10 Best Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Linemen of All Time

Here are the 10 best offensive linemen ever to play for the Steelers. So-called skill players may get the glory, but the offensive line is the backbone of an NFL football team.

Steelers guard David DeCastro (66) and center Maurkice Pouncey (53) preparing for the snap / © Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

The Greatest Steelers Linemen

Most children hate playing on the offensive line in organized football. Few 10-year-olds dream of toiling in obscurity until they commit a penalty and the referee announces their misdeed for all to hear. Kids dream of becoming the next Patrick Mahomes, Saquon Barkley, or DeAndre Hopkins. They want to run with the ball or throw or catch passes. Kids want to score touchdowns.

But if they stick with football into high school, some kids begin to see offensive line play for what it is. Offensive linemen are the unsung warriors in the trenches and the biggest, most powerful men on the field. There is honor to the position, in the hours spent in the weight room, in the work ethic, and in the shared mission. The so-called skill positions may get the glory, but no team wins without a strong offensive line.

The Steelers have had some great running backs over the years, and they've had some dominant linemen that made those backs look even better. In this article, you'll read about the best guards, centers, and tackles ever to wear the black and gold.

What makes a great offensive lineman?

In some ways, it is tough to judge the effectiveness of offensive linemen as there aren't many stats that tell us how they are performing. You’d need to consistently watch a player at work over time in order to discern his overall skill and impact on the game. However, I think there are a few things we can look at to separate the great ones from the rest, such as:

• Pro Bowls
• All-Pro Teams
• Years in the NFL/Games Played
• Contributions to Winning Teams

Here are the 10 best offensive linemen in Steelers' history.

10. Gerry Mullins

Guard/Tackle, 1971–79

Mullins started at right guard in four Steelers Super Bowl victories. Back then, the Steelers were experts at running trap plays, which required quick, athletic guards, and Mullins was among the best.

Mullins played in 124 games during his nine seasons in Pittsburgh. He started during fullback Franco Harris' best seasons and helped him rush for more yards than any Steeler in team history. In 1976, Mullins helped pave the way for both Harris and halfback Rocky Bleier to run for more than 1,000 yards each.

Jersey Number: 72

Seasons: 9

Games Played: 124

Accolades: 4x Super Bowl champion

9. Jon Kolb

Tackle, 1969–81

Kolb held down the left tackle position and protected Terry Bradshaw's blindside in four Super Bowls. Kolb and his fellow linemen were among the first in NFL history to tape up the sleeves on their jerseys, exposing their massive upper arms. They did it so defenders couldn't grab them as easily, but it had the secondary effect of letting opponents know how many hours they'd spent in the weight room.

While building strength through lifting weights is a requirement in the NFL today, the Steelers linemen of the '70s were trailblazers in the field of strength training. Kolb was known for his legendary power and even competed in the World's Strongest Man contests in 1978 and '79. He never made a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro roster, but his work in the biggest games cements his place as one of the best Steelers linemen of all time.

Jersey Number: 55

Seasons: 13

Games Played: 177

Accolades: 4x Super Bowl champion

8. Tunch Ilkin

Tackle, 1980–92

Ilkin's career spanned from the time just following the Steelers' last Super Bowl appearance of the '70s to just before their next Super Bowl appearance in the mid-'90s. Despite the team's lackluster performance during this time period, Ilkin was a great offensive tackle and a bright spot on Steelers teams that desperately needed one.

He played for 13 seasons, and in his last season, he helped clear the way for running back Barry Foster to set the all-time team rushing record with 1,690 yards. Ilkin made two Pro Bowls in his career and went on to become a respected analyst covering the Steelers on TV and radio.

Jersey Number: 62

Seasons: 13

Games Played: 177

Accolades: 2x Pro Bowl

7. Marvel Smith

Tackle, 2000–08

Smith helped protect a young Ben Roethlisberger and open holes for running backs Willie Parker and Jerome Bettis as the Steelers marched to a Super Bowl victory in 2005. The Steelers won another championship in 2008, but Smith missed the game due to injury.

Over nine seasons, Smith played in 111 games and was part of some of the best o-lines in Steelers history. He made a Pro Bowl in 2004 and retired with two Super Bowl rings.

Jersey Number: 77

Seasons: 9

Games Played: 111

Accolades:

• 1x Pro Bowl
• 2x Super Bowl Champion

6. Jeff Hartings

Center, 2001–06

In 1994, Jeff Hartings was part of an undefeated Penn State team that many fans felt deserved a National Championship. A decade later, Hartings finally won his championship as a critical player on the Steelers’ Super Bowl team of 2005. Along with great linemen like Marvel Smith and Alan Faneca, he helped halfback Willie Parker gain over 1,200 rushing yards during the regular season.

