Terry Bradshaw - Every Pass from his Final Game (1983 Steelers at Jets)

This video highlights each of Bradshaw's final passes as he comes off the bench, despite his injured throwing arm, and delivers a brief but truly exceptional playoff-saving performance in the last start of his Hall of Fame career (also the Jets' final game at Shea Stadium).
Late in the 1983 season (week 15), the Steelers find themselves in need of a savior after the 3 straight losses put them in jeopardy of missing the playoffs. Enter Terry Bradshaw.
While playing only the 1st quarter and one series into the 2nd quarter, Bradshaw is sharp, effective and fully in charge of the offense, hitting 5 of 8 passes for 77 yds and 2 TD's -- the first to rookie Gregg Garrity, to whom Terry had never previously thrown a pass (not even in practice) and the second to Calvin Sweeney -- shaking the Steelers out of their late-season slump while ensuring them of a playoff spot with the badly-needed win.
Sadly, Terry destroys his ailing arm (which is not yet fully healed from off-season surgery) on his first TD toss, but Bradshaw gallantly continues to play in pain until he throws his 2nd TD. The entire team is energized by the presence of Bradshaw and goes on to simply steamrolls the Jets, ending New York's slim playoff hopes while securing a playoff spot of their own.

[@rwood711]

We were blessed as fans. The 70s were definitely the glory days.

[@Waldenpunk]

By this time Brad had nothing to prove. But you can tell he didn't have the zip on the ball like he used to. A born winner, he always played to win. The original TB12 was the best quarterback the Steelers ever had.

[@stevenjohnson5309]

And the last game at Shea

[@johnnywood-cc1oh]

I remember watching with my Dad , I cried like a baby because I knew Bradshaw was done . He went out like a champion

[@gulliver3644]

The man, the moment. The best. Steelers! All downhill from there.

[@CapeFear1]

I remember this game. It was played on a Saturday afternoon as sometimes late season regular season games were back then for whatever reason.

[@davidkopec9442]

Once college football ended, the NFL would load up the entire weekend, which i still love. They purposely and wisely would never compete on Saturdays with the NCAA season.

[@jasonwardy8192]

One last hurrah. The old general comes back. It was a Unitas-type memory. Saw this game as a kid. The energy Terry provided was incredible, and missed for decades afterward. Played hurt, courageous way to end a career. Thanks for all the memories Terry, we will always love you.

[@mcmillenandwife]

🎯🖤💛

[@macmiles278]

Watched this game in Brooklyn N.Y. 12/10/1983. The end of one of the greatest quarterbacks ever. Love ya, Terry. 😢😊

[@Crusader1815]

R.I.P. Merlin Olsen

[@philfitzmaurice3170]

I remember watching that game, a sad day for me! And all steeler fans!

[@joshuaoliver5878]

Yes I seen this game to. I was 12 years old at that time. I was glad to have watch this game but sad at the same time. I did watch him play in Super Bowl XIII and Super Bowl XIV. That was such a good time.

[@gdaigle9500]

I was at this game. You could tell the play when TB re-injured the elbow. A bittersweet day.

[@williammooney8499]

I know Terry has mixed emotions when it comes to his days in Pittsburgh. But know this Terry - you are forever loved and remembered for your heart and HOF days here.

[@MarkJoel1960]

Thanks for this. I remember the day it happened. Probably the best game of Terry's career. That Day... Bradshaw was WISE... All year everyone was saying that It wasn't Cliff Stoudt's fault. He didn't have Swann and stallworth to throw to... And then Terry came in and, without the full pop on the ball, was able to engineer two touchdowns to the same players everyone was complaining about....

[@anthonybryant3038]

Bradshaw's last game. Franco's last 100 yard game. Bittersweet day.

[@mcmillenandwife]

Remember it like it was yesterday. Very bittersweet. I was fully primed for Terry to ride in on his white stallion and take this otherwise solid Steelers team to the Super Bowl. It's a shame it didn't work out.

[@anthonybryant3038]

@@mcmillenandwife Same here. At one point we were 9-2 that year and we started thinking... maybe this can happen? Then the bottom fell out. And, yes, Terry came back to save us and get one for the thumb. So sad how his career ended, and his obvious disgust with Noll... anyway, what a career and what a moment for him to come back and lead us to one last victory and playoff birth.

