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In the NFL offseason, pundits and experts all take to their keyboards trying to fill content where there is little-to-no news flying around the football atmosphere. The go-to content filler is none other than rankings.
The easiest angle is the standard Power Rankings. Pre-Free Agency Power Rankings. Post-Free Agency Power Rankings. Pre-Draft Power Rankings, you get the idea. However, every now and then you get someone who wants to go to the All-Time Rankings, and you can imagine just how difficult a feat this is to undertake.
This is exactly what Gil Brandt of NFL.com did when he ranked the best safeties of all-time.
Whenever fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers hear all-time rankings of any kind, it is as if an alarm goes off inside of them as they make sure members of their favorite team, or their team themselves, are well represented in the said list.
Well, in these rankings, Pittsburgh Steelers will be happy as they have three safeties who were ranked, two of which in the Top 10.
Check out where the Steelers ranked:
30. Carnell Lake
Pittsburgh Steelers, 1989-1998; Jacksonville Jaguars, 1999; Baltimore Ravens, 2001
» Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time
» 16 career interceptions
8. Donnie Shell
Pittsburgh Steelers, 1974-1987
» Four-time Super Bowl champion
» Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times
» 51 career interceptions
2. Troy Polamalu
Pittsburgh Steelers, 2003-2014
» Two-time Super Bowl champion
» Voted to eight Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times
» 32 career interceptions
To fully grasp these rankings, you have to check out the Top 5. It truly makes Polamalu’s ranking even more impressive, considering who he is ranked above.
Top 5
5. Ronnie Lott
4. Ed Reed
3. Ken Houston
2. Troy Polamalu
1. Emlen Tunnell
Let the debate begin, but in my opinion, Steelers fans should be pleased with these rankings, especially with Donnie Shell being in the Top 10, where he rightfully belongs.