off a NFL worst 1-13 season and decided to draft Terry Bradshaw with the first overall selection. In his first season, while the Steelers improved to 5-9, Bradshaw struggled mightily finishing as the 27th best quarterback. In his second season, he quickly looked much improved, enjoying a breakout season where he finished as the 10th best quarterback. His next two years, he continued to play well, solidifying himself as the Steelers QB of the future.
| Year | Team | Games | Yearly Rank | Tier |
| 1970 | PIT | 13 | 27 | Bad/injured |
| 1971 | PIT | 14 | 10 | Good |
| 1972 | PIT | 14 | 8 | Great |
| 1973 | PIT | 10 | 14 | Good |
In 1972, Bradshaw led the Steelers to the playoffs with a 11-3 record, a crazy turnaround from being the worst team in the league 3 years ago. But what happened in the playoffs turned out to be much more memorable than making it. In the divisional round, facing a 4th and 10, on their own 40 with 22 seconds left, Bradshaw completed The Immaculate Reception to stun the Raiders and advance the Steelers to the NFC championship game. While they did fall to the eventual Champions, Miami Dolphins 21-17, Bradshaw’s incredible first playoff game was just a start for his career playoff heroics. In 1973, Bradshaw led the Steelers to the playoffs again before losing to the Raiders 33-14.
The Dynasty Part I
In 1974, Terry Bradshaw had arguably the worst season of his young career. At different times throughout the year, he was benched for Joe Gilliam and Terry Hanratty but ultimately head coach Chuck Noll kept going back to Bradshaw. After only playing in 8 games, Bradshaw finished as the 28th best quarterback. The Steelers, based on the strength of their defense, not only made the playoffs but also went on to win Super Bowl IX 16-6 over Fran Tarkenton and the Vikings.
The next year, Bradshaw drastically raised his level of play. With second year wide receivers, and future hall of famers, Lynn Swann and John Stallworth coming into their own he finished as the 4th best quarterback. He then led the Steelers on a second Championship run culminating with a win over the Cowboys 21-17.
| Year | Team | Games | Yearly Rank | Tier |
| 1974 | PIT | 8 | 28 | Bad/backup |
| 1975 | PIT | 14 | 4 | Elite |
| 1976 | PIT | 10 | 16 | Good |
After back to back Super Bowls, the Steelers were trying to complete a dynasty. The defense was as legendarily good as ever, having eight players make the 1976 pro bowl team and four hall of famers: Mean Joe Green, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, and Mel Blount. The offense was the potential obstacle, Terry Bradshaw saw his level of play drop after getting hurt and only playing in 10 games. But he still got the team to the playoffs with two 1,000 yard rushers Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier. After Harris and Bleier both got hurt the Steelers fell to the Raiders 24-7.
The Dynasty Part II
Entering his eighth year in the NFL, Terry Bradshaw found his stride. Over the next three seasons, the trio of Bradshaw, Swann, and Stallworth all had some of the best years of their careers. Bradshaw established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, giving the Steelers an offense to complement their vaunted defense.
| Year | Team | Games | Yearly Rank | Tier |
| 1977 | PIT | 14 | 6 | Elite |
| 1978 | PIT | 16 | 2 | All Pro |
| 1979 | PIT | 16 | 3 | Elite |
In 1977, the Steelers’ defense wavered as many distractions surrounded the team. Including contract holdout by Mel Bount, Jack Lambert, and safety Glenn Edwards and head coach Chuck Noll being subject to a defamation lawsuit (which Noll won). But thanks to strong quarterback play, the team still made the playoffs for the 6th time in a row before falling to the Denver Broncos 21-34 in the divisional round.
The next year with many of the distractions behind them, Terry Bradshaw and the Steelers dominated to a 14-2 record (the first 16 game season). Propelled with a fantastic offense and defense, they blew out the Broncos and Oilers 33-10 and 34-5 to reach the Super Bowl. There they met a hot Cowboys team led by Roger Staubach and won a back and forth game 35-31, in large part to an infamous drop by Jackie Smith.
After another fantastic season in 1979, Terry Bradshaw led the Steelers to another Superbowl win over the Rams 31-19. This gave the Steelers their fourth Super Bowl in the last six years, completing one of the most dominant six year stretches of all time.
The Final Years
The next year, in 1980, the Steelers’ aging defense slipped down the rankings and finished 15th in yards and points allowed, in contrast to 2nd and 5th the year before. Terry Bradshaw coming off his 4th championship, still had a very good year but with the slide of the defense ended up missing the playoffs with a 9-7 record. The next two years, Bradshaw continued to be one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, but the Steelers as a team were far from their peak dynasty levels.
| Year | Team | Games | Yearly Rank | Tier |
| 1980 | PIT | 15 | 7 | Great |
| 1981 | PIT | 14 | 10 | Great |
| 1982 | PIT | 9 | 7 | Great |
In 1981, the Steelers went 8-8 and missed the playoffs for the second time in a row, despite Bradshaw putting in another Great season. After the 1982 NFL player strike, which shortened the season to 9 games, the Steelers had a bounce back year going 6-3 and meeting the Chargers in the playoffs. After going up 28-17 with 11 minutes left in the game, it looked like the Steelers were primed for one last run. Alas it was not to be, as Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts capitalized off a Bradshaw interception for a score, and later followed it up with a game winning touchdown with one minute left. After getting knocked out of the 1982 playoffs 31-28, Terry Bradshaw only played one more season. That year, Bradshaw had surgery on his throwing elbow and only played one game before retiring.
Overview
Terry Bradshaw’s career is defined by winning. He has four Super Bowls and a career record of 111-57, the latter being more impressive considering he was drafted first overall to the current worst team in the league. At his best, he was an MVP candidate twice finishing as a top 3 quarterback in the NFL. Overall, he has 1 All Pro, 3 Elite, 4 Great and 3 Good seasons. He is easily one of the best quarterbacks of all time, and the greatest Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback of all time.