[@user-qv3wb2gy1f]

Season later (1984-1985) late RB Franco Harris (1972 Penn State graduate) played his only season w/Seahawks after 12 seasons with Steelers

[@robbie192]

​@anthonybryant3038 oh ya...the 80 to 84 yrs were tough...we still had our legends playing. Bradshaw was really good in 82...maybe his best yr

[@user-qv3wb2gy1f]

@robbie192 Well, in 1980-1981/1981-1982 seasons, back-to-back St'lrs m'ssd pl'yffs, but they r'trnd to llnd season in strike-interrupted 1982-1983 season where they lost at home to Ch'rgrs, 31-28. Then season later (1983-1984) they lost on road to eventual S'pr Bowl, XVIII-winning R'drs, 38-10 in A.F.C. Div. Pl'yffs on New Yr.'s Day, 1984 (Jan. 1, 1984-Sun.). And last in 1984-1985 season they were b'tn on road by D'lphns, 45-28 in A.F.C. Ch'mpnshp Game

[@dberdes]

I remember watching this game obviously not knowing we were witnessing Bradshaw’s last game. Gosh I miss these times.

[@pellelindbergh4455]

i was at this game ,this was also the last game of the Jets at shea Stadium too. the fans start ripping the seats out ,my cousin too lol!

[@jasonquartin5196]

wow. must have been great to be at this game. i was 14 and rem watching this game on tv. over 40 years ago.

[@steinbecktheman]

One of my favorite games ever.

[@GB-fv4fb]

I remember this as if it was yesterday...Many believe his whipping throwing motion contributed to this injury over years.. but it got him in the HOF and 4 SB's.. Thanks for the video and the video commentary!

[@user-re9tx4yy8x]

Thank you for posting this! Bradshaw, best Steelers QB EVER!!!!

[@jamy8575]

Keep trying to figure out how to give extra thumbs up; each time I watch it.

[@mcmillenandwife]

😂 Haha! I know, it's a beautiful thing, isn't it?

[@d0nKsTaH]

One more bit of trivia.... Last game ever at Shea Stadium. Jets would be forever "roomated" with the Giants after this game. But the fun fact is... The very next year, the Steelers beat the Jets 23-17 in their FIRST ever home game at "Giants" stadium. LoL Steelers got to send them off from their old home and then introduce them to their new home

[@robbie192]

Love it thanks! Bradshaw was awesome in 82...

[@user-re9tx4yy8x]

thanks for posting this. Best Steelers QB EVER!!!!!!! Was very upset when he retired in May, 1984!

[@bayknight20]

I dont people or Terry himself talk about the way he gripped the football. With his finger at the end of the ball.

[@The_Bad_Guy.]

Wow I was 6 days old when this game took place. I remember it like it was yesterday.

[@mcmillenandwife]

😂

[@briantodd854]

I watched this game on tv. I also read a short autobiographical book he co-wrote. He was a state champion javelin thrower in Louisiana. He said toward the end of his HS career, he had problems with elbow pain. He wrote that after he made the throw that got him the state championship, he zipped up his javelin and never touched it again. When he came out of this game because of elbow pain, I thought to myself he’s done. I don’t think his elbow got hit, I think it popped and just felt like it hit something. He was also agile in his prime. In one of the plays, Gastineau ran him down from behind like he did all the time back then, but Bradshaw looked like he was laboring just to move a few yards.

[@davidkopec9442]

Enberg and Merlin Olsen were every bit as good as Madden and Summerall as announcers. Different styles, but always created a great mood.

[@mcmillenandwife]

Agreed. Enberg and Olsen remain my favorite TV broadcasting duo of all time. 👍🏻 I rank them significantly above Summerall and Madden.

[@TheDanniiel6]

Beautiful, Thank you!!!

[@DanJosephauthor]

Well done, Tim.

[@vegasdano7569]

The best 👍🏼, my team. The greatest team of the 70s

[@davidgrillo9928]

Thank you

[@paulveneziano4082]

Was at this game 😁🎯 with my father - I bet Steelers - think Jets were favored by a fg - game was played on a Saturday - think later CBS game was Atlanta at Miami

[@rickross199]

My favorite team was one of the many victims of the steel curtain 😂. This was a wonderful day🎉😂

[@agoogleuser2605]

Hard to believe they passed on Marino this year…

[@jamy8575]

Been searching for some kinda Steelers HOF advocacy site. There are 3-4 more from the 70's dynasty needing GOLD JACKETS! Anyone know where something like this exists?

