L.C. Greenwood’s Hall of Fame Snub: A Steel Curtain Legend Still Waiting on His Gold Jacket
Another year, another miss for L.C. Greenwood - and this one stings even more than usual.
For the first time in four decades of eligibility, the former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end made it to the finalist stage for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And yet, once again, his name wasn’t called.
Only one of the five senior, coach, and contributor finalists - former 49ers running back Roger Craig - was selected for enshrinement in the Hall’s Class of 2026. That means Greenwood, despite a résumé that reads like a Hall of Fame checklist, remains on the outside looking in.
Former NFL linebacker London Fletcher didn’t hold back when reacting to the snub. “Why is L.C.
Greenwood not already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? This is ridiculous!”
Fletcher posted on X. “Saddest part is that he died in 2013, therefore even if he’s selected this year he didn’t receive his due H.O.F. flowers while living.
Time for a change H.O.F.”
Fletcher’s frustration echoes what many around the league have been saying for years: Greenwood’s omission is one of the most glaring oversights in Hall of Fame history.
A Legacy Built in the Trenches
L.C. Greenwood wasn’t just a cog in the machine - he was a cornerstone of one of the most dominant defenses the NFL has ever seen.
Drafted in the 10th round out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 1969, Greenwood became a full-time starter by his third season and never looked back. For the next decade, he held down the left side of the Steelers’ defensive line as part of the legendary “Steel Curtain,” alongside Joe Greene, Dwight White, and Ernie Holmes.
He was a four-time Super Bowl champion. A six-time Pro Bowler.
A two-time All-Pro. He was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1970s.
And yet, somehow, his Hall of Fame case continues to stall.
While sacks weren’t an official NFL stat during his playing days, Pro Football Reference credits Greenwood with 78 career sacks - fourth-most in Steelers history. That’s not just impressive for a defensive end of his era; it’s elite. And it came during a time when offenses weren’t throwing the ball 40 times a game.
Greenwood’s impact wasn’t just statistical, either. He was a big-game player.
He batted down passes from Roger Staubach in Super Bowl X. He brought energy, leadership, and a relentless motor to a defense that helped define a dynasty.
The Hall of Fame Voting Process Under Fire
Greenwood’s snub is part of a broader conversation about how the Hall of Fame voting process works - or doesn’t. This year’s senior, coach, and contributor candidates were grouped together, with voters allowed to select only three. Of the five finalists, only Craig received the necessary 80% of votes.
That structure has drawn sharp criticism. Giants radio voice Bob Papa called it a “broken system,” questioning how names like Bill Belichick, Ken Anderson, Robert Kraft, and Greenwood could be lumped together in a way that guarantees most will be left out.
Even former Steelers player and Hall of Famer Tony Dungy, now on the voting panel, voiced his concerns.
“I don’t like the process the way it is now,” Dungy said ahead of Super Bowl LX in San Francisco. “Five years ago, we had an eight-person class: five modern, one coach, one contributor, one senior.
Last year, we had a four-person class: three modern, no coaches, no contributors, one senior. That’s because we changed the voting process.”
Dungy didn’t comment on this year’s specific results but made it clear that the shrinking class sizes are leaving too many deserving candidates behind. “If we don’t put a full class in, to me, that’s wrong,” he said.
A Hall of Fame Resume That Speaks for Itself
Greenwood’s individual accolades are one thing. His place in football history is another.
He’s the most decorated member of the 1970s Steelers not yet in the Hall of Fame. That’s saying something, considering Pittsburgh’s dynasty of that era has already sent 10 players to Canton - five on offense and five on defense - plus head coach Chuck Noll.
Names like Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Lynn Swann, Joe Greene, Jack Ham, and Mel Blount are already enshrined. Greenwood was right there with them, game after game, championship after championship. And yet, he’s still waiting.
Some believe the Hall’s voters have reached a sort of “Steelers quota,” hesitant to induct more players from that iconic team. But that logic doesn’t hold up when you consider the impact Greenwood had - both statistically and culturally - on one of the most dominant teams in league history.
A Missed Opportunity for Recognition
Greenwood passed away in 2013 at age 67 due to kidney failure. That means even if he is eventually inducted, he won’t be able to experience the moment himself - a moment he earned with every sack, every bat-down, every championship.
And that’s what makes this year’s snub hurt even more. It’s not just about a gold jacket. It’s about honoring a player who helped shape the game, who helped build a dynasty, and who continues to be overlooked despite checking every box.
The Hall of Fame is supposed to be the final word on greatness in pro football. But as long as L.C. Greenwood remains on the outside, that conversation feels incomplete.