The Pittsburgh Steelers might have the NFL’s richest history of intimidating players. Today, T.J. Watt is putting fear into the hearts of opposing teams. However, the title for scariest Steeler of all time has to go to Jack Lambert. Lambert played linebacker for the legendary Steel Curtain defense of the 1970s, and he’s one of the best players in NFL history. Former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski believes Lambert’s game would have translated well today.
“He’d be really good, especially because it seemed like he was very athletic as well, could cover pretty well,” Gronkowski said recently on his Dudes on Dudes podcast. “The way that we’re throwing the football now in this era, I feel like he’s a guy that can drop back in the middle of the field, especially in zone coverage. I think he would have a couple of interceptions a year, no doubt about that.”
It’s fun to imagine how Lambert’s game would translate to today. Football in the 1970s was very different than it is today. Back then, seeing a quarterback pass for 4,000 yards was rare. Now, that’s basically the standard for most quarterbacks. No player may have suited his era better than Lambert, and he’s in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for a reason.
Over his 11-year career, Lambert amassed 28 interceptions and 23.5 sacks. His abilities would surely translate to the NFL today. The only thing that might stop him is his size. During his playing days, the 6-4 Lambert weighed 220 pounds. Compare that to rookie Payton Wilson, who is the same height but weighs around 240 pounds.
Lambert’s long and lanky build would usually suggest that he would struggle taking on bigger and stronger blockers in today’s NFL. However, that isn’t factoring in his attitude. If you can take one look at Lambert and tell him someone is tougher than him, more power to you. Maybe he’d have some issues adjusting, but a guy like that would figure it out.
“Just his mentality that he brings in the run game. I feel like some defenses are missing that type of mentality, like those guys that play [willing],” Gronkowski said. “That [willingness] to go in and just take a fullback one-on-one right in the gap, all downs. Just being able to give up your body, sacrifice yourself.”
Gronkowski understands that aspect of the game very well. He’ll be in the Hall of Fame one day, and he’s arguably the greatest tight end of all time. However, what doesn’t get talked about enough is how willing of a blocker he was. Gronkowski was an elite red zone threat, but he was also willing to do the dirty work, just like Lambert.
That might have been Lambert’s greatest asset. In today’s NFL, he’d be like the Boogeyman. There probably isn’t a player in the league right now as scary as Lambert just because of his willingness to do whatever the team asks of him. Although that might also hurt him too.
The NFL has undergone significant since Lambert played. Player safety is more important than ever, and the NFL has tried to make the game safer. That might not align with Lambert’s strengths. His fiery attitude might get him into some trouble if he played today.
All that said, Lamber is one of the most talented linebackers of all time. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. He made nine Pro Bowls and was named a first-team All-Pro six times. That kind of talent should translate across eras. It’s unfortunate we’ll probably never see another player quite like Lambert, but the Steelers will always have four Super Bowls to remember his contributions.
