Former Steelers First-Round Pick Once Thought Pittsburgh Made A Mistake Choosing Him

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Ziggy Hood with the final pick of the first round in the 2009 NFL Draft. Of course, Pittsburgh had the luxury of owning the No. 32 selection because it had just won the Super Bowl the previous season. The idea behind the pick was to take the high-motor defender out of Missouri and gradually transition him from the scheme he played in college into the Steelers' 3-4, two-gap defense. Unfortunately, Hood was never able to fully make that transition and didn't make it beyond his first contract in Pittsburgh.

One thing Hood always had going for him was his durability. He never missed a game during his 80 games with the Steelers, so availability was never a concern. Still, that hasn't stopped many Steelers fans from viewing him as a bust. Though it depends on how someone defines the term, Hood did go on to enjoy a decade-long NFL career, roughly seven seasons longer than the average NFL lifespan. However, many expected Hood to become a major weapon in the Steel City, and the fact that he didn't make it past his rookie contract is generally viewed as evidence that the pick failed to live up to expectations. He recorded just 11.5 sacks during his five seasons in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers essentially acknowledged that they needed an upgrade when they selected Cameron Heyward in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, just two years after drafting Hood. All these years later, Hood admitted that he was surprised Pittsburgh selected him in the first round. While speaking with Martín O'Donnell, Hood detailed why he was stunned to hear his name called by the Steelers on draft night.

"With the draft, it was up and down with different picks that they were telling me, so when the teams pass you up, you think you’re going to drop. (It was) just a surprise you know, the Steelers with the 32nd pick chose me," Hood said. "I felt like I wasn’t worthy, but hey, thank God I got the blessing and it was a history wrap from there."

The key phrase that will stick out to Steelers fans hearing this quote all these years later is that Hood himself didn't feel like he was worthy of being selected there. That's no disrespect to Hood, and it very well could have simply been a case of him being humble. However, that's not necessarily what you want to hear from a player who barely snuck into the first round with the final pick.

Still, Hood's outlook on his career remains a positive one.

"You know what, coming from a small town here in Amarillo, Texas, not too many guys have, you know, transcended in the next level from college, it has only been a select few," Hood said. "And having that opportunity to even make it to the league was a blessing itself."

In the end, Hood may not have lived up to the expectations that come with being a first-round pick. Still, he carved out a lengthy NFL career that many players never achieve.

Steelers Fans Will Likely Always Think About What Could Have Been Regarding Ziggy Hood

Steelers fans will likely always wonder what could have been, especially after Heyward eventually became the star many hoped Hood would develop into.

Even so, Hood appears to have no regrets about how his career played out, and that perspective has remained unchanged years after his time in Pittsburgh ended. Now Steelers fans are focused on watching this new era led by Mike McCarthy get underway.

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