The opinions found in Asked and Answered do not reflect the views of the Steelers organization.
Let's get to it:
JOE ASHER FROM TAMPA, FL: Cameron Heyward's well deserved first-team All-Pro honors this year had me wondering. Is he the oldest Steelers player ever to earn this honor?
ANSWER: Cam Heyward was voted first-team All-Pro for his play during the 2024 NFL season as a 35-year-old, and Mike Webster was voted first-team All-Pro for his play during the 1987 NFL season as a 35-year-old. But since Webster was born on March 18 and Heyward was born on May 6, Webster actually was older by 7 weeks. Other Steelers to be voted first-team All-Pro in their 30s were James Harrison at 32, Joe Greene and Dermontti Dawson, both of whom were 33, and Ernie Stautner at 34. Rod Woodson was voted first-team All-Pro at 37 years old, but by then he was playing for the Oakland Raiders.
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WILLIAM DOWDELL FROM COCOA BEACH, FL: A question about the offensive coordinator being different from the last time Mason Rudolph was a Steelers quarterback. I have to wonder if Arthur Smith's offense, the terminology, and the facets of it will be something that Mason can thrive in. Is an offensive coordinator change capable of bringing out better play in the quarterback?
ANSWER: A coordinator change is capable of bringing out better play not only from the quarterback, but from every player on offense and also the unit as a whole.
SCOTT SWEENEY FROM HICKORY, NC: The 1974 draft is obviously considered the Steelers' best ever with 5 Hall of Fame players coming from that selection process. Which draft is the NFL's greatest with the most HOF players ever?
ANSWER: The Steelers Draft Class of 1974 netted 4 Hall of Fame players as draft picks – Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, and Mike Webster – plus a fifth as an undrafted rookie in Donnie Shell. In terms of draft picks, those 4 Hall of Fame players represent the most of any team since the NFL instituted the draft in 1936, which qualifies the Steelers 1974 Draft Class as the best in league history.
JIM TEYSSIER FROM PITTSBURGH, PA: When I see pictures and stories of great Steelers linebackers, Levon Kirkland is rarely mentioned. How long did he play and what were his stats? I remember him being a beast in Super Bowl XXX against Dallas even though we lost.
ANSWER: Levon Kirkland came to the Steelers as a second-round pick (38th overall) in the 1992 NFL Draft from Clemson. In 9 seasons with the Steelers, he played in 144 regular season games, with 124 starts. In those games he was credited with 531 tackles to go along with 18.5 sacks, 11 interceptions, 20 passes defensed, 16 forced fumbles, and 9 fumble recoveries. He was voted to the Pro Bowl in 1996 and 1997, and he was voted first-team All-Pro in 1997. In Super Bowl XXX, Kirkland led the Steelers with 10 tackles, and he had 1 of their 2 sacks of Dallas QB Troy Aikman.
DAVE SAVOLAINE FROM SILVER SPRING, MD: Which of the Steelers' 2025 undrafted rookie free agents are getting the most "buzz", and which positions on the roster currently offer the most opportunities for a UDFA to make the team (besides special teams)?
ANSWER: Rookie minicamp won't be held until May 9-11, which will be the first chance the Steelers will have an opportunity to see those players and assess how they might be able to learn and adapt to professional football. Because the Steelers did a nice job in balancing their roster in terms of numbers at the various positions during free agency and the draft, there was no glaring need to fill a hole with an undrafted rookie. Be patient and give it some time to see who might emerge as a promising prospect.
ROBERT KING FROM TILGHMAN, MD: Now that the draft is over, do you think that for now the QB position is more or less stable with the drafting of Will Howard? He could turn out to be a diamond in the rough.
ANSWER: General Manager Omar Khan said before the draft that the Steelers would go to training camp with 4 quarterbacks, and after adding Will Howard they have 3 under contract. So in that respect, there still is going to be a move coming at that position.
ROB WARREN FROM MISSOULA, MN: I know the Steelers only have three jersey numbers retired, but what are the other "untouchable" jersey numbers the Steelers will not assign?
ANSWER: The three jersey numbers retired by the Steelers are (in chronological order) No. 70 for Ernie Stautner, No. 75 for Joe Greene, and No. 32 for Franco Harris. "Untouchable" is your word, but here is a list of jersey numbers that have not been re-issued once their most famous wearer retired or moved on:
No. 7: Ben Roethlisberger
No. 12: Terry Bradshaw
No. 32: Franco Harris (retired)
No. 36: Jerome Bettis
No. 43: Troy Polamalu
No. 52: Mike Webster
No. 58 Jack Lambert
No. 59: Jack Ham (Note: Todd Seabaugh was assigned the number for only the 1984 season and no one has worn it since.)
No. 63: Dermontti Dawson
No. 70: Ernie Stautner (retired)
No. 75: Joe Greene (retired)
No. 86: Hines Ward
ERIC ASH FROM WELLSVILLE, OH: I was sure the Steelers would re-sign Russell Wilson and/or Justin Fields. When that didn't happen, I was certain they would quickly sign Aaron Rodgers. As I write this, he is still unsigned. So I assumed they would draft Shedeur Sanders. They did not. I couldn't have imagined the Steelers and Mason Rudolph would reunite, but they did. It's anyone's guess what will happen next in the quarterback room. What's your guess?
ANSWER: I have come to believe that it's foolish to guess, and so I don't. Guessing is just a waste of time for both you and me.
DANA FISHER FROM ROCKPORT, ME: In the modern era, have the Steelers ever had the "Mr. Irrelevant " pick? I'm assuming they did, with being Super Bowl champs 6 times. If so, what became of him/them?
ANSWER: After winning Super Bowl IX, the Steelers made Nebraska guard Stan Hegener the final pick of the 1975 NFL Draft (Round 17, 442nd overall). He did not make the team. After winning Super Bowl X, the Steelers made Dayton wide receiver Kelvin Kirk the final pick of the 1976 NFL Draft (Round 17, 487th overall). He did not make the team. After winning Super Bowl XIII, the Steelers made wide receiver Mike Almond of Northwestern State the final pick of the 1979 NFL Draft (Round 12, 330th overall). He did not make the team. After winning Super Bowl XIV, the Steelers made Florida A&M guard Tyrone McGriff the final pick of the 1980 NFL Draft (Round 12, 333rd overall). He played 3 seasons with the Steelers, during which he appeared in 36 regular season games with 10 starts. After winning Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers didn't have the final pick in the 2006 NFL Draft or the 2009 NFL Draft, because of the awarding of compensatory picks at the end of the seventh round in both of those years.
