Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jim Bradshaw has died at 87, according to a social media post shared by his niece on Facebook. The family said he died peacefully.
Bradshaw’s football path started in St. Clairsville, Ohio, about 60 miles west of Pittsburgh, and took him to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he starred as a quarterback before the Steelers turned him into a defensive back. Pittsburgh liked the athleticism enough to make him an early local success story, and that move set the tone for the rest of his NFL career.
He was drafted by both leagues in 1963. 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 Pittsburgh, and the team wasted little time shifting him from quarterback to defense.
That change stuck. Bradshaw played in 62 NFL games, all with the Steelers, from 1963 through 1967.
As a rookie, he appeared in 14 games and made one start, and that start produced his first career interception. He also handled a small amount of special teams work, punting twice that season for a 35-yard average.
By his second year, he had become a starter at safety and was taking on more responsibility as a kick and punt returner. His top season came in 1965, when he started 12 games, picked off five passes, totaled 117 return yards and scored a touchdown.
After the 1967 season, Pittsburgh traded Bradshaw to the Cleveland Browns. The Browns released him before the season started, and that ended his NFL career.
Bradshaw finished with 11 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries for the Steelers. He also returned two interceptions and two fumbles for touchdowns.
In Other News...
Penn State May Have Found A Bigger Weapon Than Fans Realized
Penn State has spent the first two weeks seeing Zay Robinson in a little bit of everything, and the early returns suggest the redshirt freshman transfer from Iowa State may be carving out a bigger role than many expected. In the 45-0 win over Marshall, Robinson broke loose for a 39-yard touchdown, adding another flash point to an opening stretch in which he has already made an impact as a receiver and on special teams.
Robinson has handled punts and kickoffs, caught several passes and lined up at multiple receiver spots, giving the Nittany Lions a versatile option who can change field position and help the offense in different ways. His growing role has drawn praise from teammates and coach Matt Campbell, and Penn State will keep watching to see just how far his expanded workload can go as the season develops. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Still Has One Big Problem To Sort Out Before Wisconsin
Penn State has opened the season 2-0 and gets Buffalo before the schedule stiffens and Big Ten play begins, but the next step is as much about answers as it is about another win. The staff still has some sorting to do on the back end with its safety rotation, and there are fresh faces up front trying to settle into a run defense that will be tested more seriously once league play arrives.
The bigger issue, though, may be on offense, where the rushing game has not yet given the Nittany Lions the kind of reliable edge they want heading toward Wisconsin. Buffalo offers a useful checkpoint to see what works, what needs tweaking and how quickly Penn State can get its ground attack pointed in the right direction before the games start carrying more weight. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State May Watch Ohio State Steal Another Early Recruiting Win
Jordan Halls recruitment has quickly become one to watch for Penn State, which was the first Power Four program to offer the Ohio running back after his decommitment from Miami (OH). The three-star prospect has drawn attention from both Penn State and Ohio State, giving the Nittany Lions an early opening in a class-building race that matters as much for the future of the backfield as it does for bragging rights.
Ohio State is now hosting Hall for a visit, and that has put Penn State in the familiar position of trying to hold off a regional power with deep ties in the state. For both programs, the interest goes beyond one player, since each is looking to secure running back help in its 2027 class, but the current momentum appears to favor the Buckeyes unless Penn State can change the conversation soon. [Read more 🡒]