The Pittsburgh Steelers have had many intimidating players throughout their history. However, Jack Lambert was arguably the scariest of them all. He played for the Steelers from 1974-1984, and he became one of the NFL’s best linebackers. Lambert also struck fear into the hearts of other players, including some of his teammates. However, he was also more than that.
Former Steelers kicker Matt Bahr recently told a story about what a great leader Lambert was, inspiring him in his first NFL game.
“I had missed a field goal and an extra point,” Bahr said recently on the NFL Players Second Acts podcast. “We get down to a 40-some-yard field goal in overtime. They’re not sure if they’re going to kick it…
“The Penn Staters, Franco [Harris] and Jack Ham, said, ‘Give him another chance.’ We go out there, of course they call a timeout…Lambert comes back to me. I go, ‘This can’t be good.’ He has not said one word to me in eight weeks. ‘We have all the confidence in the world in you.'”
The Steelers picked Bahr in the sixth round of the 1979 draft, and they had already established a dynasty at that point. They were coming off their third Super Bowl win, and they were hoping to add their fourth.
That season didn’t start out great for the Steelers, though. They faced the New England Patriots in Week 1, and they found themselves in a close battle. Part of that was due to Bahr’s struggles. His missed extra point and field goal loomed large going into overtime. However, he made up for it in the end, kicking a 41-yard field goal in overtime to give Pittsburgh the win.
The Steelers finished that year 12-4, winning their fourth Super Bowl. While Bahr had some issues, only making 18 of his 30 field goal attempts as a rookie, he was much better on extra points, only missing one more for the rest of the regular season. Also, he was perfect in the Super Bowl, making all four of his extra point attempts and nailing his lone field goal attempt.
None of that may have happened if not for Lambert encouraging Bahr in his first game. He went on to have a fruitful career, too. Bahr only spent one more year in Pittsburgh, but he played in the NFL for 17 total seasons. He even won another Super Bowl with the New York Giants.
However, Bahr explained that there was a little more to that story than he realized at the time. Teammate Randy Grossman gave him more funny details well after the game ended.
“Randy Grossman said, ‘Do you know the end of that story?’ I go, ‘Yeah, we made the kick and I kicked for 17 years.’ He goes, ‘No. Lambert comes back to the huddle, and [Grossman said] What’d you say to him? I told him we have confidence in him. Why would you say that? I don’t know. If he misses it, I’m gonna rip his freaking head off.'”
That story perfectly encapsulates Lambert. He had his teammates’ backs, but you didn’t want to get on his bad side. Luckily, Bahr bounced back, and the Steelers ended that season on a high note. That rocky start didn’t define Bahr, and he ultimately had a great NFL career.
Recommended for you