History of Terry Bradshaw in Timeline
Terry Bradshaw is a former NFL quarterback who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers for 14 seasons, winning four Super Bowls. Following his football career, Bradshaw transitioned into television as a sports analyst and co-host on Fox NFL Sunday. Beyond sports commentary, he has pursued acting and music, appearing in films like "Failure to Launch" and releasing country music albums, showcasing his diverse talents and establishing him as a recognizable figure in entertainment.
September 2, 1948: Terry Bradshaw's Birth
On September 2, 1948, Terry Paxton Bradshaw was born. He later became a professional football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
1965: Led Woodlawn High to AAA State Championship Game
In 1965, Terry Bradshaw led Woodlawn High School to the AAA state championship game, but they lost to Sulphur Golden Tornadoes.
1966: Bradshaw arrived at Tech and caused media frenzy
In 1966, upon arriving at Louisiana Tech, Terry Bradshaw caused a media frenzy due to his reputation as a football sensation.
1967: Robertson was the starter for the 1967 season
In 1967, Robertson was the starter for Louisiana Tech, a year ahead of Bradshaw.
1968: Robertson chose not to play
In 1968, Robertson chose not to play for Louisiana Tech, paving the way for Terry Bradshaw.
1968: Led team to a 9-2 record
In 1968, Terry Bradshaw amassed 2,890 total yards, ranking number one in the NCAA, and led his team to a 9-2 record and a 33–13 win over Akron in the Rice Bowl.
1969: Melissa Babish: Miss Teenage America
In 1969, Melissa Babish was Miss Teenage America.
1969: Considered the most outstanding college football player
In 1969, Terry Bradshaw was considered the most outstanding college football player in the nation by most professional scouts.
1969: Steelers won a coin flip with the Chicago Bears
In 1969, the Pittsburgh Steelers won a coin flip tiebreaker with the Chicago Bears to get the first pick in the 1970 NFL draft.
1970: Received Golden Plate Award
In 1970, Terry Bradshaw received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.
1970: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers
In 1970, Terry Bradshaw was selected as the first overall pick in the NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
1972: Marriage to Melissa Babish
In 1972, Bradshaw married Melissa Babish (Miss Teenage America, 1969).
1972: Threw the Immaculate Reception pass
In 1972, Terry Bradshaw threw the "Immaculate Reception" pass to Franco Harris, one of the most famous plays in NFL history, to beat the Raiders in the AFC Divisional playoffs.
1973: Divorce from Melissa Babish
In 1973, Bradshaw divorced Melissa Babish.
1974: Steelers defeated the Buffalo Bills in divisional playoff game
In 1974, Bradshaw's Steelers defeated Joe Ferguson's Buffalo Bills in a divisional playoff game.
1974: Won Super Bowl IX and AFC Championship
In 1974, Terry Bradshaw led the Steelers to a 24-13 victory in the AFC Championship against the Oakland Raiders with a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Lynn Swann. They went on to win Super Bowl IX 16-6 against the Minnesota Vikings where Bradshaw threw a fourth-quarter touchdown pass, securing their first Super Bowl victory.
1974: Won Super Bowl IX
In 1974, Terry Bradshaw won Super Bowl IX as the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
1975: Won Super Bowl X
In 1975, Terry Bradshaw won Super Bowl X as the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
1976: Marriage to JoJo Starbuck
In 1976, Bradshaw married ice skater JoJo Starbuck.
1976: Achieved Perfect Passer Rating
In 1976, Terry Bradshaw completed 14 of 18 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns in a 40–14 victory over the Baltimore Colts, achieving the highest-possible passer rating of 158.3. This game may have inadvertently helped save people from a plane crash due to fans leaving early.
1976: "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" success
In 1976, Terry Bradshaw's cover of "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" reached the top 20 on Billboard's country chart and number 91 on the Hot 100.
1976: Steelers hopes for a three-peat ended
In 1976, after a win over the Colts, the Steelers' hopes for a three-peat ended when both of their 1,000-yard rushers were injured, and the Steelers subsequently lost to the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship game.
1978: Appearance in Hooper
In 1978, Bradshaw appeared in the film Hooper, starring Burt Reynolds, Jan-Michael Vincent, and Sally Field.
1978: Named NFL MVP
In 1978, Terry Bradshaw was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player (MVP) by the Associated Press after completing 207 of 368 passes for 2,915 yards and a league-leading 28 touchdown passes.
1978: Won Super Bowl XIII
In 1978, Terry Bradshaw won Super Bowl XIII as the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
1979: Won Super Bowl XIV
In 1979, Terry Bradshaw won Super Bowl XIV as the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
1979: Won Super Bowl XIV and Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year
In 1979, Terry Bradshaw won his second straight Super Bowl MVP award in Super Bowl XIV. He passed for 309 yards and two touchdowns in a 31–19 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Bradshaw also shared Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year award that season with Willie Stargell.
