Editing Terry Bradshaw (section)

==NFL career==

===Pittsburgh Steelers===
[[File:TerryBradshawTrainingCamp.jpg|thumb|Bradshaw arriving at Steelers training camp]]
In the [[1970 NFL draft]], Bradshaw was selected as the first overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers,<ref>{{Cite web |title=1970 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1970/draft.htm |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> who got the first pick in the draft after winning a coin flip [[tiebreaker]] with the [[Chicago Bears]] since the teams had identical 1–13 records in [[1969 NFL season|1969]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pierson |first=Don |date=January 8, 2008 |title=Former Bears coach and Halas successor dead at 77 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cs-080108chicagobearsjimdooley,0,62437.story?coll=chi_tab01_layout |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112132314/http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cs-080108chicagobearsjimdooley,0,62437.story?coll=chi_tab01_layout |archive-date=January 12, 2008 |work=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> Bradshaw was hailed at the time as the consensus number-one pick.

Bradshaw became a starter in his second season after splitting time with [[Terry Hanratty]] in his rookie campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1970 Pittsburgh Steelers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/1970.htm |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> During his first few seasons, the 6'3", 215-pound quarterback was erratic and threw many interceptions (he threw 210 interceptions over the course of his career), and was mocked by the media for his rural roots and perceived lack of intelligence.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=gL9scSG3K_gC&dat=19701109&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |title=Blowing Bubbles |work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |date=November 9, 1970 | access-date=November 15, 2015 |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117040205/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=gL9scSG3K_gC&dat=19701109&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |url-status=live}}</ref>

Bradshaw took several seasons to adjust to the NFL, but he eventually led the Steelers to eight [[AFC Central]] championships and four Super Bowl titles. The Pittsburgh Steelers featured the "[[Steel Curtain]]" defense and a powerful running attack led by [[Franco Harris]] and [[Rocky Bleier]], but Bradshaw's strong arm gave them the threat of the deep pass, helping to loosen opposing defenses. In [[1972 NFL season|1972]], he threw the "[[Immaculate Reception]]" pass to Franco Harris, among the most famous plays in NFL history, to beat the Raiders in the AFC Divisional playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jolly |first=Tom |date=December 22, 2022 |title=The Day Franco Harris Performed a Miracle and Inspired an Army |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/22/sports/football/franco-harris-immaculate-reception.html |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

Bradshaw temporarily lost the starting job to [[Joe Gilliam]] in 1974, but he took over again during the regular season. In the [[1974 AFC Championship Game]] against the [[Oakland Raiders]], his fourth-quarter touchdown pass to [[Lynn Swann]] proved to be the winning score in a 24–13 victory. In the Steelers' 16–6 [[Super Bowl IX]] victory over the [[Minnesota Vikings]] that followed, Bradshaw completed 9 of 14 passes and his fourth-quarter touchdown pass put the game out of reach and helped take the Steelers to their first Super Bowl victory.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl IX - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings - January 12th, 1975 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197501120min.htm |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

In [[Super Bowl X]] following the [[1975 NFL season|1975 season]], Bradshaw threw for 209 yards, most of them to Swann, as the Steelers beat the [[Dallas Cowboys]], 21–17.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl X - Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers - January 18th, 1976 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197601180dal.htm |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> His late-fourth-quarter, 64-yard touchdown pass to Swann, released a split-second before defensive tackle [[Larry Cole]] flattened him, was selected by NFL Films as the "Greatest Throw of All Time".

