As a part of Black History Month, we are highlighting those involved with the Steelers organization who attended HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities).
In today's spotlight, we are highlighting cornerback Greg Lloyd, who attended Fort Valley State.
* * *
Greg Lloyd
Linebacker (1988-97)
Greg Lloyd's demeanor as a player appeared to match the shirt he wore on a regular basis.
It simply said, 'I wasn't hired for my disposition.'
It was a message that had many avoid Lloyd, but for him, it was simply a gift from a group of kids that he promised he would wear that eventually turned into a whole lot more.
"I somehow got chosen to go speak to an elementary school," said Lloyd. "How or why, I don't know. When it was over the kids wanted to present me with something and here is this T-shirt with 'I wasn't hired for my disposition.' I told the kids I was going to wear the T-shirt every day, so they knew I appreciated what they did.
"Then it caught on. It was like Clark Kent goes into the booth, and he comes out as Superman. That is kind of how it was. You come to work as a mild-mannered guy. You put this thing on, and you are this superhero thing."
Lloyd played collegiately at Fort Valley State, not a football powerhouse, but the Steelers noticed him on his tape from the Sheridan All-Star Game, which featured players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
"I still felt like coming out of college I got disrespected," said Lloyd. "Schools where I wanted to go, weren't interested in me. I was the number two linebacker coming out of high school, but schools thought I was too small.
"I came in with a chip on my shoulder. I thought other linebackers that came in that year didn't have anything on me other than they went to Alabama, Georgia, or Florida. Back then I just wanted to play, but still had that chip on my shoulder. People would ask about Fort Valley State College. In practice I would be like, I am going to show them what Fort Valley State is all about."
The Steelers drafted him in the sixth round of the 1987 NFL Draft, and he made an impact from the moment he arrived, making an interception on his first play in minicamp.
"When I played in Pittsburgh, I was a young kid coming out Fort Valley, I just wanted to play," said Lloyd. "When I got there and you meet the likes of Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Jack Lambert and Jack Ham, and I got to play with Donnie Shell and John Stallworth and see the work habit, you want to be like those guys. I wanted to be like those guys and have someone wear my jersey.
"I knew I had to work hard. I wanted to be considered one of those guys when I left there. When they talk about linebackers in Pittsburgh, if they don't mention my name when I retire, then I didn't play well.
"That was my whole thing when I played. I wanted to be the best. It doesn't come by talking, it comes by what you do on the field."
Lloyd is a member of the Steelers Hall of Honor, inducted as a part of the Class of 2020. He was also inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2018.
Lloyd was a three-time All-Pro and ranks ninth on the team's all-time sack list with 53.5. He played in five Pro Bowls and was named team MVP twice for a team he loved to play for.
"I didn't get a chance to play with guys like Franco (Harris), but just to meet them, to see them come around, the history of the team, I was built for that," said Lloyd. "Pittsburgh had a bunch of guys that had a certain DNA that you needed to play on the defense. Being in that black and gold, it was the best thing that ever happened to me.
"I will always bleed black and gold. It's an honor to be considered among the best that played for the team, the guys I played with and came before me. I always wanted to be one of those guys, and I am honored they consider me one of them."
