History of Terry Bradshaw in Timeline
Terry Bradshaw is a celebrated former NFL quarterback, primarily known for his 14 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He quarterbacked the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories in a six-year span, a historic achievement. Inducted into both the Pro Football and College Football Halls of Fame, Bradshaw transitioned into a successful post-football career as a television sports analyst and co-host on Fox NFL Sunday since 1994. Beyond football, he has also explored acting and music, appearing in films like "Failure to Launch" and releasing country music albums.
1 day ago : Terry Bradshaw and Passengers Stranded: Steelers Legend's Role in Plane Door Incident
Terry Bradshaw was among passengers stuck on a plane due to a jammed door. Initial reports suggested Bradshaw heroically opened the door, but he clarified his involvement, stating he assisted in getting it open.
1927: Father's Birth
In 1927, Terry Bradshaw's father, William Marvin "Bill" Bradshaw, was born.
1929: Mother's Birth
In 1929, Terry Bradshaw's mother, Novis (née Gay), was born.
September 2, 1948: Terry Bradshaw Born
On September 2, 1948, Terry Bradshaw was born in Shreveport, Louisiana.
1965: High School Championship Game
In 1965, Terry Bradshaw led the Woodlawn High School Knights to the AAA state championship game, but they lost 12–9 to the Sulphur Golden Tornadoes.
1966: Arrives at Louisiana Tech
In 1966, Terry Bradshaw arrived at Louisiana Tech, causing a media frenzy due to his reputation.
1967: Robertson Starter for Second Season
In 1967, Robertson was the starter for his second season at Louisiana Tech, one year ahead of Bradshaw.
1968: Junior Season Success
During the 1968 season as a junior, Terry Bradshaw amassed 2,890 total yards and led his team to a 9–2 record and a win in the Rice Bowl.
1968: Robertson Chooses Not to Play
In 1968, Robertson chose not to play football, opening the door for Terry Bradshaw.
1969: Melissa Babish: Miss Teenage America
In 1969, Melissa Babish was Miss Teenage America. She would later become Terry Bradshaw's first wife.
1969: Considered Most Outstanding Player
In 1969, Terry Bradshaw was considered the most outstanding college football player by most professional scouts.
1969: Steelers Win Coin Flip
In 1969, the Pittsburgh Steelers won a coin flip tiebreaker with the Chicago Bears, securing the first pick in the 1970 NFL draft.
1970: Receives Golden Plate Award
In 1970, Terry Bradshaw received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.
1970: Drafted by Pittsburgh Steelers
In the 1970 NFL draft, Terry Bradshaw was selected as the first overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
1972: Marriage to 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, a famous play that helped the Steelers beat the Raiders in the AFC Divisional playoffs.
1973: Divorce from Melissa Babish
In 1973, Terry Bradshaw divorced Melissa Babish.
1974: Wins Super Bowl IX
In 1974, Terry Bradshaw led the Steelers to a 16-6 Super Bowl IX victory over the Minnesota Vikings, completing 9 of 14 passes and throwing a fourth-quarter touchdown pass.
1974: Steelers defeated Bills in Playoff Game
In 1974, Terry Bradshaw's Steelers defeated Joe Ferguson's Bills in a divisional playoff game.
1975: Wins Super Bowl X
In 1975, Terry Bradshaw threw for 209 yards as the Steelers beat the Dallas Cowboys, 21–17, in Super Bowl X. His late-fourth-quarter, 64-yard touchdown pass to Lynn Swann was selected by NFL Films as the "Greatest Throw of All Time".
1976: Marriage to JoJo Starbuck
In 1976, Terry Bradshaw married ice skater JoJo Starbuck.
1976: "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" Chart 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 Lose AFC Championship
In 1976, after both Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier were injured in the win over the Colts, the Steelers lost to the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship game, 24–7.
1976: Neck and Wrist Injuries
In 1976, neck and wrist injuries forced Terry Bradshaw to miss four games. He achieved a perfect passer rating of 158.3 in a 40–14 victory over the Baltimore Colts, completing 14 of 18 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns.
1978: Hooper Film Appearance
In 1978, Terry 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) after completing 207 of 368 passes for 2,915 yards and a league-leading 28 touchdown passes.
