A former Big XII Defensive Player of the Year at the University of Texas, Casey Hampton was drafted 19^th Overall in 2001 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, which would be the only team that he would ever play for professionally. 

James Farrior was drafted 8^th Overall by the New York Jets in 1997, and he did well for New York in the five years he played there, though some argue he didn't live up to the Jets’ hopes when they drafted him so high.  He did, however, show some of that promise in his last year in New York, where he had 143 Tackles.

The linebacker signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2002 and moved to his more natural position at interior Linebacker.  Not only did he keep up his substantial tackling numbers from his last Jets season, but he accrued more Quarterback Sacks than he had before.  Farrior helped the Steelers win two Super Bowls (XL & XLIII), and he made two Pro Bowls (2004 & 2008).   He retired with a very strong 1,412 Tackles (Combined) over his career.

The all-time leader in Receiving, Receiving Yards, and Receiving Touchdowns in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise, Hines Ward brings the accumulative statistical resume that you would expect from a Wide Receiver in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Ward amassed over 12,000 Yards Receiving, an even 1,000 Receptions, and, most importantly, was a large part of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Super Bowl wins in 2006 and 2009, the first of which he was named the MVP.

Still, Ward was never named to a First Team All-Pro squad, and despite his strong numbers and high-profile market, he was never called the best Wide Receiver in the game.  He ranks much lower than the other great names of his era in Yards per Game and career touchdowns. Does that take away the great lifetime stats and the Super Bowl wins?  It shouldn't, but it might explain why he has yet to escape the semi-finals through the glut of talented WRs who are consistently eligible.

An NFL 2000s All-Decade Team member, Joey Porter had a productive run in the National Football League, especially with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he won a Super Bowl Ring.  The four-time Pro Bowl Linebacker fell two Sacks shy of the 100 mark and would be regarded as one of the dirtiest defensive players of his time, but definitely someone you wanted on your side.