Black and Gold jersey numbers no longer issued Quiz

Answer: Franco Harris

Harris was the 13th overall pick in the 1972 NFL draft. He was also NFL Rookie of the Year, gaining 1,055 yards with ten rushing and three receiving TDs. He played all but one of his 13 seasons with the Steelers. When he retired, he was about 200 yards shy of Jim Brown's all time rushing record.

Answer: Jack Lambert

Jack Lambert was undersized (6'4", 220 lbs.) but played with ferocity. He challenged his defensive teammates to step up after a 1-4 start in 1976. Key offensive players were injured and the defense needed to come through to make the playoffs. The defense allowed only 28 points over the final nine games, producing five shutouts. Lambert played eleven seasons and was among the last of the Steelers with four Super Bowl rings to retire.

He was on the NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Answer: Hines Ward

Ward was the MVP of Super Bowl XL. Hines retired in 2011, having broken just about every Steelers record set by Hall of Famers Swann and Stallworth. He had exactly 1,000 receptions over 14 seasons. Of these 1,000 catches, he only lost six fumbles but scored 85 TDs. Ward was the undisputed most effective downfield blocking receiver in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

After a vicious but legal blind side block broke the jaw of Bengal linebacker Keith Rivers, the NFL instituted rule changes known as the "Hines Ward Rule".

Answer: Mel Blount

Blount is considered among the best cornerbacks to have ever played in the NFL. He would smother wide receivers at the line of scrimmage and destroy their routes and timing. The "Illegal use of hands" rule was instituted because Blount was so effective.

The change limited a defender to only contacting a receiver once, and within five yards of the line of scrimmage. It was called the "Mel Blount Rule" by sports journalists. Rod Woodson was the only Steeler CB near Blount in talent. He is also in the Hall of Fame. Both were on the NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Answer: Center

Dermontti "Dirt" Dawson played offensive guard beside "Iron Mike" Webster in 1988. Dawson took over the following year and the Steelers had a crucial position covered for 27 years by two Hall of Famers. Both men had impressive starting streaks, 150 games for Webster, 170 for Dawson. Webster was on the NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Answer: South Africa

Anderson was born in Parys, in the Free State province of South Africa. He was the #2 all time NFL point scorer at the time of his retirement, behind another foreign born kicker, also named Anderson. Morten Anderson of Copenhagen, Denmark has 2,544 career points, with Gary Anderson 110 behind at 2,434. After retiring, Anderson lived in Alberta Canada.

Answer: Troy Polamalu

Troy Polamalu had some critical picks in his career. One of the most memorable was in the 2008 AFC Championship Game. First he managed to sack Raven QB Joe Flacco on a fourth and one play while suspended in the air above the offensive and defensive linemen. Later, the Ravens were trailing 16-14, but only needed a field goal drive to take the lead. Troy intercepted a Flacco pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. Two weeks later the Steelers would win Super Bowl XLIII.

Answer: Jack Ham

Jack was a Steeler for all twelve of his NFL years (1971-1982). He always seemed to be in the right place, rarely blowing an assignment. He was on the NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. He was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988. Upon Ham's 1982 retirement, his 53 takeaways (21 fumbles, 32 interceptions) were the most by a non-defensive back in NFL history.

Answer: Detroit

Bettis fumbled near the end of the divisional playoff game vs. the Colts in the 2005-06 season. A shoestring tackle and a wide field goal attempt preserved the Steelers win. "The Bus" is the only Hall of Fame and/or no longer issued jersey Steeler since the dynasty era to have played for another team BEFORE becoming a Steeler. All the others were Steelers first, with very few leaving the team to play elsewhere.

When Bettis retired, he was the fifth leading rusher in NFL history.

Answer: 12

Terry was the first overall draft pick in 1970. In 1989, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It was his first year of eligibility. He has continued broadcasting games and later NFL studio shows for decades. He has made several appearances in movies.