Top Pittsburgh Steelers Nicknames in Team History

· May 12 - 4 minutes read

The Pittsburgh Steelers have their share of colorful players, and that has resulted in some unforgettable nicknames.

If you ask people what they think of the great Steelers teams of the 1970s, the first words out of their mouths will probably be the “Steel Curtain.” That is considered to be one of the best NFL team nicknames.

Top Pittsburgh Steelers Nicknames in Team History — Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Joe Greene #75 | Justin K. Aller/Getty Images/AFP

That name was given to one of the best defensive lines in NFL history, featuring Hall of Famer Joe Greene, joined by L.C. Greenwood, Dwight White, and Ernie Holmes. It is hard to top that when it comes to Pittsburgh Steelers nicknames.

A different generation of Pittsburgh defensive stars thrived during the “Blitzburg” era.

There have been some nicknames of Steelers star players that still resonate to this day. While the Steelers continue to find success in the NFL, that isn’t the case for NFL teams that no longer exist.

A Look At The Top Pittsburgh Steelers Nicknames

The Chief

Art Rooney was one of the most beloved owners in NFL history. There were years when the Steelers couldn’t get out of their own way. That all changed with the hiring of Chuck Noll.

Rooney, known as “The Chief,” had a front-row seat as the Steelers won back-to-back Super Bowls twice during the 1970s.

Rooney was with the Steelers from 1933 until he died in 1988. The stability of the franchise remained after his death, with family members taking larger roles.

You can check out the NFL latest line for a glimpse at how the 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers will fare.

Mean Joe

There aren’t many nicknames that fit a player more than the “Mean Joe” moniker that legendary defensive tackle Joe Greene. It is not only one of the best Steeler nicknames, but one of the best in NFL history.

Greene was happy to use intimidation on the field, living up to the “Mean Joe” nickname as one of the best defensive linemen in NFL history.

The Bus

Jerome Bettis did not begin his career with the Steelers. After rushing for more than 1000 yards twice in his three seasons with the Rams, Bettis landed in Pittsburgh in 1996. He ran for 1431 and 1665 yards in his first two seasons with the Steelers on his way to becoming one of the leading rushers in NFL history.

Bettis was first referred to as “the Bus” during his college days at Notre Dame. That nickname stuck when Bettis landed in Pittsburgh to become a popular Steelers nickname.

Slash

When fans think of iconic Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks, drop-back passers Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger come to mind.

Things changed a bit when Kordell Stewart was a second-round pick by Pittsburgh in the 1995 NFL Draft.

Even though Stewart set many school passing records during his time at the University of Colorado, his role was slightly different when he got to the NFL.

In his first two seasons, Stewart attempted 37 passes, ran the ball 54 times, and caught 31 passes. With Stewart viewed as a quarterback/running back/receiver, he became known as “Slash.” He didn’t have the same impact as others on the list of the top Pittsburgh Steelers nicknames, but he certainly belongs on this list.

Beginning in his third season, he would leave the Slash role behind and become a quarterback. However, with more interceptions than touchdown passes in his career, some still think of Stewart simply as Slash.

Iron Mike

Another perfect nickname for a Steelers legend was “Iron Mike.” Pittsburgh center Mike Webster played in 177 consecutive games for the Steelers and was a team captain for nearly a decade for some of the best teams in NFL history.

He beats out Ben Roethlisberger (Big Ben), Jack Ham (The Hammer), Jack Lambert (Count Dracula in Cleats), and Terry Bradshaw (The Blonde Bomber) to make the cut for the best nicknames in team history.