Terry Bradshaw facts for kids
Bradshaw in 2018
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| No. 12 | |||||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born: | September 2, 1948 Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school: | Woodlawn (Shreveport, Louisiana) |
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| College: | Louisiana Tech (1966–1969) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1970 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Terry Paxton Bradshaw (born September 2, 1948) is a famous American former football quarterback. He played for 14 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL). After his playing career, he became a television sports analyst and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday.
Terry Bradshaw is also an actor and recording artist. He has appeared in several TV shows and movies, like Failure to Launch. He also released country music albums. Bradshaw won four Super Bowl titles with the Steelers. This happened over six years, from 1974 to 1979. He was the first quarterback to win three and then four Super Bowls. He also led the Steelers to eight AFC Central championships. Bradshaw was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989. He was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
Bradshaw was known for being a tough player. He had one of the strongest arms in NFL history. His skills and leadership were key to the Steelers' success in the 1970s. During his career, he passed for over 300 yards in a game seven times. Three of these big games were in the postseason, including two Super Bowls. In his four Super Bowl appearances, he threw for 932 yards and nine touchdowns. These were Super Bowl records when he retired. In 19 postseason games, he completed 261 passes for 3,833 yards.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
Terry Bradshaw was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1948. His father, William Marvin "Bill" Bradshaw, was a veteran of the United States Navy. His mother was Novis Gay. Terry has an older brother, Gary, and a younger brother, Craig.
When he was very young, his family lived in Camanche, Iowa. There, he decided he wanted to play professional football. As a teenager, Bradshaw moved back to Shreveport with his family. He went to Woodlawn High School. He played football there under assistant coach A. L. Williams.
In 1965, he led his team, the Woodlawn Knights, to the AAA state championship game. They lost 12–9 to the Sulphur Golden Tornadoes. While at Woodlawn, he also set a national record in the javelin throw. He threw it 245 feet (75 m). His achievements were even featured in Sports Illustrated magazine.
College Football Career
Bradshaw chose to attend Louisiana Tech University in Ruston. He really loves his old school. He is also a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. At first, he was the second-string quarterback. The starter was Phil "Roxie" Robertson. Robertson later became famous for inventing the Duck Commander duck call and for the TV show Duck Dynasty.
When Bradshaw arrived at Louisiana Tech in 1966, he caused a lot of excitement. People knew him as a football star from Shreveport. Robertson was a year ahead of Bradshaw. He was the starting quarterback in 1966 and 1967. Robertson decided not to play in 1968. He famously said, "I'm going for the ducks, you [Terry] can go for the bucks."
In 1969, many professional scouts thought Bradshaw was the best college football player in the country. In 1968, as a junior, he gained 2,890 total yards. This was the most in the NCAA. He led his team to a 9–2 record. They also won the Rice Bowl 33–13 against Akron. In his senior year, he gained 2,314 yards, ranking third in the NCAA. His team had an 8–2 record. He often left games early because his team was winning by so much.
Bradshaw held almost all of Louisiana Tech's passing records when he graduated. In 1970, he received the Golden Plate Award. In 1984, he was part of the first group inducted into the Louisiana Tech sports hall of fame. Four years later, he joined the state of Louisiana's sports hall of fame.
NFL Career with the Pittsburgh Steelers
In the 1970 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers picked Bradshaw first overall. The Steelers got the first pick after winning a coin flip with the Chicago Bears. Both teams had a 1–13 record in 1969. Everyone thought Bradshaw was the top player to be drafted.
Bradshaw became a starter in his second season. In his first few years, he was sometimes inconsistent. He threw many interceptions. People in the media sometimes made fun of him. They joked about his country background.
But Bradshaw eventually led the Steelers to great success. They won eight AFC Central championships. They also won four Super Bowl titles. The Pittsburgh Steelers had a strong defense, called the "Steel Curtain". They also had a powerful running game with Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier. Bradshaw's strong arm allowed them to throw long passes. This helped open up the opposing defenses. In 1972, he threw the "Immaculate Reception" pass to Franco Harris. This is one of the most famous plays in NFL history. It helped them beat the Raiders in the playoffs.
Bradshaw briefly lost his starting job in 1974. But he took it back during the season. In the 1974 AFC Championship Game, he threw a winning touchdown pass to Lynn Swann. This helped them beat the Oakland Raiders 24–13. In Super Bowl IX, the Steelers beat the Minnesota Vikings 16–6. Bradshaw completed 9 of 14 passes. His touchdown pass in the fourth quarter sealed their first Super Bowl win.
In Super Bowl X (after the 1975 season), Bradshaw threw for 209 yards. Most of these yards went to Swann. The Steelers beat the Dallas Cowboys 21–17. His 64-yard touchdown pass to Swann in the fourth quarter was amazing. He threw it just before a defender tackled him. NFL Films called it the "Greatest Throw of All Time."
