Pittsburgh Steelers March Madness ‘25: Chipped Ham Bracket Round 1 (publish 3/5)

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Steelers March Madness continues today with our third set of 16. It’s our NCAA-style tournament of great Steelers moments. This year’s theme is the greatest front office moves in team history. If you missed any of the previous brackets, make your picks for DAY 1 and DAY 2. Let’s get to today’s matchups.

CHIPPED HAM BRACKET

Chipped Ham bracket 2025

1 seed: April 5, 2002 – Signed free agent linebacker James Farrior

(Signed a three-year, $5.4 million deal)

Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Farrior was the 8th overall pick in the 1997 draft, but the Jets used him as an outside linebacker. New York was not interested in extending him after his rookie contract, despite putting up career numbers in 2001. Farrior says he received no other offers besides Pittsburgh. He went on to start 154 games at inside linebacker.

16 seed: July 28, 2012: signed Antonio Brown extension

(signed a five-year, $42.5 million deal)

The “Young Money” gang couldn’t stay together forever. It was time for the Steelers to pay one of the young, dynamic receivers. Pittsburgh offered Mike Wallace an extension, but he turned it down. The Steelers then gave the contract to Antonio Brown. A year later, Pittsburgh drafted Le’Veon Bell, and the “Killer Bs” era was born.

Poll

Better Front Office Move?

64%

1: James Farrior signing

(25 votes)

35%

16: Antonio Brown extension

(14 votes)

39 votes total

Vote Now

2 seed: March 8, 2001 – Signed free agent center Jeff Hartings

(signed a six-year, $24.2 million deal)

Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Former general manager Kevin Colbert was with Detroit when the Lions drafted Hartings. Although Hartings played guard in the NFL, Colbert knew he could play center, and replace the retiring Dermotti Dawson. Hartings went on to make two Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team during his 89 starts in Pittsburgh.

15 seed: March 17, 2022 – Signed free agent cornerback Levi Wallace

(signed a two-year, $8 million deal)

Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images

Pittsburgh wanted the cornerback room to get a little younger. Joe Haden was out, and former Buffalo Bill Levi Wallace was in. He appeared in 31 games across two seasons, starting 18.

Poll

Better Front Office Move?

94%

2: Jeff Hartings signing

(34 votes)

15: Levi Wallace signing

(2 votes)

36 votes total

Vote Now

3 seed: August 30, 2017 – Signed free agent cornerback Joe Haden

(signed a three-year, $27 million deal)

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Haden was a two-time Pro Bowler in Cleveland. But the Browns were looking to trade him after he reportedly became the worst-looking defensive back in their camp. Instead, Cleveland released him. Within hours, Pittsburgh scooped him up and he became the Steelers’ starter for the next 68 games.

14 seed: April 2, 2014 – Signed free agent receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey

(signed a one-year, $795,000 deal)

Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

The Raiders cut Heyward-Bey on the first day of free agency because he was due to make $10 million. In Pittsburgh, he contributed as a receiver but transitioned his game into a core special-teamer. He played in 72 games over five years.

Poll

Better Front Office Moment?

88%

3: Joe Haden signing

(32 votes)

11%

14: Darrius Heyward-Bey signing

(4 votes)

36 votes total

Vote Now

4 seed: August 20, 1970 – Traded for defensive end Dwight White’s pick

(traded Roy Jefferson to Baltimore for Willie Richardson and 1971 4th round pick (Dwight White).

Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Before the 1970 season, Roy Jefferson was the best player in Pittsburgh, but he was a vocal critic of head coach Chuck Noll, so the Steelers went shopping. Trading the team’s star was controversial at the time, but all would eventually be forgiven when the fourth-round pick that Pittsburgh received in the trade turned into future Hall of Honor defensive end Dwight White.

13 seed: April 16, 2007 – Signed free agent defensive tackle Nick Eason

(signed a one-year, $510,000 deal)

Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Although the starters on the defensive line were well-entrenched, Eason came to Pittsburgh to provide depth. He spent four years with the Steelers playing all over the line. He appeared in 55 games, starting 11.

Poll

Better Front Office Moment?

