The greatest defensive lineman to have ever worn black and gold are still ranked by Curtain.
The 10 best defensive linemen in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers
Still Curtain ranks the all-time best defensive linemen to wear the black and gold.
Several things immediately come to mind when you think of the Pittsburgh Steelers. One is the historic Steel Curtain Defense. This wouldn’t have been possible without the fantastic work from the big guys up front.
Throughout the decades, the Steelers have had phenomenal players on the interior defensive line. Some of these players were considered among the best at their position in their era, while others rank among the greatest defensive players of all time. Mixed in with this group are a few criminally underrated defensive linemen who never got the recognition they deserved.
Considering the success the Steelers have had when it comes to drafting and developing defensive linemen, there’s no doubt that more names in the future will reach this historic status. The best defensive linemen in franchise history were difficult to narrow down to just a list of ten players.
Criteria for selection
There were numerous factors considered when ranking the best defensive linemen in Steelers history. Statistical production was important, but I also took into account a player’s ability to defend the run and what their presence on defense meant to the team.
I also considered each player’s leadership qualities and intangibles at the position, as well as memorable moments and clutch plays. Longevity and consistency at the position were also important factors used to separate players in the rankings.
The Steelers have had very different defensive styles over the years (4-3 and 3-4 defenses). For this list, I only included players who would classify as interior defenders. This is based on the role they played with the team. If a player played on the edge and their primary role was as a pass rusher, they were not included on this list. In other words, this is a list of players considered defensive tackles, nose tackles, and 3-4 base defensive ends.
In order to qualify for a ranking, players must have spent at least one full season on the Steelers roster.
The top 10 defensive linemen in Pittsburgh Steelers history
10. Gary Dunn
My brain wants to say ‘Harry Dunne’ every time I see his name (fans of Dumb and Dumber know what I’m talking about). While I never got the privilege of watching Gary Dunn play (he finished his career the year before I was born), I’ve watched a lot of tape on the late-70s and early-80s Steelers defenses, and Dunn was a menace.
After entering the NFL in the sixth round of the 1976 NFL Draft, Dunn appeared in just five games in his first two seasons before earning a part-time role in 1978. Over the next few seasons, Dunn played a heavy rotation on the defensive line.
In his final six seasons, Dunn was Pittsburgh’s nose tackle. While his production won’t wow fans, he was a pivotal member of the Steelers’ defensive line and he earned two Super Bowl rings for his efforts in the late stages of the Steel Curtain defense. Dunn started 105 of 146 games for Pittsburgh where he played his entire 12-year career.
9. Stephon Tuitt
To this day, I will argue with anyone that Stephon Tuitt was one of the most underrated and underappreciated players on the Pittsburgh Steelers. At 6’5” and over 300 pounds, Tuitt used his long arms and powerful frame to manhandle offensive linemen at the point of attack.
Tuitt showcased impressive athletic traits for a player his size, with both strength and quickness to get after the quarterback and defend the run at a high level. The 2014 second-round pick was looking like an outstanding selection.
Unfortunately, Tuitt’s Achilles heel was his health. He was constantly banged up and never played a full season in the NFL. The sudden death of his brother led him to retire early — playing his final snaps at the age of 27. Still, Tuitt started 79 of 91 games for the Steelers. In his final season, he recorded 45 tackles, 11.0 sacks, 10 tackles for a loss, 25 quarterback hits, and 2 forced fumbles.
8. Kimo von Oelhoffen
Fans who grew up watching the Steelers in the early 2000s can’t forget about Kimo von Oelhoffen. After six years with the Cincinnati Bengals, the powerful defensive lineman signed with the Steelers and was 29 years old during his first season in Pittsburgh in 2000.
Instantly, von Oelhoffen proved to be an outstanding run defender. He used his 6’4”, 300-pound frame to take on double-team blocks and was a key piece of a remarkable run defense.
Though he did record an eight-sack season in 2003, von Oelhoffen never put up gaudy numbers. He didn’t need to as his selfless play and ability to control the line of scrimmage spoke for itself. He started 94 of 95 games for the Steelers from 2000 to 2005 — capping off his final season in Pittsburgh with a Super Bowl ring.
7. Ernie Holmes
Listed at just 6’3” and 260 pounds, Ernie Holmes played in an era where defensive linemen were much smaller, but often quicker. Holmes played some defensive end in his first season with the Steelers in 1972 before moving to defensive tackle in Pittsburgh’s 4-3 defensive front.
By year two, Holmes was a starting interior defender. Though sacks weren’t officially recorded until 1982, unofficial tallying saw Holmes record 27.0 sacks in a three-year stretch from 1973 to 1975.
The talented defensive lineman had the ability to knife in the backfield and make plays routinely. He played six seasons in Pittsburgh (81 games) and helped the team earn their first two Super Bowls before his departure just after the 1977 season.
6. Brett Keisel
Brett Keisel ‘The Diesel’ was a fan favorite in Pittsburgh for years thanks to his fiery demeanor and recognizable beard. Kiesel fell to the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft before general manager Kevin Colbert scooped him up.
