Two Steelers legends will have to wait for another shot at Canton.
Steelers greats L.C. Greenwood and Andy Russell are no longer in contention for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2025 “senior” class. Per an announcement from the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the pool of eligible “senior” players was narrowed once again, this time down to 31 players. Greenwood and Russell did not make the cut.
Greenwood has long been considered one of the biggest Hall of Fame snubs in NFL history as a key member of Pittsburgh’s 1970s Steel Curtain. Russell too was one of the great defenders of his era. Both players won multiple Super Bowls and made a number of Pro Bowls over their careers; Greenwood was especially decorated, a member of the Hall of Fame’s All-1970s team and a two-time All-Pro to go along with his 78 (unofficial) career sacks.
The NFL announced 183 “senior” nominees for the upcoming 2025 Hall of Fame class back in September, including six former Steelers: defensive lineman L.C. Greenwood, kicker Norm Johnson, defensive lineman Eugene “Big Daddy” Lipscomb, linebacker Andy Russell, defensive back Mike Wagner, and running back Byron “Whizzer” White.
Greenwood and Russell were the only players to make the cut down to 60. However, they couldn’t make it past the next round.
A total of 31 eligible players remain, and the list can be viewed on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s website. Eventually, three players from the list will make the final ballot for a shot at Canton in 2025. The rest will have to wait.