Did the Pittsburgh Steelers choose Neil O'Donnell over Joe Montana?

PITTSBURGH — Joe Montana -- arguably the best quarterback who ever played the game -- came back to his western Pennsylvania roots this weekend.

Montana -- a four-time Super Bowl champion, three-time Super Bowl MVP and two-time NFL MVP -- came to Pittsburgh for Saturday’s Gridiron Gold event at the Wyndham Grand.

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Six western Pennsylvania-born Hall of Fame quarterbacks were honored and celebrated at the event.

Joining Montana were Jim Kelly, Dan Marino and Joe Namath. George Blanda and Johnny Unitas were represented by family members.

It’s fun to look back at hypotheticals and what could have been when it comes to these quarterbacks and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers, who selected 21st in the 1983 NFL Draft, passed on Marino. The University of Pittsburgh product ended up going to Miami at No. 27.

In the 1979 NFL Draft, the Steelers selected Greg Hawthorne and Zack Valentine before San Francisco selected Montana with the 82nd pick.

However, according to a 2012 interview with Dan Patrick, Montana says he was open to playing in his hometown later in his career.

According to Montana, when the 49ers were looking for trading partners in the early 90s, the Steelers were high on his list of teams he’d like to go to.

In 2012, Montana told Dan Patrick he tried to go to the Steelers, but they were comfortable with Neil O’Donnell as their starting quarterback.

"Oh yeah," said Montana. "I tried to go there before...when I was looking at Kansas City and they, they said no. I think (Neil) O'Donnell was still there..."

"Wait," Patrick interrupted. "Steelers said no because they had Neil O'Donnell?"

"Yeah. Neil O'Donnell," replied Montana.

http://youtu.be/i1MNCc-zFnc

• That time Joe Montana was not traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers because of Neil O'Donnell

In 1992, O'Donnell was the Steelers’ starter and earned a Pro Bowl berth. That following offseason, Montana was available via trade.

Montana ended up going to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he would play two seasons before retiring.

O'Donnell spent three more seasons with the Steelers, helping them to an appearance in Super Bowl 30 against the Dallas Cowboys.

During Montana's two years in Kansas City, the Chiefs made two playoff appearances.

In 1993, they beat Neil O'Donnell's Steelers in the wild card round, a 27-24 overtime victory.

Montana grew up about 25 miles south of Pittsburgh, and attended Ringgold High School.

Montana told Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE that he has a theory of why so many western Pennsylvania quarterbacks were so successful.

"I just think a lot of it was the pressure of getting out," Montana said. "Back then we had the coal mines and the steel mills along the rivers, and life was a little different back then. You saw sports as a way to get out of that lifestyle. I know I would've never been able to go to Notre Dame -- my mom and dad would've never been able to afford it."

Despite not living in the area for more than 40 years and playing the majority of his career on the West Coast, Montana still considers himself a Steelers fan.

"Everybody asks me if I am a 49ers fan or a Chiefs fan," Montana said. "I watch both of them and like both of them, but I grew up a Steelers fan. Once you are a Steelers fan, it is hard to get that out of your blood. I am also a big (Ben) Roethlisberger fan. I really like Ben. He will be in that Hall of Fame someday."

WPXI