Bill Cowher and the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Superbowl to conclude the 2005 NFL season, and much of that squad still remains intact. Star players like Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, and Hines Ward are all still performing at a high level for the black and gold. But there are 33 players that were in Detroit that Sunday, celebrating a Superbowl championship, who didn’t remain with the team through this past season. 36 if you count free agent defections and returns by Bryant McFadden, Larry Foote, and Antwaan Randle El.
Those three players returned to the Steelers. The remaining 33, though? Well, they’ve found a variety of things to do. Six former Steelers are currently playing elsewhere in the NFL, a handful are playing football outside the NFL, and many have either retired or gone unsigned for a few years now.
This will be a series of six posts each about 5 or 6 former Steelers and what they’ve done with their time since Superbowl XL. We’ll headline each post with an active NFL player from 2010 and add a handful players that might have slipped through the cracks in your memory.
Major props to pro-football-reference.com for tracking players’ NFL action. Jump for Part 1.
Tyrone Carter
2005: Backup DB playing behind all-world safety Troy Polamalu and solid downfield partner Chris Hope.
Since: Continued playing special teams and backing up the too-often-injured Troy Polamalu, being kind of a weak link in the pass defense in an unfortunate 2009 season.
Now: Seems like he was just here, doesn’t it? Actually, Carter spent 2010 with the San Diego Chargers as a replacement after some dude got suspended.
Jerome Bettis
2005: Wound down his Hall of Fame career, culminating in a Superbowl win in his hometown of Detroit. A storybook ending for one of the greatest power backs of all time.
Since: Became a commentator on Football Night in America on NBC for a few years, where he was fairly underwhelming, ultimately being replaced by Rodney Harrison. He also opened that Grille 36 restaurant.
Now: Has apparently joined NFL Network’s boradcast team, hopefully eradicating Matt Millen from the airwaves once and for all.
Deshea Townsend
2005: The Steelers’ starting cornerback opposite Ike Taylor, holding his own against some of the NFL’s top receivers.
Since: Hung around with the Steelers for a while and did a stint with the Colts, and came back to Pittsburgh to host a show on TribLive Radio.
Now: Became a defensive backs coach in Arizona with former Steeler DB coach Ray Horton.
Tommy Maddox
2005: Backed up Ben Roethlisberger and started a handful of games while Ben was out with a knee injury.
Since: Tried to catch on with the Cowboys, Raiders, and Patriots. It took a rejection from the Philadelphia Soul for Maddox to finally retire for good.
Now: Plays golf, deals with charities in some capacity.
Quincy Morgan
2005: Returned some kickoffs. Had trouble beating out Dennis Northcutt for the job in Madden ’07
Since: Played in Denver for a year and was released the following offseason.
Now: Probably waiting for PSN to come back up.
Barrett Brooks
2005: Backup offensive lineman. He was on the field when Ben Roethlisberger tackled Nick Harper.
Since: Retired and moved to New Jersey.
Now: Someone made him a fake Myspace.
Stay tuned for Parts 2-6!
