If Steelers Great Terry Bradshaw Left College In 2024 He Could've Pulled Off A 'Full-scale Pushback Against The Draft'

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a franchise-altering decision in 1970 when they selected Terry Bradshaw with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. Bradshaw turned Pittsburgh into what it is known as today, one of the best franchises in the entire league. The Steelers would go on to win four Super Bowls during the 1970s, going back-to-back twice. Football has changed a lot since then. It is a lot less physical and new rules have made sure of that. Football has also changed financially for the players, as they are now able to be paid while in college. 

Bradshaw attended Louisiana Tech from 1966 through 1969, which was an even smaller school back then than it is now. He grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, so he went to college at a place that was close to home. Bradshaw became the starting quarterback in 1968, and instantly saw national recognition even thought he was at a smaller school. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk believes Bradshaw could have made a ton of money off of his name, image, and likeness, had it been legal to do so back then.

"If Terry didn’t want to go to Pittsburgh, he should have not gone to Pittsburgh. In 1970, however, there really were no options. He didn’t have a bank account full of NIL money, and he had no effective way to make a public case for going to the Saints, who drafted Archie Manning one year later. Nowadays, Bradshaw is exactly the kind of dynamic personality who could pull off a full-scale pushback against the Draft Industrial Complex. He’d have millions in the bank from his college career, and he could make in a very charismatic way his case for being close to his mama."

Florio began touching on Bradshaw not going to Pittsburgh because the topic of discussion was about how Bradshaw ridiculed John Elway when he refused to play for the Baltimore Colts, who drafted him first overall in 1983, and instead forced them to trade him to the Denver Broncos. Bradshaw wanted to come to Pittsburgh, because they were 1-13 the season before, and he liked the challenge of turning the franchise around.

Bradshaw had a ton of success in college as he broke nearly every passing record at Louisiana Tech during his two seasons as a starter. He was named First-Team Little All-American, which is given to the best player at every position that comes from a smaller college. Bradshaw was widely considered the best player in the nation, which led to him becoming the first overall pick for the Steelers in 1970, which was the last time the organization found themselves with a top five pick in the NFL Draft. 

Bradshaw has always been outspoken, and isn't afraid of the spotlight. He has worked as a broadcaster and analyst, which he began doing towards the end of his playing career during the NFC playoffs. He has also had an acting career, as well as a music career. He has stepped into every possible area of pop culture. 

Steelers' Terry Bradshaw's NIL Value Would Have Been The Highest Ever

There are plenty of current college athletes who are able to make millions off of various NIL deals. Many college athletes with the highest NIL evaluations are children of athletic superstars, currently, LeBron James son, Bronny James has the highest NIL evaluation at $4.9 million. Arch Manning is also in the top five despite not starting a game yet. The assumed number one pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Caleb Williams, has been reported to make nearly $10 million off of NIL deals throughout his college career.

All of these athletes deserve every penny they receive from their NIL deals, but none are as entertaining of a personality as Bradshaw. Bradshaw wasn't scared to try anything, acting, singing, dancing. You name it, he did it. He also had the attitude of a southern guy from a small town in Louisiana, which would have been helpful for him.

Steelers fans should be thankful NIL didn't exist when Bradshaw was coming into the NFL, he could have easily decided he didn't want to play in Pittsburgh and take his millions from his NIL deals and went back to school, or held out until he was traded to a different organization.