Steelers Blessed With Multiple Elite UDFAs Who Belong On New Top 10 List

The fate of the Pittsburgh Steelers changed when Franco Harris made the Immaculate Reception in 1972. While they did not win their first Super Bowl until the 1974 season, they had arrived, establishing themselves as a dominant franchise in the league. Since then, they have discovered some incredible players. 

The team and its fans take pride in the organization's ability to find diamonds in the rough, players that other teams have overlooked. The Rooney family knows that this often leaves a chip on the shoulder that gives the player additional motivation to succeed. 

Now, the Steelers are receiving some kudos for those finds from CBS Sports. Reporter Jeff Kerr recently listed the top 10 undrafted free agents in the common draft era. The Steelers and the then-San Diego Chargers are the only teams who can boast finding two players on the list. 

James Harrison comes in ninth overall. Harrison had arguably one of the most fascinating journeys to professional football of any player. While he was an exceptional high school athlete, he didn't focus on much else. His lack of maturity led to some legal issues, and that, along with his poor grades, kept him out of any big-name schools. 

He walked on at Kent State, and after being forced to sit out initially, he worked his way into a starting role. Harrison loved to brag that he even sacked his future teammate, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, from Miami of Ohio. Despite his strong performance, he went undrafted in 2002. Most scouts felt he was too small to play linebacker at only 6 feet and 240 pounds. 

The Steelers signed him as an undrafted rookie that year, making him the first Kent State alum to play linebacker for Pittsburgh since the incredible Jack Lambert. His road was not smooth, however; he was booted off the team and brought back multiple times before he was finally signed a fourth time in 2004. 

"Arguably the best undrafted free agent linebacker, Harrison was the anchor of the Steelers defense throughout the late 2000s. The 2008 Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year and two-time First Team All-Pro, Harrison led the NFL in forced fumbles in 2008 (7) and had a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown off Kurt Warner prior to halftime of Super Bowl XLIII -- one of the key plays in Pittsburgh's championship. Harrison is second on the Steelers' all-time sack list (84.5), finishing with 811 tackles and 34 forced fumbles."

Harrison and the Steelers never could completely break up, even though he went on some dates with the team's sworn enemies. He helped Pittsburgh win two Super Bowls during his stint from 2004-2012, despite not being named a starter until he was 29. He then went off to the Cincinnati Bengals for a season before announcing his retirement. After learning the Steelers' defense was decimated by injuries, Harrison came out of retirement and chose to return to Pittsburgh in 2014. That final time, he stayed for four more seasons before ending his career with the New England Patriots. 

Donnie Shell was the other Steelers legend to make the list, coming in fourth overall. Shell played for South Carolina State University, a Historically Black College and University. Thanks to Steelers scout Bill Nunn's groundbreaking work in the 1970s, players like Shell were being discovered. 

"One of the underrated stars of the 'Steel Curtain' defense in the 1970s, Shell went undrafted in 1974 out of South Carolina State. Shell wasn't part of the draft class that year that produced Mike Webster, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, and Jack Lambert -- yet ended up in the Hall of Fame with that group. Shell is one of the best defensive players in franchise history."

Shell was a five-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro. He helped the Steelers win a whopping four Super Bowls, making several huge defensive plays during those championship games. 

He was among the top performing safties from 1978 to 1982, getting 25 of his 51 career interceptions. He ranks third in franchise history in interceptions and second in fumble recoveries (19).

Steelers' James Harrison Shut Down The Number One UDFA Player

While Harrison might have only been ranked ninth on the CBS list, he did crush the hopes of the player they have listed as number one, former Arizona Cardinals quarterback, Kurt Warner. 

Warner was a Super Bowl champion with the then-St. Louis Rams and was named the Super Bowl MVP. He boasted a 12-year career in the NFL across multiple teams. Hoping for one more Lombardi, he spent his final seasons in Arizona, helping them get to Super Bowl XLIII. 

He had a great game, considering they lost to the Steelers 27-23. Warner threw for 377 yards and completed 72.1% of his passes. What he didn't expect was to complete one to the ferocious Harrison that went the distance and helped Pittsburgh secure another Lombardi Trophy.