‘Burgh’s Best to Wear It, No. 47: Rules changed due to dominance of Steelers’ Mel Blount

The Tribune-Review sports staff is conducting a daily countdown of the best players in Pittsburgh pro and college sports history to wear each jersey number.

No. 47: Mel Blount

His playing height and weight listed at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Mel Blount was a larger-than-life cornerback. No wonder he became a Hall of Famer. But even among those privileged few inducted in Canton, Ohio, only a small fraction can say they changed the game.

Blount did. The NFL changed its rules, with little subtlety, in almost direct response to the dominance Blount showed over a 14-year career with the Steelers. One of 10 players from the Steelers of the 1970s to be voted into the Hall of Fame, Blount’s physical style compelled the league in 1978 to ban contact with receivers beyond 5 yards past the line of scrimmage.

No matter. Blount continued a run of six All-Pro designations (first- or second-team) in seven seasons by being so honored in 1978, ‘79 and ‘81. He had a combined nine interceptions the next two seasons, helping the Steelers win the Super Bowl at the end of each.

“When they changed the bump-and-run rule, we all had to adjust,” Blount told the Steelers’ website in 2016. “If you’re an athlete, a player, you make the adjustment. You play within the rules, and you let your ability take you to whatever it can take you to.”

Bad idea: Throw the ball in Mel Blount's direction #tbt pic.twitter.com/CKnHaoTy2z

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 9, 2020

A third-round pick out of Southern, Blount was one of legendary Steelers scout Bill Nunn’s first finds. Blount was named 1975 NFL Defensive player of the Year and was part of the all-decade teams for the 1970s and ’80s as well as league’s 75th and 100th anniversary teams.

Only 12 players in the history of the league have more interceptions than Blount’s 57. Since Blount’s 11-interception 1975 season (in just 14 games), only twice has any player had more — even over a 16-game season.

The only other Steelers player to wear No. 47 and make a Pro Bowl was another cornerback, Marv Woodson. Woodson had seven interceptions and two fumble recoveries during the 1967 season.

Francisco Liriano is the best to wear No. 47 for the Pirates. He had a 3.65 ERA and won 46 games in 4½ seasons over two stints with the team this past decade.

Liriano’s arrival via free agency in 2013 was a turning point of sorts in allowing the Pirates to achieve their first winning season and playoff berth in 21 years that season.

South Park alumnus Brian Guzek wore No. 47 for Pitt, carving out a career as a defensive end after joining the Panthers as a linebacker in 1999.

His career highlight was an 80-yard fumble return for a touchdown in 2001. Guzek had 11 tackles for loss that season and five sacks as a senior.

Check out the entire ’Burgh’s Best to Wear It series here.