{'byline': 'by Jeff Hathhorn', 'hosts': '', 'byline_sources': '', 'audience_id': '', 'original_station': [{'station': '937thefan', 'path': '937thefan/sports/pittsburgh-steelers/unselfish-key-to-defense-aaron-smith-27th-best-steelers-pick'}], 'syndicated_items': [{'station': 'kdkaradio', 'path': '/kdkaradio/sports/unselfish-key-to-defense-aaron-smith-27th-best-steelers-pick'}], 'original_item': {'_index': 'published-content_v44', '_type': '_doc', '_score': None, '_source': {'date': '2026-03-23T23:37:35.587+00:00', 'lead': [{'data': {'alt': 'Aaron Smith with daughter at Super Bowl', 'url': 'https://radioimg.audacy.com/aiu-media/GettyImages121570420-2305b138-684d-4623-93ac-25278ce97695.jpg', 'width': 1024, 'credit': '<a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/search/2/image?artistexact=G.%20N.%20Lowrance">G. N. 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It also does not include undrafted players.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmn3tli8u001b357xxmj54pj6@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'The rankings are based on what they’ve done with the Steelers and not what they may have done after leaving Pittsburgh. Those eligible for this list are players drafted starting with Chuck Noll’s first season.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmn3tliab001c357xqs8dz1gv@published'}, {'data': {'text': '<strong>27. Aaron Smith (4^th round, 1999, Northern Colorado)</strong>', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmn3tliba001d357xcsupaz1g@published'}, {'data': {'text': '·\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Steelers Hall of Honor member with 160 career games (missing most of last 3 seasons due to injury)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmn3tlicl001e357xntcffqy5@published'}, {'data': {'text': '·\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Recognized for his unselfishness &amp; taking up blockers to allow others to pile up stats', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmn3tlidt001f357xirzc42fy@published'}, {'data': {'text': '·\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 13^th in career sacks with Steelers (44)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmn3tliex001g357xgal163pn@published'}, {'data': {'text': '·\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 22^nd in career tackles (344)', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmn3tlig7001h357xlv5pj7i1@published'}, {'data': {'alt': 'Aaron Smith standing over Kurt Warner at Super Bowl', 'url': 'https://radioimg.audacy.com/aiu-media/GettyImages84582029-a8335eb3-ef18-4fd5-82ec-901f5455b8da.jpg', 'width': 683, 'credit': '<a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/search/2/image?artistexact=Kevin%20C.%20Cox">Kevin C. Cox</a>\xa0/\xa0Getty Images', 'height': 1024, 'caption': None, '_version': 1, 'imageLink': None, 'rendition': None, 'sizeInBytes': '172024', 'borderToggle': None, 'componentVariation': 'image'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/image/instances/cmn3trbf80037357xp89urk21@published'}, {'data': {'text': '·\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Played in 13 career playoff games, winning 10 of them', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmn3tlihc001i357x2kdlk4yb@published'}, {'data': {'text': '·\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 1^st multi-sack game against Mark Brunnell and Jacksonville', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmn3tliio001j357x0fqqd1pc@published'}, {'data': {'text': '·\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Started 2000 season with sacks in four straight games', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmn3tlijv001k357xwwufkfbq@published'}, {'data': {'text': '·\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Had 2.5 sack game in 2002 against Tampa, had a fumble recovery in each of the last 3 games of that season', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmn3tlikx001l357x71fkob33@published'}, {'data': {'text': '·\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Had sacks in 6 of 7 games in middle of 2004 season', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmn3tlim7001m357x6lw7eknb@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Previously mentioned—50. Larry Foote, 49. Willie Gay, 48. John Jackson, 47. Mike Merriweather, 46. Brett Keisel, 45. Deshea Townsend, 44. Robin Cole, 43. Tunch Ilkin, 42. Levon Kirkland, 41. Carnell Lake, 40. Darren Perry, 39. Ernie Holmes, 38. Larry Brown, 37. Louis Lipps, 36. Kordell Stewart, 35. Lawrence Timmons, 34. Dwayne Woodruff, 33. Jon Kolb, 32. LaMarr Woodley, 31. Jason Gildon, 30. David DeCastro, 29. LeVeon Bell, 28. Ike Taylor', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmn3tlinf001n357xg3dc0930@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Coverage every day until the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh starting April 23.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmn3tlioi001o357xgbu9b1z1@published'}], 'feedImg': {'data': {'alt': 'Aaron Smith with daughter at Super Bowl', 'url': 'https://radioimg.audacy.com/aiu-media/GettyImages121570420-2305b138-684d-4623-93ac-25278ce97695.jpg', 'width': 1024, 'credit': '<a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/search/2/image?artistexact=G.%20N.%20Lowrance">G. N. 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