1980: Cameo in Smokey and the Bandit II
In 1980, Bradshaw had a cameo in Smokey and the Bandit II, which starred Burt Reynolds, Jerry Reed, and Sally Field.
1980: Guest commentator for CBS Sports
Starting in 1980, Terry Bradshaw served as a guest commentator for CBS Sports' NFC postseason broadcasts from 1980-82.
1981: Appearance in The Cannonball Run
In 1981, Bradshaw made an appearance in the film The Cannonball Run.
1982: Played in Strike Shortened Season
In the strike-shortened 1982 NFL season, Terry Bradshaw played through pain, needing a cortisone shot before every game, due to an elbow injury. He tied for the most touchdown passes in the league with 17.
December 10, 1983: Final NFL Game
On December 10, 1983, Terry Bradshaw played his final NFL game against the New York Jets. He threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Sweeney in the second quarter, but felt a pop in his elbow and never played again. He finished his career with 212 touchdowns and 210 interceptions.
1983: Divorce from JoJo Starbuck and Marriage to Charla Hopkins
In 1983, Bradshaw divorced JoJo Starbuck and married family attorney Charla Hopkins.
1983: Steelers passed on drafting Dan Marino
In the 1983 NFL draft, before Terry Bradshaw's elbow problems, the Steelers passed on drafting Pitt quarterback Dan Marino as his successor, due to head coach Chuck Noll wanting to rebuild on defense and the Rooney family not wanting Marino to face too much pressure.
July 24, 1984: Signed with CBS as a game analyst
On July 24, 1984, Terry Bradshaw retired from football and signed a television contract with CBS to become an NFL game analyst.
1984: Inducted into Louisiana Tech sports hall of fame
In 1984, Terry Bradshaw was inducted into the inaugural class of the Louisiana Tech sports hall of fame.
1988: Absence from Art Rooney's Funeral
In 1988, Bradshaw did not attend the funeral of Steelers' owner Art Rooney due to anxieties about appearing in public.
1989: Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame
In 1989, Terry Bradshaw was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
1990: Promotion to The NFL Today
In 1990, Bradshaw was promoted to a television studio analyst for The NFL Today, where he co-hosted with Greg Gumbel.
1993: Final Season of The NFL Today with Greg Gumbel
In 1993, Bradshaw concluded his run as co-host of The NFL Today with Greg Gumbel.
1994: Joining Fox NFL Sunday
In 1994, Bradshaw joined Fox NFL Sunday as a comic foil, coinciding with Fox network's acquisition of NFL TV rights.
1994: Guest Appearance in The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
In 1994, Bradshaw made a guest appearance in The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., playing Colonel Forrest March.
1994: Became a sports analyst on Fox NFL Sunday
In 1994, Terry Bradshaw started his career as a television sports analyst and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday.
1996: Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame
In 1996, Terry Bradshaw was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
July 1997: Presented Mike Webster at Hall of Fame Induction
In July 1997, Terry Bradshaw served as the presenter when Mike Webster, his center on the Steelers' Super Bowl XIII and XIV title teams, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
1997: Hosting Home Team with Terry Bradshaw
In 1997, Terry Bradshaw hosted a short-lived television series called Home Team with Terry Bradshaw.
1999: Divorce from Charla Hopkins
In 1999, Bradshaw divorced Charla Hopkins, with whom he had two daughters, Erin and Rachel.
December 16, 2000: Absence from Final Game at Three Rivers Stadium
On December 16, 2000, Bradshaw was absent from the final regular-season game at Three Rivers Stadium, as he was with Fox NFL Sunday, covering the game from the USS Harry S. Truman.
October 11, 2001: Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
On October 11, 2001, Bradshaw received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, becoming the first NFL player to do so.
2001: Formation of FitzBradshaw Racing
In 2001, Bradshaw entered NASCAR by forming FitzBradshaw Racing with HighLine Performance Group and became a spokesman for Jani-King International, Inc.
2001: Hosting Digi-Bowl Specials and NASCAR on FOX appearance
In 2001, Bradshaw hosted the first of two Digi-Bowl specials on Fox Kids and appeared on the first broadcast of NASCAR on FOX, riding with Dale Earnhardt at Daytona.
September 2002: Return to Pittsburgh for Mike Webster's Funeral
In September 2002, Bradshaw returned to Pittsburgh for the first time in years to attend the funeral of his friend and former teammate, Mike Webster.
October 2002: Return to Steelers Sideline
In October 2002, Bradshaw returned to the Steelers sideline for the first time in 20 years for a Monday night game.
2002: Hosting Final Digi-Bowl Special
In 2002, Bradshaw hosted his final Digi-Bowl special on Fox Kids.
