Steelers March Madness ‘25: Banana Split Bracket Round 1

Pittsburgh Steelers — Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Decide which of these moments move on

All week, we’re celebrating Round 1 of Steelers March Madness. It’s an NCAA-style tournament of historic black and gold moments. This year’s theme is the 64 greatest front office moves in team history. Our choices include trades, free agent signings and contract extensions. You can see our previous selections from DAY 1, DAY 2, and DAY 3. Let’s get to the final bracket.

BANANA SPLIT BRACKET

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.

16 seed: April 28, 2023 – Traded down in 2023 third round

(traded 2023 3rd round (80th overall, DJ Johnson) to Panthers for 2023 3rd round pick (93rd overall, Darnell Washington) and 2023 4th round (132nd overall, Nick Herbig)

The Panthers climbed 13 spots in the third round to pick linebacker D.J. Johnson. In exchange, Pittsburgh turned Carolina’s third and fourth-round picks into tight end Darnell Washington and linebacker Nick Herbig.

2 seed: March 14, 2006 – Signed free agent safety Ryan Clark

(signed a four-year, $7 million deal)

Cincinnati Bengals v Pittsburgh Steelers

After two seasons, Washington cut Clark but was willing to bring him back on a smaller, minimum contract. R.C. felt disrespected, so he chose to test the market. Pittsburgh was his only offer. Clark went on to play in 80 games, starting 78, and made three Super Bowl appearances.

15 seed: April 29, 1994 – Traded for safety Lee Flowers pick

(traded Jeff Graham to Bears for 1995 5th round pick (151st overall, Lee Flowers)

San Diego Chargers v Pittsburgh Steelers

Graham was the Steelers leading receiver in 1992, but he regressed in 1993. Then, the Steelers drafted Charles Johnson in 1994. At the time, it didn’t seem like Pittsburgh got much in the trade, but that 5th-round pick became safety Lee Flowers, who would start 75 games.

3 seed: September 16, 2019 – Traded for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

(traded 2020 1st round pick (18th overall, Austin Jackson), 2020 5th round pick (154th overall, Jason Strowbridge) and 2021 6th round pick (207th overall subsequently traded, Jonathan Marshall) to Dolphins for Minkah Fitzpatrick, 2020 4th round pick (135th overall, Kevin Dotson) and 2021 7th round pick (245th overall, Tre Norwood))

Fitzpatrick wasn’t happy with how he was being used in Miami, so he requested a trade. Despite losing Ben Roethlisberger for the season hours earlier, Pittsburgh made the deal. With the Steelers, Fitzpatrick has acquired five Pro Bowl seasons and three All-Pro campaigns.

14 seed: March 16, 2024 – Signed free agent safety DeShon Elliott

(signed a two-year, $6 million deal)

Kansas City Chiefs v Pittsburgh Steelers

Elliott is already a Steelers legend in one way, with his meme-generating introductory press conference. His first season in Pittsburgh was a career-best, which included 108 tackles.

4 seed: April 17, 1999 – Traded down for linebacker Joey Porter’s pick

(traded 1999 2nd round pick (44th overall, Jim Kleinsasser) to Vikings for 1999 2nd round pick (59th overall, Scott Shields), 1999 3rd round pick (73rd overall, Joey Porter) and 1999 5th round pick (163rd overall subsequently traded, Craig Heimburger)

Pittsburgh Steelers Joey Porter, 2005 AFC Playoffs

Minnesota was willing to give up a third-round pick to move up 15 spots in the second. They had their eye on tight end Jim Kleinsasser. Pittsburgh’s eventual second-round pick, Scott Shields, only made two starts, but that additional third-round pick turned into 3x Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XL champion Joey Porter.

13 seed: March 5, 2003 – Signed free agent linebacker Clint Kriewaldt

(signed a three-year $2.38 million deal)

After four years as a special teamer in Detroit, Kriewaldt hit free agency. Pittsburgh called him on the first morning of free agency. He came to town for a visit and signed a contract before leaving. He spent five years in the black and gold, playing in 74 games on special teams, and starting twice at linebacker.