[@trr3160]

So if Bradshaw never had elbow surgery would he had been fine and played like he did in that 1982 season when he threw 17 TDs in nine games? I’m sure his elbow would’ve been sore and cortisone shots would have been issued, but it is tough to swallow that us fans could have watched Bradshaw play a few more years.

[@jasonwardy8192]

Even in 1982 he was in a lot of pain. Sports medicine wasn’t that advanced like today. Nothing then could have postponed the wear and tear of 13 seasons…he gave his best shot at the end.

[@chaser1956]

I really miss Curt Gowdy…. Great Broadcaster.

[@jmrich5328]

Gowdy not in this broadcast lol..

[@georgeyoung1810]

I came here bc I saw him describe his last play and it was nothing like this video

[@mcmillenandwife]

I’m curious, what was different? I’ve seen Terry describe the play and found his recount to be pretty accurate, other than his description of the “finality” of it. Today, he says he knew he was done after the Garrity TD. That’s the play where he destroyed his arm and you can see him favoring it and talking to the trainers, but he continued to play and threw another TD. After the game, he seemed optimistic he might be able to come back, but I think that was the kind of denial you might expect in that situation.

[@georgeyoung1810]

@@mcmillenandwife I didn't know he blew it out and continued to play. I thought in his recount it was the Garrity play which he blew it out and was done. Thanks for the clarification. He said he knew he was done after the Garrity play which is what confused me.

[@mcmillenandwife]

@@georgeyoung1810 I just watched a clip of him describing it, and you’re right. He made it sound more “final” than it was.

[@eamonnbrennan7171]

He had the guts to keep battling even though he knew he was likely done

[@mcmillenandwife]

@@eamonnbrennan7171 Bradshaw was a warrior. It’s a shame he had the surgery. He had a strong season in 1982 and clearly still had plenty of arm strength. Without the surgery, he had at least 2 more top-shelf seasons left in the tank. The ‘83 & ‘84 teams would’ve been dangerous with a reasonably healthy Bradshaw under center.

[@CheetahSnowLeopard]

😢😊

[@DavidYesUCan]

And now QB’s sit out with a broken pinky

[@mcmillenandwife]

Exactly. Bradshaw played nearly the entire ‘77 season with a cast on his broken left wrist, and won team MVP to boot. Players in the ‘70s were cut from a different cloth.

[@jt20042]

Did everyone know this was Terry's last game at that time? Did he announce it?

[@mcmillenandwife]

No, not at all. We all thought he was coming back to lead the Steelers on a glorious playoff run. Even after this game, Terry had plans to come back. He didn't officially retire until July, 1984.

[@jt20042]

@@mcmillenandwife Thanks for the info.👍🏻

[@KeithFroehlich07]

Terry rehabilitated all winter by lifting weights at his Louisiana ranch. Returned to Pittsburgh for May minicamp, and while throwing in cold Pittsburgh weather, including to rookie Louis Lipps, injured his elbow again, and announced his retirement on July 24th 1984.

[@jasonwardy8192]

There was no announcement then, we didn’t really know the severity until the following spring.

[@michaelmartinez2500]

Dang. Poor Bradshaw had no zip. That was almost like Peyton Manning at the end.

[@mcmillenandwife]

Yeah, he was nowhere near healthy and shouldn’t have been playing. It was a desperation move. For him to say he was 75-85% means it was probably more like 50%. His accuracy and decision-making were pretty darn good, though. He hadn’t practiced or been with the team all year until about 1-1/2 weeks before this game. Coming in cold, still ran the offense like a boss.

[@hermixtonen]

I wonder if he could have learned to throw left handed. He was a great athlete, wouldn’t put anything past him

[@DKoolbj7dl]

If that elbow had stayed healthy, and Bleier and Kolb stayed. They would've had one for the thumb.🤔

[@CharlesRussell-zj3jp]

Na. The 49ers and NFC had arrived

[@andrearel3703]

Bubby was better.

[@mcmillenandwife]

😂 Nice.

[@appleiphone69]

Them cheating training staff that loaded up players with steroids and narcotics in the 70’s and 80’s. Steelers were #1 in steroid usage.

[@mcmillenandwife]

Idiot. 🙄 Google Alvin Roy. Steroid use in pro football started with the Chargers in the early '60s and was widespread and LEGAL during the '70s. The Steelers weren't any more or less inclined to use them than any other NFL team.