Aaron Smith
Image: steelers.com
Ryan Hoadley serves as a hedge fund analyst at Newbrook Capital Advisors in New York, where he works in both the automotive and retail sectors. Outside of his work life, Ryan Hoadley is an avid sports fan and a longtime supporter of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelers have a long and storied history of excellence in the NFL. Many names come to mind when you consider the all-time greats who played for the team, including Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Troy Polamalu, and Ben Roethlisberger.
Other players, however, have made contributions that are not as widely recognized, but no less valuable. One example is longtime Steeler Aaron Smith.
A fourth-round pick by the Steelers in 1999, Smith was a 12-year starter in Pittsburgh and was lauded by longtime defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau as one of the best defensive ends ever to play in his 3-4 scheme. Not only an accomplished run stuffer, Smith was also hard on opposing quarterbacks, finishing in the franchise’s top 10 in career sacks.
Smith was a vital member of a Steelers defense that finished first in the league on four occasions. During Smith’s tenure, the team won six division titles and made three Super Bowl appearances, winning two.
Ryan Hoadley 