Neck and wrist injuries in 1976 forced Bradshaw to miss four games. He was sharp in a 40–14 victory over the [[Baltimore Colts]], completing 14 of 18 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns and achieving the highest-possible passer rating of 158.3.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Colts - December 19th, 1976 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197612190clt.htm |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> As of 2022, it is the only playoff game where the visiting quarterback achieved this effort. With this outstanding game, he was not only instrumental in Pittsburgh's blowout win but also potentially—and inadvertently—helped save the lives of scores of people from the impact of a plane crash which took place soon after the game ended as result of the [[butterfly effect]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Section 1: A short film from Dorktown | date=June 25, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alcVZZuj_WE |access-date=July 27, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> This is because the Colts were beaten so badly that their fans left much earlier than they would have, with their supporter zone being completely vacated by time of the impact. There were no serious injuries, and the pilot was arrested for violating air safety regulations.<ref name="ergplcr">{{cite news |date=December 20, 1976 |title=Rout was a blessing when plane crashed |page=1B |work=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=UPI |location=(Oregon) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yO5XAAAAIBAJ&pg=4745%2C6047602}}</ref><ref name="mjtdn">{{cite news |date=December 20, 1976 |title=Touch Down |page=13, part 2 |work=Milwaukee Journal |agency=(Washington Star Service) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TggqAAAAIBAJ&pg=6651%2C6901360 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="smplc">{{cite news |date=December 20, 1976 |title=Small plane crashes into stand minutes after 60,000 leave |page=1 |work=Toledo Blade |agency=Associated Press |location=(Ohio) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GS1PAAAAIBAJ&pg=4721%2C5429461}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Baltimore Stadium |url=http://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/N6276J-Kroner.htm |work=check-six.com}}</ref> Donald Kroner was the 33-year-old pilot charged with reckless flying, littering, and making a bomb threat against former Baltimore Colts linebacker [[Bill Pellington]]. Pellington owned a bar and restaurant from which Kroner was once ejected for using foul language.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tom |date=November 11, 2013 |title=Plane Crashes Into Memorial Stadium |url=https://ghostsofbaltimore.org/2013/11/11/plane-crashes-into-memorial-stadium/ |access-date=February 19, 2019 |website=Ghosts of Baltimore |language=en-US |archive-date=February 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220004342/https://ghostsofbaltimore.org/2013/11/11/plane-crashes-into-memorial-stadium/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The crash is the subject of the 2022 documentary ''Section 1'' by [[Secret Base]]'s [[Jon Bois]] and Alex Rubenstein.<ref>{{Citation |title=Section 1: A short film from Dorktown |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alcVZZuj_WE |access-date=February 26, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

However, the Steelers' hopes of a three-peat ended when both of their 1,000-yard rushers (Harris and Bleier) were injured in the win over the Colts, and the Steelers subsequently lost to the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship game, 24–7.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at Oakland Raiders - December 26th, 1976 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197612260rai.htm |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Jack Lambert (American football)|Jack Lambert]] asserted that the 1976 Steelers team was the best team that he ever played on, including the four Super Bowl teams of which he was a part.

Bradshaw had his best season in [[1978 NFL season|1978]] when he was named the NFL's [[National Football League Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player]] (MVP) by the [[Associated Press]] after a season in which he completed 207 of 368 passes for 2,915 yards and a league-leading 28 touchdown passes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AP NFL Most Valuable Player Winners |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/ap-nfl-mvp-award.htm |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Terry Bradshaw 1978 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BradTe00/gamelog/1978/ |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1978 NFL Passing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1978/passing.htm |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> He was also named [[All-Pro]] and All-AFC that year, despite throwing 20 interceptions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1978 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1978/allpro.htm |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

Before [[Super Bowl XIII]], a Steelers-Cowboys rematch, Cowboys [[linebacker]] [[Thomas Henderson (American football)|Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson]] famously ridiculed Bradshaw by saying, "He couldn't spell 'cat' if you spotted him the 'c' and the 'a'."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/mike-tomlin-invokes-hollywood-henderson-to-perfectly-troll-terry-bradshaw/ |title=Mike Tomlin invokes 'Hollywood' Henderson to perfectly troll Terry Bradshaw |date=December 27, 2016 |access-date=January 20, 2019 |archive-date=January 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121064331/https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/mike-tomlin-invokes-hollywood-henderson-to-perfectly-troll-terry-bradshaw/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Bradshaw got his revenge by winning the [[Super Bowl Most Valuable Player|Super Bowl MVP award]], completing 17 of 30 passes for a then-record 318 yards and four touchdowns in a 35–31 win.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl History |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/super-bowl/ |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Bradshaw has in later years made light of the ridicule with quips such as "it's football, not rocket science."
[[File:1986 Jeno's Pizza - 46 - Terry Bradshaw.jpg|thumb|left|Bradshaw (12), hands the ball off to [[Franco Harris]] during Super Bowl XIV]]
Bradshaw won his second straight Super Bowl MVP award in 1979 in [[Super Bowl XIV]]. He passed for 309 yards and two touchdowns in a 31–19 win over the [[Los Angeles Rams]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XIV - Los Angeles Rams vs. Pittsburgh Steelers - January 20th, 1980 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198001200pit.htm |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Early in the fourth quarter, with Pittsburgh down 19–17, Bradshaw again turned to the long pass to help engineer a victory: a 73-yard touchdown to [[John Stallworth]]. Bradshaw shared ''Sports Illustrated'''s [[Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year|Sportsman of the Year]] award that season with fellow Pittsburgh star [[Willie Stargell]], whose [[1979 Pittsburgh Pirates season|Pirates won the 1979 World Series]].

