29 Facts About Joe Gilliam

Joe Gilliam became the Steelers' starting quarterback in 1974, making history as the first African American quarterback to start a season opener.

Joe Gilliam played in various semi-pro leagues and briefly returned to professional football with the USFL's Washington Federals in 1983.

Joe Gilliam retired in 1984 and was later inducted into the American Football Association's Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

Joe Gilliam displayed his own athletic abilities at a young age, beginning at Washington Junior High School, where he participated in tumbling, track, and basketball.

Joe Gilliam was an All-American his junior and senior seasons.

Joe Gilliam was named All-American, and the Tigers returned to Baton Rouge.

Joe Gilliam was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 11th round of the 1972 NFL draft, the 273rd overall pick.

Joe Gilliam made his first regular season start on Monday Night Football, during a week 12 game against the Miami Dolphins on December 3,1973.

In particular, Joe Gilliam ran afoul of Chuck Noll for his excessive number of pass plays.

In Week 3, Joe Gilliam delivered a terrible performance with only 8 completed passes in 31 attempts and 2 interceptions, leading to the Steelers suffering the humiliation of a home shutout by archrival Oakland Raiders.

Joe Gilliam received numerous death threats, some of them racially charged.

Joe Gilliam spent most of the 1975 season as the backup quarterback to Bradshaw but was demoted to 3rd string quarterback behind Hanratty after a poor performance at the end of the season against the Los Angeles Rams and missing some team meetings.

Joe Gilliam felt that his demotion was based on racial reasons.

Joe Gilliam noted that Noll was "completely color-blind" as a coach and not racist in any way.

Linebacker Andy Russell said that Joe Gilliam was "immensely talented" as a quarterback, but unable to stay off of drugs.

Joe Gilliam battled heroin, cocaine, and alcohol addiction on and off over the next several years and even ended up living in a cardboard box under a bridge for two years.

Joe Gilliam was arrested in New Orleans in 1976 for possession of a gun and cocaine.

Joe Gilliam returned to semipro in 1979 with the Baltimore Eagles in the Atlantic Football Conference, but his season would take a couple of bizarre turns: first, an abortive attempt to jump to the Alabama Vulcans of the American Football Association ended when he borrowed the Vulcans' owner's Cadillac and failed to return it; then, after Gilliam went back to Baltimore, he was attacked by four men, who dragged him out of his parked car and repeatedly hit him on the head.

Joe Gilliam returned to football in 1981, playing quarterback for the semipro New Orleans Blue Knights of the Dixie Football League.

Joe Gilliam played with the Blue Knights for six seasons while working the docks of New Orleans, loading and unloading barges.

In 1983, Joe Gilliam attempted a comeback to pro football in the new United States Football League, but was cut by the Denver Gold, then picked up by the Washington Federals.

Joe Gilliam played in four games, starting two of them, throwing five touchdowns and ten interceptions.

Joe Gilliam was cut early in training camp in January 1984, and retired from the sport for good.

In 1986, Joe Gilliam was inducted into the American Football Association's Semi Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Joe Gilliam ran a football camp for teens at Tennessee State in Nashville in mid-2000.

Joe Gilliam earned the nickname "Jefferson Street Joe" for the boulevard that runs by Tennessee State University in Nashville.

Joe Gilliam died of a cocaine overdose on Christmas Day, 2000 shortly after watching an NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans.

Joe Gilliam was four days away from his 50th birthday.

Joe Gilliam was sober for three years prior to his death and able to attend the final Steelers game at Three Rivers Stadium.