Andy Russell (American football)

Infobox NFLretired


name=Andy Russell
|caption=
position=Linebacker
number=34
birthdate=birth date and age|1941|10|29
Detroit, Michigan
debutyear=1963
finalyear=1976
draftyear=1963
draftround=16
draftpick=220
college=Missouri
teams=
* Pittsburgh Steelers (1963-1976)
stat1label=Interceptions
stat1value=18
stat2label=INT yards
stat2value=238
stat3label=Touchdowns
stat3value=1
nfl=RUS415284
highlights=
* 7x Pro Bowl selection (1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975)
* 7x All-Pro selection (1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975)
HOF=
CollegeHOF=

Charles Andrew "Andy" Russell (born October 29, 1941, Detroit, Michigan) wore number 34 as an outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1963 and from 1966-1976. He was an early member of Pittsburgh's famed Steel Curtain defense, and was named the Steelers' MVP in 1971. He made seven Pro Bowl appearances--in 1969 and from 1971 through 1976--and earned two Super Bowl rings in Super Bowl IX and Super Bowl X.

Russell played football for, and earned a degree in economics from, the University of Missouri. At Missouri he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

As a freshman in high school, he moved from the New York area to St. Louis, attending Ladue High School. Having never played football in the East, he became a starter as a sophomore, playing end. In his junior and senior year, he played fullback and linebacker, earning all-state honors in his senior year. Heavily recruited by out-state universities, he selected Missouri and began a tradition of St. Louis area football players attending their home-state university under Coach Dan Devine.

Coming from a business oriented famiy (his father was a senior executive with Monsanto), Russell has had great success off the field as a partner of Laurel Mountain in Pittsburgh, involved in municipal finance and investment banking.Russell is the author of two books, "A Steeler Odyssey" and "An Odd Steelers Journey".

External links

* [http://www.andyrussell.org Official homepage of The Andy Russell Charitable Foundation. ]
* [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=RUSSEAND01 Andy Russell statistics at databasefootball.com]

wife Nancy