Joe Gilliam

Uncommon card · No. 184994

Joseph Wiley Gilliam Jr. (December 29, 1950 – December 25, 2000) was an American professional football player, a quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) for four seasons. Primarily a backup, he started the first six games of the 1974 season. He became the Steelers' starting quarterback in 1974, making history as the first African American quarterback to start a season opener. Despite a strong start, he was benched midseason, leading to Terry Bradshaw reclaiming the starting role. Gilliam remained on the roster through the Steelers' Super Bowl X victory but was waived before the 1976 season. His post-NFL career was marred by struggles with substance abuse and legal issues, including arrests and homelessness. He played in various semi-pro leagues and briefly returned to professional football with the USFL's Washington Federals in 1983. Gilliam retired in 1984 and was later inducted into the American Football Association's Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Montgomery Bell Academy Yearbook, 1987, Public domain