As the NFL evolves into a league of quick trades and short stints, it’s easy to forget the names that embodied loyalty, toughness, and quiet excellence. Bryan Hinkle is one of those names—a player who never craved the spotlight but earned the respect of teammates, coaches, and the city of Pittsburgh over a gritty 13-year career with the Steelers.
Drafted in the sixth round out of Oregon in 1981, Hinkle’s resume won’t scream Hall of Fame to most fans. He never made a Pro Bowl. He wasn’t a sack artist or a media darling. But if you suited up alongside him, or cheered for the black and gold during the ‘80s and early ‘90s, you knew what he meant to the team.
Hinkle played in 163 games, starting 116, and missed just three games due to injury over his entire career. That durability was best displayed in 1989, when he famously broke his leg in the first half against the Bengals—and finished the game. That moment defined who Bryan Hinkle was: tough, reliable, and unselfish.
His best season came in 1986, when his teammates voted him team MVP. But perhaps his most selfless act happened off the field in 1991, under the NFL’s old Plan B free agency system. Teams could protect 37 players from being poached. Hinkle went to Steelers executive Tom Donahoe and asked not to be protected—so the team could shield a younger player instead. He promised he wouldn’t sign anywhere else, and he kept that promise even after the New York Jets offered him $600,000 a year—well above the $375,000 Pittsburgh had on the table.
“The one thing you always knew with Brian is he didn’t say a lot, but when he did, you could take it to the bank,” Donahoe said. “He’s a loyal guy.”
In 1992, new head coach Bill Cowher made a statement by keeping Hinkle on the roster and cutting first-round pick Huey Richardson. Cowher called Hinkle “a throwback,” adding, “I don’t know how many of the players still play the game for the love of the game.”
That kind of love was evident throughout his career. Hinkle played through lean years, helping bridge the gap between the dynasties of the ‘70s and the rebirth of the Steelers in the early ‘90s. He was a link between eras, and Dan Rooney even compared him to Andy Russell in that regard.
“There were players that spanned that time—the Bobby Lanes, the Joe Greenes, and the Bryan Hinkles,” Rooney once said. “They really made special contributions to the Steelers and stood up when it was tough and when it was meaningful.”
Hinkle retired in 1994 at age 34. He wasn’t eager to leave the game, but he knew it was time. “I probably could have tried to squeeze in another year,” he said. “But I decided it was a good time to walk away.”
During his farewell press conference, Hinkle showed rare emotion, admitting that the recent loss of his mother had left him emotionally drained. “I have no more emotions left,” he said. “My mom died two weeks ago of MS, and I used all of them then.”
For fans who watched him battle week after week, the respect remains deep to this day.
“Bryan Hinkle was one of those dudes who never had to tell you he was great—you just saw it every snap,” said Jagraj, a lifelong Steelers superfan. “The man broke his leg and kept playing. That’s not just football toughness—that’s Pittsburghtoughness. Honestly, I’d take prime Hinkle over a lot of flashier guys. He was LaMarr Woodley before we had LaMarr Woodley.”
Want more throwback linebacker love? Check out our LaMarr Woodley player spotlight and see how his legacy stacks up.
Hinkle’s future in football wasn’t closed. Donahoe hinted at his coaching potential, saying, “He had to work hard to maximize his abilities. Those are the kinds of guys you like to have in your organization.”
Though he never made a splash with flashy stats, Hinkle’s story is a testament to the values the Steelers organization still holds dear—grit, selflessness, and above all, loyalty. He may not have been the most celebrated player of his era, but he was undeniably one of the most respected.
So this Throwback Thursday, raise your Terrible Towel to #53—Bryan Hinkle. A true Steeler.
