Leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, Steelers.com is reflecting on past drafts involving key players from the team. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Super Bowl X and the 20th anniversary of Super Bowl XL, significant milestones in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ history.
Terry Bradshaw, a Hall of Famer and member of the Super Bowl X team, shared his draft day experience from the 1970 NFL Draft when he was the No. 1 overall pick. Bradshaw recalled that the draft was not as celebrated then and was not televised. He had planned to go fishing, believing he would be selected in the third or fourth round. His father informed him it was draft day, prompting him to dress appropriately.
“The draft was no big deal back then. I thought I would go in the third or fourth round. It wasn’t on television. I was going fishing,” Bradshaw said. His father convinced him to stay home and dress formally. “I was mad. I went and put on a jacket and tie for my dad. And then I got drafted number one.”
Bradshaw mentioned a ‘coin flip’ between the Steelers and the Chicago Bears, both with 1-13 records the prior year, to determine the first overall pick. Steelers’ owner Dan Rooney allowed the Bears to call, and with the outcome favoring Pittsburgh, they selected Bradshaw. “My dad had received a phone call earlier that morning from the (Bears) Halas family saying they were trying to make a trade for me,” he added, though the Steelers decided to retain him.
Reflecting on pre-draft interactions, Bradshaw spoke of being scouted by the New Orleans Saints staff, which led him to believe they were particularly interested, unaware of other teams’ attention. The communication from his college staff suggested a late second or third-round picking, stating some discussions about moving up.
“It was just mumbo-jumbo to me. You figure out what you are going to do, and I am going to go fishing,” Bradshaw remembered, summarizing the unexpected turn his draft day took.
