The Pittsburgh Steelers and Terry Bradshaw are linked together in history. The team have not selected first overall in the NFL Draft since they picked Bradshaw in 1970. It has been over 50 years since he arrived in Pittsburgh, and he is still a relevant figure in the NFL. Did you know that it almost didn’t happen?
Odessa American
Steelers' Terry Bradshaw and Miss Teenage America Debbie Patton visit a Pop Warner banquet.
On June 23, 1971, according to a United Press International article, Bradshaw boarded a private airplane in Midland, TX. He was joined on the flight by his then-girlfriend Debbie Patton who was selected as Miss Teenage America in 1970. The pilot, James Gentry and his wife were also aboard the flight that was supposed to travel to Hereford, TX. A beauty queen and an star NFL quarterback were big news in Texas in 1971 and the local newspaper the Odessa American captured the photo above of the two at a local Pop Warner banquet.
#OTD in #SteelersHistory 1971 #Steelers Terry Bradshaw was in the news again when he helped to safely land a private plane that was having an electrical failure affecting the landing gear pic.twitter.com/odoCok6Thv
— Gordon Dedman (@SteelUK) June 23, 2023
The short private flight experienced significant failure in its electrical system during the flight near Lubbock, TX. According to the published report, the radio and one engine failed. It is hard to imagine what was going through Bradshaw's and the other passenger's minds when the engine failed.
“I first got scared when the engine started cutting out,” Bradshaw said. “It started going sput, sput, sput, but no one panicked. The pilot was just as cool as he could be. If he had panicked, I guess we all would have folded.”
Gentry’s quick thinking identified a secondary issue that was crucial to landing the plane safely. He realized that the landing gear would have to be lowered manually due to the electrical system failures. Gentry called on Bradshaw to perform the task, but had to execute a risky maneuver to give him time to accomplish it.
“We had to climb with one engine,” Bradshaw described. “They say you are just not supposed to make one engine climbs.”
Gerald Holly / The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessean via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Steelers' Terry Bradshaw begins his singing career.
In life-or-death situations, sometimes you have to do unorthodox things to survive. The stakes are much higher than in any football game. The pilot climbed high enough for Bradshaw to forcibly knock the landing gear loose. Once that was accomplished, the star quarterback lowered the landing gear into position. All parties were unharmed after an emergency landing in Lubbock, TX.
“That was the scaredest I’ve ever been in my life,” Miss Patton exclaimed. “If Terry had not been able to get that landing gear down, I don’t know what we could have done.”
The future Hall of Fame quarterback was cool under pressure and helped a quick-thinking pilot save everyone on board that flight. In typical fashion, Bradshaw when pressed, downplayed his role in the safe landing.
“I guess the good Lord wanted us to be here,” Bradshaw was quoted. “I was a little nervous, but the girls were doing all the praying. I was just there doing what the pilot told me to do.”
Harry Cabluck / AP/ Shutterstock
Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw
Bradshaw has battled ill-conceived perceptions about his persona for most of his public life. He is at his heart a Southern gentleman, who never seems to take any credit. He also has a charming manner with a tendency to use self-depreciation to deflect both praise and criticism. This characteristic has robbed him of some of the respect he so deeply craves regarding his playing days.
Steelers Legendary QB1 Terry Bradshaw Still Looking For Fundamental Respect For His Playing Career
The NFL has moved past Bradshaw the player and those who are governed by analytics will tell you that his playing days were nothing special. They were "pale" in comparison to today's passers of the football. The Steelers quarterback won two Super Bowl MVP trophies and four championships. He defeated Roger Staubach of the Dallas Cowboys who was considered the best quarterback of the era twice in the biggest game. He also won the only league MVP in Steelers' history.
When the money was on the table, Bradshaw was as good as anyone who has ever played the game. When the electrical system went out on a small plane and four lives depended on it, he came through and saved a beauty queen. Let's see Tom Brady and Joe Montana do that.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Did you know Bradshaw was a real hero who saved a beauty queen? Please comment below, or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
#SteelerNation
