Steelers’ L.C. Greenwood, Andy Russell, Pitt’s Bill Fralic advance in Hall of Fame seniors balloting
A pair of standout defensive players from the Super Steelers of the 1970s — lineman L.C. Greenwood and linebacker Andy Russell — are among 60 former NFL players from past generations who advanced in balloting to be considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s induction Class of 2025.
Former Penn Hills High School and Pitt offensive lineman Bill Fralic also was on the list of those still eligible for induction in the Seniors category, defined by any player who appeared in a pro game during the 1900s.
The Hall of Fame created a Seniors Screening Committee this year, and members of that group cast a ballot for 50 individuals among an initial list of 182 announced last week. Among former Steelers who did not advance to the final 60 (ties were counted among the top 50) were Mike Wagner, Byron “Whizzer” White and Norm Johnson.
A separate nine-person Seniors Blue-Ribbon Committee will pare this Seniors list further, ultimately with three players up for consideration for induction next year.
Greenwood often is mentioned as the greatest of the Steelers who won four Super Bowl rings yet to get a Hall of Fame call. A member of the vaunted Steel Curtain defensive line, Greenwood had 78 sacks over 13 seasons, all with the Steelers. A two-time AP NFL All-Pro who was named to six Pro Bowl rosters, Greenwood died in 2013 at 67 years old.
Russell died this past March at 82. He was the biggest piece of the Super ‘70s Steelers who was already on the roster when Chuck Noll was hired as coach in 1969. Russell was named to the Pro Bowl seven times during a Steelers career that spanned from 1963-76. He was part of the Steelers’ first two Super Bowl winners after the 1974 and ’75 seasons, scoring a touchdown on a fumble recovery during a 1975 playoff game.
The No. 2 overall draft pick in 1985, Fralic was twice a first-team All-Pro and once on the second team over a nine-year NFL career, eight with the Atlanta Falcons. A College Football Hall of Famer whose No. 79 is retired by Pitt, Fralic later became a radio color commentator for Pitt’s games. He died in 2018.
Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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