Jim Bradshaw

James "Jim" Bradshaw was a Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back of the 1960s, a Chattanooga Mocs quarterback turned NFL safety, and later an Ohio realtor whose life bridged small-town St. Clairsville and the Black and Gold. He died peacefully on 15 September 2026 at the age of 87, his niece Andrea Anderson announced on Facebook that morning, remembering him as a larger-than-life uncle, husband, father, grandfather, and "always" a Steeler.

Born on 13 January 1939 in St. Clairsville, Ohio, Bradshaw graduated from St. Clairsville High School in 1958 and starred at the University of Chattanooga, where he led the Mocs in passing in 1960 and ran for 121 yards in a win over Middle Tennessee on 21 October 1961. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected him in the 18th round of the 1963 NFL Draft (248th overall); the Boston Patriots of the AFL also drafted him in the 20th round. He chose Pittsburgh, later explaining that he had grown up about sixty miles from the city, had family in McKeesport, and liked that training camp at West Liberty was only minutes from home.

Converted to safety, Bradshaw played five seasons (1963-1967) and 62 games for the Steelers, recording 11 interceptions, nine fumble recoveries, and four defensive touchdowns (two interception returns and two fumble returns). He forced three fumbles and remains tied for the franchise single-game record with three interceptions, set in a 20-14 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in 1965. After a 1967 trade to the Cleveland Browns he was released before the 1968 season and returned to Ohio, where he worked in real estate with his wife. In a 2011 interview with Pittsburgh Sports Daily Bulletin he recalled a rookie contract of about $9,500, Art Rooney Sr.'s teasing contract lesson at the Roosevelt Hotel, and the day the stadium announced his daughter's birth at halftime of a Steelers-Eagles game.

Chattanooga inducted him into its athletics Hall of Fame in 2021. He resided in Columbus, Ohio, in later years. He is survived by his wife Theo, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and by the extended family who called him uncle. Steelers fans and the St. Clairsville community that produced three NFL players including Bradshaw marked his death as the loss of a 1960s defensive standout whose stories of Rooney, nuns cheering at Pitt Stadium, and a life well lived outlasted his playing days.