PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – In leading up to the first ever NFL Draft held in Pittsburgh, we take a look at the 50 best Steelers draft picks.
It’s a list that includes Pro Football Hall of Famers, Hall of Honor members, players drafted since 1969 that contributed to 43 winning seasons and six Super Bowl titles over that time.
Today is number 31 with a few ground rules-its only players drafted by the Steelers, the list does not include those who were drafted by someone else and starred with the Steelers. It also does not include undrafted players.
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.
31. Jason Gildon (3rd round, 1994, Oklahoma State)
· 4th in Steelers history with 77 sacks officially (6th with estimates with Joe Greene and LC Greenwood)
· 4th in Steelers history with 19 forced fumbles
· 1st in Steelers history with 3 fumbles returned for touchdown
· 5 seasons with at least 7 sacks, 3 times in double figures
· 2002 AFC Championship game—2 sacks, 2 tackles for loss, 4 passes defensed, 8 tackles
· 1st 2 sack game against Mark Brunell and included a strip sack
· 1st fumble return TD scooping up fumble by Tennessee QB Steve McNair
· Had stretch in 1998 with at least a sack in 8 of 9 games
· Started 1999 with sacks in 6 of first 9 games
· In 2000, had 13.5 sacks in his last 14 games
· 3 sack game against Arizona in final season with Steelers in 2003
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
Coverage every day until the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh starting April 23.