Steelers Great Bill Nunn Convinced Chuck Noll To Draft Jerry Rice In 1985 Until The 49ers Made A Surprising Move

The Pittsburgh Steelers, like all NFL teams, have a handful of players who got away from them throughout the years in the NFL Draft. This happens for various reasons. Sometimes, another team unexpectedly moves up to select a player, or perhaps an organization misvalues a potential talent, as what happened with Tom Brady and Antonio Brown (both of which were sixth-round selections).  

In the case of the Steelers, the most commonly mentioned "one who got away" is quarterback Dan Marino. Now, Bob Labriola from the Steelers said in his Asked and Answered column that there is another player of tremendous value that the Steelers missed out on and it's one many fans don't know about, wide receiver Jerry Rice.  

Rice played for Mississippi Valley State University, a Historically Black College or University. When Rice was drafted in 1985, the great Bill Nunn was out scouting HBCUs for the Steelers, looking for incredible talent. Nunn developed a strong relationship with Head Coach Archie Cooley and admired his innovative passing game. The NFL didn't understand what Cooley was doing, and there wasn't much interest in Rice, despite setting numerous NCAA records. 

"Nunn looked past all of that and was certain Jerry Rice was going to be a great pro, and by the time the 1985 NFL Draft was at hand, he had convinced Chuck Noll of the same thing. The Steelers held the 20th overall pick in that draft, and as the picking in the first round moved into the teens, Noll was prepared to spend the team's selection on Rice. After the Cincinnati Bengals used the 13th overall pick on wide receiver Eddie Brown, it seemed as though the Steelers were going to get their man, but the San Francisco 49ers, picking 28th and last in the first round, worked a trade with New England to move up into the Patriots' spot at No. 16 overall and snatch Rice."

The Steelers went on to select defensive lineman Darryl Sims out of Wisconsin. Sims spent only four years in the NFL, two of which in Pittsburgh. It would be unfair to hold nearly any player up to Rice and make a comparison, but Sims doesn't even come close. He is often named as one of the Steelers' biggest draft busts. 

Rice, on the other hand, had an exceptional career. It is probably safe to assume that the 15 teams who chose before the 49ers ended up with regrets. Rice spent an incredible 20 seasons in the NFL, the most of any wide receiver. They were primarily all in San Francisco, although he spent a few years with other teams, including the then-Oakland Raiders. He was a major contributor to the three Super Bowls the 49ers won during his career and was named MVP of Super Bowl XXIII. He was twice named the Offensive Player of the Year, was a 10-time First Team All-Pro, and was selected for 13 Pro Bowls. He was six times the NFL receiving yards and receiving touchdowns leader, and twice the NFL receptions leader. A member of the Hall of Fame class of 2010, Rice still holds several NFL records.

Steelers Let Dan Marino Down

When Marino was waiting to be drafted, he felt he was a solid fit for the Steelers and expected them to select him. He was upset when they didn't, and he went to the Miami Dolphins. While he went on to have a successful career in Miami, Marino said he did have what-if moments and even considered calling the Steelers from time to time. Ultimately, he said going to Miami was a positive experience. It helped him grow both as a player and a human. That doesn't negate the "what if" feelings about what Pittsburgh could have done with him under center though.