The Steelers have had a curious draft history with linebackers, back to the beginning of Chuck Noll and right through today.
Noll coached 23 seasons, and during that time the team drafted two linebackers in the first round. They did not draft a linebacker at all in the first round in Bill Cowher’s 15 seasons.
That all changed under Mike Tomlin.
Lawrence Timmons became the first draft pick under Tomlin (and LaMarr Woodley second), a hint of what was to come. The Steelers have drafted linebackers in the first round in four of the past five years, making it five linebackers as their first pick in Tomlin’s 11 seasons.