History of Terry Bradshaw in Timeline
Terry Bradshaw is a former NFL quarterback renowned for his 14-season career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, leading them to four Super Bowl victories. He was the first quarterback to win three and four Super Bowls, and he earned a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989. Since retiring from professional football, Bradshaw has transitioned into a successful television sports analyst, notably as a co-host on Fox NFL Sunday. Beyond sports, he has ventured into acting and music, appearing in movies like 'Failure to Launch' and releasing country music albums. He was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
September 2, 1948: Terry Bradshaw Born
On September 2, 1948, Terry Bradshaw was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. His father was William Marvin "Bill" Bradshaw and his mother was Novis (née Gay).
1965: State Championship Game
In 1965, Terry Bradshaw led the Woodlawn High School Knights to the AAA state championship game, but they lost to the Sulphur Golden Tornadoes 12–9.
1966: Arrival at Louisiana Tech
In 1966, Terry Bradshaw arrived at Louisiana Tech, causing a media frenzy due to his reputation as a football sensation.
1967: Robertson Starts for Second Season
In 1967, Phil Robertson was the starting quarterback for Louisiana Tech for the second consecutive season, a year ahead of Terry Bradshaw.
1968: Junior Season Success
During his junior season 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 win in the Rice Bowl.
1968: Robertson Chooses Not to Play
In 1968, Phil Robertson chose not to play football, paving the way for Terry Bradshaw to potentially take over as quarterback at Louisiana Tech.
1969: Melissa Babish Miss Teenage America
In 1969, Melissa Babish won the title of Miss Teenage America.
1969: Considered Outstanding College Player
In 1969, Terry Bradshaw was considered by most professional scouts to be the most outstanding college football player in the nation.
1969: Steelers get first overall pick
In 1969, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears had identical 1-13 records. The Steelers won a coin flip and were awarded the first pick.
1970: Golden Plate Award
In 1970, Terry Bradshaw received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement, recognizing his accomplishments.
1970: Drafted First Overall
In the 1970 NFL draft, Terry Bradshaw was selected as the first overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers, marking the start of his professional career.
1972: Married Melissa Babish
In 1972, Terry Bradshaw married Melissa Babish.
1972: "Immaculate Reception" Pass
In 1972, Terry Bradshaw threw the "Immaculate Reception" pass to Franco Harris, one of the most famous plays in NFL history, helping the Steelers beat the Raiders in the AFC Divisional playoffs.
1973: Divorced Melissa Babish
In 1973, Terry Bradshaw divorced Melissa Babish.
1974: AFC Championship and Super Bowl IX Victory
In 1974, Terry Bradshaw led the Steelers to victory in the AFC Championship Game with a crucial touchdown pass. The Steelers then defeated the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX, with Bradshaw throwing a touchdown pass to secure their first Super Bowl win.
1974: First Super Bowl Title
In 1974, Terry Bradshaw won his first Super Bowl title with the Pittsburgh Steelers, marking the beginning of a successful era for the team.
1974: Steelers defeat Bills in Playoff
In 1974, Terry Bradshaw's Steelers defeated Joe Ferguson's Bills in a divisional playoff game, marking a significant moment in his NFL career.
1975: Second Super Bowl Title
In 1975, Terry Bradshaw secured his second Super Bowl title with the Pittsburgh Steelers, continuing their dominance in the NFL.
1975: Super Bowl X Victory
In the 1975 Super Bowl X, Terry Bradshaw threw for 209 yards, primarily to Lynn Swann, leading the Steelers to a 21–17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. His 64-yard touchdown pass to Swann was later recognized as the "Greatest Throw of All Time" by NFL Films.
1976: Victory Over the Baltimore Colts
In 1976, Terry Bradshaw completed 14 of 18 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns with a perfect passer rating in a 40–14 victory over the Baltimore Colts. The Colts fans leaving early may have inadvertently saved lives due to a plane crash that happened shortly after the game.
1976: Married JoJo Starbuck
In 1976, Terry Bradshaw married ice skater JoJo Starbuck.
1976: "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" hit the charts
In 1976, Terry Bradshaw's cover of "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" hit the top 20 on Billboard's country chart and number 91 on the Hot 100.
1976: AFC Championship Game Loss
In 1976, after injuries to key players, the Steelers lost to the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship game 24-7, ending their hopes for a three-peat.
1978: Third Super Bowl Title
In 1978, Terry Bradshaw achieved his third Super Bowl title with the Pittsburgh Steelers, solidifying his legacy as a top quarterback.
1978: Appearance in Hooper
In 1978, Terry Bradshaw had a part in the film Hooper, which starred Burt Reynolds, Jan-Michael Vincent, and Sally Field.
1978: Named NFL MVP
In 1978, Terry Bradshaw had his best season, being named the NFL's Most Valuable Player (MVP) by the Associated Press. He completed 207 of 368 passes for 2,915 yards and a league-leading 28 touchdown passes.