Hartings spent the final six seasons of his career in Pittsburgh and made two Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team while playing in 90 games.

Jersey Number: 64

Seasons: 6

Games Played: 90

Accolades:

• 2x Pro Bowl
• 1x All-Pro
• 1x Super Bowl Champion

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive guard David DeCastro might just end up in the Hall of Fame one day / © Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

5. David DeCastro

Guard, 2012–2021

DeCastro is a powerful and athletic offensive guard. He is one of the two modern Steelers on this list and also the youngest. He came into the NFL in 2012 and became a starter in 2013. He has appeared in 112 games and made six straight Pro Bowls from 2015 to '20. He was nominated to the All-Pro rosters in 2015 and '17.

DeCastro is possibly a future Hall of Famer, but the Steelers parted ways with him prior to the 2021 season, likely due to recurring injuries and salary cap issues.

Jersey Number: 66

Seasons: 9

Games Played: 125

Accolades:

• 6x Pro Bowl
• 2x All-Pro

Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey (53) faces down Arizona Cardinals in a 2019 game at State Farm Stadium / © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

4. Maurkice Pouncey

Center, 2010–2021

Pouncey is an athletic center who made an immediate impact when he came into the NFL in 2010. He made a Pro Bowl his rookie year while anchoring an offensive line that helped the Steelers make it to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, Pouncey missed the game due to injury, and the Steelers lost. Pouncey has appeared in 134 games as a Steeler while making eight Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams.

Pouncey retired in 2021, following an emotional playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Jersey Number: 53

Seasons: 10

Games Played: 134

Accolades:

• 9x Pro Bowl
• 2x All-Pro

3. Dermontti Dawson

Center, 1988–2000

Dawson took the reins at center when All-Pro Mike Webster moved on to Kansas City in 1988. Dawson picked up right where Webster left off. He played in 184 games in his 13-year career and made seven Pro Bowls and six All-Pro teams.

Dawson and the Steelers made it to the Super Bowl in 1995 only to lose to the Cowboys. Still, he anchored an offensive line that helped Barry Foster run for 1,690 yards in 1992 and Jerome Bettis run for single-season totals of 1,665 (1997), 1,431 (1996), and 1,341 (2000) yards.

Dawson was enshrined as one of the Steelers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the class of 2012.

Jersey Number: 63

Seasons: 13

Games Played: 184

Accolades:

• 7x Pro Bowl
• 6x All-Pro
• Pro Football Hall of Fame, class of 2012

Former Steelers guard Alan Faneca waves a terrible towel for the crowd on the field prior to the 2018 AFC Divisional Playoff game between the Steelers and the Jaguars at Heinz Field / © Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

2. Alan Faneca

Guard, 1998–2007

It was tough choosing between Faneca and Dawson for the second spot. Both are legends among the greatest Steelers of all time. They have made the same number of Pro Bowls and All-Pro teams. Faneca played for 10 seasons and 158 games compared to Dawson’s 13 seasons and 184 games. Ultimately, it was Faneca’s contributions to the 2005 Super Bowl championship team that led me to rank him a notch higher, but it is very close.

After his time with the Steelers, Faneca went on to two more Pro Bowl seasons with the Jets. He ended his career widely regarded as one of the best offensive guards in NFL history.

After several years of waiting, Faneca finally made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the class of 2021.

Jersey Number: 66

Seasons: 10

Games Played: 158

Accolades:

• 7x Pro Bowl
• 6x All-Pro
• 1x Super Bowl Champion
• Pro Football Hall of Fame, class of 2021

1. Mike Webster

Center, 1974–88

Webster came to the Steelers as part of the legendary 1974 draft class that also brought Hall of Fame wide receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth as well as linebacker Jack Lambert. At the start of his career, he was an undersized center backing up veteran Ray Mansfield; by the end, he was a Hall of Famer and four-time Super Bowl champion. He was one of the best centers the NFL had ever seen and the greatest Steelers offensive lineman of all time.

Webster and his fellow linemen were pioneers of strength training, and his work ethic in the weight room played a significant role in his success and longevity. He earned the nickname “Iron Mike” for his ability to play through injury and never miss a start. He played in 220 games as a Steeler while making nine Pro Bowls and five All-Pro teams. Webster was enshrined in the Hall of Fame with the class of 1997.

