not. He owns a lifetime 5-1 mark against them throwing for 1658 yards, hitting on 123-of-212 passes with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. I hate him, you hate him, but you have to give it to him, he’s beaten on the Steelers like no other player ever has.
20 Comments
Leave a Reply
Show Your Team Spirit
Get Your Steelers Tickets
Steelers Gab Newsletter
Sign up to receive our Steelers Gab newsletter, and keep up to date with all the latest Pittsburgh Steelers news.
Indy Steeler
June 14, 2010 at 4:32 am
John Elway is one of my favorite non-Steelers players.
The Tony
June 14, 2010 at 9:18 am
I’m personally starting to hate Chris Johnson more and more
jerry
January 14, 2011 at 3:28 pm
I hate all the Steelers.
Subway Jay
June 14, 2010 at 11:59 am
Good list. Brady definitely #1. I’d have to move Metcalf a little higher-that game in ’93 was devastating. My neigbors here in Iowa were never the same after that yelling fit.
mark
June 14, 2010 at 1:19 pm
I am adding Dennis Gibson, Bill Romanowski,Cliff Barnes,Phillip Rivers, Ken Stabler and Boomer Esiason. Not to mention Jerry Glanville! Just a few personnal additions to an accurate list.
Fort Wayne Steelers
June 15, 2010 at 9:44 am
Yeah … Brady is lol ONE HUNDRED PERCENT #1 …maybe a few guys from the Pats dynasty ( Ted Bruschi, Vrabel, I Love Elway and remember that awesome 1997 game … definitely I think Staubach should be a bit higher…Chad Johnson…I might even throw Tommy Maddox in there ( lol j/k…or am I )
Ulex
June 16, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Neil O’Donnell should be in there somewhere; he singlehandedly destroyed our chances of now being 7-time Super Bowl champions!
jerry
December 13, 2010 at 11:35 pm
Oh Ulex,
Poor baby, O’Donnell cost the Steelers a 7th Super Bowl. Life goes on. Don’t get your balls in an uproar. Screw the Steelers.
jerry
January 14, 2011 at 3:43 pm
Tell me Ulex, what is it about the Steelers winning a Super Bowl that charges you up and wet your pants. What’s the big deal? It is just a football game. You don’t get rewarded. Besides, the Steelers should only have 4 Super Bowls.
Cory
June 17, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Good list. Rodney Harrison has to make that list though. Maybe that is just me though.
Bill Belichick **
June 18, 2010 at 10:03 am
I’m a genius. Stop making lists. Just do your jobs. Oh, and smile for the camera…
** may or may not actually be a former Cleveland head coach…
Brian Billick
June 18, 2010 at 10:12 am
What an @$$hole!
Mark Ess
June 18, 2010 at 10:14 am
How did you two not get a mention???
Mark Ess
June 18, 2010 at 10:21 am
…oh, because they’re not “players”…
fanofsteel
June 18, 2010 at 10:39 am
Neil Freaking Odonnell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steelers=Life
June 26, 2010 at 7:05 am
Where are Lendell White and Neil O’Donnell on this list? White stomped on the Towel in our home stadium. Nuff said. O’Donnell is the biggest pile of shit to ever wear the sacred Black-N-Gold. He cost us a prefect record in the Super Bowl and the 6th, of what should’ve been 7, Lombardi trophys.
Steelers=Life
June 26, 2010 at 7:12 am
If O’Donnell isn’t gonna be in the top slot, I can’t think of anyone more deserving than Brady, as number 1. There’s nobody in sports that I hate more than that overrated pretty boy bitch. I can only hope that the D gets on him in Heinz Field this year, like they’ve never done before. I’d love nothing more than to see us break a record for most sacks in a single game against that twat.
Patsburgh
January 11, 2011 at 12:25 am
I have lived in the Pittsburgh area for almost 20 years, but am originally from MA. I love the Patriots and love to see the Steelers lose.
I am amazed but also amused at how you Yinzers hate Brady. OK, he is a pretty boy and you can’t like a guy who shoves you faces into the dirt. But, so many fans make crap up about him such as one comment a Steeler fan told me. She said Brady wasn’t a good person. I’ve heard other people make stuff up out of their jealous imaginations. Where do you Yinzers get all the crap you say? Hate him, OK, but don’t create stuff that isn’t real.
Downindixie
March 22, 2012 at 12:16 pm
I know Steelers fans are myopic, but this is just stupid. First of all, your whiny head coach, Chuck Noll, took Atkinson to court over that cheap shot. Then had to admit ,in court, that the Steelers delivered the same kind of cheap shots themselves. What about Jack Lambert ripping off Cliff Branch’s helmet while being tackled by somebody else. What about Mel Blunt hitting Golden Richards from behind, knocking out of the game, after the whistle in Super Bowl 10? We won’t even bring up Joe Green and Dwight White! I guess it’s okay for the Steelers to cheap shot, but when they get a taste of their own medicine, you cry foul. No wonder the Steelers needed the refs help to win Super Bowls 13 and 40…………
Downindixie
March 22, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Oh yeah, the Cowboys DID NOT name themselves “America’s Team”. NFL Films did. The Cowboys hated that name because they knew it would make them a target. Tex Schramm loved it though.