1979: Fourth Super Bowl Title
In 1979, Terry Bradshaw won his fourth Super Bowl title with the Pittsburgh Steelers, becoming the first quarterback to achieve this milestone.
1979: Super Bowl XIV MVP
In 1979, Terry Bradshaw won his second straight Super Bowl MVP award in Super Bowl XIV, passing for 309 yards and two touchdowns in a 31–19 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. He also shared Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year award with Willie Stargell.
1980: Guest Commentator for CBS Sports
From 1980 to 1982, Terry Bradshaw served as a guest commentator for CBS Sports' NFC postseason broadcasts before becoming a full-time analyst.
1980: Cameo in Smokey and the Bandit II
In 1980, Terry Bradshaw had a cameo in Smokey and the Bandit II.
1981: Appearance in The Cannonball Run
In 1981, Terry Bradshaw made an appearance in the film The Cannonball Run.
1982: Wild Card Round Loss to Chargers
In the strike-shortened 1982 NFL season, Terry Bradshaw played through an elbow injury, eventually playing his last postseason game in a 31–28 Wild Card Round loss to the San Diego Chargers. Despite the loss, he completed 28 of 39 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns.
December 10, 1983: Final NFL Game
On December 10, 1983, Terry Bradshaw played his final NFL game against the New York Jets, throwing a 10-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Sweeney before an elbow injury forced him to leave the game.
1983: Married Charla Hopkins
In 1983, Terry Bradshaw married family attorney Charla Hopkins.
1983: Passing on Dan Marino
In 1983, the Steelers passed on drafting Pitt quarterback Dan Marino as a successor to Bradshaw, due to the coach wanting to rebuild the defense and the Rooney family feeling Marino was too pressured in his hometown. Gabriel Rivera was drafted instead, but his career ended early.
July 24, 1984: Signs TV Contract with CBS
On July 24, 1984, Terry Bradshaw retired from football and quickly signed a television contract with CBS to become an NFL game analyst.
1984: Louisiana Tech Sports Hall of Fame
In 1984, Terry Bradshaw was inducted into the inaugural class of the Louisiana Tech sports hall of fame, honoring his contributions to the university's athletic program.
1988: Did Not Attend Art Rooney's Funeral
In 1988, Terry Bradshaw did not attend Art Rooney's funeral, leading to an unintentional estrangement from the Steelers.
1989: Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction
In 1989, Terry Bradshaw was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, recognizing his exceptional career.
1990: Promotion to The NFL Today
In 1990, Terry Bradshaw was promoted to television studio analyst for The NFL Today.
1993: Final Season with Greg Gumbel on The NFL Today
In 1993, Terry Bradshaw hosted his final season of The NFL Today with Greg Gumbel.
1994: Joins Fox NFL Sunday
In 1994, Terry Bradshaw became a television sports analyst and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday, beginning his career in sports broadcasting.
1994: Guest Appearance in The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
In 1994, Terry Bradshaw made a guest appearance in The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., playing Colonel Forrest March.
1996: College Football Hall of Fame Induction
In 1996, Terry Bradshaw was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, honoring his achievements in college football.
July 1997: Presenter for Mike Webster's 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: Hosted Home Team with Terry Bradshaw
In 1997, Terry Bradshaw hosted a short-lived television series called Home Team with Terry Bradshaw.
1999: Divorced Charla Hopkins
In 1999, Terry Bradshaw divorced Charla Hopkins.
December 16, 2000: With Fox NFL Sunday crew at USS Harry S Truman
On December 16, 2000, during the last regular-season game at Three Rivers Stadium, Terry Bradshaw was with the Fox NFL Sunday crew aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, expressing regret he couldn't be at the game.
October 11, 2001: Received Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
On October 11, 2001, Terry Bradshaw received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the first NFL player to do so.
2001: Formed FitzBradshaw Racing
In 2001, Terry Bradshaw entered NASCAR by joining with HighLine Performance Group racing team to form FitzBradshaw Racing.
2001: Hosted Digi-Bowl Special
In 2001, Terry Bradshaw hosted a Digi-Bowl special on Fox Kids, providing commentary between episodes of Digimon: Digital Monsters as a cross-promotional stunt.
September 2002: Returned to Pittsburgh for Mike Webster's Funeral
In September 2002, Terry Bradshaw returned to Pittsburgh for the first time in years to attend his friend Mike Webster's funeral.
October 2002: Returned to Steelers Sideline
In October 2002, Terry Bradshaw returned to the Steelers sideline for the first time in 20 years for a Monday night game.
2002: Hosted Final Digi-Bowl Special
In 2002, Terry Bradshaw hosted the final Digi-Bowl special on Fox Kids, as the block ended that year.
