In 1969, Terry Bradshaw was considered by most pro scouts to be the most outstanding college senior. As such, he was the first player selected in the 1970 National Football League Draft. It took the 6-3, 215-pound Louisiana Tech graduate a few seasons to adjust to the pro game but once he did, he became the dominant quarterback of the NFL and led the Pittsburgh Steelers to eight AFC Central championships, and an unprecedented four Super Bowl titles in a six-year period from 1974 to 1979.
Bradshaw, who was born September 2, 1948, in Shreveport, Louisiana, had a powerful throwing arm and called his own plays throughout his pro career. His physical skills and on-the-field leadership played a major role in every one of Pittsburgh's championship seasons. In the 1974 AFC Championship Game against Oakland, his fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Lynn Swann proved to be the winning score in a 24-7 victory. In the Steelers’ Super Bowl IX victory over Minnesota that followed, his fourth-quarter touchdown pass put the game out of reach. In Super Bowl X, Bradshaw again threw the winning touchdown pass on a 64-yard bomb to Swann. He was named the Most Valuable Player in both Super Bowl XIII (35-31 over Dallas) and Super Bowl XIV (31-19 over the Los Angeles Rams).
In four Super Bowls, he passed for an impressive 932 yards and 9 touchdowns. In 19 postseason games, he completed 261 passes for 3,833 yards. In his 14-season career, Bradshaw completed 2,025 of 3,901 passes for 27,989 yards and 212 touchdowns. He also rushed 444 times for 2,257 yards and 32 touchdowns. Bradshaw, who was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player by the Associated Press and others in 1978, was also named All-Pro and All-AFC that year. He was selected to play in three Pro Bowl games.
Championship Games
1972 AFC – Miami Dolphins 21, Pittsburgh Steelers 17
Bradshaw started at quarterback. He completed 5 of 10 passes for 80 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He also rushed twice for five yards.
1974 AFC – Pittsburgh Steelers 24, Oakland Raiders 13
Bradshaw started at quarterback. He completed 8 of 17 passes for 95 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed three times for 15 yards.
1975 AFC – Pittsburgh Steelers 16, Oakland Raiders 10
Bradshaw started at quarterback. He completed 15 of 25 passes for 215 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. He also rushed twice for 22 yards.
1976 AFC – Oakland Raiders 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 7
Bradshaw started at quarterback. He completed 14 of 35 passes for 176 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed once for four yards.
1978 AFC – Pittsburgh Steelers 34, Houston Oilers 5
Bradshaw started at quarterback. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 200 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed seven times for 29 yards.
1979 AFC – Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Houston Oilers 13
Bradshaw started at quarterback. He completed 18 of 30 passes for 219 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Super Bowls
Super Bowl IX – Pittsburgh Steelers 16, Minnesota Vikings 6
Bradshaw started at quarterback. He completed 9 of 14 passes of 96 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. He also rushed five times for 30 yards.
Super Bowl X – Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Dallas Cowboys 17
Bradshaw started at quarterback. He completed 9 of 19 passes for 209 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed four times for 16 yards.
Super Bowl XIII – Pittsburgh Steelers 35, Dallas Cowboys 31
Bradshaw started at quarterback. He completed 17 or 30 passes for 318 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed twice for minus-five yards. He was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
Super Bowl XIV – Pittsburgh Steelers 31, Los Angeles Rams 19
Bradshaw started at quarterback. He completed 14 of 21 passes for 309 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He also rushed three times for nine yards. He was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
All-Pro: 1978 (AP, PFWA, PW)
All-Pro Second Team: 1978 (NEA), 1979 (NEA)
All-AFC: 1978 (UPI, SN, PW)
All-AFC Second Team: 1975 (UPI), 1979 (UPI)
(3) – 1976*, 1979, 1980
* Did not play
(at time of his retirement following 1983 season)
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading League, Average Gain Passing – 2 (1977-1978)
Post-Season Records
• [1st] Most Passes Attempted, Career –
456
• [1st] Most Passes Completed, Career –
261
• [1st] Most Passing Yards Gained, Career –
3,833
• [1st] Highest Average Gain, Game (20 attempts) –
14.71 (Super Bowl XIV, 21-309)
• [1st] Most Touchdowns Passes, Career –
30
• [2nd] Most Consecutive Games, Touchdown Passes –
8 (1977-1982)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Games, 300 or More Yards Passing, Career –
3
