The Steelers Hall of Honor Museum, located at Acrisure Stadium, provides an in-depth history of the franchise, a chronological flow that focuses on key moments.
The Hall of Honor Museum features everything from one-of-a-kind artifacts, exclusive game-worn uniform pieces, the Steelers six Super Bowl rings and replicated offices of founder Art Rooney Sr. and chairman Daniel M. Rooney.
The highlight, however, is the Hall of Honor, where the 53 members bronze footballs are on display, along with their images and touch screen kiosks to learn more about them, including their bios, photos and videos of the inductees.
Over the next few weeks, we are highlighting some of the items in the museum, just a few of the things Steelers fans can enjoy while taking a historical tour of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Throughout the decades there have been numerous players who have made their impact on the Steelers.
Many of them are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Others have been inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor.
But only three players have had their jerseys retired, the ultimate honor for a Steelers player.
And for fans visiting the Hall of Honor Museum, they can enjoy a special display honoring the three, with their jerseys hanging and facts and figures plentiful.
The team has retired the jerseys of Ernie Stautner (No. 70), Joe Greene (No. 75) and Franco Harris (No. 32), which was done just days after his passing in 2022.
Stautner was the first player ever to have his number retired by the Steelers, and it was well-earned as he was the first of their Hall of Famers to play his entire career with the team. The team's second-round draft pick in 1950, Stautner's No. 70 was retired in 1964, a deserving honor for a legend.
Stautner won the NFL's Best Lineman Award in 1957 and he earned All-NFL honors nine times, despite being considered undersized. He missed just six games during his 14-year career, never letting numerous injuries slow him down.
Stautner, who was named to nine Pro Bowls, chose Art Rooney Sr. to be his presenter at the Hall of Fame.
"For 14 years, Ernie was not only Pittsburgh's greatest lineman, but one of the greatest linemen in professional football," said Rooney during his introduction of Stautner in Canton. "For nine years he was chosen for the all-pro game and then I was trying to recollect in the 14 years that he played for us had he ever missed a game and I can't remember him ever missing a game.
"Not only did Ernie play defensive football for us but many times when the going got rough, which was often, he played offense too. He's been a credit to all athletes, and certainly been a credit to professional sports."
Greene changed what it meant to play for the Steelers. He changed the mindset of those who wore the black and gold, starting with his teammates in the 1970s and his impact still lasts until today.
Greene, a man who admittedly was disappointed to be drafted in the first-round by the team in 1969 when they were a losing franchise, through his play and dedication made those who were drafted after him honored to be selected by the Steelers.
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In 2014, his jersey was officially retired, honoring the man who many call the greatest Steelers player ever. He was the leader of the Steel Curtain defense for 13 seasons, a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a Hall of Famer who helped bring four Super Bowl championships to Pittsburgh.
"My first reaction was wow," said Greene when he learned his jersey was being retired. "I am glad I was sitting down. I got a little weak. I was floored. I said thank you. Thank you so much. I almost wanted to say are you sure? I was completely overwhelmed. I sat there quiet for a while and let it sink in.
"Because it hadn't been done in such a long time and there was no other player other than Ernie who experienced it, that made it more special. It is indeed special to have your number retired. To have it retired by the Pittsburgh Steelers, who don't do that. I started to think I am really blessed to be a Pittsburgh Steeler."
Harris had his jersey retired in 2022, just days after he passed away before a planned celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Immaculate Reception. The jersey was retired during halftime of the team's Christmas Eve game against the Las Vegas Raiders, with his wife Dana, and son, Dok, taking part in the honor.
For Harris, it was something he was looking forward to, something he talked about before he passed.
"I will have chills. It's quite an honor," said Harris at the time. "It never crossed my mind. When Art Rooney II told me over lunch that they were going to retire my jersey, it blew me away. It still blows me away, months after I found out about it. It really is quite an honor.
"It's emotional. The whole thing is emotional. It brings it all together. Memories. Things that were special. We get to celebrate that special time and we look at it as the start of something to come. We didn't know what was going to happen, but we look at it as the start of something special, the start of more to come. When you bring that all together, it's special and it brings out the emotion. It was a special time with special people. It connected to so many things that made everything else bigger. And it gets bigger and bigger."
Harris will forever be remembered for the greatest play not just in Steelers' history, but one recognized as the greatest play ever in NFL history, the 'Immaculate Reception.' But the Pro Football Hall of Famer did so much more.
Harris was the Steelers first-round draft selection in 1972, the 13th overall pick, and finished his rookie year with 1,055 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. He would go on to be the greatest running back in team history.
Harris carried the load for the team for 12 seasons, bringing his powerful style to the ground game, and also playing a key role in the passing game. He is the team's all-time leading rusher with 11,950 yards and leads with 91 rushing touchdowns. He finished his career with 12,120 yards after spending his final season in Seattle.
He had eight 1,000-yard seasons and rushed for at least 100 yards in 47 games. Harris added 307 receptions for 2,287 yards, and his net yardage of 14,622 yards ranked as third highest when he retired. Harris was a member of four Super Bowl championship teams with the Steelers, winning MVP honors for Super Bowl IX when he rushed for 158 yards in a 16-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings. He also was named to the Pro Bowl nine times and was All-AFC four times.
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The Steelers Hall of Honor Museum is located above the Steelers Pro Shop at Acrisure Stadium and accessible via the Gate B suite entry. Fans can visit the Steelers Hall of Honor Museum year-round, Thursday-Monday, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. (last entry). It is also closed when the University of Pittsburgh plays at home.
The tour fee is as follows: adults - $18, seniors (62+)/military - $15, children (ages 6-17) - $12, and children ages 5 & under - free. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Art Rooney Scholarship Fund.
For more information on tours, group tours and booking, visit steelers.com/museum, or email museumandtours@acrisurestadium.com.