Jersey Number: 52

Seasons: 15

Games Played: 220

Accolades:

• 9x Pro Bowl
• 5x All-Pro
• 4x Super Bowl Champion
• Pro Football Hall of Fame, class of 1997

Who Is the Best Steelers Offensive Lineman of All Time?

Mike Webster is the best Steelers offensive lineman of all time and one of the greatest centers ever to play in the NFL. He was a member of four Steelers Super Bowl championship teams and a starter on two of them. Webster came into his own in the late 1970s and made nine Pro Bowls and five All-Pro rosters between '78 and '87. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997.

Steelers offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva goes head to head with the Browns in a 2018 game / © Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Honorable Mentions

Here are a few Steeler greats who didn't quite make the main list:

Frank Varrichione

Tackle, 1955–60
4x Pro Bowl

Bill Walsh

Center, 1949–54
2x Pro Bowl, 1x All-Pro

Charlie Bradshaw

Tackle, 1961–66
2x Pro Bowl

Carlton Haselrig

Guard, 1990–93
1x Pro Bowl

Duval Love

Guard, 1992–94
1x Pro Bowl

Alejandro Villanueva

Tackle, 2014–Present
2x Pro Bowl

Positions and Duties on the O-Line

Five positions make up the offensive line: center, left and right guard, and left and right tackle. While players at each position may appear to share similar attributes when it comes to size, strength and speed, that wasn’t always so. Even in today’s NFL, every position has a different duty and skill requirement.

Center

The center is the leader of the offensive line who lets the other linemen know their assignments. If you listen closely while watching a game, you can hear him making calls before the snap. The center has to be smart but also powerful, as he is often required to take on the defensive nose tackle, the largest and most powerful player on the defensive line.

Best Steelers Centers of All Time

• Mike Webster
• Dermontti Dawson
• Maurkice Pouncey

Guard

There are two guards, one on each side of the center. In the past, guards were considered the best athletes on the offensive line. They had to run a lot, and they had to be quick enough to get out ahead of running backs on sweeps and trap plays. In today’s NFL, guards are still great athletes, but they rarely have to hustle like the guards from the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Best Steelers Guards of All Time

• Alan Faneca
• David DeCastro
• Gerry Mullins
• Sam Davis
• Carlton Haselrig

Tackle

The tackles line up outside of the guards, and there are two of them. Historically, they were the biggest, strongest offensive linemen, but these days everyone is big and strong. Both tackles must be able to pass block and run block well, as should all players on the offensive. However, the tackle who plays on the quarterback’s blindside must be an exceptionally skilled pass blocker.

Best Steelers Tackles of All Time

• Marvel Smith
• Tunch Ilkin
• Jon Kolb
• Larry Brown
• Alejandro Villanueva

Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris was the first Super Bowl MVP in Steelers history / © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Best Offensive Lines in Steelers History

There is no greater achievement for an offensive line than to plow a path to a championship for their team. The Steelers have played in eight Super Bowls in their storied franchise history and won six of them. Every Steelers team that made it to the Super Bowl did so in part due to a dominant offensive line. Yes, great Steelers running backs like Franco Harris, Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker got a lot of the glory, but none of them would have made it very far without the o-lines that blocked for them.

Here are the best Steelers offensive lines in history and the linemen who started in eight Super Bowls.

Steelers Super Bowl Starting Linemen

Super Bowl	Season	L. Tackle	L. Guard	Center	R. Guard	R. Tackle
IX	1974	Jon Kolb	Jim Clack	Ray Mansfield	Gerry Mullins	Gordon Gravelle
X	1975	Jon Kolb	Jim Clack	Ray Mansfield	Gerry Mullins	Gordon Gravelle
XIII	1978	Jon Kolb	Sam Davis	Mike Webster	Gerry Mullins	Ray Pinney
XIV	1979	Jon Kolb	Sam Davis	Mike Webster	Gerry Mullins	Larry Brown
XXX	1995	John Jackson	Tom Newberry	Dermontti Dawson	Brendan Stai	Leon Searcy
XL	2005	Marvel Smith	Alan Faneca	Jeff Hartings	Kendall Simmons	Max Starks
XLIII	2008	Max Starks	Chris Kemoeatu	Justin Hartwig	Darnell Stapleton	Willie Colon
XLV	2010	Jonathan Scott	Chris Kemoeatu	Doug Legursky	Ramon Foster	Flozell Adams

Behemoth players like 360-pound offensive tackle Zach Banner (72) are becoming the norm in today's NFL / © Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Biggest Players in the NFL

Believe it or not, there was a time when a man weighing as little as 220 pounds could play on the offensive line in the NFL. In today’s NFL, many wide receivers weigh more than that.

