Teams
- Pittsburgh Steelers (1970-1983)
Accolades
- Pro Football Hall of Fame
- 4x Super Bowl Champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
- NFL Most Valuable Player (1978)
- 2x Super Bowl MVP (XIII, XIV)
- NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
- 3x Pro Bowl (1975, 1978-1979)
- First-Team All-Pro (1978)
- Second-Team All-Pro (1979)
- Bert Bell Award (1978)
“Why would anybody pick me in the first round? I don’t know why Chuck Noll drafted me.”
-Terry Bradshaw (source)
“[Terry Bradshaw] couldn’t spell ‘cat’ if you spotted him the ‘c’ and the ‘a’.”
-Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson, Linebacker, Dallas Cowboys (source)
“[Terry Bradshaw] played better than any quarterback in the National Football League [in 1978]. He’s stronger than I am, faster than I am. He calls his own plays. But I have more hair than he does.”
-Roger Staubach, Hall of Fame Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys (source)
Yes, in hindsight Terry Bradshaw was drafted into an ideal scenario of being the starting quarterback for perhaps the best team in NFL history, the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers. But he was so much more than a guy who just handed the football off to Franco Harris and let the “Steel Curtain” defense shut down the opposition. Rather, he was a talented threat during the first half of the decade, then perhaps the best QB in the league during the latter half. Sure, he had the benefit of throwing to Hall of Famers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, but they also had the privilege of having Bradshaw pass to them. The 1970s were a golden age for football in the Steel City. But it probably wouldn’t have happened without Terry Bradshaw under Center.
Terry Bradshaw was taken #1 overall in the 1970 NFL Draft, the first one following the NFL-AFL merger. But the Louisiana Tech star struggled mightily to adjust to the pro game, and to a Pittsburgh Steelers team that had played exactly one postseason game in their nearly 40 years of existence. He somehow managed to lead Pittsburgh to a 3-5 record in his eight starts, despite only six TD passes to a league-worst 24 INTs, and an abysmal 30.4 passer rating. He would fare slightly better in ’71, completing 54.4% of his passes and throwing 13 TDs to 22 INTs. The Steelers would finish the year 6-8. In 1972, the Pittsburgh Steelers finally had a breakthrough. While the offense would finish fifth in the NFL in scoring, the defense was even better, finishing second. Bradshaw would start all 14 games, helping guide Pittsburgh to an 11-3 record and an AFC Central crown. While not brilliant by any means, Bradshaw had cut down on his mistakes to the tune of 12 interceptions to go along with 12 touchdowns as Pittsburgh made the playoffs for only the second time in team history.
In a defensive showdown with the Oakland Raiders in the Divisional Round, Ken Stabler (who had come in to quarterback the Raiders for an injured Daryle Lamonica), ran for a 30-yard touchdown to put his team up 7-6 with just over a minute left. Facing a 4th-and-10 at their own 40, Bradshaw heaved a pass downfield that was broken up… but then caught by Franco Harris and run in for a touchdown. The play, controversial to this today, was coined “The Immaculate Reception” and helped Bradshaw finish with 194 total yards, an INT, and perhaps the most famous TD in NFL history. But the Steelers would fall in the AFC Championship Game against the undefeated (and eventual Super Bowl champion) Miami Dolphins, 21-17. Bradshaw would suffer an injury that kept him out for much the game, and he would finish 5-for-10 for 80 yards with a touchdown and two picks.
Terry Bradshaw would battle injuries in 1973, but show his worth when available. The Steelers would go 8-1 in his starts, and 2-3 without him, in finishing 10-4 and clinching a Wild Card spot. He would have his moments in the playoff match-up with Oakland, but in the rematch from the previous year’s Divisional Round battle, this year it would be the Raiders who would reign supreme, 33-14. Bradshaw would accumulate 176 yards and two touchdowns, but also throw three interceptions in the loss.
Bradshaw would participate in a week-long players strike during the 1974 preseason, and be replaced as the starting quarterback by Joe Gilliam. But while Bradshaw’s replacement got Pitt off to a 4-1-1 start, Gilliam’s numbers were not pretty, and Head Coach Chuck Noll put Bradshaw back in. Bradshaw would perform about as well as Gilliam, which is to say not very. But behind a crushing defense and a terrific Franco Harris, Pittsburgh would go 10-3-1 and return to the playoffs. They would crush QB Joe Ferguson, running back O.J. Simpson, and the Buffalo Bills 32-14 in the Divisional Round. Bradshaw would be outstanding, accumulating 251 total yards of offense, a touchdown, and no turnovers. Then, in a postseason rubber match with Oakland, Pittsburgh would pull away in the fourth quarter, 24-13. While Bradshaw was quiet with 95 passing yards, a TD, and a pick, Pittsburgh runners Harris and Rocky Bleier put up 209 yards on the ground and a pair of scores to put the Steelers in their first Super Bowl.
At Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, the Steelers met the previous season’s NFC champs, the experienced Minnesota Vikings, led by their star quarterback Fran Tarkenton. Neither QB would be the story of Super Bowl IX though. Rather, it was the Steel Curtain defense that caused two fumbles, a safety, and intercepted Tarkenton three times in the 16-6 victory, earning the 40-year old franchise their first ever NFL title. Bradshaw quietly played great, going 9-for-14 for 96 yards passing, 33 yards rushing, a touchdown, and no turnovers. After being considered a disappointment in his first five years in the league, Terry Bradshaw was now a Super Bowl champion.
An unhappy Terry Bradshaw knew that he was the weak link among the Steelers’ key players. He sought to correct that and, in 1975, had by far his best season to that point. He would finish in the Top 5 among quarterbacks in completion rate (57.7%), TD rate (6.3%), INT rate (3.1%), and QB rating (88.0) in helping the Steelers go 12-2 for another AFC Central crown. In the Divisional Round, the Steelers D would temporarily knock Baltimore’s talented young quarterback, Bert Jones, out of the game. This compensated for a disappointing performance from Bradshaw, with 125 total yards, a rushing TD, but two picks in a 28-10 win. In a mistake-laden AFC Championship Game, the Steelers would host and overcome their great conference rivals, the Oakland Raiders, 16-10. Bradshaw would have 237 total yards and three interceptions, but also a late TD pass to help Pitt win their second straight AFC title.
Super Bowl X would introduce the Steelers to their cross-conference rival of the 1970s, the Dallas Cowboys. Coached by Tom Landry and quarterbacked by Roger Staubach, they were seeking their second Lombardi Trophy in four years after winning Super Bowl VI. Bradshaw would be knocked out of the game with a concussion, right after releasing a 64-yard TD pass to Lynn Swann to put Dallas away. Pittsburgh would triumph 21-17 behind Bradshaw’s 225 total yards and two touchdowns to win their second straight Super Bowl.
Pittsburgh was looking to become the first NFL team to three-peat since the 1965-1967 Green Bay Packers. It looked like they wouldn’t have a prayer after a 1-4 start that saw Bradshaw leave Week 5 with a concussion and a neck injury. Against all odds, the Steelers rallied around back-up Mike Kruczek to win six in a row, despite their new signal caller never throwing a touchdown pass (he did manage to run for two). When Bradshaw came back in Week 13, the Steelers would continue to win out, finishing an improbable 10-4. In the playoffs, Pittsburgh would pummel NFL MVP Bert Jones and the Baltimore Colts, 40-14, behind a perfect passer day for Bradshaw. He would go 14-for-18 for 264 yards, three TDs, and no turnovers, to advance to the AFC Championship Game. Continuing their incredible rivalry, it would finally be Oakland who would advance to the Super Bowl (winning it two weeks later) with a definitive 24-7 win over Pittsburgh. Bradshaw would struggle to 14-for-35 passing for 176 yards and an interception.
The 1977 season would be one of ups and downs, before settling on a 9-5 final record. Bradshaw managed to start all 14 games and finish fifth in passing yardage (2,523) and touchdowns (17), but also commit 19 interceptions. Still, his 71.4 passer rating was good enough for seventh in the league as Pittsburgh again found themselves in the postseason. Facing a surprising Denver team led by Craig Morton at quarterback, Pittsburgh would tie the game up at 21-apiece early in the fourth. But the Broncos would finish off the Steelers with two field goals and a touchdown to win 34-21 (they would eventually go on to lose Super Bowl XII to Dallas). Terry Bradshaw would have 198 yards and two TDs on the day, but also three INTs. The disappointing loss left some wondering if it was the end of an era for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In 1978, the first year of the 16-game slate, the Steelers put it all back together behind the #1 scoring defense in the league, and the fifth-best scoring offense. They finished a dominant 14-2, while Terry Bradshaw was named by the Associated Press as the league’s “Most Valuable Player”. His 28 TD passes were the NFL’s best, as were his 7.9 yards per pass attempt. Meanwhile, he finished second in passer rating at 84.7, only two-tenths of a point behind Roger Staubach. The Steelers would beat up Denver 33-10 in a playoff rematch as Bradshaw would throw for 272 yards, two TDs, and one pick. Back in the AFC Championship Game, they would embarrass a Houston Oilers team quarterbacked by Dan Pastorini, 34-5. While the Steel Curtain would harass Pastorini with five interceptions, and while Bradshaw would throw two of his own, Pittsburgh’s QB would also have 229 yards of offense and two touchdowns in the win.
Super Bowl XXIII was a battle to see which NFL team would be the first ever to win three Lombardi Trophies: the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Dallas Cowboys. Many still consider this to be the greatest Super Bowl of all time, as Staubach and Bradshaw dueled to the tune of seven touchdowns and nearly 650 yards passing. Up 21-17 in the final quarter, Pittsburgh would score twice to go up 35-17 and seemingly put the game away. But Staubach would lead Dallas on two touchdown drives with less than seven minutes to play to cut it to 35-31. But Pittsburgh would recover the onside kick and take two knees to win their third Super Bowl in five years. Bradshaw was outstanding in winning the game’s MVP. He would throw for 318 yards and four touchdowns, with blemishes only coming in the form of an interception and two lost fumbles.