[[File:1983 Steelers Police - 04 Terry Bradshaw (crop).jpg|thumb|left|Bradshaw playing with the Steelers in 1982]]
After two seasons of missing the playoffs,<ref>{{Cite web |title=1980 Pittsburgh Steelers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/1980.htm |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1981 Pittsburgh Steelers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/1981.htm |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Bradshaw played through pain—he needed a cortisone shot before every game because of an elbow injury sustained during training camp—in a strike-shortened [[1982 NFL season]]. He still managed to tie for the most touchdown passes in the league with 17.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1982 NFL Passing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1982/passing.htm |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> In a 31–28 Wild Card Round loss to the [[San Diego Chargers]], Bradshaw's last postseason game, he completed 28 of 39 passes for 325 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wild Card - San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 9th, 1983 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198301090pit.htm |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

After undergoing off-season elbow surgery (using the alias "Thomas Brady", with [[Tom Brady|the actual Brady]] being six years old at the time),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2021/03/03/terry-bradshaw-hospital-1983-tom-brady-alias/|title=Terry Bradshaw Entered a Hospital in 1983 Under the Name 'Tom Brady'|work=[[USA Today]]|date=March 3, 2021|access-date=March 3, 2021|archive-date=March 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303151338/https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2021/03/03/terry-bradshaw-hospital-1983-tom-brady-alias/|url-status=live}}</ref> Bradshaw was idle for the first 14 games of the 1983 NFL season. Then on December 10, 1983, against the [[New York Jets]], he felt a pop in his elbow while throwing his final pass, a 10-yard touchdown to [[Calvin Sweeney]] in the second quarter of the Steelers' 34–7 win. Bradshaw later left the game and never played again. The two touchdowns Bradshaw threw in what was the final NFL game played at [[Shea Stadium]] (and the last NFL game played in New York City proper to date) allowed him to finish his career with two more touchdowns (212) than interceptions (210).

Bradshaw's retirement came as a surprise to some,<ref name="Retirement" /> and in hindsight unplanned on the Steelers' part.<ref name="30for30">{{cite episode |title=Elway to Marino |series=30 for 30 |network=ESPN |airdate=April 23, 2013 |season=2}}</ref> Before Bradshaw's elbow problems came about, the team chose to pass on [[Pittsburgh Panthers football|Pitt]] quarterback [[Dan Marino]] in the [[1983 NFL draft]] as an heir successor to Bradshaw due in part to head coach [[Chuck Noll]] wanting to rebuild on defense, and according to [[Bill Hillgrove]], the [[Rooney family]] not wanting Marino to face a lot of pressure in his hometown and needing to experience life outside of [[Oakland (Pittsburgh)|Oakland]], where Marino grew up and Pitt is located.<ref name="30for30" /> The player the Steelers drafted instead ([[Gabriel Rivera]]) played only six games before becoming a [[quadriplegic]] following a drunk-driving crash, and Marino's subsequent success with the [[Miami Dolphins]] prompted [[Art Rooney]] to remind his sons daily until his death that the team "should've drafted Marino."<ref name="30for30" /> The decision also set the franchise back at quarterback; while the team eventually returned to being a Super Bowl contender after their rebuilding period during the mid-1980s, they did not have a consistent quarterback until [[Ben Roethlisberger]] arrived in 2004.

Although the Steelers have not officially retired Bradshaw's number 12, they have not reissued it since his retirement.<ref>{{cite web |title=All Players To Wear Number 12 For Pittsburgh Steelers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/uniform.cgi?number=12&team=pit |website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] |access-date=June 6, 2024 |language=en}}</ref>