In the 1970s and ‘80s, guards and tackles weighing 250 to 270 pounds were common. Back then, a player weighing in at 300 pounds or more was rare. In fact, in 1985, Bears defensive tackle William Perry was nicknamed "The Refrigerator " due to his tremendous size (somewhere between 310 and 335 pounds).

Things began to change in the ‘90s. These days, an o-lineman weighing less than 300 pounds is rare. In 2019, the Steelers had eleven players listed at 300 pounds or more. The heaviest was offensive guard Zach Banner, who tipped the scales at a stunning 360 pounds.

You may think that these guys are just enormous doorstops, but the offensive linemen of today are incredible athletes despite their size. Advancements in training and nutritional programs mean bigger, stronger, faster athletes every year.

Here is a look at how size requirements on the offensive line have changed over the decades. Listed below are Steelers Pro Bowl lineman from different eras.

Steelers Pro Bowl Lineman Size Comparison

Year	Player	Position	Height	Weight
1942	John Woudenberg	Tackle	6'3"	226
1955	Frank Varrichione	Tackle	6'1"	234
1964	Charlie Bradshaw	Tackle	6'6"	255
1978	Mike Webster	Center	6'1	255
1992	Dermontti Dawson	Center	6'2"	288
1994	Duval Love	Guard	6'3"	275
2001	Alan Faneca	Guard	6'5"	316
2010	Maurkice Pouncey	Center	6'4"	304
2015	David DeCastro	Guard	6'5"	316

Steelers offensive guard David DeCastro benched 225 pounds for 34 reps during his scouting combine in 2012 / © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Strongest Players in the NFL

Offensive linemen are big, but size alone isn’t enough to make it in the NFL. Without the necessary strength, a 300-pound lineman amounts to little more than a minor inconvenience the defense simply needs to roll out of their way. But NFL linemen aren’t just big—they are incredibly strong as well.

The level of strength exhibited by these professional athletes is something we mere mortals might have trouble comprehending. For example, at the NFL Scouting Combine that is held every year before the draft, up-and-coming players are tested in their bench-press strength. NFL scouts want to know how many times a player can bench press 225 pounds. This test is easier than trying to find out their maximal lifts, and less likely to cause injury.

For the average gym-goer, bench pressing 225 pounds even once is a good goal. Lifters who can press it 10 or 15 times are relatively strong by casual gym standards. That’s not good enough for the NFL. For example, Steelers offensive guard David DeCastro bench pressed 225 for 34 reps during his Scouting Combine in 2012. That’s impressive, but some players manage to get 40 reps or more.

When their maximum strength is tested, many NFL linemen can bench press 500 pounds or more. That was true of the Steelers linemen back in the ‘70s as well as today. The NFL is a league of physical freaks, and the offensive linemen are the heavyweight gladiators of the bunch.

Here is a look at some of the current and former Steelers linemen’s combine results in the 225 test.

Steelers Linemen 225 Test Results

Player	Position	Combine Year	225 Reps
Matt Feiler	Tackle	2014	36
David DeCastro	Guard	2012	34
Marcus Gilbert	Tackle	2011	30
Chris Kemoeatu	Guard	2005	26
Cody Wallace	Center	2008	26
Marvel Smith	Tackle	2000	24
Kendall Simmons	Guard	2002	24
Zach Banner	Guard	2017	22
Max Starks	Tackle	2004	21
Chukwuma Okorafor	Tackle	2018	19

The Future of the Offensive Line

The Steelers have fielded some of the best offensive linemen in NFL history. Pro Bowls and All-Pro nominations only tell part of the story. The Steelers' championship history and their ability to dominate the running game both paint a picture of a team culture that values quality offensive linemen.

What does the future hold for the offensive line in the NFL? When the Steelers won their first Super Bowl, players weighing around 250 pounds could succeed as NFL offensive linemen. What they lacked in mass (compared to players of today) they made up for in quickness and agility. The Steelers' legendary trap plays of the ‘70s sprung Franco Harris for a lot of yards, and they were made possible by the athleticism of the offensive line.

The scary thing is, the gigantic offensive linemen of today—many of whom weigh in closer to 350 than 250—still have tremendous speed and agility for their size. Will we one day see 400-pound offensive linemen in the NFL?

It would be fun to watch for football fans, but no doubt terrifying for NFL defenses.

Statistical Reference

• Pro Football Reference