Steve Furness

Steve Furness
No. 64     Pittsburgh Steelers

Steve Furness at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp
Nickname(s) Buckethead,[1] Furny
Date of birth: December 5, 1950
Place of birth: Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Date of death: February 9, 2000 (aged 49)
Place of death: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Career information
Position(s): DT/DE
Height: 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight: 255 lb (116 kg)
College: Rhode Island
High school: Bishop Hendricken (Warwick, Rhode Island)
NFL Draft: 1972 / Round: 5 / Pick: 113
Drafted by: Pittsburgh Steelers
Organizations
As coach:
1982–1990

1991

1992–1993		 Michigan State
(defensive line coach)
Indianapolis Colts
(defensive line coach)
Pittsburgh Steelers
(defensive line coach)
As player:
1972–1980
1981		 Pittsburgh Steelers
Detroit Lions
Career highlights and awards
Honors: Univ. of Rhode Island Athletic Hall of Fame inductee (1987)[2]
Career stats
Games played 106
Quarterback sacks 32
Opponent's fumbles recovered 8
Playing stats at NFL.com

Stephen Robert "Steve" Furness (December 5, 1950 – February 9, 2000) was an American defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions of the National Football League, and a member of the Steelers' famed Steel Curtain defense. He earned four Super Bowl rings as a professional player and ranks 12th on the Steelers' all-time sack list. He was of English and Armenian descent.

Furness grew up in Warwick, Rhode Island, where he attended Bishop Hendricken High School before accepting a football scholarship to the University of Rhode Island. In addition to being a star football player for URI, he excelled at the hammer throw and turned down an invitation to the 1972 Olympic Trials to attend the Steelers' training camp.[3] Furness was selected in the fifth round of the 1972 NFL Draft and initially served as a backup to Joe Greene and Ernie Holmes before replacing Holmes as defensive tackle in 1977. He started in Super Bowl XIII and was primarily known for his skills as a pass rusher, leading the team in quarterback sacks during several seasons with the Steelers. He collected 32 sacks over the course of his Steeler's career.[4] He was also an avid weight lifter and placed fourth in the 1978 'Strongest Man in Football' competition, which aired on CBS.

Furness was released by Pittsburgh after playing all 16 games in the 1980 season and he ended his playing career in 1981 with the Detroit Lions. After retiring from the NFL he became the defensive line coach for Michigan State from 1982–1990, where he worked under his former Steelers defensive coordinator George Perles and helped lead the team to two Big 10 Conference titles, a victory in the 1988 Rose Bowl and appearances in five additional bowl games. During this period he earned a Masters Degree in Athletic Administration from Michigan State University and was inducted to the University of Rhode Island Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987.[5] He rejoined the NFL in 1991 as an assistant coach for the Indianapolis Colts before returning to the Steelers for his final two years as a defensive line coach (1992–1993). In 1999 he was named as one of the "50 Greatest Rhode Island Sports Figures" of the 20th Century by Sports Illustrated magazine, earning the 14th spot on the list.[3]

Furness died unexpectedly of a heart attack on February 9, 2000. He is survived by two sons and his ex-wife, Debby.

References

  1. ↑ Big Night, Shaun Assael, ESPN, The Magazine, January 21, 2003, accessed 2009-02-11
  2. ↑ Stephen Furness profile, GoRhody.com (accessed online 2009-02-11)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "SI.com - SI 50th - Rhode Island - The 50 Greatest Rhode Island Sports Figures - Wednesday July 09, 2003 04:11 PM". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
  4. ↑ Souls who enriched our lives, our region Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, December 1, 2002 (accessed online 2009-02-11)
  5. ↑ "Rhode Island". Gorhody.cstv.com. Retrieved 2012-09-30.

External links