Linebacker, Pittsburgh
Steelers
Age: 22
3rd
season in pro football & with Steelers
College: Kent
State
Height: 6’4” Weight: 220
Prelude:
Lambert was a
two-time All-Mid-American Conference linebacker in college and the Steelers
chose him in the second round of the 1974 NFL draft. Injuries to MLB Henry
Davis opened an opportunity for Lambert to start right away, and his addition
was to make an already sound defense more complete. The Steelers won the Super
Bowl and Lambert followed up his outstanding rookie season by gaining Pro Bowl
recognition for the first of nine straight seasons in 1975, which also ended in
a NFL Championship.
1976 Season Summary
Appeared and
started in all 14 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
– 2
Most
interceptions, game – 1 at Minnesota 10/4, vs. Cincinnati 10/17
Int. return
yards – 32
Most int.
return yards, game – 22 (on 1 int.) vs. Cincinnati 10/17
Int. TDs – 0
Fumble
recoveries – 8
Postseason: 2 G
Sacks – N/A
Interceptions
– 0
TD – 0
Awards &
Honors:
NFL Defensive
Player of the Year: AP
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly
1st
team All-AFC: AP, UPI, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News
Pro Bowl
Steelers went
10-4 to finish first in the AFC Central Division while leading the NFL in
fewest yards allowed (3323), fewest rushing yards allowed (1457), and fewest
points allowed (138). Won AFC Divisional playoff over Baltimore Colts (40-14).
Lost AFC Championship to Oakland Raiders (24-7).
Aftermath:
Lambert followed
up with his third straight Pro Bowl season in 1977. A terrific run-stuffer with
outstanding range and the ability to drop back effectively into pass coverage, he
became a key contributor to the “Steel Curtain” defense that helped make the
Steelers a contender for the rest of the decade and included two more Super
Bowl victories. In addition to his Pro Bowl selections, Lambert received
consensus first-team All-NFL honors six times – including five consecutive from
1979 to ’83 – and had at least some first- or second-team recognition in two
other years. He missed only six games due to injury in his first ten seasons
(three of them in 1977), but a severe toe injury forced Lambert’s retirement
following the 1984 season. Overall, he intercepted 28 passes and recovered 17
fumbles. Lambert was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of
1990. Three other players drafted by the Steelers in 1974 – Lynn Swann, John
Stallworth, and Mike Webster – would also be enshrined in Canton.
--
MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or
Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or
USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football
Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International,
The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself). Also
includes Associated Press NFL Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.
