Hall of Fame once again overlooks Steelers great L.C. Greenwood. The NFL Veterans Committee did not include Greenwood on their latest cutdown list, meaning he will have to wait at least another year for the recognition he deserves. Along with Greenwood, several members of the Steelers’ dominant 1970s team, like Dwight White and Rocky Bleier, have yet to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Despite the hope that the recent induction of Donnie Shell into the special 100th-anniversary class might pave the way for Greenwood, news on Twitter revealed that he was not included in the senior committee’s final list of candidates. Drafted in the 10th round of the 1969 NFL Draft, Greenwood quickly established himself as a key player on the Steelers’ formidable defensive line alongside legends like ‘Mean’ Joe Greene.
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By the time he retired in 1981, Greenwood had earned six Pro Bowl selections and two All-Pro honors, finishing with 78 sacks and 14 fumble recoveries. However, because he played alongside so many other stars, his contributions have often been overshadowed.
Many believe that had Greenwood played for a different team, his accomplishments would be more widely recognized. The Hall of Fame selection process differs significantly from baseball’s; the NFL’s system, which allows for fan involvement and utilizes a selection committee, often leaves deserving players like Greenwood waiting in the wings.
With Ben Roethlisberger likely to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2026, there’s hope that fan advocacy could finally lead to L.C. Greenwood receiving the honor he has long merited.
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