The Pittsburgh Steelers have a long history of Hall of Fame-worthy draft picks. Of the 18 members that are enshrined in Canton, Ohio, there are eight Steelers’ first-round selections that have received a gold jacket. Even further, names like Len Dawson and Johnny Unitas who had their name called by the Steelers and established careers elsewhere are also found in the Hall of Fame. But hidden in the long list of drafted players, we’ll find a few names that may have fallen to the backs of fans’ minds for generations.
Watching the wildly unexpected success of San Francisco 49ers’ Brock Purdy, the Steelers have their own special fraternity of the last selection of past NFL drafts; otherwise known as Mr. Irrelevant.
To add some history, the title of “Mr. Irrelevant” was created in 1976 which was awarded to the final pick of the respective NFL Draft. The honor has since been retroactively bestowed going back to Phil Flanagan in 1936. The title was created by Paul Salata, who spent time with San Francisco, the Baltimore Colts, and the Steelers, but ended his career as a part of the Canadian Football League.
The honor of being known as the final draft pick built so much praise that teams would fight to “win” that final pick. After the annual draft, Salata would then host the named player and his family in southern California and would award him the satirical "Lowsman Trophy" showing a player fumbling a football. Ironically enough, the very first player Salata dubbed was called by the Steelers.
What if I told you the Steelers made a history of 'firsts' with Mr. Irrelevant?
Mort Landsberg, Halfback, Drafted 1941
Although he was called by the Steelers in 1941, Landsberg made a name for himself outside of Pittsburgh. He was released before the season began and joined the Philadelphia Eagles where he played both halfback and defensive back. However, as the second World War took center stage in the 1940’s, Landsberg enlisted and served as a Marine pilot. He would eventually make it home and end his career as a member of the Los Angeles Dons. Landsberg was inducted into his alma mater’s Hall of Fame at Cornell in 2004.
Steelers' Mort Landsberg | Courtesy: Cornell University Athletics
Stan Hegener, Guard, Drafted 1975
After winning Super Bowl IX just months before the draft, Hegener was the 442nd pick of the 1975 NFL Draft. Steelers' pro personnel director, Art Rooney Jr. toted his ‘sleeper pick’ and considered Hegener as one of the best picks in the draft. Even though he wouldn't play a down for the Steelers, Rooney went on record proclaiming that notion and talked about how he was following the guard from Nebraska leading up to the draft:
“It's a coincidence,” Rooney said. “But I've scouted Hegener personally. When we pulled his card out just a few minutes before it was our last turn, I found I had written on the report card, ‘I would classify him as a sleeper.’”
Steelers' Stan Hegener's playing card at Nebraska in 1974. | Credit: Vintage Football Card Gallery
Kelvin Kirk, Wide Receiver, Drafted 1976
As I alluded to earlier, Kirk was the first “official” player honored by Salata. Appropriately enough, Kirk would in turn miss his flight to Salata’s “Irrelevant Week” and Salata had to honor another 'Kelvin Kirk' as a result. Kirk wasn’t able to find success in the NFL and was subsequently cut after training camp as a rookie. However, Kirk would find his place as a part of the Canadian Football League and established a career spanning seven years. Kirk will forever hold the honor of being the first player in history to formally receive the honor.
University of Dayton's Kelvin Kirk was the first Mr. Irrelevant in NFL Draft. | Credit: mrirrelevant.org
Mike Almond, Wide Receiver, Drafted 1979
Even though he was drafted three years after Kirk being the first player recognized as the final draft pick, Almond holds a ‘first’ record himself. Almond was the first draftee to receive the “Lowsman Trophy” in history. Hailing from Northwestern State in Louisiana, Almond was the 330th player selected in the 1979 draft. Almond had a solid training camp and made it to the final cut deadline. He would ultimately be cut from a receiving corps that featured John Stallworth and Lynn Swann and was never able to get going in the NFL.
There is another history wrinkle to Almond's selection. In the waning selections of the 1979 draft, the Steelers were in a stalemate with the Los Angeles Rams for the final pick of the draft. The Rams attempted for pass on their second-to-last pick, allowing the Steelers to take that pick, so the Rams would eventually be the final team to pick. However, the Steelers declined the offer and former commissioner, Pete Rozelle had to step in and force the teams to pick, with the Steelers being the final team. This would result in the invention of the "Salata Rule," which states a team cannot pass order to land the final pick of the draft.
Steelers' Mike Almond. | Credit: Northwestern State University Athletics
Tyrone McGriff, Guard, Drafted 1980
After playing at Florida A&M, McGriff was the 333rd pick of the 1980 NFL Draft. Similar to Kirk and Almond, McGriff was also a ‘first’ of the fraternity. McGriff was the first to decline the invitation to Salata’s annual celebration after the 1980 draft. However, he would attend the following season as the “bodyguard” to the 1981 honoree, Phil Nelson. McGriff would play three seasons in the NFL, all of which being with the Steelers. He was arguably one of the most successful final selections in that decade, being named to the NFL All Rookie Team in 1980.
McGriff would remain close with Salata until his sudden death in 2000. Then 22 years later in December, 2022, McGriff was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame where his legacy was honored and preserved forever.
Steelers' Tyrone McGriff (#61) playing in Pittsburgh, PA. | Credit: mrirrelevant.org
Do you remember these Steelers players? Who is your favorite final draft pick? Let us know in the comments below!
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