The Steelers announced their 2021 Hall of Honor Class, and it's one that should make many fans happy.
Former offensive tackle Jon Kolb, wide receiver Louis Lipps, safety Carnell Lake and offensive tackle/broadcaster Tunch Ilkin were the latest members added to the team's Hall of Honor, which was formed in 2017 as a tribute to the franchise's history of great players.
"It was a special day to announce the 2021 Hall of Honor class," team president Art Rooney II said after the announcement. "Four great Steelers, longtime contributors to the organization, three of them on and off the field. Jon Kolb played on the great teams of the '70s. Obviously, Carnell was with a long time as a player and a coach and made some special plays throughout his career. Louis Lipps played in a time when we didn't win Super Bowls, but he still was a standout performer. And, of course, Tunch was not only a great player with us on the field, he had a career off the field as a great broadcaster for us."
The Steelers will formally induct the Class of 2021 the weekend of Nov. 13 and 14 when the team hosts the Detroit Lions at Heinz Field. Rooney said the 2020 class, which was unable to be inducted last season because of the pandemic, also will be honored that weekend.
Ilkin was a sixth-round draft pick of the Steelers in 1980 and played 13 of his 14 NFL seasons with the team. After his retirement from football in 1993, he became a broadcaster with the Pittsburgh Steelers Radio Network as the color analyst for the team's game broadcasts, a position he held for 23 years until his retirement earlier this year.
Ilkin played in 177 games in the NFL, 176 of them with the Steelers and one with the Green Bay Packers in 1993 before his retirement. He started 143 games, earning a starting spot in the 1983 season. Ilkin was selected to the Steelers' all-time team in 2007 to celebrate the team's 75th season.
Ilkin's retirement was forced this year due to his development of ALS, which made it special for team president Art Rooney II, who chairs the selection committee, to honor him for his longtime work with the franchise.
"Obviously, we're all thinking about and praying for Tunch every day," Rooney told a handful of reporters after the announcement. "To have him as part of the class this year makes it very special."
Lake, a college linebacker the Steelers moved to safety, was voted to the Pro Bowl four consecutive years, 1994-97, including making it as a cornerback in 1995 and 1997. He was also voted Associated Press first-team All-Pro in 1997. He became the first defensive back to lead the Steelers in sacks in a season (six) in 1997 and finished his career with 25 sacks and 16 interceptions.
He rejoined the Steelers from 2011 through 2018 as the team's secondary coach before stepping away to spend more time with his family.
Kolb was a four-time Super Bowl winner, starting at left tackle. He spent his entire career with the Steelers, beginning in 1969 and ending in 1981. Kolb appeared in 177 career games, making 138 starts.
Lipps, a two-time team MVP, was team's No. 1 pick in the 1984 draft. He finished his rookie season with 45 catches for 860 yards (19.1 average), led the NFL with 656 punt return yards, and scored 11 touchdowns. He was voted to the AFC All-Pro team and Pro Bowl as the kick returner his rookie year and was the NFL Rookie of the Year.
A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Lipps led the Steelers in receiving in 1989, 1990 and 1991, while finishing tied with Merril Hoge in 1988 for the lead. His 358 receptions and 6,018 receiving yards still rank fifth in team history, while he is also fifth in 100-yard receiving games with 16, and seventh in receiving touchdowns with 39.