Choosing the Steelers All-Quarter Century Team, Defense Edition
In the most recent episode of the Pittsburgh Standard Time podcast, Greg Benevent and I came up with our All-Quarter Century Team for the Pittsbught Steelers on defense after taking care of offense the previous week. To add to the challenge in some areas, we came up with a first and second team.
Just to give a reminder, these players were selected based on their time with the Steelers for the years 2000 through 2024.
First Team
NT: Casey Hampton
DL: Cam Heyward
DL: Aaron Smith
OLB: T.J. Watt
OLB: James Harrison
ILB: James Farrior
ILB: Ryan Shazier
CB: Ike Taylor
CB: William Gay
S: Troy Polamalu
S: Minkah Fitzpatrick
Selecting the three players for the defensive line on the first team was fairly easy. Additionally, outside linebacker featured two players that have won NFL Defensive Player of the Year, so that set them apart. Having James Farrior at inside linebacker was really easy as well, but finding who to pair with him took a bit of a discussion. We ultimately went with Ryan Shazier because looking at the product of play he put on the field, albeit tragically cut short, it was at a very high level.
The secondary gave some interesting discussion. Ike Taylor was the obvious choice at cornerback, but finding someone else to go with him was not that easy. Ultimately we gave the edge to William Gay simply because of the number of interceptions returned for a touchdown in his career which is tied with Rod Woodson for the franchise record. Still, it felt like a weaker spot on the first team defense. As for safeties, Troy Polamalu would likely be my choice if we could only pick one player for the whole defense for the quarter century. Also, even though he was recently traded, Minkah Fitzpatrick is the obvious other choice for safety.
Moving onto the second team…
Second Team
NT: Kimo von Oelhoffen
DL: Brett Keisel
DL: Stephon Tuitt
OLB: Joey Porter
OLB: Lamar Woodley
ILB: Lawrence Timmons
ILB: Larry Foote
CB: Deshea Townsend
CB: Joe Haden
S: Ryan Clark
S: Chris Hope
Although he only played nose tackle for one season before the Steelers drafted Casey Hampton, I felt that Kimo von Oelhoffen was the best choice for the next best player simply because of what he did early for the Steelers in the 2000s at various positions on the defensive line. Brett Keisel was the only other player who was even considered for the first team, so he was put on the second team by default. We also felt that Stephon Tuitt’s contributions, even though he didn’t have the longest career, had him playing at a level that deserved second team recognition.
Joey Porter was the obvious next player at outside linebacker, but then there was discussion of the various possibilities to pair with him. Ultimately, we felt that “rookie contract“ Lamar Woodley was so good that he deserves to be here despite falling off late in his time in Pittsburgh. Lawrence Timmons and Larry Foote were really the only two options that were anywhere close to the top level at inside linebacker. While there could be a good argument for Joe Haden to be the first team cornerback over William Gay, his time in Pittsburgh wasn’t nearly as long but enough to be recognized on the second team along with Deshea Townsend. Safety was tricky with Ryan Clark being the next best guy and the only other option we felt confident in was Chris Hope.
So what do you think? What would you change on these lists? Make sure you leave your thoughts in the comments below.
For more of the discussion, and where we included the specialists, check out the most recent episode of Pittsburgh Standard Time below:
Really, really solid. Seemingly easier than offense as well.
Only difference I would make among your choices is that hard to answer 2nd CB, as you cite. Between the two- I would choose Townsend. I remember watching and rooting for them, and while Gay has the INT’s as you mention, I really think Deshea was more consistent in coverage.
However- one you did not mention would actually be my first choice for 2CB- Dewayne Washington. I think he was the very most consistent and capable I recall rooting for after Ike. And he was no slouch- In his peak two year period with the Steelers, he had 9 INT’s.
But good job. How awesome it is to root for a team whose all stars would also be a competitive all star team for the entire league!
Great point, but there was a reason Washington was left off… some of his best production was in the 90s and not 2000s. He had 9 INTs combined in 2 seasons (’98 & ’99) vs. 9 total INTs in the 4 years in the 2000s. When you look at it he had 2 good seasons in the 2000s followed by 2 less than good seasons where he got benched mid-season for Townsend only to start later due to an injury to Chad Scott. If it was his entire Steelers career the good would outweigh the bad. But looking just since 2000 he had as many bad seasons as good.
Great list. A couple thoughts:
Fun read.
In ’23, Minkah was asked to play in the box, and held the NexGen tackling percentage title Eliott attained in ’24. MF was then asked to play back in center field to limit blowbys from corners for much of season. The “rough” play was largely due to scheme, to account for the play of MF39’s teammates And yes, Minkah’s play could have been better–if he wasn’t spread so thin. Wear-and-tear, gets us all.
I hear ya. The WHY is interesting, but this is a bottom-line WHAT league. Minkah probably didn’t have a lot of control over what they were asking him to do in 23/24, but it doesn’t really matter; at the end of the day it’s all about production. I still give the edge to Minkah over Ryan.
Agreed–just applied context. It is also my opinion that the comparison of Fitzpatrick to Clark is not close… bottom-line, as you say.