LB Bob Schmitz (1961-1966)
Bob Schmitz was drafted 187th overall in the fourteenth round of the 1961 NFL Draft by the Steelers out of Montana State. He played in 49 games for the Steelers, making three interceptions and one pick-six, as well as recording a safety in 1963, tackling Hall of Famer Jim Brown that gave the Steelers a 9-7 victory over the Browns. That week, he was named NFL Player of the week, to which Schmitz said, “Gee, that’s probably the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
During the 1966 season, he split time with the Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings in what would be his final year in the league. In 1971, he returned to the NFL as a scout and worked for the Steelers from 1976-1995, when he moved on to the New York Jets. He officially retired on June 1, 2004. Just a few days later on June 8, Schmitz suffered a heart attack while at home and passed away at the age of 65.