Jack Lambert ( American football ) John Harold " Jack " Lambert ( born July 8 , 1952 ) is a former NFL linebacker in American football . He was a member of four winning Super Bowl teams in his 11 year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers , and is recognized among fans of the team as one of the best players in team history . Early years through college . Lambert was born in Mantua , Ohio . He played football for Kent State , winning two All - Mid - American Conference linebacker honors . Don James was his head coach . Alabama Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban and Missouri Tigers football coach Gary Pinkel were teammates . Professional career . Lambert was selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 1974 NFL Draft , though many pro football coaches and scouts thought he was too small to play linebacker in the NFL . ( Lambert played quarterback at Crestwood HS before switching to defensive end at Kent State . ) While most of his pro career he was reported to be 6 ' 4 " and 220 pounds in the program , he measured 6 ' 3½ " and 204 pounds as a rookie . The Steelers took a chance on Lambert when he replaced injured middle linebacker Henry Davis . Lambert went on to earn the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award as a central figure on a great Steeler defense that went on to win their first Super Bowl by beating the Minnesota Vikings 16 - 6 in Super Bowl IX . Lambert prided himself on his ability to hit hard and intimidate the opposition . He was the Steelers starting middle linebacker , for eleven seasons , and according to Steelers media guides averaged 146 tackles per season through his 10th year . He recorded only 19 in his 11th and final season because of an injury suffered to his toe . Lambert amassed 28 career interceptions , 1 , 479 career tackles ( 1 , 045 solo ) , and ( officially ) 23½ sacks . In a nine - year span , Jack Lambert was named to nine straight Pro Bowls and was NFL Defensive Player of the Year once . Lambert ' s four upper front teeth were missing as a result of taking an elbow in basketball during high school . Although he had a removable partial denture he wore in public , he didn ' t wear it during games , and pictures of Lambert ' s toothless snarl became an iconic image of the famous Steeler defense . In 1976 , Lambert assumed the role as leader of the Steelers after star defensive tackle " Mean Joe " Greene missed several games due to a chronic back injury . After quarterback Terry Bradshaw , receiver Lynn Swann and several other starters went down with injuries , the Steelers struggled to a 1 – 4 record . At a " players only " meeting , Lambert made it clear that " the only way we are going to the playoffs to defend our title is to win them all from here out . " In a remarkable nine - game span , the Steelers defense allowed only two touchdowns and a total of 28 points , including five shutouts . The Steelers won all of these games and finished at 10 – 4 . The defense gave up only a record low 138 points for the entire season . Eight of the eleven defensive starters on the Steelers made the Pro Bowl that year . Jack Lambert was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1976 . During the 1984 season , a severe and recurring case of turf toe sidelined him , after which he retired . A bachelor throughout his NFL career , Lambert got married after retirement . Currently he and his wife Lisa live in the Pittsburgh suburb of Worthington , Pennsylvania , with their four children ( Lauren , Elizabeth , John and Ty . ) He has been a long time volunteer deputy wildlife officer and he now focuses on coaching youth baseball and basketball , tending to his land and maintaining his town ' s ball fields . He also played on a men ' s ice hockey team in nearby Harmarville , Pennsylvania . Honors . In 2004 , the Fox Sports Net series " The Sports List " named Lambert as the toughest football player of all time . While Lambert ' s number , 58 , is one of many jersey numbers " unofficially retired " by the team ( the Steelers have retired only one jersey number - Ernie Stautner ' s number 70 ) , his jersey number has perhaps gotten the most attention out of all such jersey numbers . When Lambert retired , he reportedly told the equipment manager that he was not to issue number 58 again . Lambert was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990 . Lambert was voted to the Pittsburgh Steelers 75th Anniversary team .