When fans think of a Steelers legend who consistently poured his heart and soul out on the field for the team, they look no further than former safety Ryan Clark.

Clark is regarded as one of the many great safeties to come through the Steel City, and none of it would have been possible without one coach in particular. The former safety turned ESPN analyst credited Danny Smith, who is now the Steelers special teams coach, with giving him his first shot in the NFL with the Washington Redskins.

.@RealRClark25 shares how Danny Smith kept his word and gave him first-ever chance in the NFL 💛@InsideTheNFL Tonight 9/8c on @TheCW pic.twitter.com/IdLwLej7zG

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) October 23, 2024

Smith made headlines last week on “Sunday Night Football” when he displayed his passion for his unit’s elite set of plays, one of which was incorrectly called back.

Clark’s admiration for Smith speaks volumes about the type of environment that Pittsburgh has fostered for generations.