Steelers articles I can only (barely) get away with in the offseason: Celebrity Fan edition

The Pittsburgh Steelers have fans everywhere. You can’t swing a cat without getting it entangled with a Terrible Towel, no matter your locale. With Calvin Broadus Jr. (aka Snoop Dogg, aka Snoop Lion, aka DJ Snoopadelic, aka Nemo Hoes, aka Snoopzilla and one I shan’t mention) speaking up recently about the Steelers’ possible fortunes without the departed Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, I realized there are a lot of famous fans out there that passionately don the black and gold.

Some hail from the Steel City or points nearby, so the Steelers are their birthright. While others like the aforementioned California, hip-hop superstar from the LBC, become fans because of the history, the legacy and the identity of the team throughout the years. In Snoop’s case, he used to watch Steeler games with his grandfather growing up. No matter the reason, there are a number of celebrity Steeler fans out there. A few big fans like Verne Troyer (Mini Me), Mac Miller and Arnold Palmer have since passed away. Here’s a few besides Snoop that probably light up when “Renegade” starts blaring from the speakers.

Wiz Khalifa

Although he correctly convinced tons of fans that “Black and Yellow” are the official colors of his hometown team in his iconic No. 1 chart debut, the Taylor Allderdice alum realized his goal of writing an anthem-of-sorts for his favorite team.

Michael Keaton

Born in Coraopolis, Mr. Mom, Beetlejuice and Batman has always been an outspoken supporter of his hometown teams and frequently attends games in Heinz Field and Steeler Super Bowls. Keaton started his career working as a WQED crew member for “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” in 1975. At that same time, the Steelers had started their championship ways and Keaton pledged loyalty to the team. On an episode of Seth Myer’s talk show, Keaton questioned the New Hampshire native’s allegience to the Steelers and presented him with a Steelers hat.

Seth Myers

As mentioned above, the SNL alum and NBC late-night, talk show host is a Steeler fan from Patriot real estate. Myers’ father, a Pittsburgh native, raised his children to root for the Steelers and his son celebrates victories and laments losses passionately on his show. Myers, in a rare skit appearance on SNL in 2005, portrayed a Steeler fan at a bar and uttered the phrase “Cowher Power” in yinzer fashion.

Kurt Angle

The 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist and professional wrestling legend was born in Mount Lebanon and has always prided himself as a big fan of the black and gold.

Rush Limbaugh

The conservative political commentator has been a Steeler fan for nearly 45 years. Coming from St. Louis, Limbaugh had very little to cheer for in the football Cardinals, His arrival in Pittsburgh (as a deejay for KQV named Jeff Christie) coincided with the Steelers ascension into a dynasty.

Paul Rudd

Known well as of late as a fan of his hometown Kansas City Chiefs, Ant-Man visited Pittsburgh frequently as a kid and claims that the Steelers were what he cared about the most as a kid.

January Jones

The “Mad Men” and “Last Man on Earth” star grew up in South Dakota, but is a proud Steelers fan. Betty Draper reportedly takes the game seriously and likes to sit and absorb the games in quiet.

Joe Manganeillo

The three-sport star at Mount Lebanon High (football, volleyball and basketball) turned more seriously to acting after tearing a MCL returning a kick. Initially not getting selected for the drama department at Carnegie Mellon, Manganiello enrolled at Pitt only to become a Tartan and pursue his acting dreams soon after. The Magic Mike star later produced and directed a short film about Steeler fans meeting in an LA bar called Diehardz. Married to Sofia Vegara of “Modern Family”, the diehard Steeler fan has converted his famous wife to his manic fandom. Ironically, Vegara’s television husband is portrayed by Ed O’Neill, a final cut of the Steelers in 1969.

Hank Williams Jr.

Born in the same hospital as a wannabe country singer named Terry Bradshaw, the country music icon has been a Steeler fan for a long time and claims to have worn Steeler paraphernalia in arenas all over the globe.

Billy Gardell

The talented comedian and former star of “Mike and Molly” on CBS was born in Swissvale, but grew up in the state of Florida. However, Gardell remains a card-carrying yinzer and has led the Terrible Towel wave on numerous occasions at Heinz Field.

Jeff Goldblum

While he doesn’t seem like a yinzer, the iconic actor hails from West Homestead and claims a passion for his hometown team.

Toby Keith

The blue collar and hard hat persona of Pittsburghers is what drew the country star to the Steelers. He once mentioned in an interview that the city seemed to adopt him as one of their own and he identifies himself as a “Terrible Towel Waving Cat” and a lifelong Steelers fan.

Roy Jones Jr.

The legendary boxing champ grew up among a slew of Dallas Cowboy fans, but gravitated towards the rival Steelers because of an admiration for Lynn Swann, Franco Harris and Terry Bradshaw. But Jones once told Steelers.com that his fanhood was cemented when his godmother asked him who his favorite team was and he selected Pittsburgh because of their colors. She sent him a Steelers belt buckle and RJJ became attached to the Steelers ever since.

Bret Michaels

Poison’s epic front man and the winner of 2010’s Celebrity Apprentice was born in Butler and raised in Mechanicsburg as a Steeler diehard. Michaels identifies as a “Lambert Lunatic” and proudly boasts his fandom by owning a Steeler-themed guitar.

Chris Kirkpatrick

The *NSYNC singer from Clarion, PA is so much of a fan that his son was wrapped in a Terrible Towel hours after his birth (my two got the same treatment ten minutes into their lives) and announced on social media as the newest member of Steeler Nation.

Christina Aguilera

The pop diva was raised in Wexford and sung the National Anthem at Pirates, Penguins and Steeler games. As a superstar, she reprised the anthem before the Steelers’ Super Bowl XLV loss to Green Bay, a mistake-filled performance for both the team and the singer.

Reggie Jackson

The legendary “Mr. October” played in cities in 1970s and 80s that had notable football successes like Oakland, Baltimore and Anaheim. Then there was New York. But Reggie’s football fandom coincided with his Franco Harris friendship and never subsided.

John Grisham

The best-selling author is a “son of the south”, but his love of Pittsburgh sports started with fandom of Franco Harris and Roberto Clemente. Grisham set “The Associate” in the Steel City.

Corey Graves

The WWE commentator has become one of the best and most entertaining voices in professional wrestling today. A proud yinzer, Graves celebrates his Pittsburgh heritage and love for Pittsburgh sports frequently on WWE programming.

Jimmie Johnson

The legendary NASCAR champion isn’t a lifelong fan, but he first became a supporter while playing as the Steelers against his friends in Madden. Johnson completely pledged his allegiance to Steeler Nation leading up to their Super Bowl XLIII victory.

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Did I miss a celebrity Steeler supporter? Who is your favorite of the bunch? Be heard in the comment section below.