Choose the best front office moves in Steelers history
At the beginning of the month, we started with the 64-greatest front office moves in Pittsburgh Steelers history (If you want to revisit the journey, go back to Round 1: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 & Day 4).
Now, only the Final Four remain. All four are members of the Hall of Honor. Three are enshrined in Canton. It’s time for you to vote on which front office move was superior!
FINAL FOUR
Pierogi Bracket champion
1 seed: April 20, 1996 – Traded for running back Jerome Bettis
(Traded 2nd round pick (59th overall, Ernie Conwell) and 1997 4th round (121st overall later traded, Jerome Daniels) to Rams for Bettis and 1996 3rd round (72nd overall, Steve Conley)
In one of the most lopsided transactions in NFL history, Pittsburgh moved down 13 spots from pick 59 to 72 and added a future 3rd rounder in exchange for Jerome Bettis. The Rams were transitioning to a pass-oriented offense and drafted Nebraska’s Lawrence Phillips. St. Louis gave Bettis the option to pick his destination, and he almost considered Houston. Writers in Pittsburgh didn’t love the trade initially, because Bettis had a pair of down seasons and his contract was up at the end of the year. But they changed their tune after The Bus won Comeback Player of the Year and became the highest-paid player in Steelers history at that point.
VS
Banana Split Bracket champion
1 seed: April 3, 1993 – Signed free agent linebacker Kevin Greene
(signed a three-year, $5.35 million deal)
Greene came to Pittsburgh in free agency because of Defensive Coordinator Dom Caper’s 3-4 system. He didn’t come cheap. He was the highest-paid Steelers defender ever at the time. Greene was only in Pittsburgh for three seasons, but in those 48 games, he earned 35.5 sacks, two Pro Bowls, and an All-Pro season in 1994. He played in two AFC Championship games for Pittsburgh and one Super Bowl.
Halupki Bracket champion
1 seed: April 26, 2003 – Traded up to draft safety Troy Polamalu
(Traded 1st round pick (27th overall, Larry Johnson), 3rd round pick (92nd overall, Julian Battle) and 6th round pick (200th overall subsequently traded, Brooks Bollinger) to Chiefs for 1st round pick (16th overall, Troy Polamalu)
Pittsburgh was almost not in the market for a safety in 2003. The Steelers had a verbal agreement with Dexter Jackson, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, but he would end up signing with Arizona. Polamalu was the top-ranked safety in the draft. When San Diego traded down at pick 15 instead of addressing the safety position, Pittsburgh traded up from 27 to 16 with the Chiefs. The Steelers traded away the 92nd and 200th overall picks.
VS
Chipped Ham Bracket champion
1 seed: April 5, 2002 – Signed free agent linebacker James Farrior
(Signed a three-year, $5.4 million deal)
Farrior was the 8th overall pick in the 1997 draft, but the Jets used him as an outside linebacker. New York was not interested in extending him after his rookie contract, despite putting up career numbers in 2001. Farrior says he received no other offers besides Pittsburgh. He went on to start 154 games at inside linebacker.
Later this week, we’ll reveal the final matchup, and we’ll crown a 2025 Steelers March Madness champion!