1970 NFL Draft - What if the Steelers lost the coin flip? Who would we have picked at #2?

[saturdaysarebetter]

For those that may not know the 1970 NFL draft number one overall pick came down to a coin flip between the Steelers and the Chicago Bears, both having 1-13 records. Dan Rooney, on the advice from the Chief, deferred the call to the Bears Ed McCaskey. The Bears called heads and the 1921 Silver Dollar came up tails.


The Steelers then went on to select the unquestioned #1 pick in the NFL draft, Terry Bradshaw. The Bears traded away the #2 pick to Green Bay for running back Elijah Pitts, linebacker LeRoy Caffey and offensive lineman Bob Highland from Green Bay and the Packers then picked Notre Dame's DT Mike McCoy.


The Cleveland Browns then picked Purdue quarterback Mike Phipps with the #3 pick. Four defensive linemen went in the first nine picks: McCoy at #2, Utah St. DT Phil Olsen (Merlin's younger brother) to the Patriots at #4, USC defensive end Al Cowlings (O.J. future getaway driver) to Buffalo at #5, Penn State DT Mike Reid (future Grammy award winning songwriter) to the Bengals at #7 and North Texas defensive end Cedric Hardman to the 49ers at #9.


So had the Bears won the coin flip, who would the Steelers have picked with the #2 pick? Phipps from Purdue or a highly rated defensive lineman to join Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood? Would the Steelers have waited till the 1971 draft to draft a QB? As it turned out, Jim Plunkett, Archie Manning and Dan Pastorini were the first three picks of the 1971 NFL draft.

[pczach]

For those that may not know the 1970 NFL draft number one overall pick came down to a coin flip between the Steelers and the Chicago Bears, both having 1-13 records. Dan Rooney, on the advice from the Chief, deferred the call to the Bears Ed McCaskey. The Bears called heads and the 1921 Silver Dollar came up tails.


The Steelers then went on to select the unquestioned #1 pick in the NFL draft, Terry Bradshaw. The Bears traded away the #2 pick to Green Bay for running back Elijah Pitts, linebacker LeRoy Caffey and offensive lineman Bob Highland from Green Bay and the Packers then picked Notre Dame's DT Mike McCoy.


The Cleveland Browns then picked Purdue quarterback Mike Phipps with the #3 pick. Four defensive linemen went in the first nine picks: McCoy at #2, Utah St. DT Phil Olsen (Merlin's younger brother) to the Patriots at #4, USC defensive end Al Cowlings (O.J. future getaway driver) to Buffalo at #5, Penn State DT Mike Reid (future Grammy award winning songwriter) to the Bengals at #7 and North Texas defensive end Cedric Hardman to the 49ers at #9.


So had the Bears won the coin flip, who would the Steelers have picked with the #2 pick? Phipps from Purdue or a highly rated defensive lineman to join Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood? Would the Steelers have waited till the 1971 draft to draft a QB? As it turned out, Jim Plunkett, Archie Manning and Dan Pastorini were the first three picks of the 1971 NFL draft.



There's a stroll down memory lane! Thanks for that.

[Dwinsgames]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZWcaxYNKIM&ab_channel=MikeReidVEVO

[tube517]

Side note: The Stains selected Mike Phipps at the #3 pick, who went on to be a backup. LOL. Stains gonna stain.

[Hawkman]

Is that a 68 Cadillac?

[DuckHodges]

the browns were still brownin' back then lol

[ALLD]

The Steelers may have gone with Manning over Plunkett if available in 1971. Think about an alternate universe where Archie Manning had 4 SB rings and Bradshaw was nothing more than a big arm on the Bears. Without a supporting cast of future Hofers does anything think Bradshaw would have been given the time and opportunity to win anything other than on the 1970s Steelers? Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

[pczach]

The Steelers may have gone with Manning over Plunkett if available in 1971. Think about an alternate universe where Archie Manning had 4 SB rings and Bradshaw was nothing more than a big arm on the Bears. Without a supporting cast of future Hofers does anything think Bradshaw would have been given the time and opportunity to win anything other than on the 1970s Steelers? Talk about being in the right place at the right time.


So true.

It's all a crapshoot. So much depends on where you go, who your coaches are, and who you're playing with.