Steelers Super Bowl Champs Expose The Forgotten Hero Who Never Got His Flowers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have not had any playoff success since the 2016 season, and that's been upsetting for fans. The Steelers have six Super Bowl trophies in their history, and fans have come to expect competing for Super Bowls every season. The recent struggles of the Steelers have been upsetting to say the least. However, the legacy of past teams still looms large, especially the squads that captured Super Bowl XL and XLIII.

Before that, the Steelers were dominating the league, with their powerful offense led by Ben Roethlisberger and a defense that struck fear into opposing offenses. That defense, built on toughness and resilience, became legendary with stars like Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, and Casey Hampton. While those names remain celebrated, some of the unsung heroes of that era have often been overlooked.

Harrison and Willie Colon, both former Steelers who contributed to Super Bowl victories, recently discussed the forgotten hero of that defense on The Why Willie Show with J.J. Williams. In their conversation, both players agreed that cornerback Ike Taylor deserves more credit for his role in the team’s success. Taylor’s ability to shut down top receivers and lock down opposing passing games was a crucial yet underappreciated part of those championship defenses.

"I think one of the unsung heroes of our defense is probably Ike Taylor," said Colon. "Ike Taylor had the number one guys day after day... Ike had Ochocinco on Sunday, he had Terrell Owens... he had all those big time receivers week after week and dude was playing sometimes with a cast on his arm... dude was a dog."

Colon's praise of Taylor was far warmer than Harrison's, but both sentiments highlight just how underrated Taylor truly was. Colon lauded Taylor for consistently matching up against top wide receivers and holding his own admirably each time. 

Harrison, on the other hand, pointed out one flaw in Taylor's game that, had it been addressed, could have elevated him to Hall of Fame consideration.

"If Ike could catch, man, he would've made Pro Bowl after Pro Bowl," said Harrison. "He had hands like bricks. That ball hit Ike in the hands; it was like he was throwing it to the ground sometimes."

Taylor played in three Super Bowls for the Steelers, and while Harrison's famous interception in Super Bowl XLIII against the Arizona Cardinals is often remembered as one of the greatest plays in NFL history, it’s worth noting that Taylor had a crucial interception in Super Bowl XL before that. 

Taylor picked off Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, a moment that often goes overlooked, but was just as important in securing the victory. Not bad for a guy who, as Harrison joked, had 'bricks for hands.'

Steelers' Ike Taylor Made A Huge Impact On His Teammates

Although Taylor never made a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team, possibly due to a lack of flashy plays like Harrison suggested, his impact on the Steelers' defense is still remembered by his teammates. If he had better hands, as Harrison suggested, perhaps Taylor would have earned more individual accolades. However, his value went far beyond statistics and awards. What made that Steelers defense truly special was the way each player complemented the others, creating a cohesive and dominant unit.

They played with such relentless effort that any mistakes were quickly erased by their collective attitude. It was this defensive chemistry that made those Steelers teams so unforgettable and so special. Even decades later, Taylor’s legacy remains a testament to the unsung heroes who helped elevate Pittsburgh's defense to legendary status. Many Steelers fans today long for the days when the defense played with unmatched intensity and dominance.

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