The Pittsburgh Steelers have fielded few wide receivers with the game-breaking talent of George Pickens. He’s a legit playmaker, and an elite wide receiver in today’s NFL.
Still, after two seasons, Pickens has only caught 115 passes, ranking him number 35 on the Pittsburgh Steelers career receptions list. This isn’t because of his skills as much as it is the Steelers’ inability to get it together offensively over the past few years.
Pickens hasn’t exactly kept his frustration under his hat, but he’s got to be happy with some changes coming up for the 2024 season. A new offensive coordinator, plus the addition of Russell Wilson at quarterback, hopefully means we’ll get a chance to see what George Pickens is really capable of.
He has a long way to go before his name is mentioned alongside the greatest Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers of all time. Here is the shortlist (by career receptions):
5. Lynn Swann
1974-1982
336 Rec, 5,462 Yds, 51 Tds
A strong argument could be made that Lynn Swann deserves to be higher on this list, perhaps even in the first spot. Based on receptions, he ranks fifth all-time in Pittsburgh Steelers history. But, during his prime, he was one of the most exciting receivers the NFL had ever seen, and a major reason the Steelers were able to win four Super Bowls in the 1970s.
Along with his Super Bowl rings, Swann earned three Pro Bowl nominations and made one All-Pro team during his career. He was MVP of Super Bowl X and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the class of 2001.
4. Louis Lipps
1984-1991
358 Rec, 6,018 Yds, 39 Tds
The 1980s were a dark time for Steeler Nation. By the time Louis Lipps came into the league in 1984, most of the iconic Steelers of the ‘70s had retired. But Lipps was a great receiver, who stood out despite the team’s struggles to find a solid quarterback at the start of the post-Bradshaw era.
Lipps made a pair of Pro Bowls in his career. He currently ranks fourth in career receptions for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and is a bit of a low-key Steelers legend. He was too young for the Super Bowl dynasty of the ‘70s and retired before Bill Cowher brought the team back to prominence in the early ‘90s.
3. John Stallworth
1974-1987
537 Rec, 8,723 Yds, 63 Tds
Both Stallworth and Swann were part of the 1974 draft class, which is revered today as the most important in team history. Not only did the Pittsburgh Steelers bring in a pair of great receivers, but grabbed center Mike Webster out of Wisconsin, and Kent State linebacker Jack Lambert. All four went on to Hall-of-Fame careers.
While Swann gets most of the credit as an acrobatic playmaker, Stallworth was just as clutch during key moments. He won four Super Bowls with the Steelers, made three Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team, and went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the class of 2002.
2. Antonio Brown
2010-2018
837 Rec, 11,207 Yds, 74 Tds
It is hard to think of a more dominant receiver in NFL history than Antonio Brown in his prime. Unfortunately, his incredible career has been cut short and overshadowed by off-field issues. Had he stayed the course, today he may own or be on the way to owning every major NFL receiving record.
Brown caught over 100 passes six years straight, with a career high of 136 in 2015. He made seven Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers before derailing his career in the Steel City after the 2019 season. He went on to win a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay but never returned to the productivity he saw during his time with the Killer B’s in Pittsburgh.
1. Hines Ward
1998-2011
1,000 Rec, 12,093 Yds, 85 Tds
Hines Ward is the best Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver of all time, and not only because he has the most receptions. He was a playmaker, a versatile offensive threat, and a punishing blocker. More than that, he was a team player who did whatever was asked of him.
Ward was part of a core Steelers unit that won three AFC Championships and two Super Bowls. He was named MVP of Super Bowl XL after catching five passes for 123 yards and a score. He made four Pro Bowls during his career. Ward has yet to make the cut for the Hall of Fame, but, with his resume, it is hard to argue he isn’t deserving.
Statistical Reference and Complete List of Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Rushing Leaders:
- Pittsburgh Steelers Career Receiving Leaders | Pro Football Reference
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