Former Steelers LB Bud Dupree Talks His Highest And Lowest Moments Including That Wild Hit On Matt Moore

The Pittsburgh Steelers are well known for their incredible defenses over the decades. It was the Steel Curtain defense of the 1970s that formed the backbone of the team that would go on to win four Super Bowls on their own. Over the years, those defensive players have become well-respected by fans, who admire some of them with almost a kind of hero worship. During his six years in the organization, linebacker Bud Dupree seemed destined to become one of those iconic Steelers defenders. 

Unfortunately for Dupree, an ACL injury sustained during the Week 12 game against the Baltimore Ravens during the 2020 season helped hasten an end to that dream for both him and the fans. While there has been talk over the past few seasons, including this offseason about Dupree returning to Pittsburgh, there is nothing set in stone. Dupree may not be headed back to dress in black and gold yet, but he did sit down with Ron Lippock, the author of Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades, to chat about the highs and lows of playing in the Steel City. 

"I'd say the hardest things were losing the two AFC Championship games! Losing to [Tom] Brady and having him demoralize you just hurts," said Dupree.

The Steelers certainly weren't unique in being demoralized by the New England Patriots and their former quarterback Tom Brady. Brady and the Patriots dominated the NFL for almost two decades. During Brady's career, the Patriots won 11 AFC Championships and six Super Bowls. The Steelers, led by then-quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, were often in the mix. During Roethlisberger's career, they went to three Super Bowls, winning two.   

During the time that Dupree was a Steelers player, Pittsburgh and New England met multiple times in the playoffs, including in 2016 when the Steelers got routed by the Patriots 36-17 for the AFC Championship. The other heartbreaking loss that Dupree is referring to is when the Steelers lost to the Denver Broncos at the end of the 2015 season. That loss to the Broncos is often cited as one of the most devastating losses in team history. 

"But getting to play with some of the great players like [James] Harrison, [Troy] Polamalu, Ben [Roethlisberger], AB [Antonio Brown] before he went the other way, Le'Veon Bell in his prime, [Maurkice] Pouncey and [Ramon] Foster... that was an amazing journey," reminisced Dupree before citing his favorite NFL moment. "The hit on Matt Moore may have been my favorite single moment. I think that woke the NFL up to me."

Matt Moore, the former quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, took a violent hit from Dupree in 2017. The hit was a controversial one and Dupree drew a flag for roughing the passer and later was fined $18,231 by the league. Moore, who was throwing while on the run, took a colossal hit from Dupree where some contact with the quarterback's head was made. 

Fortunately, Moore was not injured and was able to come back after sitting out one play. The hit angered Dolphins players and they tried to initiate a fight with Dupree and the Steelers. Dupree had been out at the beginning of the season with a groin injury and felt that he had to make up for lost time. 

"The worst memory was the torn ACL. I think that changed my career and detracted me from greatness. I think I was on that path. But God puts you on His own path for a reason. But that was my lowest career point."

It was a low point for fans too. While T.J. Watt was making a name for himself by the time Dupree was hurt, there did not appear to be any plan of succession should Dupree be injured. When he was hurt, the backup was an unproven rookie, who was a walk-on at UNC-Charlotte and a third-round pick for the Steelers, Alex Highsmith. 

Fortunately for the Steelers and unfortunately for Dupree, Highsmith came to play. He doubled his production each of his first few seasons and played like he'd been across from Watt for his entire life. His ascension did prove to hasten the end for Dupree, between lingering doubts about his health, and the expected cost of keeping two stars, the Steelers let him move on and sign with the Tennessee Titans. 

Steelers GM Omar Khan Continues To Prove His Genius

Steelers fans thought they had it good with General Manager Kevin Colbert for all those years. While the incredible success Omar Khan has had since stepping into his shoes doesn't negate the brilliant moves Colbert made early on, it does cast some of his final years in a different light.

In the two years since taking over at the helm, Khan has engineered some incredible trades and draft picks. He moved up last season for Broderick Jones in the first round. This offseason, he has negotiated for quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, landing both for next to nothing. He traded away a disgruntled Diontae Johnson for an eager, hard-working Donte Jackson. Instead of keeping a frustrated Kenny Pickett on the roster, he let him go to the Philadelphia Eagles.  

Tomlin has always said the Steelers want, "Volunteers, not hostages" and they seem to be proving that now more than ever, but cutting anyone who's not on board. Instead of just sending players off to be successful, like they may have in the past, they seem to be sending them to teams where they might struggle.