When Jeff Hartings retired, Art Rooney II paid this tribute to the Steelers' stalwart:
"Jeff Hartings embraced switching to a new position when he joined the Steelers and continued our team's legacy of outstanding players at the center position.
He was highly respected throughout our entire organization for being a tremendous role model both on and off the field."
PRO (162-158/12-12): Was one of the top free-agent acquisitions prior to the 2001 season and was a standout center for the Steelers until his retirement after the 2006 season.
Having played his entire pro career at guard prior to joining Pittsburgh, Hartings was moved to center by the Steelers in 2001 to replace future Hall of Famer Dermontti Dawson. The Steelers were renowned for having some of the NFL's great players dominating in that position and Hartings didn't disappoint.
Was selected to the 2004 and 2005 Pro Bowls while also being named a first alternate in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003.
Restructured his contract lower during the 2006 offseason... named to the Associated Press All-Pro First team in 2004.
Started his NFL career when selected in the first round (23rd overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.
2006 (14-14): Started 14 games at center... helped the Steelers rank seventh overall in the NFL for total offense... guided the way for Willie Parker to break the Steelers' record for rushing yards in a single game with 223 yards.
7/9 vs Miami. Started at center... helped Willie Parker gain 132 yards for an average of 4.0 yards.
18/9 at Jacksonville. Started at center.
24/9 vs Cincinnati. Started at center... helped Willie Parker gain 132 yards and 2 touchdowns.
8/10 at San Diego. Started at center.
15/10 vs Kansas. Started at center... helped team to gain 10 rushing first downs with over 200 yards running with Willie Parker gaining 109 yards.
22/10 at Atlanta. Started at center... helped team to 473 total yards of offense.
29/10 at Oakland. Started at center.
19/11 at Cleveland. Started at center.
26/11 at Baltimore. Started at center.
3/12 vs Tampa. Started at center.
7/12 vs Cleveland. Started at center... helped his team rush for over 300 yards with a Steelers record of 223 yards for Willie Parker.
17/12 at Carolina. Started at center... helped Willie Parker gain 132 yards.
24/12 vs Baltimore: Started at center.
31/12 at Cincinnati: Started at center... helped his team rush for over 200 yards and Willie Parker gain 134 yards.
2005 (16-16/4-4): Started all 16 games for the third straight year at center... helped the Steelers rank third in the AFC and fifth in the NFL in rushing yards per game (138.9 avg.)... guided the way for first-year starter Willie Parker to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time in his career.
11/9 vs. Tennessee: Started at center... helped Parker set a team record with 161 rushing yards in a season opener.
18/9 at Houston: Started at center... helped team rush for 135 yards, including 111 by Parker.
25/9 vs. New England: Started at center.
10/10 at San Diego: Started at center... helped team control possession for 33:23.
16/10 vs. Jacksonville: Started for the 40th straight time for the Steelers at center.
23/10 at Cincinnati: Started at center and helped the team compile 221 rushing yards while holding the ball for 35:29.
31/10 vs. Baltimore: Started at center for the 42nd straight game.
13/11 vs. Cleveland: Started at center... helped the team rush for 159 yards on 41 carries (3.9 avg.) and possess the ball for 36:23.
20/11 at Baltimore: Started at center for the 44th consecutive game with the Steelers.
28/11 at Indianapolis: Started his 45th consecutive game at center.
4/12 vs. Cincinnati: Started at center.
11/12 vs. Chicago: Started at center and helped the team compile 190 yards on 46 carries (4.1 avg.) and two touchdowns... took out two defenders with a block that sprang Willie Parker on a 45-yard screen pass.
18/12 at Minnesota: Started at center and helped the team compile 142 rushing yards and possess the ball for 36:48.
24/12 at Cleveland: Started at center and helped the team rush for 209 yards on 35 rushes (6.0 avg.)
1/1 vs. Detroit: Started at center and helped team rush for 199 yards.
AFC Wild Card Game 8/1 at Cincinnati: Started at Center and helped team gain 346 total yards on offense.
AFC Divisional Game 15/1 at Indianapolis: Started at Center and helped team gain 295 yards, including 112 rushing.
AFC Championship Game 22/1 at Denver: Started at Center and helped team gain 358 total yards on offense.
Super Bowl XL 2/5 vs. Seattle: Started at Center and helped team compile 181 rushing yards on 33 carries (5.5 avg.) and two TDs, including the longest run from scrimmage in Super bowl history (75-yard TD run by Willie Parker).
2004 (16-16/2-2): earned his first selection to the 2005 Pro bowl… also earned first-team all-Pro honors by the Associated Press for the first time in his career.
12/9 vs. Oakland: made his 45th start at center for the Steelers, his 19th straight regular season contest.
26/9 at Miami: Helped pave the way for Duce Staley’s first 100-yard rushing performance as a Steeler.
10/10 vs. Cleveland: anchored offensive line that produced a third straight 100-yard rusher for the first time in two years.
31/10 vs. New England: Helped pave the way for Duce Staley’s fourth 100-yard rushing performance and the Steelers’ season-high 221 yards rushing.
