James Harrison (2002 – 2018)
Another member of the Kent State Golden Flashes who didn’t receive any love during the NFL Draft. Teams believed Harrison was too short (only six foot tall) to play on the defensive line, and too small (240 pounds) to be a linebacker. Before he became a Steelers legend, the team actually released him three times from their practice squad, where he spent his first two seasons. From there, he was also cut by the Baltimore Ravens, after playing a stint in NFL Europe. At one point, he considered following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a truck driver. But Harrison continued to chase his dreams, and that’s when things finally changed.
After he rejoined the Steelers in 2005, he became the James Harrison we all grew to know and fear. Known for his legendary workouts, even at the age of 37, Harrison is in better physical shape than most of the younger players in the league. NFL Resume: 5x Pro Bowl, 2x First Team All Pro, 2x Steelers Team MVP, and 2x Super Bowl champion.