Steelers Elbie Nickel, Lee Calland to be Inducted into Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame

Former Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Elbie Nickel and cornerback Lee Calland are set to be inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer, the organization announced Wednesday.

Nickel was selected in the 15th round of the 1947 NFL Draft by Pittsburgh, and went on to play eleven years with the Steelers.

A member of the Steelers 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, he recorded 329 receptions for 5,131 yards and 37 touchdowns, which are all top ten in franchise history.

Nickel was a three-time Pro Bowler and member of the Steelers’ Hall of Honor Class of 2019. He died in 2007.

The first rookie starter at cornerback in league history, Calland played for the Vikings, Falcons and Bears before ending his career with three seasons in Pittsburgh.

He had 19 career interceptions upon his retirement in 1972.

Calland went on to coach defense at the college level at a number of HBCUs, including Fort Valley State, Morehouse, Southern, Morris Brown and Tennessee State.

The 80-year-old Calland currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

In addition to the enshrinements of Nickel and Calland, former Steelers center Dermontti Dawson will be given the Blanton Collier Award, which is presented annually to those who not only succeeded on the field, but also in helping others off of it.

After the additions of Nickel of Calland, the Steelers will have the most players inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame, as they will join Dawson, Aaron Jones, Dwayne Woodruff, John Jackson, William Gay and Tim Lester.