In 1976, Bradshaw missed four games due to neck and wrist injuries. He played very well in a 40–14 win over the Baltimore Colts. He completed 14 of 18 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns. He achieved a perfect passer rating of 158.3. This is the only playoff game where a visiting quarterback has done this. The Steelers' hopes for a third Super Bowl win in a row ended that year. Their main running backs, Harris and Bleier, were injured. They then lost to the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship game.
Bradshaw had his best season in 1978. He was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player (MVP). He completed 207 of 368 passes for 2,915 yards. He also led the league with 28 touchdown passes. He was named All-Pro that year.
Before Super Bowl XIII, a rematch with the Cowboys, a Cowboys player joked about Bradshaw. He said Bradshaw "couldn't spell 'cat' if you spotted him the 'c' and the 'a'." Bradshaw got his revenge by winning the Super Bowl MVP award. He completed 17 of 30 passes for a record 318 yards and four touchdowns. The Steelers won 35–31. Bradshaw later joked about the insults, saying "it's football, not rocket science."
Bradshaw won his second Super Bowl MVP award in a row in 1979. This was for Super Bowl XIV. He passed for 309 yards and two touchdowns. The Steelers won 31–19 against the Los Angeles Rams. Early in the fourth quarter, the Steelers were down 19–17. Bradshaw threw a long 73-yard touchdown pass to John Stallworth. This helped them win. Bradshaw shared the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award that season. He shared it with Willie Stargell, whose Pirates won the 1979 World Series.
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After two seasons of missing the playoffs, Bradshaw played through pain in 1982. He needed a shot before every game for an elbow injury. This was during a season shortened by a player strike. He still tied for the most touchdown passes in the league with 17. In his last postseason game, a loss to the San Diego Chargers, he completed 28 of 39 passes for 325 yards.
After elbow surgery, Bradshaw missed most of the 1983 season. On December 10, 1983, he felt a pop in his elbow. This happened while throwing his last pass, a 10-yard touchdown. He left the game and never played again. He finished his career with 212 touchdowns and 210 interceptions.
The Steelers have not officially retired Bradshaw's number 12. However, they have not given it to another player since he retired.
Life After Football
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Bradshaw retired from football on July 24, 1984. He quickly signed a TV contract with CBS. He became an NFL game analyst. Before this, he was a guest commentator for CBS Sports' playoff broadcasts.
In 1990, Bradshaw became a studio analyst for The NFL Today. In 1994, he joined Fox NFL Sunday. He is known for his funny personality on the show. He hosts features like Ten Yards with TB. He also hosts The Terry Awards, a funny award show about the NFL season.
Bradshaw has a reputation for being a "redneck." But his co-host, Jimmy Johnson, says it's just an act. Johnson says Bradshaw jokes that he's "so dumb that he has to have somebody else fly his private plane."
Bradshaw has also been known to criticize players and teams. For his work in broadcasting, Bradshaw has won three Sports Emmy Awards.
Business Ventures
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Early in his Steelers career, Bradshaw worked as a used-car salesman. This helped him earn money in the off-season. Back then, most NFL players didn't make enough money to only play football.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Bradshaw sold peanut butter. It had his name and picture on the label. He also wrote or co-wrote five books. He recorded six albums of country/western and gospel music. His song "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" was a top 20 country hit in 1976.
In 2001, Bradshaw got involved in NASCAR. He joined a racing team called FitzBradshaw Racing. He also became a spokesperson for Jani-King international, Inc.. Bradshaw stopped being an owner in 2006.
Terry Bradshaw is still one of the most popular retired football players in the U.S. In 2020, Bradshaw launched his own bourbon whiskey. It's called Terry Bradshaw Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Its alcohol content is 51.9 percent ABV. This is Bradshaw's career passing completion percentage!
Personal Life and Health
Bradshaw has been married four times. He was first married to Melissa Babish (1972–1973). Then he married ice skater JoJo Starbuck (1976–1983). His third marriage was to Charla Hopkins (1983–1999). With Charla, he had two daughters, Erin and Rachel. Erin Bradshaw shows champion horses. Rachel Bradshaw is a musician and appeared on a reality TV show. Bradshaw often jokes about his divorces on his NFL show. He married his fourth wife, Tammy, in 2014. They had been together for 15 years.
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After his NFL career, Bradshaw shared that he often had anxiety attacks after games. This problem got worse in the late 1990s after his third divorce. He felt he "could not bounce back." His symptoms included losing weight, crying often, and not sleeping well. He was diagnosed with clinical depression. Since then, he has taken medication regularly. He chose to talk about his depression to help others. He wanted to show that it's okay to ask for help.
Bradshaw sometimes felt anxious about being in public. This led to him being distant from the Steelers for a while. When the team's owner, Art Rooney, died in 1988, Bradshaw did not go to his funeral. A year later, during his Hall of Fame speech, Bradshaw honored Rooney. He pointed to the sky and said, "Art Rooney... boy, I tell you, I loved that man."
