Terry Bradshaw Says He Used Steroids

Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw said in a radio interview with Dan Patrick last week that he used steroids during the 1970s, when he was leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl titles.

Bradshaw indicated that he obtained the steroids with a doctor's prescription, and that his primary motivation in using them was to recover from injuries, not to build muscle.

"We did steroids to get away the aches and the speed of healing," Bradshaw said. "My use of steroids from a doctor was to speed up injury, and thought nothing of it. ... It was to speed up the healing process, that was it. It wasn't to get bigger and stronger and faster."

It's been well established that several players on the great Steelers teams of the 1970s used steroids, but this is, I think, the first time Bradshaw has said he used them.

Via The Big Lead.

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

6-23-2008 @ 6:38PM

Rocko said...

Well, what kind of steroids? Hardcore ones or the type closer to prescription versions you can get today?

6-23-2008 @ 6:58PM

yellow said...

I despise Terry Bradshaw and this just makes it even more justified..... this stupid moron seems to think athletes take steroids to get bigger.... sigh...

I'd say the majority of athletes take it for the sole reason of healing faster...... barry bonds wouldn't be playing at this age if it weren't for steroids....

Ken Griffey would have shattered all records and not missed so many games had he used steroids

6-23-2008 @ 7:06PM

kilroy said...

Bradshaw's comments are what all Stealers' fans who rip the Patriots should read. The 1970's Pittsburgh Stealers are known for being the first team to heavily use steroids. They won four Super Bowls during those years. Should they give them back
or call them tainted, as some Stealers fans and NFL fans say the Patriots should do? No team is perfect, as these comments by Bradshaw 30 years after the fact testify to.

6-23-2008 @ 7:20PM

Lisa said...

Kilroy is an idiot.

6-23-2008 @ 7:34PM

Jim is Right as Usual said...

re: Kilroy.... let me see ... Steroids during the 70s not against the rules.... taping as the Pats did.... against the rules.... nothing here... everyone move along.

Pats cheated. FACT

6-23-2008 @ 7:59PM

Luz said...

kilroy,

Was taking steroids against NFL rules in the 70s?

Was taping signals against NFL rules?

Think before you type.

6-23-2008 @ 8:10PM

Suzanne said...

Poster no. 3 seems to be a little in denial of what the rules were THEN versus the rules of today. How could you possibly make an equal comparison when you're talking about two different sets of rules from two different eras??
Thumbs up to Bradshaw for speaking openly about his experience. The 1970's Steelers were and will always be in my mind, a class group and a tough act to follow. I equate the Patriots of today as the NFL version of Dick Cheney. They're in your face about what they perceive to be their birthright and just don't give a damn about the rules or anyone or anything else. Not a good example for kids to look at. In twenty years, no one will give a hoot about these guys, they'll be as vanilla as it comes.

6-23-2008 @ 8:58PM

petejayhawk said...

"We did steroids to get away the aches and the speed of healing,"

Hey, so do I!

It's called cortisone.

6-24-2008 @ 7:13PM

jwoodswce said...

The most important point to this story is what is in the best interest for the players' long term health. They suffer painful and debilitating injuries that require the best medical treatment available.

If they are at risk of bad medical advice or undue pressure from their team, that is a completely separate issues, but they should not be denied access to medically appropriate treatments.

6-24-2008 @ 2:53AM

NachoD said...

The Rams have made it to three Super Bowls in their history with a record of 1 and 2. Funny how those two losses were against teams that cheated. Steelers in the 70's and Pat's in 2001.

6-24-2008 @ 3:35AM

Steeler Bunny said...

You're right Lisa, Kilroy is an idiot...
What has the 70's Steelers using steroids got to do with the patriots cheating? ~ that's right, Nothing & you can't compare the two.

6-24-2008 @ 6:56AM

charleskemp1 said...

The Christians could have used soome steriods back in the day when the faced the lions in the Coliseum, wouldn't ya'll say?

And Somebody should have taken a picture of the Trojans while they were buildinf that wooden horse!!!

Really, don't we have more important things to talk about?????

6-24-2008 @ 3:12PM

Supertrmp said...

I wont divulge my personal life here but will say that with some injuries/illnesses/diseases, steroids are in fact prescribed in line with what Bradshaw is saying, to help quicken the healing process, or ease the pain. When I had back surgery 10 years ago, I was prescribed and given an epidural. What do you think this is?
ITS A STEROID!!! ,,,,,,,,,,

6-24-2008 @ 7:31AM

sc said...

Professional Sports is a Business and the best ways to run and organize Big Industries is through Public Corporations with shareholders who buy stock on a public market.

6-24-2008 @ 7:59AM

Patricktimothy1 said...

See what happens when you admit anything? Other teams and a hundred players used them, but they arent dumb enough to admit it. I guess Terry has a book coming out. I am from Pittsburgh and it makes me so angry. It taints the legacy. Were the Steelers the only team to use them? Hell no. Did you ever see the Raiders? Matusak..Alzado? (both died young) We all knew guys like Mike Webster (died young) and John Kolb used them it was obvious, but Bradshaw? And look at Lance Armstrong accused endlessly for using them. The Olympians ave virtually all on them. Barry Bonds, etc. Its sickening anymore. Noone has the guts to do it the old fashioned way anymore like Joe Dimmagio or Willie Mays or Babe Ruth. They all have to cheat. I am sick of these athletes anymore.

6-24-2008 @ 8:03AM

Candy said...

As for it was legal then and not now b.s. that is the same as the prohibition; first it was legal to drink, then prohibition made it illegal to drink. When so many illegal speakeasys and alcohol trafficking grew, it was made legal again. Those who will, do, and those who won't, don't. There are folks who drink and there are those who don't.

Make the steroids legal, buyer beware and you will have your players who use steroids despite knowing what they do to their bodies and you will have those who don't and the two will balance each other. Make it so they can't come back and sue manufacturers or doctors (unlike cigarette smoking scum).

Perhaps the pay scale could be set that if you test positive for steroids, you make $150,000 a year and only have year-to-year contracts and if you don't test positive, you make your millions and sign on for the long ride as long as you don't test positive. Make mandatory testing every month or so to make sure a player is in compliance. I met Terry Bradshaw back in the early 80s and he was a class act all the way.

6-24-2008 @ 8:08AM

wtilton67 said...

Poster No. 3 You are full of steroids. Cortisone for injuries Dibol as we called it was for strictly getting bigger and faster. Bradshaw probably did take some and he probably was doing it for injury, but most do it to get the edge. Trust me!

6-24-2008 @ 8:15AM

CORRECTION TO POST No. 16. I posted No. 16 and referred to Poster No. 3, but it was meant for Poster No. 2