5 seed: April 6, 1999 – Signed free agent offensive tackle Wayne Gandy

(signed a four-year, $14 million deal)

Will Wolford was retiring, so the Steelers spent weeks courting Wayne Gandy, who had started 64 games for the Rams. Gandy had never made the playoffs though, and that’s why he chose Pittsburgh. As a percentage of the cap, it’s still the biggest free agent signing in Steelers’ history. Gandy started 63 games over those four seasons, plus four playoff games.

12 seed: November 1, 2022 – Traded away receiver Chase Claypool

(traded Chase Claypool to Bears for 2023 2nd round pick (32nd overall, Joey Porter))

Pittsburgh Steelers v Philadelphia Eagles

Chase Claypool had not yet become Mapletron as once predicted. Although the Steelers could only get a third-round pick for Antonio Brown three years earlier, Pittsburgh somehow got a second-round pick from Chicago for Claypool. That pick ended up becoming current starting cornerback Joey Porter Jr.

6 seed: March 10, 2004 – Signed free agent defensive lineman Travis Kirschke

(signed four-year, $6.4 million deal)

Rodney Bailey did not want to sign a long-term deal in Pittsburgh. So when New England made an offer to the restricted free agent, the Steelers declined to match it. Instead, they signed Travis Kirschke, who was coming off the best season in his career. He received several offers but says he put the decision in God’s hands. Although he was no longer a starter, Kirschke played in 92 games over six seasons, winning two Super Bowl rings.

11 seed: August 29, 2017 – Traded for tight end Vance McDonald

(traded 2018 4th round pick (#128 Kentavius Street) to SF for Vance McDonald and 2018 5th round pick (#148 Marcus Allen))

San Francisco had been trying to shop McDonald earlier in the spring. It was apparent to them that George Kittle had starting potential. Pittsburgh was a buyer because the previous year’s addition, Ladarius Green, failed. McDonald spent four years in Pittsburgh, playing in 53 games, starting 47 of them, plus two playoff games.

7 seed: August 21, 1995 – Signed free agent kicker Norm Johnson

(signed a two-year deal)

After 13 seasons in Pittsburgh, Gary Anderson left for Philadelphia when the Steelers offered him a contract he couldn’t accept. Pittsburgh came to camp with kicker Dean Biasucci, but he was struggling. Johnson happened to be available. Despite making 90 percent of his kicks in Atlanta, he had been replaced by Morten Andersen. Johnson’s special teams coach in Atlanta, Bobby April, was now in Pittsburgh. Johnson went on to lead the league in field goals in 1995. He played in 63 games over four seasons, including Super Bowl XXX.

10 seed: March 21, 2023 – Signed free agent guard Isaac Seumalo

(signed three-year $24 million deal)

In 2023, the influence of new assistant general manager Andy Weidl was quickly apparent with the Steelers’ new emphasis on the offensive line. Seumalo wasn’t the flashiest name on the free agent market, but he was a very known quantity to Weidl. He instantly upgraded the offense, joining the Steelers with a higher PFF score than any of his fellow linemen. He’s started 30 games so far.

8 seed: March 18, 2008 – Signed free agent center Justin Hartwig

(signed two-year, $4 million deal)

Hartwig was the NFL’s highest-paid center in Carolina, but injuries caused the Panthers to draft his replacement. Hartwig also received an offer from Kansas City, his hometown team, but after meeting with Mike Tomlin, his agent convinced him to sign with Pittsburgh. Hartwig started all 32 games during his two years with the Steelers, plus Super Bowl XLIII.

9 seed: April, 1995 – Signed free agent running back Erric Pegram

(signed a two-year deal)

Pittsburgh Steelers v Jacksonville Jaguars

The Steelers had a void to fill at running back when Barry Foster was traded to Carolina. Pegram thought he was the missing piece keeping Pittsburgh from a Super Bowl. He said as much to the Packers, vowing to take less money to sign with Pittsburgh. He led the team in rushing in 1995, helping the team make it to Super Bowl XXX. Pegram played in 27 total games for the black and gold.

Steelers March Madness continues next week with Round 2. We’ll continue all month until we crown a champion!