Bradshaw did not return to Three Rivers Stadium for a Steelers game for a long time. In 2000, he was doing his Fox pregame show from a ship. He expressed regret that he couldn't be there. He later said he felt he couldn't face the crowds. He finally returned to Pittsburgh in 2002. This was to attend the funeral of his friend and teammate, Mike Webster.
In October 2002, Bradshaw was on the Steelers sideline for the first time in 20 years. This was for a Monday night game. In 2003, Fox covered the Steelers' 1,000th game at Heinz Field. Bradshaw returned to cover the game. He has made some appearances at Steelers events. However, they are still less common than for his Hall of Fame teammates.
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Bradshaw is a supporter of the Republican Party. He has also made comments about former President Donald Trump. In 2017, he said that if America stands for anything, it's freedom. He said people died for that freedom. He believed every American has the right to speak out and protest. He also said that athletes love the country. He thought the President should focus on other issues instead of criticizing athletes.
Health Updates
In September 2022, Terry Bradshaw shared some personal health news. He told viewers that he had been treated for bladder cancer and neck cancer. This treatment happened between 2021 and 2022. He shared this after fans noticed changes during his appearance on Fox NFL Sunday.
Relationship with Coach Chuck Noll
Bradshaw had a complex relationship with Steelers head coach Chuck Noll. Bradshaw felt that Noll was too hard on him. He thought Noll never really liked him. However, they made peace publicly before Noll passed away in 2014.
In a 2016 interview, Bradshaw said their personalities clashed. He felt Noll constantly criticized him. He wanted more positive encouragement. But former Steelers staff said Noll protected Bradshaw from some issues. They also said Noll was tougher on other players. Noll himself said his relationship with Bradshaw was "professional." He said Bradshaw's personality needed to fit with the team. He added, "it worked, even if Bradshaw didn't like it." Bradshaw chose not to go to Noll's funeral.
Television and Film Roles
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Bradshaw has been in many TV commercials. Recently, he was in live ads for Tide detergent. He appeared with his Fox Sports co-host Curt Menefee.
Bradshaw has made guest appearances as himself on many TV shows. These include Everybody Loves Raymond, Married... with Children, and Modern Family. He also appeared on Malcolm in the Middle with Howie Long. They played funny coaches of a women's ice hockey team. In 1997, he hosted a short TV series called Home Team with Terry Bradshaw.
Besides TV, Bradshaw has been in several movies. He had a part in the 1978 film Hooper with Burt Reynolds. He also appeared in The Cannonball Run (1981) and Smokey and the Bandit II (1980). In 1994, he was a guest on The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.. He played a U.S. Army officer who used football plays to give orders.
On October 11, 2001, Bradshaw received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was the first NFL player to get one.
In 2006, Bradshaw was in the movie Failure to Launch. He and Kathy Bates played the parents of Matthew McConaughey's character.
Bradshaw is a devoted Christian. He wrote a book called Terry Bradshaw: Man of Steel. Since 2010, he has hosted TV shows for United States Media Television.
In 2016 and 2018, Bradshaw had a main role in the NBC reality travel series Better Late Than Never. He traveled the world with William Shatner, Henry Winkler, George Foreman, and Jeff Dye. In 2017, he played a fictional version of himself in the comedy film Father Figures.
In 2019, Bradshaw competed on The Masked Singer as "Deer." In 2020, he was on the show Last Man Standing. Also in 2020, Bradshaw and his family started their own reality show on E! called The Bradshaw Bunch.
Awards and Honors
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NFL
- Four-time Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
- Two-time Super Bowl MVP
- 1978 NFL MVP
- 1978 First Team All-Pro
- Three-time Pro Bowl selection
- NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
NCAA
- 1969 First-team Little All-American
Media
- 1979 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year
Sports Emmy Awards
- Three-time winner - Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio and Sports Event Analyst
Halls of Fame
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (1989)
- Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor
- Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame
- College Football Hall of Fame (1996)
- Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (1988)
- Louisiana Tech Athletic Hall of Fame
- Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Images for kids
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Bradshaw in 2018
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Bradshaw in 1967
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Bradshaw arriving at Steelers training camp
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Bradshaw (12), hands the ball off to Franco Harris during Super Bowl XIV
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Bradshaw playing with the Steelers in 1982
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Bradshaw's uniform exhibited at the Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Bradshaw interviews Jared Goff after the 2018 NFC Championship Game.
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Bradshaw at a USO event in 2020.
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Bradshaw (age 30) at his Quarter Horse ranch in Louisiana (1979).
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Bradshaw poses with Sailors during a visit aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Port Royal
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Bradshaw during the ASI Chicago show meet and greet in July 2021
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Bradshaw's bust at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
See also
In Spanish: Terry Bradshaw para niños
- Most consecutive playoff games with at least two touchdown passes (NFL)
- List of National Football League career quarterback wins leaders
