Joe Gilliam Film Coming

[86WARD]

A man named Dexter Rogers is producing a documentary on the life of former Steelers Joe Gilliam, who beat out Terry Bradshaw to start the 1974 Super Bowl season at quarterback. Gilliam's story is a true Greek tragedy. He overcame a lot to start after impressing Chuck Noll in that '74 training camp while the veterans, including Bradshaw, were on strike. That whippet arm and Dan Marino-like quick delivery were assets but his gunsliger approach to the game eventually prompted the conservative Noll to bench him in favor of Bradshaw, then Terry Hanratty and finally Bradshaw again as the Steelers mounted their drive to win their first Lombardi Trophy.

Source: http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/pro-sports/steelers/111310-ed-joe-gilliam-film-coming

[SteelerEmpire]

I remember seeing a documentary on him many years ago. He was bad ass ...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTZ0idRGDjc

[Aussie_steeler]

Follow up article in relation to the upcoming film.

http://www.mcall.com/sports/football/mc-gilliam-steelers-20110823,0,5119959.story



Did racism lift Bradshaw over Gilliam in 1974? An Indiana writer says yes

I'm not trying to portray Mr. Noll as being racist," Rogers said. "What I am
trying to say is that the societal conditions with the respect to race were
definitely a clear factor. Racial situations existed, having an African-American
quarterback playing in a vastly white community, a segment of the Pittsburgh fan
base did not accept that.