1978: Wins Third Super Bowl
In 1978, Terry Bradshaw won his third Super Bowl title.
1979: Wins Fourth Super Bowl
In 1979, Terry Bradshaw won his fourth Super Bowl title.
1980: Guest Commentator for CBS Sports
From 1980 to 1982, Terry Bradshaw served as a guest commentator for CBS Sports' NFC postseason broadcasts.
1980: Smokey and the Bandit II Cameo
In 1980, Terry Bradshaw had a cameo appearance in Smokey and the Bandit II, which starred Burt Reynolds, Jerry Reed, and Sally Field.
1981: The Cannonball Run Film Appearance
In 1981, Terry Bradshaw made an appearance in the film The Cannonball Run.
1982: Strike-Shortened Season
During the strike-shortened 1982 NFL season, Terry Bradshaw played through pain and tied for the most touchdown passes in the league with 17. In his last postseason game, he completed 28 of 39 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to the San Diego Chargers.
December 10, 1983: Final NFL Game
On December 10, 1983, against the New York Jets, Terry Bradshaw felt a pop in his elbow while throwing his final pass, a 10-yard touchdown to Calvin Sweeney. He left the game and never played again.
1983: Divorce from JoJo Starbuck and Marriage to Charla Hopkins
In 1983, Terry Bradshaw divorced JoJo Starbuck and married family attorney Charla Hopkins, with whom he would have two daughters.
1983: Steelers Pass on Dan Marino
In 1983, before Terry Bradshaw's elbow problems, the Steelers chose to pass on Pitt quarterback Dan Marino in the 1983 NFL draft.
July 24, 1984: Retires and Signs 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: 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: Art Rooney's Death
In 1988, after the death of Steelers founder and owner Art Rooney, Terry Bradshaw did not attend his funeral due to anxieties about public appearances.
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, Terry Bradshaw was promoted to television studio analyst for The NFL Today, which he co-hosted with Greg Gumbel.
1993: The NFL Today Hosting
In 1993, Terry Bradshaw hosted The NFL Today with Greg Gumbel. This was the last season hosting with Gumbel.
1994: Becomes a television sports analyst
In 1994, Terry Bradshaw became a television sports analyst and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday.
1994: The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Guest Appearance
In 1994, Terry Bradshaw guest-starred in The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., playing Colonel Forrest March.
1994: Joining Fox NFL Sunday
In 1994, Terry Bradshaw joined Fox NFL Sunday, acting as a comic foil and hosting features like 'Ten Yards with TB' and 'The Terry Awards'.
1996: Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame
In 1996, Terry Bradshaw was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
July 1997: Presents Mike Webster at Hall of Fame
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: 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, Terry Bradshaw divorced Charla Hopkins.
December 16, 2000: Absence from Three Rivers Stadium Final Game
On December 16, 2000, Terry Bradshaw was unable to attend the final regular-season game at Three Rivers Stadium, as he was with the Fox NFL Sunday crew aboard the USS Harry S. Truman.
October 11, 2001: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
On October 11, 2001, Terry Bradshaw received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the first NFL player to do so.
2001: Digi-Bowl Special
In 2001, Terry Bradshaw hosted a Digi-Bowl special on Fox Kids, providing commentary during episodes of Digimon: Digital Monsters.
2001: FitzBradshaw Racing Formation
In 2001, Terry Bradshaw joined HighLine Performance Group to form FitzBradshaw Racing in the world of NASCAR, and also became a spokesman for Jani-King International, Inc.
September 2002: Return to Pittsburgh for Mike Webster's Funeral
In September 2002, Terry Bradshaw returned to Pittsburgh for the first time in many years to attend the funeral of his friend and teammate Mike Webster.
October 2002: Return to Steelers Sideline
In October 2002, Terry Bradshaw returned to the Steelers sideline for the first time in 20 years during a Monday night game.
2002: Final Digi-Bowl Special
In 2002, Terry Bradshaw hosted his final Digi-Bowl special on Fox Kids, providing commentary during episodes of Digimon: Digital Monsters.
2003: Coverage of Steelers 1,000th Game
In 2003, Terry Bradshaw covered the Steelers' 1,000th game in franchise history for Fox at Heinz Field.
