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.
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