Glen Edwards (American football)
Encyclopedia
Glen Edwards played safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers
from 1971 to 1977, and for the San Diego Chargers
from 1978 to 1981. Edwards is a Gibbs High School alumnus.
Edwards became a full-time starter with the Steelers as a free safety in 1973, and in 1974 won the award as Most Valuable Steeler. Edwards won two championship rings (Super Bowl IX
and Super Bowl X
) and made two Pro Bowl
appearances after the 1975 and 1976 season. Edwards is also known for two key plays in his Super Bowl appearances. In Super Bowl IX, he laid a hit Minnesota Vikings
on receiver John Gilliam just as Gilliam caught a pass near the goal line. The ball popped out of Gilliam's hands and into the arms of Steelers cornerback
Mel Blount for an interception, killing the Vikings' drive. In Super Bowl X, he sealed a victory for Pittsburgh by intercepting a pass from Dallas Cowboys
quarterback Roger Staubach
in the end zone as time expired in the game.
Edwards was a member of Pittsburgh's famed Steel Curtain
defense, and he also returned punts and kickoffs for the Steelers. He was traded to the Chargers for a 1979 6th round pick in August 1978. With the Chargers, he recorded an interception in their famous 1982 AFC playoff victory known as The Epic in Miami
.
Edwards finished his 11 NFL seasons with 39 interceptions, which he returned for 961 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also recovered 13 fumbles, returned 104 punts for 959 yards, and gained 257 yards on 13 kickoff returns.
He played college ball at Florida A&M University
.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
from 1971 to 1977, and for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
from 1978 to 1981. Edwards is a Gibbs High School alumnus.
Edwards became a full-time starter with the Steelers as a free safety in 1973, and in 1974 won the award as Most Valuable Steeler. Edwards won two championship rings (Super Bowl IX
Super Bowl IX
Super Bowl IX was an American football game played on January 12, 1975 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1974 regular season. It would be the last pro game at legendary Tulane Stadium...
and Super Bowl X
Super Bowl X
Super Bowl X was an American football game played on January 18, 1976 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1975 regular season....
) and made two Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
appearances after the 1975 and 1976 season. Edwards is also known for two key plays in his Super Bowl appearances. In Super Bowl IX, he laid a hit Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
on receiver John Gilliam just as Gilliam caught a pass near the goal line. The ball popped out of Gilliam's hands and into the arms of Steelers cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
Mel Blount for an interception, killing the Vikings' drive. In Super Bowl X, he sealed a victory for Pittsburgh by intercepting a pass from Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
quarterback Roger Staubach
Roger Staubach
Roger Thomas Staubach is a businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and legendary Hall of Fame former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 until 1979. Staubach was instrumental in developing the Cowboys into becoming one of the best teams of the 1970s and led the team to nine of the Cowboys'...
in the end zone as time expired in the game.
Edwards was a member of Pittsburgh's famed Steel Curtain
Steel Curtain
The Steel Curtain was the nickname given to the front four of the famous defensive line of the American football team Pittsburgh Steelers during their 1970s dynasty years. This defense was the backbone of the Steelers dynasty, which won 4 Super Bowls...
defense, and he also returned punts and kickoffs for the Steelers. He was traded to the Chargers for a 1979 6th round pick in August 1978. With the Chargers, he recorded an interception in their famous 1982 AFC playoff victory known as The Epic in Miami
The Epic in Miami
The Epic in Miami is the name given to a National Football League AFC divisional playoff game between the San Diego Chargers and the Miami Dolphins that took place on January 2, 1982 in the Miami Orange Bowl...
.
Edwards finished his 11 NFL seasons with 39 interceptions, which he returned for 961 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also recovered 13 fumbles, returned 104 punts for 959 yards, and gained 257 yards on 13 kickoff returns.
He played college ball at Florida A&M University
Florida A&M University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly known as Florida A&M or FAMU, is a historically black university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States, the state capital, and is one of eleven member institutions of the State University System of Florida...
.