Happy Halloween: The 5 SCARIEST Players in Steelers History

Story by Yinzer Crazy Steelers Contributor Jayson Erwin. Follow him on Twitter @JaysonErwin2002

With Halloween less than one week away, Steeler fans aren't in the greatest of spirits right now. Not the kind of spirits that scare you, but the kind of spirits of being 2-5 and the next game against the undefeated Eagles. But how about we all take a minute and talk about the good times. For us though, not the other teams, because they're the ones that had to face these guys. Because if I had to face these guys even if they are retired, let's just say this would be the final article I would ever have the opportunity to write. In the spirit of Halloween, here are the 5 scariest Steeler players of all time!

#5 Troy Polamalu

From AFC Championship-winning pick sixes to ruining Pat McAfee's day by going to the c-gap (and if you get that reference I love you forever), Troy Polamalu was a legend and arguably the best safety of all time. One of the plays he made that has always blown me away was in the 2010, Week 2 matchup vs. the Titans. Titans QB Kerry Collins was under center ready to QB sneak it at the goalline to score a touchdown. As the ball was snapped, Polamalu used his incredible agility and defensive intelligence, and literally JUMPED OVER the offensive line and tackled Collins. The best part of the play was the sheer timing of it all, as no flag was thrown. Just an incredible play by the hall of fame safety. Polamalu made a career out of intercepting QBs in incredible ways and laying out opposing receivers. Don't let his smile fool you, he will wreck you, and make offensive coordinators wish they never picked up a playbook.

#4 T.J Watt

You can make the argument that Watt shouldn't be on this list because he's still playing. But I think it's very fair to project a bit here. You do realize he has only been with the Steelers for 6 seasons and he only needs 8 more sacks to break the all-time record for Steelers sacks, right? Held by James Harrison with 80.5 sacks, Watt is in 3rd place right behind Jason Gildon with 76.5. Here's something fascinating: Harrison and Gildon have played over 150 games. Watt has only played 78 games and already is closing in on the record! What makes T.J so scary is how he plays. A relentless motor, always going for the ball, and almost every play is threatening the QB with a sack. The reigning defensive player of the year tied the record for most sacks in a season in 2021., and despite an injury to his pec, shows he never stops training and always looks to get back on the field no matter what. And if you want any more proof of how good he is, the Steelers have led the league in team sacks since 2017 which was, oh yeah, the year Watt was drafted. And furthermore, the Steelers defense has been without Watt since week 1, and the Steelers are in the bottom 8 of the least amount of sacks. You don't need me to tell you how scary this man is to opposing QBs. Look at the stats and highlights. This man is truly no man.

#3 "Mean" Joe Greene

The best Steeler of all time. With younger fans like myself, it's hard to understand just how good this guy was. He was the centerpiece of one of the best defenses ever, "The Steel Curtain" and went on to win 4 super bowls. Off the field, he was a gentle giant. But on the field it was a different story. He has been described as "mean, gritty, intimidating, and ferocious". He's spat on QBs, punched and kicked lineman, and often fought with officials. But he was a leader in the locker room and the field and would tell you if you weren't giving 100%. Only missing 9 games in a 12-year career, Greene racked up 77.5 sacks, which isn't official as sacks weren't an official stat until 1982, a year after he retired. The 6'4, 275lb defensive lineman wasn't to be messed with. 

#2 James Harrison

Steeler fans and James Harrison have an interesting relationship. He was with the Steelers for 9 years despite multiple releases, got released then joined the Bengals for one year, went back to Pittsburgh a year later, then got released again, then signed with the Patriots, and finally, he retired after that season. But you can't deny if you were a QB and you saw Harrison in a blackout visor with one goal on his mind and that is to destroy you, you would want to ask the 2nd string if he wants to take a few snaps. Harrison is a gym freak and he has been seen lifting nearly 700lbs when he was already 39 years old. The guy is straight up frightening. He is the all-time sack leader for the Steelers franchise. 2008 was his best season. 16 sacks, 101 tackles, 7 forced fumbles, oh and one of the best super bowl plays of all time, often overlooked by the Santonio Holmes toe-tap touchdown. On a play, he was originally supposed to blitz, he switched to zone coverage and picked off Kurt Warner at the goalline, and ran 100-yards for a touchdown as the first half ended. It was a chaotic play but fit for a chaotic player who destroys players and Browns fans like Nathan Mallet. 

#1 Jack Lambert

If you look at a rookie Jack Lambert, he doesn't seem that intimidating. If you look at Lambert in later years, you would be scared. One of his more iconic looks was when he didn't have his dentures and was missing his four front teeth. Lambert looked terrifying to play against and would let it be known if you weren't on his team, he was going to destroy you. A few examples; in Super Bowl 10, fellow Cowboy Cliff Harris went to talk trash to kicker Roy Gerela after missing a kick. Lambert then literally threw Harris to the ground. In an interview, Lambert was asked "Do you think there should be any rule changes for the safety of the quarterback?" and Lambert responded, "we should put dresses on them". Lambert often told opposing players he would "bite their head off" and was just a problem for everyone who wasn't a Steeler. He was a quarterback in college and was a quarterback on defense in the NFL. He has made it known he doesn't care what his opponents think of him, but he will make them respect him. He is the Michael Myers on this list. The Jack-O-Lantern.