Could the Steelers do it again and end the ‘70s (while beginning the ‘80s) on the highest of notes? Bradshaw would again do everything in his power to make it happen, finishing second in the NFL in yards per attempt (7.9), third in passing yardage (3,724), and fourth in TD passes (26). Pittsburgh would go 12-4 and again win the AFC Central. They would host an aging Bob Griese, Larry Csonka, and the Miami Dolphins in the Divisional Round, blowing them out 34-14. Bradshaw was a terrific 21-for-31 for 230 yards, two TDs, and no turnovers. In a rematch with Houston for the AFC crown, Pittsburgh would put away a close game late, 27-13. Again terrific, Bradshaw had 244 yards of offense, two touchdowns, and one INT as the Steelers would make their fourth Super Bowl appearance in six years.
The Los Angeles Rams were the great “what ifs” of the NFC in the ‘70s. They had continuously made the postseason, but continuously fell short against Minnesota and Dallas. But despite an uninspiring 9-7 regular season record, this team somehow managed to overcome the rest of the NFC, behind late-season starter Vince Ferragamo, to make it to Super Bowl XIV. The Steelers were heavy ten-point favorites, but the Rams caught them off-guard, taking a 13-10 lead into the Half, and then a 19-17 lead into the final period. That was when Terry Bradshaw would take over, connecting with John Stallworth on a 73-yard TD pass with just over 12 minutes to play. A couple drives later, Franco Harris would pound it in for a one-yard run to represent the final tally, 31-19. Terry Bradshaw would win his second straight Super Bowl MVP by going 14-for-21 for 309 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.
While the 1980s were much kinder to Terry Bradshaw from a statistical standpoint, they were less so to his aging team compared to the previous decade. He managed to lead the NFL in yards per completion in 1980 (15.3), but the Steelers would finish out of the playoffs at 9-7. He would finish second in TD rate (5.9%) in 1981, but Pittsburgh would miss the postseason at 8-8. In the strike-shortened 1982 season they did return to the playoffs though at 6-3, with Bradshaw finishing tied for first in TD passes (17) and alone in first in TD rate (7.1%). Pitt’s long-time QB played well with 337 yards of offense and three touchdowns in the First Round, but was hampered by two interceptions and a nearly-perfect opponent in Dan Fouts, as San Diego won a close one at Three Rivers, 31-28. But a damaged elbow would end Bradshaw’s career in 1983. He would only throw eight passes the entire year, with his final career pass a 10-yard touchdown to Calvin Sweeney. Behind new starter Cliff Stoudt, the Steelers would go 10-6 to win the AFC Central, losing in the Divisional Round to the eventual Super Bowl champion Raiders.
Terry Bradshaw is often unfairly criticized as something of a weak link on an offense that included Franco Harris, John Stallworth, and Lynn Swann. The fact is that while he struggled early in his career, he was more of a secondary weapon. But as Harris and Rocky Bleier aged, the Steelers evolved into a more passing-oriented offense. This was when Bradshaw got to shine, winning a league MVP and two Super Bowl MVPs. His tale is one of patience on Pittsburgh’s part. He had a notoriously complicated relationship with Head Coach Chuck Noll, but the two needed each other, and the result was four Super Bowl championships. At the end of the day, the greatest players in any sport are the winners, the ones who continue to find ways to ensure that they, and their team, are the best. Terry Bradshaw was one of pro football’s greatest winners, and one of its greatest quarterbacks.
Chart
| Season | W-L% | Tot Y/G | Tot TD/G | Tot TO/G | Y/C/Y/A | Cmp % | TD% | Int% |
| Reg Season | 0.099 | -0.014 | 0.088 | 0.007 | 0.075 | -0.025 | 0.114 | -0.030 |
| Playoffs | 0.133 | 0.054 | 0.149 | 0.013 | 0.140 | 0.093 | 0.199 | -0.004 |
Longevity Bonus = 1.7 Title Bonus = 3.8
Index Score = 7.753 (average QB = 0.0)
Deviation Rank (out of 155)
| Season | W-L% | Tot Y/G | Tot TD/G | Tot TO/G | Y/C/Y/A | Cmp % | TD% | Int% |
| Reg Season | 9th | 82nd | 17th | 113th | 14th | 125th | 12th | 123rd |
| Playoffs | 11th | 28th | 15th | 66th | 23rd | 23rd | 13th | 94th |
Why is he on the Top 10 list?
Firstly, it’s the four Super Bowl titles that earn Terry Bradshaw a 3.8-point bonus. He’s also helped by 12 straight years of being the Steelers’ primary starter, getting him an additional 1.7-point bonus. During the regular season, Bradshaw is a Top 20 guy in four of eight categories: win-loss percentage (9th), TD rate (12th), touchdowns per game (17th), and average of yards/completion + yards/attempt (14th).
Bradshaw was even better in the postseason, finishing in the Top 30 in every category except total turnovers per game and interception rate. He was notably a Top 20 guy in win-loss percentage (11th), TD rate (13th), and total touchdowns per start (15th).
The Quarterback Project 