The Pittsburgh Steelers‘ countdown to kickoff is full steam ahead for the 2026 NFL regular season, with fans needing to wait only 54 more days until the Steel City brand of football returns when the Steelers host the Atlanta Falcons on September 13.
In the spirit of the countdown, we at Steelers Wire will take a look at the history of the No. 54 jersey and analyze which player wore it best.
Steelers current No. 54: C Zach Frazier
Frazier, selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, is the current No. 54 wearer. He quickly emerged as a cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s young yet promising offensive line.
Last 5 Steelers to wear No. 54
- Zach Frazier, 2024-2026
- Kwon Alexander, 2023
- Ryan Anderson, 2022
- Ulysees Gilbert, 2019-2021
- L.J. Fort, 2015-2018
Best No. 54 in Steelers history: LB Hardy Nickerson
No. 54 may not have the storied history as some other Steelers jerseys, but the best Steeler to ever wear the number is linebacker Hardy Nickerson.
Drafted with the 122nd overall pick in the fifth round of the 1987 NFL Draft, Nickerson played six seasons with the Steelers from 1987 to 1992, recording 426 combined tackles, five forced fumbles, and 9.5 sacks during his time in Pittsburgh.
Nickerson would ultimately leave the Steelers to sign with the Buccaneers in 1993, earning five Pro Bowl nominations, two First-Team All-Pro selections, and two Second-Team All-Pro selections during his time in Tampa Bay.
Despite playing his best football outside of the Steel City, his consistent production and leadership make him the greatest Steeler to ever wear No. 54.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Former Steelers LB leads 2026 countdown to kickoff: Day No. 54
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