O/T But....... Ed O'Neill, who played Al Bundy was a Steeler

[Gwedd]

I kid you not. Okay, he was cut in training camp, BUT he actually was signed by the Steelers as a UFA.

Before Ed O'Neill was Sofía Vergara's husband on Modern Family, and decades before that, shoe salesman Al Bundy on Married with Children, he was a football player. O'Neill, who played at Youngstown State, was even good enough to sign a professional contract.

And in a recent Q&A, Steelers.com's Bob Labriola talked about O'Neill's very brief career in Pittsburgh.

"O'Neill was a defensive lineman during his college days at Youngstown State, and the Steelers signed him as an undrafted rookie free agent in 1969," Labriola wrote. "But alas, he was waived during training camp, maybe because he was unable to replicate Al Bundy's glory days at Polk High School ..."

The legend of Al Bundy and the time the Steelers actually signed Ed O'Neill

 

[Username]

He's also a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt.

 

[1960Pats]

Ed was pretty good in the movie Dutch.

He was really close to the real Steelers thing as Al Bundy though, where he constantly whined about his plight, much like the Steelers have done when it comes to their dominance by the Pats.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Always thought he was Red Grange from Polk High???

 

[Rob0729]

The man scored 4 TDs in one game for Polk High and the Steelers couldn't see his God given talent?

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

He was too smart to be a Steeler.....

 

[signbabybrady]

I blame his short career on Peggy Wanker.

 

[Fencer]

That sounds like less of a career than Ken had with the Broncos.

 

[jmt57]

Al Bundy was almost a Steeler

O’Neill didn’t last long –- he was cut on July 21. No surprise. Not only was he an undrafted player, but the Steelers drafted the likes of Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood that year. Anyway, after cleaning out his locker, O’Neill explained, he went to the nearest pub to drown his sorrows. And as he did, the TV behind the bar showed the real news of the day: Neil Armstrong walking on the moon.

Recalled O’Neill: “Looking up, I thought, ‘Well, someone had a good day.’”​

 

[supafly]

I'm actually a bit surprised that more people didn't realize that this was true. It's fairly common knowledge.

That said, I live in the Western PA area and also have family in Youngstown (OH), so it's quite possible that it's just well known around "here." Great story, nonetheless.

 

[Joker]

oh jeez..whats next...your stories about how Brad Davis married your sister and you got to meet Wilt Chamberlain at the bachelor party?

 

[BobDigital]

Knew it but still that is damn impressive. I would love to be on an NFL team even for a short while. That is something to brag about the rest of your life.

 

[Tunescribe]

oh jeez..whats next...your stories about how Brad Davis married your sister and you got to meet Wilt Chamberlain at the bachelor party?

True story: I once went out with a woman who had dated Bill Cowher.