2003: Covered Steelers 1,000th Game
In 2003, Terry 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, ending a period of instability at the position following Bradshaw's retirement.
February 6, 2006: Appearance on The Tonight Show
On February 6, 2006, Terry Bradshaw appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and explained his reasons for not attending a pregame celebration for past Super Bowl MVPs during Super Bowl XL, citing family time and dislike of crowds and media circus.
April 2006: Donation to Alma Mater
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, Terry Bradshaw appeared in the motion picture Failure to Launch, playing the father of Matthew McConaughey's character.
2006: Ended Ownership in FitzBradshaw Racing
In 2006, Terry Bradshaw ended his ownership in FitzBradshaw Racing.
September 2007: Top-Ranked Former Pro Football Player
As of September 2007, Terry Bradshaw was the top-ranked former pro football player in the Davie-Brown Index, which surveys consumers to determine a celebrity's appeal and trust levels.
November 5, 2007: Acceptance on Steelers' All-Time Team
On November 5, 2007, Terry Bradshaw joined former teammates, including Franco Harris and Joe Greene, during a nationally televised Monday Night Football game to accept their position on the Steelers' 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.
2007: Rachel Bradshaw in Nashville
In 2007, Rachel Bradshaw appeared in Nashville, a reality television series about young musicians.
2007: Appeared on Steelers All-Time Team
In 2007, Terry Bradshaw took his position on the Steelers All-Time Team as part of the team's 75th-anniversary festivities.
2010: Hosting TV Shows
Since 2010, Terry Bradshaw has been hosting television shows produced by United States Media Television.
2012: Supported Newt Gingrich and Criticized Terrell Suggs
In 2012, Terry Bradshaw went on record on Fox News as supporting the candidacy of Newt Gingrich for the Republican presidential nomination. He also called Terrell Suggs "an idiot" for criticizing Tim Tebow's public remarks about his Christian faith.
July 8, 2014: Married Tammy
On July 8, 2014, Terry Bradshaw married Tammy, his girlfriend of 15 years.
2014: Chuck Noll's Death
In 2014, Chuck Noll passed away. Terry Bradshaw and Chuck Noll made peace publicly before his death.
2014: Death of William Marvin "Bill" Bradshaw
In 2014, Terry Bradshaw's father, William Marvin "Bill" Bradshaw, a veteran of the United States Navy, passed away. He was a native of Sparta, Tennessee.
2016: Leading Role in Better Late Than Never
In 2016, Terry Bradshaw had a leading role in the NBC reality-travel series Better Late Than Never.
2016: Interview with NFL Films
In 2016, Terry Bradshaw told NFL Films that he and Chuck Noll had a culture clash because of their personalities.
2017: Critical Statements about President Trump on FOX NFL Sunday
During a 2017 episode of FOX NFL Sunday, Terry Bradshaw made statements critical of President Donald Trump regarding NFL players kneeling during the national anthem.
2017: Appearance in Father Figures
In 2017, Terry Bradshaw appeared as himself in the comedy film Father Figures.
2018: Continued Role in Better Late Than Never
In 2018, Terry Bradshaw continued his leading role in the NBC reality-travel series Better Late Than Never.
January 16, 2019: Competed in The Masked Singer
On January 16, 2019, Terry Bradshaw competed in season one of The Masked Singer as "Deer".
October 12, 2019: Competed in Celebrity Family Feud
On October 12, 2019, Terry Bradshaw and his family competed in Celebrity Family Feud against Adam Rippon's team, reaching the final round but failing to reach 200 points.
2019: Commented on Donald Trump's attendance
In 2019, Terry Bradshaw appeared on Fox & Friends and commented on Donald Trump's planned attendance of a game between the University of Alabama and Louisiana State University, respecting his guts to be there.
January 2, 2020: Appeared on Last Man Standing
On January 2, 2020, Terry Bradshaw was on the season-eight premiere of Last Man Standing.
September 17, 2020: The Bradshaw Bunch Premiere
On September 17, 2020, Terry Bradshaw and his family premiered their new E! reality show The Bradshaw Bunch.
2020: Launched Terry Bradshaw Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
In 2020, Terry Bradshaw launched Terry Bradshaw Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a collaboration with Silver Screen Bottling Company. The bourbon boasts 51.9 percent ABV.
2021: Underwent Cancer Treatment
In 2021, Terry Bradshaw underwent treatment for bladder cancer and neck cancer.
September 2022: Revealed Cancer Treatment
In September 2022, Terry 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 Jon Bois and Alex Rubenstein was released, focusing on a plane crash that occurred after a 1976 game against the Baltimore Colts and its indirect connection to Terry Bradshaw's performance.
2023: Death of Novis Bradshaw
In 2023, Terry Bradshaw's mother, Novis (née Gay), passed away. She was one of five children of Clifford and Lula Gay of Red River Parish, Louisiana.
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