2004: Arrival of Ben Roethlisberger
In 2004, the Steelers finally found a consistent quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger after a period of inconsistent quarterback play following Bradshaw's retirement.
February 6, 2006: Appearance on The Tonight Show
On February 6, 2006, after an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Terry Bradshaw stated he did not attend the Super Bowl MVP parade due to spending time with family and disliking crowds and the media circus.
April 2006: Donates Items 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: Failure to Launch Film Appearance
In 2006, Terry Bradshaw appeared in the movie Failure to Launch, playing Matthew McConaughey's character's father. A notable scene featured him nude.
2006: End of FitzBradshaw Racing Ownership
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 measures celebrity appeal and trust.
November 5, 2007: Accepts Position on Steelers' 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
On November 5, 2007, Terry Bradshaw joined former teammates to accept their position on the Steelers' 75th Anniversary All-Time Team during a Monday Night Football game.
2007: Nashville Reality TV Series Appearance
In 2007, Rachel Bradshaw, Terry's daughter, appeared in Nashville, a reality television series about young musicians.
2007: Steelers All-Time Team
In 2007, Terry Bradshaw appeared as part of the Steelers All-Time Team during the team's 75th-anniversary festivities.
2010: Television Shows with United States Media Television
Since 2010, Terry Bradshaw has been hosting television shows produced by United States Media Television.
2012: Support for Newt Gingrich and Criticism of Terrell Suggs
In 2012, Terry Bradshaw publicly supported Newt Gingrich's presidential candidacy on Fox News and criticized Terrell Suggs for comments about Tim Tebow's faith.
July 8, 2014: Marriage to Tammy
On July 8, 2014, Terry Bradshaw married Tammy, his girlfriend of 15 years.
2014: Noll's Death
In 2014, Chuck Noll died. Terry Bradshaw had an uneasy relationship with him, but they had made peace before his death.
2016: NFL Films Interview on Chuck Noll
In 2016, Terry Bradshaw discussed his relationship with Chuck Noll in an interview with NFL Films for an episode of A Football Life, stating that their personalities clashed and that Noll often belittled him.
2016: Better Late Than Never Series
In 2016, Terry Bradshaw had a leading role in the NBC reality-travel series Better Late Than Never.
2017: Father Figures Film Appearance
In 2017, Terry Bradshaw appeared as himself in the comedy film Father Figures.
2017: Criticism of President Donald Trump
In 2017, Terry Bradshaw criticized President Donald Trump's handling of NFL player protests during the national anthem on FOX NFL Sunday.
2018: Better Late Than Never Continued
In 2018, Terry Bradshaw continued his leading role in the NBC reality-travel series Better Late Than Never.
January 16, 2019: The Masked Singer Competition
On January 16, 2019, Terry Bradshaw competed in season one of The Masked Singer as "Deer".
October 12, 2019: Celebrity Family Feud Appearance
On October 12, 2019, Terry Bradshaw and his family competed on Celebrity Family Feud against Adam Rippon's team but failed to reach 200 points in the final round.
2019: Comments on Trump's Planned Attendance
In 2019, Terry Bradshaw commented on Donald Trump's plan to attend a college football game, stating that he respected Trump "having the guts to go in there."
January 2, 2020: Last Man Standing Appearance
On January 2, 2020, Terry Bradshaw appeared 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: Terry Bradshaw Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Launch
In 2020, Terry Bradshaw launched Terry Bradshaw Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, in collaboration with Silver Screen Bottling Company. It boasts 51.9 percent ABV, a nod to Bradshaw's passing percentage.
2021: Bladder and Neck Cancer Treatment
In 2021, Terry Bradshaw began treatment for bladder and neck cancer. He revealed his diagnosis in September 2022.
September 2022: Cancer Diagnosis Reveal
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 about 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 was released. The documentary covered the plane crash that occurred after the 1976 game against the Baltimore Colts. It was theorized the blowout win inadvertently saved people from injuries in the plane crash due to supporters leaving earlier than they would have otherwise.
2023: Mother's Death
In 2023, Terry Bradshaw's mother, Novis (née Gay), passed away.
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