Keisel’s career got off to a very slow start. The young defensive lineman took a backseat to Aaron Smith and Kimo von Oelhoffen as a base 3-4 defensive end, and he missed his entire second season with an injury. Ultimately, Kiesel didn’t make his first NFL start until his fifth NFL season after von Oelhoffen departed in free agency.
Keisel defied the odds and became a spectacular starter in Pittsburgh. Though his production was nothing to write home about, Keisel uses his long, powerful frame to his advantage. He played for the Steelers until the age of 36 in 2014 — earning one Pro Bowl and a pair of Super Bowl rings.
5. Aaron Smith
For my money, Aaron Smith is the most underrated player I’ve ever seen suit up for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Week in and week out, Keisel was a physically imposing force who didn’t give an inch in the running game and routinely stood his ground against the double team.
As a fourth-round pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, Smith didn’t see the field much as a rookie but was thrust into a full-time role by year two. At 6’5” and 298 pounds, Smith had a great frame for a defensive lineman, but his size doesn’t begin to describe his power against the run.
In 13 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Smith never recorded more than 8.0 sacks in a season, but he finished his career with 84 tackles for a loss and one Pro Bowl. He deserved far more personal accolades than what he was awarded in the NFL.
4. Casey Hampton
Casey Hampton was frequently referred to as ‘Big Snack’ for obvious reasons. A loveable fan-favorite, Hampton’s stout frame and ability to collapse the pocket helped the Texas product get selected by the Steelers with the 19th overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft.
Hampton was immediately plugged into the lineup as Pittsburgh’s starting nose tackle in their base 3-4 defense. Making his way to the quarterback was a chore; Hampton had just 9.0 sacks in 12 seasons with the Steelers. However, you can’t measure a player like this by statistics.
Hampton was widely considered one of the best run-defending players of his generation as he made a living swallowing up smaller guards and centers on the ground. His ability to force teams into third-and-long situations made him a valuable asset. Hampton went on to earn five Pro Bowls and was the anchor of Pittsburgh’s phenomenal defense in the 2000s. He started 164 of 173 NFL games — all in a Steelers uniform.
3. Cameron Heyward
Cameron Heyward doesn’t have the Super Bowl hardware like some of the defensive linemen on this list, but not because he isn’t deserving. Heyward was a cornerstone of the franchise and one of the best defensive leaders the Steelers have had in their storied history.
Heyward’s career took a while to get going. When he was drafted with the final pick of the first round in the 2011 NFL Draft, Brett Keisel was in the prime of his career, Aaron Smith was still on the team, and the Steelers had recently drafted Ziggy Hood in the first round of the 2009 draft. That didn’t stop Heyward from asserting his dominance.
The longer Heyward played, the better he got. Though he didn’t earn his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition until 28 years old in 2017, Heyward built a Hall of Fame resume in the back half of his career.
2. Ernie Stautner
There are only three jerseys that have officially been retired by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and two of them are the final two players on this list. Ernie Stautner established himself as one of the very first Steelers legends.
Stautner began his professional football career in 1950, and the second-round pick wasted no time making his presence felt. Stautner started at defensive tackle from the gate, and by year three, he became a perennial Pro Bowler.
Stautner showcased remarkable health throughout his 14-year NFL career — missing just one game. He finished his legendary Steelers career with 9 Pro Bowls, one First-Team All-Pro, Four Second-Team All-Pros, and a bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
1. Joe Greene
As impressive as every player is on this list, Joe Greene was an easy selection for the top defensive lineman in Pittsburgh Steelers history. Many fans, analysts, and media members consider Greene to be the greatest player in franchise history and one of the best defensive linemen to ever play football.
It’s not hard to see why. As the fourth overall pick in the 1969 NFL Draft, Greene had a remarkable blend of size (6’4”, 275 pounds) and athleticism. The North Texas star was an instant sensation in professional football — earning Pro Bowl and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Green only improved from there. He became a perennial All-Pro player in 1972 and was a two-time AP Defensive Player of the Year recipient. By the end of his immaculate football career that stretched 13 seasons with the Steelers, Greene earned 10 Pro Bowls, four First-Team All-Pros, and four Super Bowl rings. His legendary Hall of Fame status will live on for generations.
The 10 best defensive lineman in history by Approximate Value (AV)
Approximate Value is a metric from Pro Football Reference that attaches a number to every player season since 1960. AV is not recorded before 1960.
Rank
Player
Years With Team
Approximate Value
1
Joe Greene
1969-1981
143
2
Cameron Heyward
2011-present
122
3
Casey Hampton
2001-2012
95
4
Aaron Smith
1999-2011
89
5
Gary Dunn
1976-1987
63
6
Joel Steed
1992-1999
55
7
Gerald Williams
1986-1994
50
8
Kimo von Oelhoffen
2000-2005
49
9
Kevin Henry
1993-2000
46
10
Stephon Tuitt
2014-2020
43
