RIP Andy Russell

[outofplace]

Andy Russell may have been overshadowed by other members of the Steel Curtain, but he was an All-Pro in 1975 and a key part of the Steelers' first two Super Bowl championship teams. He died Thursday night at 82.

 

[Liut]

Mizzou grad.
Rest in peace.

 

[DanOregon]

Good Stache too. How was he able to wear 34 as an LB? Never heard that story.

 

[YMCA B-Baller]

The numbering system didn't begin until the early 70s. Anyone wearing a non-compliant number was grandfathered in.

That's why players who played into the 80s like Ken Riley (13), Harold Carmichael (17) and Charlie Joiner (18), among others, were off-code well after it was instituted.

 

[Starman]

The modern NFL numbering system was instituted in the mid-1950s but was not made generally compulsory until the 70s. Otto Graham wore #60 the first half of his career and then switched to #14.

Most players who came up in the 60s and 70s played both ways, at least in high school, and many were given numbers based on their offensive position; many had running back numbers before shifting to linebacker in the pros.

As noted above, many exceptions were grandfathered in.

 

[LanceyHoward]

The modern NFL numbering system was instituted in the mid-1950s but was not made generally compulsory until the 70s. Otto Graham wore #60 the first half of his career and then switched to #14.

Most players who came up in the 60s and 70s played both ways, at least in high school, and many were given numbers based on their offensive position; many had running back numbers before shifting to linebacker in the pros.

As noted above, many exceptions were grandfathered in.

College football had rules restricting substitutions from 1953 until 1964. The rules were tinkered with a lot but some players would play on both sides of the ball. Russell played on offense all three years of eligibility at Missouri and had 100 carries his junior year.

At guys would be drafted for one position and then converted. Mike Curtis was drafted as a fullback by the Colts but wore 32 after he switched to linebacker.

 

[Scout]

He was good enough for Noll to keep, and Noll pretty much cut every player he inherited.

 

[LanceyHoward]

He was good enough for Noll to keep, and Noll pretty much cut every player he inherited.

Russell was probably the Steelers the military after his rookie season and missed two years of his career. Russell made seven Pro Bowls anyway. That military stint may have cost him the HOF.

 

[X-Hack]

The numbering system didn't begin until the early 70s. Anyone wearing a non-compliant number was grandfathered in.

That's why players who played into the 80s like Ken Riley (13), Harold Carmichael (17) and Charlie Joiner (18), among others, were off-code well after it was instituted.

Same as this handsome, square-jawed young QB straight out of Central Casting.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Same as this handsome, square-jawed young QB straight out of Central Casting.

View attachment 17224

Back when men were men and starting QBs looked like middle-aged history teachers.

 

[Scout]

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/jD4AAOSw8GtZQpMe/s-l1200.webp

 

[YMCA B-Baller]

Same as this handsome, square-jawed young QB straight out of Central Casting.

View attachment 17224

Before my time by a few years, but Packers fans of a certain age cringe at the mention of Hadl. Packers gave up a shirt-ton of draft picks in '74 to get him, after a trade for Archie Manning fell through, basically giving away all of their high '75 and '76 picks to the Rams. That's the theory on why Bart Starr was underwhelming as a head coach.

Hadl later = Lynn Dickey, whom I have an unconditional attachment being my childhood QB.

As for numbers, this was one was weird even before they got strict about the uniform code. I'm assuming Wilson just kept his college number? Single-digit DBs are pretty common in college. Never so in the pros.

It's funny how stupid shirt like the number guidelines inform how you watch a game. When the NFL began loosening the restrictions in the 2000s, I remember being annoyed that WRs were wearing numbers in the teens. THAT'S FOR HAROLD CARMICHAEL AND CHARLIE JOINER ONLY!

Now there are basically no restrictions and its kinda fun. Noticed some kickers and punters were wearing numbers over 19 in the recent season. Still looks weird to me, but then you think how stupid a fixation it is and you get over it.