Jim Bradshaw, a former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back and draft pick, has died at 87.
The news was shared in a Facebook post by his family, according to a social media update from his niece. The post said Bradshaw died peacefully.
Bradshaw was born in St. Clairsville, Ohio, about 60 miles west of Pittsburgh, and he became one of the Steelers’ early local success stories after starring at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Before the NFL, he was a quarterback in college, and the Steelers bet on that athleticism when they brought him in.
His path to Pittsburgh came in 1963, when both leagues came calling. The Boston Patriots took him in the 20th round of the AFL draft, while the Steelers selected him in the 18th round of the NFL Draft. Bradshaw chose the NFL and the Steelers, and the team quickly moved him from quarterback to defense.
As a rookie, he appeared in 14 games and made one start. That start produced his first career interception, a sign of what was ahead over the next several seasons. He also handled a little bit of special teams work that year, punting twice and averaging 35 yards per attempt, according to Pro Football Reference.
By his second season, Bradshaw had settled in as a starter at safety and was taking on more of a role as a kick and punt returner. His biggest year came in 1965, when he started 12 games, picked off five passes, piled up 117 return yards and scored a touchdown.
Bradshaw played 62 NFL games, all with the Steelers, from 1963 through 1967. He finished his Pittsburgh run with 11 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries, and he returned two interceptions and two fumbles for touchdowns.
After the 1967 season, Pittsburgh traded him to the Cleveland Browns, but Cleveland cut him before the season started, ending his NFL career.
In Other News...
Vanderbilt Just Created A Frustrating Future Problem For NC State
NC State heads to Vanderbilt on Saturday, but the bigger issue for the Wolfpack may already be sitting three years down the road. Vanderbilt has canceled its scheduled return trip to Raleigh in 2028, according to the contract, and will owe NC State $1 million for breaching the agreement. The Commodores have already filled that opening by adding Virginia to their 2028 non-conference schedule, leaving the Wolfpack with an unexpected hole to patch.
For NC State, the timing is the frustration. The ACC requires a Power Four opponent on the non-conference slate, so the Wolfpack now have to replace a lost home game with another major-conference matchup for 2028. That is not just a scheduling inconvenience, either. It changes the shape of the future non-conference calendar and puts pressure on NC State to find a quality opponent willing to come to Raleigh. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Faces A New Vanderbilt Problem At Quarterback
Vanderbilts quarterback picture just got a little sharper heading into its meeting with North Carolina State, with coach Clark Lea announcing that freshman Jared Curtis will make his first start against the Wolfpack. Curtis arrived with a big reputation and has already flashed in relief through the opening two games, including a strong showing in the win over Delaware, so NC State will have a different look to prepare for than the one it might have expected a week ago.
For the Wolfpack, the timing adds another layer to a game already carrying some momentum after a record-setting victory. NC State is trying to carry that energy forward, but the challenge now includes a young quarterback who has quickly moved into the spotlight and could give Vanderbilt a different kind of offensive spark. [Read more 🡒]
Dave Doeren Raised 2 Big NC State Questions Before Vanderbilt
Dave Doeren had plenty to unpack before NC State heads to Vanderbilt, and the conversation quickly moved beyond the usual game-week talk. The Wolfpack coach touched on a range of issues, including KaTron Evans eligibility ruling, how the staff is evaluating quarterback Jared Curtis, and how the team is preparing for the kind of heat that can change the feel of a road trip before the first snap. He also pointed to NC States previous experience in tough away environments as part of the buildup to this one.
The bigger questions around the Vanderbilt matchup were less about the opponent itself than the conditions surrounding it. Doeren said he was pleased with the NCAAs decision on Evans and outlined the teams hydration plan as part of the preparation, while also addressing how conference realignment has affected scheduling. The result is a fairly familiar August storyline for a program trying to balance roster availability, quarterback development, and the practical realities of playing on the road. [Read more 🡒]