The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Kenny Pickett in 2022 hoping he would be their franchise quarterback for the next decade. Of course, that didn’t quite work out. Pickett is now in Philadelphia, and the Steelers are back to square one.
Going into 2024, the hopes and dreams of Steeler Nation are pinned on two new quarterbacks: Russell Wilson, a veteran at the tail end of his career, and Justin Fields, a young quarterback who seems to have some of the same issues as Pickett.
The Steelers took a lot of heat for whiffing on Pickett. If you are a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, the whole debacle with Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky was frustrating. But, it is far from the worst mistake the franchise has made when evaluating quarterback talent.
Pittsburgh Steelers Franchise Quarterback Fails
The Pittsburgh Steelers have had their share of fails, misreads, and flat-out questionable decisions when it comes to quarterbacks. Here are four that are tough to stomach.
1. Dan Marino
In 1983, the Steelers were looking at another rebuilding period on the horizon, with many of the stars of the ‘70s headed off into retirement. When it came time to make their first-round draft pick at number 21, the Steelers chose defensive tackle Gabe Rivera, even though quarterback Dan Marino was still on the board.
Dan Marino could have been the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback and Terry Bradshaw’s successor. He was a local kid who played his college ball at Pitt, so it is easy to imagine he would have loved to play for his hometown team. The Steelers passed on him, electing instead to build on the defensive side of the ball.
Rivera played six games before a horrific car crash ended his career and nearly his life. Dan Marino went on to a Hall-of-Fame career and retired as the NFL career leader in passing yards.
2. Johnny Unitas
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Johnny Unitas in 1955 but, apparently thinking he didn’t have what it took to succeed in the NFL, cut him before the season. They, instead, opted to go with Jim Finks, who threw a whopping 26 interceptions that year.
Unitas, of course, played for the Baltimore Colts from 1956 to 1972 and became one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time. His accolades include three NFL Championships, one Super Bowl win, three Bert Bell Awards, three NFL MVP Awards, 10 Pro Bowls, and five All-Pro nominations.
3. Len Dawson
After missing on Johnny Unitas in 1955, the Pittsburgh Steelers had another chance at a future Hall of Famer in 1957 when they drafted Len Dawson. Dawson saw little action in his three seasons as a Steeler, then spent two seasons in Cleveland before making All-Pro and winning a championship as a starter for the AFL’s Dallas Texans in 1962.
The Texans became the Kansas City Chiefs the following season. During his time with the franchise, Dawson won three AFL Championships and one Super Bowl, made seven Pro Bowls and two All-Pro rosters, and was named MVP of Super Bowl IV.
4. Jack Kemp
Along with Dawson, Jack Kemp also found himself in Pittsburgh in 1957 after getting cut by the Detroit Lions. He threw 18 passes that season before the Steelers decided they had seen enough. Kemp struggled to find a roster spot with San Francisco and the New York Giants in 1958 and 1959. In 1960, he signed with the AFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, where he became a star.
Kemp made seven Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams as a member of the Chargers and the Buffalo Bills. He led the Bills to AFL Championships in 1964 and 1965 and won the title of AFL Player of the Year in 1965.
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