PITTSBURGH — Records aren’t meant to stand forever, even for the storied Pittsburgh Steelers.
While he acknowledged such, former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau doesn’t think there’s a unit that will smother opponents quite like his 2008 unit did.
Along with LeBeau, Jason Gildon, Casey Hampton, and Willie Parker were recognized as the newest members of the Steelers Hall of Honor at halftime of Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns. They were enshrined at a dinner on Saturday night at Acrisure Stadium.
“That defense put up numbers,” LeBeau said after listing off most of the aforementioned group’s stalwarts. “I don’t think they’re going to be equaled. Records are made to be broken, but I still kind of glance at the stats every now and then — and ain’t nobody close to them yet. We’re talking about two decades (since). … We had a field full of all-stars, man. All I had to do was stay out of their way.”
Game Recognizes Game
Hampton, a five-time Pro Bowler at nose tackle, was one of those standouts, even if his contributions weren’t as recognized like some of the other guys in that group, which was the best in the NFL in terms of points, yards, and passing yards allowed. It was second in first downs, passing touchdowns, and rushing yards and touchdowns given up.
“It don’t really matter, man,” said Hampton, who shared the Steelers’ team MVP with Hines Ward in 2005. “I got me two Super Bowls. We won a whole lot. I was part of a great team, great defenses. That’s what it’s really all about, man. It ain’t about me getting recognition or nothing like that. It’s about what we did as a group and the family we had here. It was great, so I had a great experience.”
Parker, a record-holder himself, played in Pittsburgh from 2004-09. He’s happy to be remembered in the Steel City after spending four campaigns as the team’s primary starter at running back. He had three 1,000-yard seasons on the ground and sprinted for a 75-yard touchdown in Super Bowl XL, the longest in Super Bowl history.
“Just being acknowledged by the team that you just gave all your time and energy to, it just means the world to me,” Parker said. “Being honored by the city of Pittsburgh, being beside a lot of other great that’s in the hall, it’s phenomenal.”
Having pulled down the quarterback 77 times, Gildon was the Steelers’ official career leader in sacks before James Harrison came along. He’s proud to be a part of Pittsburgh’s legacy in rushing the quarterback.
“It means a lot,” said Gildon, who played for the Steelers from 1994-2003. “When you look at it, it’s a long lineage of guys who came before me and, obviously, after me. It’s one of those things. The franchise has always prided itself on building the defense with guys who go out there and put it on the line not only for the players, but for the city. Playing linebacker for this franchise definitely means something.”