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The Pittsburgh Steelers' countdown to kickoff is full steam ahead for the 2026 NFL regular season, with fans needing to wait only 62 more days until the Steel City brand of football returns when the Steelers host the Atlanta Falcons on September 13.
In the spirit of the countdown, we at Steelers Wire will take a look at the history of the No. 62 jersey and analyze which player wore it best.
McCollum is the current No. 62 wearer on Pittsburgh's roster and serves as the team's top backup behind center Zach Frazier. He is, however, expected to face stiff competition from versatile offensive lineman Brock Hoffman.
Arguably, the best Steeler to ever wear No. 62 is offensive tackle Tunch Ilkin, who was a staple of Pittsburgh's offensive line throughout the 1980s.
Ilkin, who was selected by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 1980 NFL Draft, played in Pittsburgh for 13 years, appearing in 176 games and making 143 starts for the Steelers.
He was named to consecutive Pro Bowls in 1988 and 1989 for his stellar play. After retiring from football, Ilkin remained connected to Pittsburgh sports and Steelers Nation as a broadcaster. He would be named to the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team and Hall of Honor for his contributions to the Steel City brand of football.
Ilkin passed away at age 63, but his legacy as an all-time great Steeler and the best to wear No. 62 will live on forever.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers two-time Pro Bowl OT leads 2026 countdown to kickoff: Day No. 62
Continue reading...
In the spirit of the countdown, we at Steelers Wire will take a look at the history of the No. 62 jersey and analyze which player wore it best.
Steelers current No. 62: C Ryan McCollum
McCollum is the current No. 62 wearer on Pittsburgh's roster and serves as the team's top backup behind center Zach Frazier. He is, however, expected to face stiff competition from versatile offensive lineman Brock Hoffman.
Steelers to wear No. 62
- Ryan McCollum, 2024-2026
- Johnny Maxey, 2016
- Daniel McCullers, 2015
- John Malecki, 2012
- Justin Hartwig, 2008-2009
Best No. 62 in Steelers history: OT Tunch Ilkin
Arguably, the best Steeler to ever wear No. 62 is offensive tackle Tunch Ilkin, who was a staple of Pittsburgh's offensive line throughout the 1980s.
Ilkin, who was selected by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 1980 NFL Draft, played in Pittsburgh for 13 years, appearing in 176 games and making 143 starts for the Steelers.
He was named to consecutive Pro Bowls in 1988 and 1989 for his stellar play. After retiring from football, Ilkin remained connected to Pittsburgh sports and Steelers Nation as a broadcaster. He would be named to the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team and Hall of Honor for his contributions to the Steel City brand of football.
Ilkin passed away at age 63, but his legacy as an all-time great Steeler and the best to wear No. 62 will live on forever.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers two-time Pro Bowl OT leads 2026 countdown to kickoff: Day No. 62
Continue reading...
