1 Steelers Coach Almost Convinced Dick LeBeau Not To Recruit Elite Player: "He's Too Short"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have always prioritized finding diamonds in the rough to complement the stars of the team and boost the roster in any possible way. They have had a nice, rich history with undrafted free agents like Hall of Famer Donnie Shell, Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison, and a current fan-favorite in Jaylen Warren. You can't build a team solely on first-round picks; you need to find stars and key contributors anywhere possible to make a truly threatening team. 

While making an appearance on Deebo & Joe, legendary defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau revealed that someone in the facilities almost convinced him to pass up on one of those amazing unknown stars. 

"Somebody in some of the meetings said, 'Oh, [James Harrison]'s too short for outside pass rusher,'" LeBeau said. "I said, 'Let me see.' Well, I saw a tackle get lifted up about three inches in the air and dumped in the quarterback's lap. I said, 'I think he's just about the right height for what we want to do.' Power is not a bad quality in anything in a football game."

Harrison's journey to the NFL is very well-documented at this point: he was a potential star-studded pass rusher that was held back by his own vices and temper, and he got cut numerous times by Pittsburgh before even playing a game. However, LeBeau was a film junkie. He saw the immense skill and strength that he had, and that was exactly the kind of player that he wanted on his team despite the red flags. 

LeBeau would eventually be proven right as the supposed undersized linebacker became the scariest, meanest player in the NFL for many years. It didn't matter that he was only six feet tall as opposed to 6'3" or 6'4" when he could give opposing left tackles nightmares on a regular basis. When you win a Defensive Player of the Year award, nobody will ever question your height, weight, or any other part of your body again.

Even though things ended on a low note between Harrison and the Steelers, he is still remembered fondly by many in Steeler Nation. Despite the sheer number of fines he racked up, he has become an inspiration for many others in his shoes. He proved that it's possible to break free from your vices and become an elite player. Of course, he had great coaching from LeBeau and Bill Cowher to steer him in the right direction.

Steelers Need To Keep Finding Under-The-Radar Guys Like Harrison

Since 2011, the Steelers have had a very hard time with finding those diamonds in the rough. Most of their late-round picks have been throwaways, with Warren and sixth-round linebacker Vince Williams being some of the only surprisingly good pickups that Pittsburgh has had in that time frame. They haven't found anyone who is half as good as Harrison was in his prime. 

Luckily, the Steelers have started doing better with their fourth-round picks. What used to be another throwaway pick has become an avenue to find some absolute steals in the draft like Nick Herbig and Mason McCormick. Spencer Anderson has also been a nice addition as a former seventh-round selection. Things may be looking up for Pittsburgh in that regard.

That's a good start, but the Steelers still need more. They have to keep scouting out these lesser-known players effectively and find something that no one else sees. There are a handful of teams that are really good at finding players that can play a role and contribute in these positions. It takes innovation and a keen eye for scouting to find these types of players. Pittsburgh isn't bad with it, but it needs to keep improving.

What do you think about Harrison almost never making it to Pittsburgh? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

#SteelerNation