The 25 most prolific Steelers jersey numbers of all time: 13th place

BTSC continues to rank the best numbers in team history on a standpoint of thriving over time throughout multiple players. It seems there are a few numbers which are always represented with quality play in Steelers lore. One BTSC author has wondered aloud “what is the most accomplished number in Steelers history?” Through player and jersey value rankings found in Pro Football Reference, we have ranked the most successful numbers in Steelers history worn by multiple players. You won’t see numbers like 12, 58, 75, 31, 32, 52, 59, 36 and 47 as it would be basically ranking an individual player over the other and not the cumulative effort. In today’s submission, we take a look at those ranked 13th. Enjoy.

13 No. 68

Most Notable: Kelvin Beachum 2012-2015, Chris Kemoeatu 2005-2011 (pictured below), Keydrick Vincent 2001-2004, Brendan Stai 1995-1999, L.C. Greenwood 1969-1981, Rod Stehouwer 1960-1964

Current Wearer: Antony Coyle 2020

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Kelvin Beachum was drafted by the Steelers as the last of four seventh rounders in 2012 and the 248th of 253 players selected that year. The SMU Mustang, at 6’3” and 308 lbs, was considered smaller for an offensive tackle, but his lateral movement and quickness off the ball was a major reason for Beachum to start 39 of 44 games with the Steelers. A very popular player in his time in Pittsburgh, Beachum was very active in the community as well. In October 2015 in a game against Arizona, the Texan tore his ACL forcing Alejandro Villanueva into the lineup. This would be his last game in a Steelers uniform. In March of 2016, Kelvin Beachum signed a free agent deal for one season with Jacksonville and then cashed-in the next season with the Jets. In 2017, Kelvin appeared with Chip and Joanna Gaines on the HGTV blockbuster “Fixer Upper” when helping to renovate his parent’s home. Currently, Beachum is a free agent.

A starter on the offensive line for 53 games from 2005-2011 was Uikelotu Christopher Kemoeatu. The Steelers selected the man born in Tonga and raised in Hawaii in Round 6 of the 2005 Draft. A Hawaii High School Defensive Player of the Year in 2000, Chris became an All American on the offensive line at the University of Utah in his senior year. Inactive most of his rookie year, the Utah Ute didn’t play during the Super Bowl XL season. But by 2007, the punishing blocker got some starts. In the Super Bowl XLIII championship season, the guard was starting (all 16 games and the postseason) in place of departed free agent Alan Faneca. In 2010, the 344-pounder started in 15 games and the Super Bowl loss to the Packers. After a 2011 season abbreviated by injury, Kemoeatu was released by the Steelers. Out of the game and in dire need of heart surgery and a kidney in 2014, Chris received the ultimate gift from his brother Ma’ake. The Super Bowl champ from the rival Ravens retired to help save his brother’s life and donate the vital organ.

Winning a National Championship and an All-American senior season at Nebraska earned Brendan Stai becoming a third round selection by the Steelers in the 1995 draft. Because of John Jackson’s knee ailments, Stai started nine games and all three postseason games that Super Bowl XXX season. After 53 starts and being a full-time starter in 1998 and 1999, Stai ended up in Kansas City as a free agent. That didn’t last long as the Husker was traded soon after to Jacksonville in 2000. A big contract with Detroit, a trade to Washington and a short stint with New England rounded out the rest of Stai’s career in 2002. These days, Brendan Stai is back with the University of Nebraska where he serves in the athletic department.

Coming out of Ole Miss, Keydrick Vincent came to the Steelers as an undrafted free agent and started 27 games in four seasons at guard. Keydrick was a solid run blocker that helped create holes for the Steelers’ running game. After the ‘04 season, Vincent ended up with the Baltimore Ravens and spent time with the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his ten NFL seasons.

Ron Stehouwer played guard for the Steelers for five seasons from 1960-1964. The Colorado State Ram was drafted in the 12th Round of the 1959 Draft. Stehouwer started 15 games for the Steelers during his time in Pittsburgh. Ron passed away at the age of 69 in 2007.

L.C. Greenwood was the man with the golden shoes in Pittsburgh. The tallest member of the Steel Curtain wore them to prevent mistaken identity. PA announcers would credit Joe Greene for some of Greenwood’s tackles, so to correct that, he would lift his legs in the air every time he made a play in order to get his proper due. The man known as “Hollywood Bags” is not in the Hall of Fame, but truly deserves to be. In 13 seasons with the Steelers, the 6’6” Greenwood was a dominant member of a suffocating defense. He was named to six Pro Bowls and was honored twice as an All-Pro. His 73.5 sacks has him ranked third on the Steeler career list, 4.5 of them came in one 1979 game against the Browns. L.C. is a member of the Steelers’ All-Time Team and the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade Team. He passed away at age 67.

Check back soon for the 12th best jersey in BTSC’s countdown of the most prolific jersey number stables in Steelers history. But first, a recap of the countdown so far.

Honorable Mention: No. 51, No. 93, No. 27 and No. 33
25) No. 24
24) No. 43
23) No. 83
22) No. 67
21) No. 53
20) No. 10
19) No. 20
18) No. 63
17) No. 50
16) No. 34
15) No. 78
14) No. 98