Joe Gilliam: What Could Have Been But Never Was

Ever heard of Joe Gilliam? Probably not. Gilliam was the initial catalyst at quarterback in 1974 who first ignited the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl winning ways. He was the first African-American quarterback to open a season as a starter. After posting a 6-0 preseason record followed by a 4-1-1 regular season Gilliam was benched in favor of Terry Bradshaw. Why? Watch and find out.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Pittsburgh Steelers
• Joe Gilliam
• Terry Bradshaw
• Dexter Rogers
• NFL

[anatsusha09]

What's the name of the song at the 4:50 mark

[drttcd]

@anatsusha09 Barry White, "Theme Song"

[Cabque]

Yep, Jefferson St. Joe.......I see Marlin"The Magician" Briscoe every now and then at golf tournaments. He has a youth football league in Souther California. Even though Marlin is a Kappa he is still a great guy.....

[drttcd]

@Cabque Right on. Did you ever get to talk to Briscoe? I contact info for him at his football camp. I'm hoping to get him on board in some capacity. Thanks for the comment.

[radioRELOAD]

As a white 13 year boy, I made my own Jefferson Street Joe football jersey in 1974, but correct me if I am wrong, I remember Chuck Knoll saying in an interview, nJoe liked to have too much fun? During a practice (in which joe was late) Knoll said to Joe, " you like to have fun joe" Joe said yes i do..Knolls response was, "well, your going to fun yourself right out of a job!" I would be willing to bet This was a factor in benching him! dont get me wrong, i support Joe. but he made bad choices

[drttcd]

@radioRELOAD Not sure if what you put forth or not is true of false but it does not change the fact Bradshaw received numerous chances to secure the starting job after he lost it to Gilliam. Gilliam never got another chance after going 10-1-1 including preseason. Bad choices or not he was winning football games on Sunday. Thanks for the comment.

[gronlaf]

@charesident09 you have got to be kidding me. the amount of racial taunts and death threats played a heavy roll in him turning to drugs. especially after being told you weren't good enough after taking your team 10-1-1. i get sick and tired of fn white people always trying to diminish the evil they set forth on society through their destructive white superiority complex. Joe gilliam's experience represents hundreds of black men before, during and after his time.

[plntntvzn]

@Cabque I have been able to find bits and pieces of Marlin Briscoe doing the dirty work at WR; blocking, catching the ball in traffic, etc. You could be effective in the redzone because of it, and also because he knew how to tippy toe along the back end line of the endzone. Obviously Briscoe could always be a threat to throw the ball on flea-flickers.

[kngscb]

@sixsixxsixxxx AMEN, Brother!!!!!! Staff, players and fans, WE'RE FAMILY!!!!!

[kngscb]

@mrslick58 YEAH!!!!! Joe was legit!!!!!

[kngscb]

GREAT JOB DEXTER!!! I'm 45, so I saw Joe play..........it's sad, but Terry respects him and he respected Terry; too bad he wasn't with us longer......

[mrslick58]

the throw at 3:44 looks so ridiculous to me

[sixsixxsixxxx]

A tragic story...sad sad events...Terry Bradshaw is to be commended for his honesty and class

[charesident09]

i just watch this video i didnt know steelers benched him in 1973-74 when they were 10-1-1 cause bradshaw said the organization probaly didnt want a black quaterback starting in pittsburgh the fans media in pittsburgh played a part in gilliam fall..come mon fans threaten to kill his family and fans burned his car and bradshaw got a pass on his mess up playing back then shame steeler fans  in the 70s