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Former Steelers OL Coach Selected to WPIAL Hall of Fame
Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Russ Grimm has been named a member of the WPIAL Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
Grimm is a Scottdale, Pa. Native, who was a quarterback, linebacker and punter at Southmoreland High School. He attended to Pitt with the intention of playing linebacker, but a logjam at that position created a lifelong career on the offensive line.
Despite starting out at 205 pounds, Grimm converted to center, where he became a four-tear letterman from 1977-80. He helped Pitt to two 11-win seasons and victories in the 1977 and 1980 Gator Bowl and 1979 Fiesta Bowl. The 1980 team, which finished No. 2 in the nation, with Grimm joining Bill Maas and Jimbo Covert to give the Panthers three future NFL Pro Bowlers on the line.
Grimm was selected in the third round of the 1981 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins and joined another elite offensive line. “The Hogs” as the unit was called, included Grimm, fellow Pitt alum Mark May, Jeff Bostic, George Starke and Joe Jacoby under line coach Joe Bugel.
The Hogs helped Washington win three Super Bowls after the 1982, 1987 and 1991 seasons, with three different starting quarterbacks and three different starting running backs.
Grimm was named a four-time Pro Bowler, a four-time All-Pro and to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team. He retied after the 1991 season and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
Immediately after his playing career ended, Grimm started coaching, first as the tight ends coach and then offensive line coach for the Redskins from 1992-2000. In 2001, his hometown Steelers hired Grimm and he was the offensive line coach for five seasons, winning Super Bowl XL as an assistant coach for his fourth ring.
Grimm was a finalist for the Steelers head coach job after Bill Cowher retired in 2007, but the team selected Mike Tomlin instead. Grimm went with Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, who became the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. Grimm coached for six years in Arizona and two more with the Tennessee Titans in 2016-17 before retiring as a coach.
The WPIAL announced the class of 2025 on Wednesday morning at the Senator John Heinz History Center and Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, which is the 18th class inducted in the Hall. The 15 inductees include seven athletes, two coaches and one of each in the categories of official, contributor, heritage and courage.
Former Aliquippa and New England Patriots defensive back Ty Law was also inducted in this year’s class.
A version of this article first appeared at our partner site, Pittsburgh Sports Now. Karl Ludwig contributed.
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