91%

4: Trade for Dwight White’s pick

(33 votes)

13 Nick Eason signing

(3 votes)

36 votes total

Vote Now

5 seed: March 12, 2014 – Signed free agent safety Mike Mitchell

(signed a five-year, $25 million deal)

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Pittsburgh was looking for a veteran to replace Ryan Clark, who left for Washington. Mitchell was coming off his best season as a pro, contributing to the league’s second-best defense in Carolina. He started 61 games for the Steelers over the next four seasons, earning a reputation as a vicious hitter.

12 seed: March 13, 2019 – Traded away receiver Antonio Brown

(traded Antonio Brown to Raiders for 2019 3rd round pick (66th overall, Diontae Johnson) and 2019 5th round pick (141st overall, Zach Gentry))

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The writing was on the wall when Brown ditched practice at the most important point of the season. The drama thickened when a potential trade to Buffalo was called off at the 11th hour. Finally, Kevin Colbert and Mr. Big Chest found a suitable trade partner in Oakland. Initially seen as a loss for Pittsburgh, the trade has to be seen as at least a partial win as it led to the third-round selection of another top-ten all-time Steelers receiver, Diontae Johnson.

Poll

Better Front Office Moment?

30%

5: Mike Mitchell signing

(11 votes)

69%

12: Trade away Antonio Brown

(25 votes)

36 votes total

Vote Now

6 seed: March 2, 1996 – Signed free agent offensive guard Will Wolford

(signed four-year, $9.9 million deal)

Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Will Wolford was already the highest-paid lineman in the NFL and had just come off a Pro Bowl season in Indianapolis. Pittsburgh told him that if he joined the black and gold, he would have to move from tackle to guard and get paid like a guard. Despite the pay cut, it was still the biggest free agent signing in team history, as a percentage of the salary cap. Wolford started 45 games in three seasons, two at guard, one at left tackle, plus four playoff games.

11 seed: June 17, 2002 – Signed free agent quarterback Charlie Batch

(signed a one-year, $525,000 deal)

Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

Detroit cut Batch due to salary cap reasons, plus their investment in Joey Harrington. Batch received multiple offers, but took less money to play for his hometown Steelers. He stayed in Pittsburgh for 11 years, playing in 33 games and starting in nine.

Poll

Better Front Office Move?

25%

6: Will Wolford signing

(9 votes)

75%

11: Charlie Batch signing

(27 votes)

36 votes total

Vote Now

7 seed: March 21, 1994 – Signed free agent defensive end Ray Seals

(signed three-year, $2.8 million deal)

Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Pittsburgh needed to replace Donald Evans, who received a big contract from the New York Jets. They turned to Seals, who wasn’t going to resign with Tampa after coach Sam Wyche embarrassed him in front of the entire team. Seals, who grew up a Steelers fan, started 27 games over two seasons, including Super Bowl XXX, where he sacked Troy Aikman.

10 seed: March 13, 2015 – Signed free agent running back DeAngelo Williams

(signed a two-year, $4 million deal)

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Pittsburgh needed a running back in 2015. Le’Veon Bell was facing up to a four-game suspension to start the season. Williams ultimately started ten games that year, scoring a league-leading 11 touchdowns. He was needed to open the 2016 season as well, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week in Week 1. Williams appeared in 25 games in total over two seasons.

Poll

Better Front Office Move?

50%

7: Ray Seals signing

(18 votes)

50%

10: DeAngelo Williams signing

(18 votes)

36 votes total

Vote Now

8 seed: March 8, 2005 – Signed free agent receiver Cedrick Wilson

(signed a four-year, $8 million deal)

Pittsburgh needed to fill the void left by Plaxico Burress, who left in free agency. They turned to Wilson, who was coming off a career year in San Francisco. Wilson didn’t put up the numbers he did with the 49ers, but he broke out during the 2005 playoffs, which led to a Super Bowl victory. Wilson would spend three years in Pittsburgh, playing in 47 games.

9 seed: March 17, 2023 – Signed free agent linebacker Elandon Roberts

(signed two-year, $7 million deal)

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

The Steelers completely overhauled their inside linebackers in 2023, saying goodbye to Myles Jack, Devin Bush, and Robert Spillane. In came Roberts, who said he had waited his entire career to play for Pittsburgh and Mike Tomlin. He’s played in 33 games so far, starting 29.