7/11 vs. Philadelphia: anchored line that produced team’s second straight 200-yard rushing performance and fifth 100-yard individual effort in six games.
14/11 at Cleveland: Produced another outstanding performance, including an individual 100-yard rusher for the third straight week.
21/11 at Cincinnati: Was instrumental in a Steelers running back’s fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing performance.
26/12 vs. Baltimore: Helped pave the way for Jerome Bettis’ sixth 100-yard rushing performance and the offense’s fifth game with 400-plus yards in total offense.
2003 (16-16): Started all 16 games for the Steelers.
23/11 at Cleveland: left the game in the second quarter after sustaining a knee injury.
7/12 vs. Oakland: Helped anchor the line that paved the way for the Steelers’ first 100-yard rusher of the season and yielded no sacks.
21/12 vs. San Diego: Helped pave the way for Jerome Bettis’ second 100-yard performance – the second in three games - and the Steelers’ 181 yards rushing.
2002 (12-11/2-2): missed five starts because of a nagging knee injury... was selected as a first alternate to the 2003 Pro Bowl for the second straight year.
6/10 at New Orleans: Started his 20th straight regular season game at center.
13/10 at Cincinnati: made his 21st consecutive start at center... helped pave the way for the offense’s season-high 211 yards rushing and Jerome Bettis’ first 100-yard rushing performance of the season.
21/10 vs. Indianapolis: Suffered a knee injury in the third quarter in Monday night game.
27/10 at Baltimore: missed his first game as a Steeler... was inactive because of his knee injury.
3/11 at Cleveland: Dressed but did not play.
10/11 vs. Atlanta: Helped the offense amass 645 yards in total offense… helped pave the way for a second-consecutive 100-yard performer.
17/11 at Tennessee: missed most of the second half after he aggravated his knee injury… was inactive because of his knee injury for two consecutive weeks.
8/12 vs. Houston: returned to active duty for the first time in three weeks... replaced Chukky Okobi in the fourth quarter.
15/12 vs. Carolina: returned to the starting lineup for the first time in four weeks.
29/12 vs. Baltimore: Helped pave the way for Amos Zereoue’s third 100-yard rushing performance of the season and the fourth for the Steelers... started both postseason games.
2001 (16-16/2-2): Was selected as a first alternate to the 2002 Pro Bowl.
9/9 at Jacksonville: made his first pro start at center and first as a Steeler in season opener.
30/9 at Buffalo: Helped pave the way for Jerome Bettis’ 47th career 100-yard rushing performance and the team’s 170 total rushing yards.
7/10 vs. Cincinnati: made third straight start at center... helped pave the way for Jerome Bettis’ 100-yard rushing performance.
14/10 at Kansas City: Played extremely well... had an integral role in helping the Steelers compile their second straight 200-yard rushing performance and Jerome Bettis’ third straight 100-yard game.
21/10 at Tampa Bay: Was solid in helping the Steelers produce a third straight 200-yard rushing performance and Jerome Bettis’ fourth straight 100-yard game.
23/12 vs. Detroit: Helped pave the way for the Steelers’ sixth 100-yard rushing performance of the season and the second consecutive 400-yard offensive performance (sixth overall).
6/1 vs. Cleveland: Helped lead the offense to its sixth 200-yard rushing performance of the season.
AFC Divisional Playoff Game 20/1 vs. Baltimore: Started his third postseason game of his pro career and the first for the Steelers at center.
AFC Championship Game 27/01/05 vs. New England: Started at center.
2000 (16-16): earned Eric Andolsek top offensive lineman award, voted by Detroit Lions teammates, for the second time in career (also in 1998).
1999 (16-16/1-1): Continued his high level of play as one of the most consistent performers among all Lions. Named Pro bowl alternate for second consecutive season... one of only three lions to start all 16 regular season games, in addition to NFC Wild Card Playoff Game at Washington (1/8)... was the only offensive lineman to start and finish every game.
1998 (13-13): Started all 13 games in which he appeared, missing three outings in mid-season with a sprained knee... voted by teammates as the 1998 Eric Andolsek most Valuable offensive lineman... played at near-Pro bowl level down the stretch of the year once he fully re-gained strength and endurance following the injury… named second-team all-NFL at midway point of ’98 by The Sporting News and as an alternate on the 1999 NFC Pro Bowl squad.
1997 (16-16/1-1): Played extremely well in first full year in the NFL... started at right guard for the Lions in every game... was part of line that contributed to Barry Sanders becoming only the third player in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a single season... named by Pro Football Weekly as someone who is likely to ascend to Pro Bowl level of play within the next couple of years.
1996 (11-10): enjoyed impressive rookie campaign, becoming starting right guard less than two weeks after reporting to team.
6/10 vs. Atlanta: Saw first pro action only nine days after signing his contract... made remarkable transition learning offensive system (despite missing all of training camp) and started the season’s final 10 games... was named to NFL all-rookie team by both USA Today and College and Pro Football Newsweekly.
13/10 at Oakland: Played very well in first pro start, squaring off against one of the league’s toughest interior tackle combinations in Russell Maryland, Chester McGlockton and Jerry Ball.
All dates use the English convention, i.e. 9/10 is October 9th.
STEELERSUK