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Was the Steelersā 1974 draft class the greatest in pro football history? Hereās a closer look
TL;DR
The Steelers' 1974 draft class is being evaluated as potentially the greatest in NFL history as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches. Insights from Pro Football Hall of Fame historian Joe Horrigan highlight its significance.
Was the Steelersā 1974 draft class the greatest in pro football history? Hereās a closer look
The 2026 NFL Draft is just eight days away, and as the Steelers work to bring in players to help them reach another Super Bowl, weāre taking a look at whatās arguably the greatest draft in pro football history.
Channel 11 Sports Director Jenna Harner spoke with Joe Horrigan, a former Pro Football Hall of Fame executive director and historian, for a closer look.
Click here for more Pittsburgh Steelers coverage from Channel 11.
āThis is a tribute to that scouting department of the Pittsburgh Steelers that found the Jack Lamberts, that brought in all the Lynn Swann and the John Stallworths. There was a really, really good machine going on there,ā Horrigan said.
A machine that would select not one, not two, but four Hall of Famers in the first five rounds and add another as an undrafted free agent.
Their first selection at 20th overall was wide receiver Lynn Swann.
Lynn Swann
āHe was one of the toughest players that people just donāt understand that because, againā¦they think heās not tough - he is as tough as nails,ā Horrigan said.
In Round Two, it was Kent State linebacker Jack Lambert.
Jack Lambert
In his first season, Lambert was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and just two seasons later, he won Defensive Player of the Year.
āHe defined, he epitomized what you expected from that middle linebacker with the ferocious look, the ferocious play. He had a motor win all the time, just pure heart that really propelled him and propelled him as a good word, because he propelled his way into a lot of chests in his career,ā Horrigan said.
Throughout the draft process, Head Coach Chuck Noll was incredibly high on another wide receiver and in the fourth round, the Steelers drafted Alabama A&Mās John Stallworth.
Alongside Swann, the two would go on to terrorize opposing secondaries.
āThey were almost interchangeable parts, different skill sets, but they were the one two and most teams, particularly today in the free agency, canāt afford to have those two superlative ends on the same team at the same time. One is going to make the other one open,ā Horrigan said.
The franchise rounded out their first five picks with Mike Webster at 125th overall.
Webster anchored the Steelersā offensive line for more than a decade.
The Steelers also added undrafted free agent Donnie Shell, who would become that rookie classās fifth player elected to the Hall of Fame.
A key cog in the machine that the Steelersā scouting department, which built a dynasty, was a man who would also one day be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame: legendary scout Bill Nunn.
Nunn was a trailblazer who knew there was a wealth of talent where others at the time werenāt looking at historically black colleges and universities.
āSo many lives are different now because he gave people opportunities that they wouldnāt have had,ā his granddaughter, Cydney Nunn, said.
Channel 11 has been covering all the hype and preparations leading up to the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh and will have you posted when the picks start coming in. Click here for the latest coverage.
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Q&A
What players were included in the Steelers' 1974 draft class?
The Steelers' 1974 draft class included Hall of Famers such as Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, and Franco Harris.
Why is the 1974 Steelers draft class considered the greatest in NFL history?
It is considered the greatest due to the impact of its players, who contributed significantly to the team's success and multiple Super Bowl victories.
How many Super Bowls did the Steelers win after the 1974 draft?
The Steelers won four Super Bowls in the 1970s, largely attributed to the talent from the 1974 draft class.
Who is Joe Horrigan and what is his role in evaluating the 1974 draft class?
Joe Horrigan is a former Pro Football Hall of Fame executive director and historian who provides insights on the significance of the 1974 draft class.
