The Steelers Hall of Honor was created to recognize those who have made immeasurable contributions to the organization both on the field and in the community. During the first weekend of training camp, the Class of 2023 – James Harrison, Ray Mansfield, Gerry Mullins, and Aaron Smith – was announced during a ceremony at Saint Vincent College.
“I think it’s a great class,” said Steelers President Art Rooney II. “It represents the kind of guys who were a great part of Steelers football and deserve to be recognized in our Hall of Honor.
“There are a lot of guys who were part of the foundation going way back, and this year Ray Mansfield, he started in the humbler times of Steelers football. We always try to talk about the older guys and have some representation of the earlier teams. It’s good to have a mix of different eras.”
Smith was on hand for the announcement and said he was humbled when he got the call from Rooney delivering the news.
“It’s hard to describe. You play for a team with the legacy and tradition the Steelers have and to be put in a group with the names on that wall, you almost don’t believe you belong,” said Smith. “A lot of those guys are the greatest football players ever to play this game. It is humbling, and I am honored just to be thrown in the same category as them.”
