Choose the best front office moves in Steelers history
Round 2 continues in Steelers March Madness 2025. This year’s theme is front office moves. You’ll decide which moments move on until we crown a champ. If you didn’t vote on yesterday’s brackets, click HERE.
Let’s take a look at today’s matchups.
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)
Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images
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
9 seed: March 24, 2014 – Signed free agent linebacker Arthur Moats
(signed one-year, $795,000 deal)
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
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.
2 seed: February 14, 2000 – Signed free agent nose tackle Kimo Von Oelhoffen
(signed a four-year, $11 million deal)
Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images
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.
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10 seed: March 14, 2019 – Signed free agent cornerback Steven Nelson
(signed a three-year, $25 million deal)
Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images
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.
3 seed: February 25, 1998 – signed free agent cornerback Dewayne Washington
(signed five-year, $22.5 million deal)
Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images
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.
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11 seed: March 16, 2024 – Signed free agent linebacker Patrick Queen
(signed a three-year, $41 million deal)
Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images
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.
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.
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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)
Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images
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.
Round 2 continues tomorrow with the Chipped Ham Bracket. Please defend your votes in the comments.