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Consecutive Games, 300 or More Yards Passing –
2
• [3rd] Highest Average Gain Passing, Career –
8.41 (456-3,833)
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Touchdown Passes, Game –
4 (Super Bowl XIII)
Super Bowl Records
• [1st] Most Passing Yards Gained, Career – 932
• [1st] Most Passing Yards Gained, Game – 318 (Super Bowl XIII)
• [1st] Highest Average Gain Passing, Career – 11.10 (84-932)
• [1st] Highest Average Gain Passing, Game – 14.71 (Super Bowl XIV, 21-309)
• [1st] Most Touchdown Passes, Career – 9
• [1st] Most Touchdown Passes, Game – 4
• [Tied for 1st] Most Games, Winning Team – 4
• [2nd] Most Passes Completed, Career – 49
• [2nd] Most Passing Yards Gained, Game – 309 (Super Bowl XIV)
• [3rd] Most Passes Attempted, Career – 84
• [Tied for 3rd] Longest Pass Completion – 75 yards (to Stallworth, Super Bowl XIII)
Steelers’ Records held by Bradshaw at the time of his retirement following the 1983 season
• [1st] Most Yards Passing, Career – 27,989
• [1st] Most Yards Passing, Season – 3,724 (1979)
• [1st] Most Passing Attempts, Career – 3,901
• [1st] Most Passing Attempts, Season – 472 (1979)
• [1st] Most Passing Completed, Career – 2,025
• [1st] Most Passes Completed, Season – 259 (1979)
• [1st] Most Touchdown Passes, Career – 212
• [1st] Most Touchdown Passes, Season – 28 (1978)
• [1st] Most Touchdown Passes, Game – 5 (Nov. 15, 1981 vs. Atlanta)
• [1st] Highest Passing Percentage, Season – 57.7 (1975)
• [1st] Longest Pass Completion – 90 yards (to Mark Malone, Nov. 8, 1981 vs. Seattle)
• [1st] Most Games, 300 Yards or More Passing, Career – 4
• [1st] Most Games, 300 Yards or More Passing, Season – 3 (1979)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Seasons, Career – 14
• [2nd] Most Touchdowns Rushing, Career – 32 (1970-83)
• [2nd] Most Yards Passing, Season – 3,339 (1980)
• [2nd] Most Yards Passing, Game – 364 (Nov. 25, 1979 vs. Cleveland)
• [2nd] Most Passing Attempts, Season – 424 (1980)
• [2nd] Most Passes Completed, Season – 218 (1980)
• [2nd] Most Passes Completed, Game – 30 (Nov. 25, 1979 vs. Cleveland)
• [2nd] Most Touchdown Passes, Season – 26 (1979)
• [2nd] Highest Passing Percentage, Career – 51.9
• [2nd] Most Consecutive Passes Completed – 10 (Nov. 14, 1971 vs. Miami)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdown Passes, Game – 4 (Nov. 4, 1979 vs. Washington; Sept. 28, 1980 vs. Chicago)
• [3rd] Most Passes Completed, Season – 207 (1978)
• [3rd] Most Passes Completed, Game – 29 (Sept. 19, 1982 vs. Cincinnati)
• [3rd] Most Touchdown Passes, Season – 24 (1980)
• [3rd] Highest Passing Percentage, Season – 56.3 (1978)
• [3rd] Longest Pass Completion – 87 yards (to Dave Smith, Dec. 6, 1970 vs. Green Bay)
League Statistical Championships:
Passing Touchdown Titles: 1978, 1982*
* Tied
AFC Statistical Championships:
Passing Titles: 1978
Passing Touchdown Titles: 1978, 1982*
* Tied
Team Statistical Championships
Passing Titles: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982
• 1978 MVP (AP, MX)
• 1970s All-Decade Team
| 1970 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
5 |
9 |
0 |
(3rd) |
| 1971 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
6 |
8 |
0 |
(2nd) |
| 1972 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
11 |
3 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1973 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
10 |
4 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1974 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
10 |
3 |
1 |
(1st) |
| 1975 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
12 |
2 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1976 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
10 |
4 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1977 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
9 |
5 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1978 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
14 |
2 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1979 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
12 |
4 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1980 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
9 |
7 |
0 |
(3rd) |
| 1981 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
8 |
8 |
0 |
(2nd) |
| 1982 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
6 |
3 |
0 |
(4th)* |
| 1983 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
10 |
6 |
0 |
(1st) |
| *Strike format |
Full Name: Terry Paxton Bradshaw
Birthdate: September 2, 1948
Birthplace: Shreveport, Louisiana
High School: Woodlawn (Shreveport, LA)
Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: January 21, 1989
Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: August 5, 1989
Presenter: Verne Lunquist, CBS Announcer
Other Members of the Class of 1989: Mel Blount, Art Shell, Willie Wood
Pro Career: 14 Seasons, 168 Games
Drafted: 1st round (1st player overall) in 1970 by Pittsburgh Steelers
Uniform Number: #12