When I was a kid, my grandfather would rattle off obscure names of former Pittsburgh Steelers from the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s. These players obviously weren’t stars, but to him, they were favorites that he had a soft-spot in his heart for.
- Perhaps today, there are 40-somethings who grew up in the 1980s, telling their kids about this former Steelers receiver named Weegie Thompson.
Weegie Thompson Steelers wide out 1984-89
Willis “Weegie” Thompson played his college football at Florida St., before arriving in Pittsburgh as a fourth round pick in the 1984 NFL Draft. During a three-year college career, Thompson caught just 41 passes for 711 yards and five touchdowns.
- But 31 of those catches, 502 of those yards and three of those touchdowns occurred during his final year, which probably helped his draft-status immensely.
It also didn’t hurt that Thompson stood at 6′ 6″ and weighed 212 pounds–measurables that would equal the playing field for most unheralded college receivers looking to make it at the pro level.
Thompson was part of the same class that produced Louis Lipps. After a rookie season that included 17 receptions for 291 yards and three touchdowns, playing behind both Lipps and the legendary John Stallworth, it may have looked like the future was bright for the young Thompson.
- Unfortunately for Thompson, he never broke through to the top of the depth chart and never caught more than 17 passes in any given season.
Thompson went on to play just six seasons with the Steelers, before getting on with his life’s work following the 1989 Steelers story book season. As the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette pointed out in a story about Thompson in 2003, maybe if he had played 15 years later, he would have been utilized as more of a downfield weapon, instead of primarily as a blocker for the always conservative Chuck Noll.
Steelers 1980’s wide receivers Louis Lipps and Weegie Thompson. Photo Credit: Getty Images, Pittsburgh Post Gazette
But as Thompson told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette then, he had few regrets about his career:
I don’t dwell on it. I was proud to be a member of the Steelers and of the time I spent in Pittsburgh. I played hard and performed to the best of my abilities when I was there. I gave it my best and I’m pretty comfortable with that.
However, while Thompson had a rather obscure career that included just 79 receptions for 1,377 yards and 11 touchdowns, thanks to his abilities as a blocker, he was able to gain lasting respect from one of the all-time greats, Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott.
Thompson’s play during the Steelers’ famous upset victory over San Francisco in Week 7 of the 1984 season (the only loss by the eventual Super Bowl champion 49ers that year and perhaps Noll’s most impressive post-’70s regular season victory) is mentioned in a SFGate article about Lott from 2000.
What follows is a snippet of the article, along with a quote from Lott:
Call it respect–for yourself, for others. It had meaning to Lott. You earned his respect by playing hard and tough, and within the rules. He still fairly gushes when he talks about a journeyman Pittsburgh wide receiver named Weegie Thompson. In Thompson’s rookie season, 1984, the Steelers were the only team to beat the 49ers. One reason they did was by assigning Thompson to block Lott on every play.
“He blocked my butt all day–and fair,” Lott remembered. “Every play, he came after me. And I respect the hell out of Weegie Thompson to this day. He’s one of the toughest guys I ever played against.”
Some NFL players go on to have Hall of Fame careers (Lynn Swann and John Stallworth), some are borderline (Hines Ward). Others have good careers that may have been better in different eras or under different circumstances (Buddy Dial, Roy Jefferson and Louis Lipps), while some never reach their full potential (Santonio Holmes, Limas Sweed and maybe Martavis Bryant).
But there are countless NFL players who play for a while and end their careers with no legacy.
- Football doesn’t define them; it’s something they did for a part of their lives.
Weegie Thompson was that kind of football player, but he still left enough of an impression on fans and even peers playing for rivals to be proud of his time with the Steelers and the NFL.
Weegie did score 3TD in a road win vs GB in 1986 (one of Mark Malone’s better games that year) but probably his best individual game was 118 yard 1TD performance in a wild shoot out between Pgh & Buffalo in 1988. Despite Bud prevailing 36-28 QB Bubby Brister tallied 336 yards passing and 2TD and rushed for over 40 yards & 2 more TD, but probably the most dramatic play was a broken play backfield scramble ala classic Ben Roethlisberger as Brister dove & ducked to avoid Bruce Smith and several Bill’s defenders as Thompson broke free in the secondary, got behind the safeties, and hauled in 50 plus yard diving TD in the back of the end zone just before halftime. NBC actually tagged it as one of that season’s best plays.
I remember that game too!
Not sure of the reason why, but the game as broadcast in suburban Maryland (perhaps the Redskins were on MNF that week). I saw the beginning of it, but couldn’t (or perhaps didn’t) stay to watch. Then, I turned it on at the end when the Steelers recovered back-to-back onsides kicks to make a go out of winning the thing.
I had not remembered Thompson’s play in the game, although Tony might.
I DO remember this was the the game when Lupe Sanchez had an interception and a CLEAR shot at taking it to the house, but ran out of bounds because he was injured (I think a torn ACL or something.) Honest to God, I channeled my internal Vince Lombardi at the moment, cursing him for not continuing to run. (Disclaimer, I was 16 at the time.)
And while I don’t remember the specific plays that you mention made by Bubby, I very well remember that part of his career, when he really showed a lot of promise. He had a heck of an arm, and was quite mobile up until he injured his knee in the 1989 home game vs. Cincinnati.
I sat next to Weegie in myb9th grade science class. JM Tate High Gonzalez Florida
I forgot Weegie had such a good day. I do remember this game and how crazy it was.
I remember the interception and clear shot to the end zone followed by the injury. I remember my grandfather saying, “go ahead. Go ahead.” And then he came up lame. I’m not sure it was Lupe, though. I think it may have been another db.
At one point, while Pittsburgh was falling behind big either late in the first half or early in the second, Bubby threw an interception after going over the line of scrimmage. They obviously threw a flag, and Buffalo still kept the ball. I said, “Damn it, it was an illegal pass. The interception shouldn’t have counted!”
Logical doesn’t stand a chance when you’re watching a game.
Looking at the box score, it wasn’t Lupe Sanchez, but Larry Griffin as he had the only interception for the Steelers.