2003: Fox Coverage of Steelers' 1,000th Game
In 2003, Bradshaw returned to cover the Steelers' 1,000th game in franchise history for Fox at Heinz Field.
2004: Arrival of Ben Roethlisberger
In 2004, the Steelers found a consistent quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger, after a period without one following Terry Bradshaw's retirement.
February 6, 2006: Appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
On February 6, 2006, Terry Bradshaw stated on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno that the reason why he did not attend the Super Bowl MVP parade was that he was spending time with family and dislikes crowds and media.
April 2006: Donated Memorabilia to Louisiana Tech
In April 2006, Terry Bradshaw donated his four Super Bowl rings, College Football Hall of Fame ring, Pro Football Hall of Fame ring, Hall of Fame bust, four miniature replica Super Bowl trophies, a helmet, and jersey from one of his Super Bowl victories to his alma mater, Louisiana Tech.
2006: Appearance in Failure to Launch
In 2006, Bradshaw appeared in the movie Failure to Launch, playing the father of Matthew McConaughey's character.
2006: Ending ownership in FitzBradshaw Racing
In 2006, Bradshaw ended his ownership in FitzBradshaw Racing.
September 2007: Top-Ranked Retired Player
As of September 2007, Bradshaw was the top-ranked former pro football player in the Davie-Brown Index, reflecting consumer appeal and trust.
November 5, 2007: Joined Steelers' 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
On November 5, 2007, during a Monday Night Football game, Terry Bradshaw joined former teammates to accept their position on the Steelers' 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.
2007: Appearance on Steelers All-Time Team
In 2007, Bradshaw appeared as part of the Steelers All-Time Team for the team's 75th-anniversary festivities and was on the sideline for a game against the Baltimore Ravens on November 5.
2007: Rachel Bradshaw in Nashville
In 2007, Rachel Bradshaw appeared in Nashville, a reality television series about young musicians.
2010: Hosting Television Shows
Since 2010, Bradshaw has been hosting television shows produced by United States Media Television.
2012: Support for Newt Gingrich
In 2012, Bradshaw publicly supported Newt Gingrich's candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination on Fox News.
July 8, 2014: Marriage to Tammy
On July 8, 2014, Bradshaw married Tammy, his girlfriend of 15 years.
2014: Death of Chuck Noll
In 2014, Chuck Noll died. Bradshaw and Noll made peace (at least publicly) before Noll's death.
2014: Death of William Marvin Bradshaw
In 2014, Terry Bradshaw's father, William Marvin "Bill" Bradshaw, passed away. He was a veteran of the United States Navy and a former vice president of manufacturing.
2016: Interview with NFL Films
In 2016, Bradshaw discussed his complicated relationship with Chuck Noll in an interview with NFL Films for A Football Life.
2016: Leading Role in Better Late Than Never
In 2016, Bradshaw had a leading role in the NBC reality-travel series Better Late Than Never.
2017: Criticism of President Trump
During a 2017 episode of FOX NFL Sunday, Bradshaw criticized President Donald Trump's handling of NFL player protests during the national anthem.
2017: Appearance in Father Figures
In 2017, Bradshaw appeared as himself in the comedy film Father Figures.
2018: Leading Role in Better Late Than Never
In 2018, Bradshaw continued his leading role in the NBC reality-travel series Better Late Than Never, traveling the world with other celebrities.
January 16, 2019: Competition in The Masked Singer
On January 16, 2019, Bradshaw competed in season one of The Masked Singer as "Deer".
October 12, 2019: Celebrity Family Feud Appearance
On October 12, 2019, Bradshaw and his family competed in Celebrity Family Feud against Adam Rippon's team.
2019: Commentary on Trump's Attendance at College Game
In 2019, Bradshaw appeared on Fox & Friends and commented on Donald Trump's planned attendance of a regular-season game between the University of Alabama and Louisiana State University.
January 2, 2020: Appearance on Last Man Standing
On January 2, 2020, Bradshaw was on the season-eight premiere of Last Man Standing.
September 17, 2020: Premiere of The Bradshaw Bunch
On September 17, 2020, Bradshaw and his family premiered their new E! reality show The Bradshaw Bunch.
2020: Launch of Terry Bradshaw Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
In early 2020, Terry Bradshaw launched Terry Bradshaw Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a collaboration with Silver Screen Bottling Company.
September 2022: Cancer Diagnosis Reveal
In September 2022, Bradshaw revealed that he had been treated for bladder cancer and neck cancer between 2021 and 2022 after viewers expressed concern during his appearance on Fox NFL Sunday.
2022: Release of documentary Section 1
In 2022, the documentary Section 1 by Secret Base's Jon Bois and Alex Rubenstein about the 1976 plane crash was released.
2023: Death of Novis Gay Bradshaw
In 2023, Terry Bradshaw's mother, Novis (née Gay) Bradshaw, passed away. She was one of five children of Clifford and Lula Gay.
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