Steve Furness
Encyclopedia
Stephen Robert "Steve" Furness (December 5, 1950, Providence, Rhode Island
– February 9, 2000, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
) 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 converted to Judaism
.
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 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/features/si50/states/rhode_island/greatest/. 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 at 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. He was also an avid weight lifter and competed in the 1980 'Strongest Man in Football' competition, the first of its kind http://espn.go.com/magazine/vol6no03strongmen.html.
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 University
from 1982–1990, working under former Steelers
defensive coordinator George Perles
. 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 http://gorhody.cstv.com/genrel/furness72_stephenr00.html. 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 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/features/si50/states/rhode_island/greatest/.
Furness died unexpectedly of a heart attack on February 9, 2000. He is survived by his sons Zaban Furness and Zack Furness, a professor of Cultural Studies
at Columbia College Chicago
http://www.colum.edu/Academics/Liberal_Education/faculty/Zack_Furness.php.
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
– February 9, 2000, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
) was an American defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers
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...
and Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, and a member of the Steelers' 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. He earned four Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
rings as a professional player and ranks 12th on the Steelers' all-time sack list. He was of English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and Armenian descent. Furness converted to Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
.
Furness grew up in Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. It is the second largest city in the state, with a population of 82,672 at the 2010 census. Its mayor has been Scott Avedisian since 2000...
where he attended Bishop Hendricken High School
Bishop Hendricken High School
Bishop Thomas Francis Hendricken High School is a Catholic, all-male, college preparatory high school located in Warwick, Rhode Island, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence....
before accepting a football scholarship to the University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
. In addition to being a star football player for URI, he excelled at the hammer throw
Hammer throw
The modern or Olympic hammer throw is an athletic throwing event where the object is to throw a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and handle. The name "hammer throw" is derived from older competitions where an actual sledge hammer was thrown...
and turned down an invitation to the 1972 Olympic Trials to attend the Steelers' training camp http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/features/si50/states/rhode_island/greatest/. Furness was selected in the fifth round of the 1972 NFL Draft
1972 NFL Draft
The 1972 National Football League Draft was held on February 1–2, 1972.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
and initially served as a backup to Joe Greene
Joe Greene (American football)
Charles Edward Greene, known as “Mean Joe” Greene, is a former all-pro American football defensive tackle who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL. Throughout the early 1970s he was the one of most dominant defensive players in the National Football League...
and Ernie Holmes
Ernie Holmes
Earnest Lee "Ernie" Holmes, also nicknamed "Fats" was an American football player who was most famous for his years with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1972-77. He was part of the famous Steel Curtain and played at defensive lineman. His fellow linemen during this period were Joe Greene, Dwight...
before replacing Holmes at defensive tackle in 1977. He started in Super Bowl XIII
Super Bowl XIII
Super Bowl XIII was an American football game played on January 21, 1979 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1978 regular season...
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. He was also an avid weight lifter and competed in the 1980 'Strongest Man in Football' competition, the first of its kind http://espn.go.com/magazine/vol6no03strongmen.html.
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
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. After retiring from the NFL he became the defensive line coach for Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
from 1982–1990, working under former Steelers
Steelers
Steelers usually refers to the Pittsburgh Steelers, an American football team which plays in the National Football League. It may also refer to the following sports teams:Association football...
defensive coordinator George Perles
George Perles
George J. Perles is a former American football player and coach. He was a defensive line coach, defensive coordinator, and assistant head coach for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers from 1972–1981 and the head coach at Michigan State University from 1983–1994...
. During this period he earned a Masters Degree in Athletic Administration from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
and was inducted to the University of Rhode Island Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987 http://gorhody.cstv.com/genrel/furness72_stephenr00.html. He rejoined the NFL in 1991 as an assistant coach for the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
before returning to the Steelers
Steelers
Steelers usually refers to the Pittsburgh Steelers, an American football team which plays in the National Football League. It may also refer to the following sports teams:Association football...
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
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
magazine, earning the 14th spot on the list http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/features/si50/states/rhode_island/greatest/.
Furness died unexpectedly of a heart attack on February 9, 2000. He is survived by his sons Zaban Furness and Zack Furness, a professor of Cultural Studies
Cultural studies
Cultural studies is an academic field grounded in critical theory and literary criticism. It generally concerns the political nature of contemporary culture, as well as its historical foundations, conflicts, and defining traits. It is, to this extent, largely distinguished from cultural...
at Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago is one of the largest art colleges in the United States with nearly 12,000 students pursuing degrees within 120 undergraduate and graduate programs...
http://www.colum.edu/Academics/Liberal_Education/faculty/Zack_Furness.php.
External links
- "50 Greatest Rhode Island Sports Figures," Sports Illustrated, December 7, 1999, accessed 3/31/08
- University of Rhode Island Official Athletic Site
- Statistics at databasefootball.com
- Death notice, infoplease.com
- Shaun Assael, "Big Night," ESPN, The Magazine, January 21, 2003, accessed 3/31/08
- Souls who enriched our lives, our region, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Dec. 1, 2002, accessed 12/07/2006
- Zack Furness, "My Dad Kicked Ass For a Living," Bad Subjects, Issue #57, October, 2001, accessed 3/31/08