Steelers March Madness ‘25: Halupki Bracket Round 1

Choose which moments move on

It’s Day 2 of Steelers March Madness, our NCAA-style tournament of great black and gold moments. This year’s theme is the 64 greatest front office moves, which includes trades, free agent singings and contract extensions. You can still vote on yesterday’s bracket HERE. Now let’s introduce the next 16.

HALUPKI BRACKET

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.

16 seed: April 27, 2018 – Traded up to draft quarterback Mason Rudolph

(Traded 2018 3rd round pick (79th overall, Rasheem Green) and 2018 7th round pick (220th overall, Alex McGough) to Seahawks for 2018 3rd round pick (76th overall, Mason Rudolph)

NFL: AUG 09 Preseason - Steelers at Eagles

Before the 2017 season, Ben Roethlisberger talked about considering retirement for the first time. In 2018, he was singing a different tune, but Pittsburgh needed to have a replacement plan in place. Rudolph was on the Steelers’ radar from the beginning of the draft process. Offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner especially liked his deep ball. Pittsburgh claimed to have a first-round grade on him, so it seemed like a steal that he was still available at pick 76. Rudolph was the highest quarterback selected by the Steelers since Roethlisberger. He spent four seasons in Pittsburgh, playing in 21 games and starting 13. Rudolph’s three starts in 2023 saved the season and earned the team a playoff bid.

2 seed: February 14, 2000 – Signed free agent nose tackle Kimo Von Oelhoffen

(signed a four-year, $11 million deal)

Philadelphia Eagles v Pittsburgh Steelers

Kevin Colbert’s first free agent signing as the Steelers’ general manager. Von Oelhoffen spent six years in Cincinnati as a nose tackle, but Pittsburgh soon converted him to defensive end. He started 94 games for the Steelers including Super Bowl XL.

15 seed: March 9, 2004 – Signed free agent running back Duce Staley

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

Jerome Bettis was getting older, and Pittsburgh was looking for a running back who could take the torch. Staley joined the team because he rooted for the Steelers growing up. Staley’s time in Pittsburgh was riddled with injuries, but he started ten games in 2004, racking up 830 yards.

3 seed: February 25, 1998 – signed free agent cornerback Dewayne Washington

(signed five-year, $22.5 million deal)

Washington hit free agency coming off his best season in Minnesota with four interceptions. Denver offered him more money, but Washington wanted to play with defensive backs Darren Perry and Carnell Lake. During his first season in town, Washington had 93 tackles, five interceptions, and two touchdowns. He ultimately started 92 games in Pittsburgh, plus four playoff games, including the 2001 AFC Championship against New England.

14 seed: May 3, 2022 – Signed free agent defensive back Damontae Kazee

(signed a one-year, $1.1875 million deal)

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: Pittsburgh Steelers v Baltimore Ravens

Kazee brought starting talent to a secondary that already had Minkah Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds. In three seasons, he’s played in 38 games, starting 14.

4 seed: April 21, 2001 – Traded up for linebacker Kendrell Bell

(traded 2001 2nd round pick (50th overall subsequently traded, Dominic Raiola) and 2001 4th round pick (112th overall subsequently traded, Carlos Polk) to Patriots for 2001 2nd round pick (39th overall, Kendrell Bell))

Kevin Colbert’s fingers were dancing across the phone pad for his first draft as general manager. After trading down in the first and selecting defensive tackle Casey Hampton, he traded up in the second to find a linebacker to replace Levon Kirkland. Bell played in 47 games and went All-Pro in his rookie season.

13 seed: April, 1994 – Signed free agent fullback John L Williams

San Diego Chargers v Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers needed a fullback to block for Barry Foster. They offered Daryl Johnston of the Cowboys a three-year $3.75 million deal, but he turned it down. Their next choice was Williams, who signed with Pittsburgh because of their chance to get the Super Bowl. He also wanted to play for a city where he could easily fly back home to Florida. In his two seasons in Pittsburgh, he played in 26 games, starting 19, plus five playoff games.

5. June 12, 2001: signed quarterback Tommy Maddox

(signed a one-year deal)

One of the few success stories from the 2001 XFL experiment, Tommy Maddox led the league in passing yards and touchdowns. Afterward, he called every NFL team, trying to get a camp invitation. Pittsburgh brought him in, where he replaced Kordell Stewart as starter in 2002 and led the Steelers to a wild comeback win against the Browns in the playoffs. Maddox ultimately appeared in 43 games, starting 32. He set many team records at the time, including completions in a season (298), single-game passing yardage (473), single-game postseason passing yardage (367), career 300-yard passing games (6), and the season passing completion percentage mark (60.2 in 2002).

12 seed: April 24, 2010 – Traded for cornerback Bryant McFadden and Antonio Brown pick

(traded 2010 5th round pick (155th overall, John Skelton) to Cardinals for Bryant McFadden and 2010 6th round pick (195th overall, Antonio Brown)

Pittsburgh needed an upgrade at cornerback, so they brought back Bryant McFadden, who started all 16 games for the league’s number-one scoring defense. What the Steelers did not know that day is that the 6th-round pick they also acquired would be generational talent, Antonio Brown.

6 seed: March 21, 2017 – Signed free agent defensive tackle Tyson Alualu

(signed two-year, $6 million deal)

Tyson Alualu didn’t expect to sign with Pittsburgh, he was only visiting because his agent told him to do it. Then he met John Mitchell, Mike Tomlin, and Kevin Colbert. He left the meeting knowing he was going to sign, and he called it the best decision in his life. Alualu spent six years in Pittsburgh, playing in 81 games.

11 seed: March 16, 2024 – Signed free agent linebacker Patrick Queen

(signed a three-year, $41 million deal)

When Queen hit free agency, Baltimore didn’t even offer their former All-Pro and Pro Bowler a contract. He took $4 million-$5 million less to sign in Pittsburgh, even though it was still the Steelers’ largest free-agent contract in team history.

7 seed: June 23, 2022 – Signed free agent defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi

(signed one-year, $8 million deal)

Ogunjobi had a $40 million deal with the Bears, but that fell apart when Larry failed his physical. The Steelers had a big hole to fill after the retirement of Stephon Tuitt. Ogunjobi has since appeared in 48 games for Pittsburgh, starting 45.

10 seed: March 14, 2019 – Signed free agent cornerback Steven Nelson

(signed a three-year, $25 million deal)

2016 first-round draft pick Artie Burns was not a success story at cornerback. By 2019, he had been benched. The Steelers addressed their need by signing Nelson to one of the biggest free-agent contracts in team history. During Nelson’s two seasons with the team, Pittsburgh finished third in pass defense each time.

8 seed: March 23, 2001 – Signed free agent safety Mike Logan

(signed three-year, $3.1 million deal)

Logan was coming off his best season as a pro. He received better offers, but his dream was to play for his hometown Steelers. Pittsburgh even let him wear Donnie Shell’s number 31 in tribute. Logan was mostly behind free safety Brent Alexander on the depth chart. However, his ability to be position-versatile allowed him to see playing time in several different packages across 73 games and six seasons. In 2003, he started 15 games as strong safety.

9 seed: March 24, 2014 – Signed free agent linebacker Arthur Moats

(signed one-year, $795,000 deal)

Pittsburgh was in serious need of an edge rusher after LaMarr Woodley left for Oakland. They got Moats for the veteran minimum, even though he started 12 games the previous season. Moats would play in 62 games over the next four years, starting 25, plus seven playoff games.

Come back tomorrow for our next quadrant in Steelers March Madness.