As we inch closer to training camp and the unveiling of the final 53-man roster, we have decided to create a roster of our own. We will look into the Steelers of years past and decipher an All-Time Pittsburgh Steelers depth chart. It should be a fun exercise to heat up debate and compare how the game has evolved over the years. For this edition, we look at the running back position.

1.Franco Harris

The debate between Harris and Jerome Bettis has been a popular one since Bettis retired in 2006. While it is a tight debate, and both are worthy of the nomination, Harris is the best Steelers running back.

He leads the franchise in yards with 11,950. While he did have 198 more carries in his career than Bettis, he also had a better yards per carry mark. He even has 13 more touchdowns.

Harris has four Super Bowl rings to the one of Bettis. While Super Bowls are a team accomplishment, his individual performance in Super Bowl IX gave the Steelers their first Super Bowl ring, while he earned the game’s MVP. There is also that immaculate reception play that some people might know about. It should be no knock against Bettis, but Harris edges him out.

2. Jerome Bettis

The biggest case for Jerome Bettis to be the best running back in Steelers history is the contrast in running style. Bettis is a Pittsburgh Steelers running back. He is a between the tackles, keep your feet moving back that never went down easy. Harris was more of a finesse runner, and would sacrifice going out of bounds for the extra yard. He also has 62 fewer career fumbles than Harris.

Bettis’ combined yards between the Rams and Steelers puts him at sixth All-Time on the career rushing list. Still, looking at just his Steelers yards he ranks second in the franchise with 10,571 yards and would be placed 26th on the All-Time list on those nine seasons alone.

At the end of the day, both Bettis and Harris are each Hall of Fame backs and deservedly so. The combination of power and finesse between the two would have been a stellar combination.

3. Barry Foster

Foster earns the spot due to the thought of what could have been. His career had been riddled with injuries,but his 1992 season was still the best by a running back in team history. He rushed for 1,690 yards with a 4.3 yard per carry rate. He added 36 catches for 344 yards to that, just eclipsing 2,000 yards from scrimmage. He only played five seasons in Pittsburgh, and only made 44 starts, but is seventh on the franchise rushing list.

While Le’Veon Bell is rising on this list, he still has 268 fewer carries than Foster. Others like Willie Parker, John Henry Jones, and Rocky Bleier deserve considerations as well. Running back has been a great position in team history, but on the talent alone Foster gets the slight nod.