Hubbry Logo
Steve CoursonSteve CoursonMain
Open search
Steve Courson
Community hub
Steve Courson
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Steve Courson
Steve Courson
Steve Courson
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Stephen Paul Courson (October 1, 1955 – November 10, 2005) was an American professional football guard for the National Football League (NFL)'s Pittsburgh Steelers.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Steve Courson grew up in Longmeadow, Massachusetts and went to Longmeadow High School . He played on the offense and defense lines and graduated in 1973 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. His #71 was retired, and he is the only football player in Gettysburg High School history to receive such an honor.[citation needed]

After graduating from Gettysburg, Courson went on to play on the offensive line at the University of South Carolina.

Football and steroids

[edit]

During his freshman year at the University of South Carolina, Courson later stated that:

"I got banged around by older, stronger kids. I knew at the time I had to do a lot of work. I knew I had to go on drugs. I wasn't going to be out there just to be out there. I had to be the best. I only did steroids the summer before my sophomore year. My body weight went from 225 to 260 in a month and a half. I didn't need them after that."[1]

He played for the Steelers from 1978 to 1983 and retired in 1985 after two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 1991, his book False Glory: The Steve Courson Story, about his life in football when he used steroids, was published. He was one of the first American football players to admit to using steroids and harshly criticized them, making nearly 100 speeches a year to high school and college athletes about their dangers. Courson bench pressed 605 pounds (274 kg) but came to feel ashamed and guilty that he really didn't lift the weight – it was the power that steroids gave him.[citation needed] Courson was one of the first players to confess he had been using steroids during his playing career. He suffered from a heart condition which was believed to have been caused by his steroid use.[2]

After his career Courson was effectively blackballed by the NFL because of his outspoken stance on steroids.[citation needed] He had a spell as a high school football coach in the 1990s. Courson's wife Cathy died by suicide.

Death

[edit]

Courson lived near Pittsburgh for the rest of his life. In November 2005, he died in an accident at his home in Farmington, Pennsylvania. Courson had been cutting down a 44-foot (13 m) tree on his property, but a gust of wind changed the direction of its fall, and he moved into its path while attempting to prevent his dog from being struck. The dog, a black Labrador retriever, was found alive guarding Courson's body when the tree was removed.[3]

In the months before his death in 2005, Courson wrote a 5,000-word letter expressing disappointment that more players weren't open about their steroid use and saying the league's enormous popularity relies on a "myth" of its players as drug-free heroes. "I believe the NFL is a prisoner to their own public relations myth," Courson said in the letter, which was found on the computer of his western Pennsylvania home after his death. "The level of deception and exploitation that the NFL requires to do business still amazes me." Courson, who became one of professional sports' first steroids whistleblowers by detailing his use in a 1985 Sports Illustrated interview, wrote the letter to a former Pittsburgh Steelers teammate he played with on Super Bowl-winning teams in 1978 and 1979.

Courson is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Steve Courson

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Steve Courson was an American professional football player known for his career as an offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL) with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as well as for being one of the first players to publicly acknowledge widespread anabolic steroid use in professional football and later becoming a prominent critic of the practice. Born on October 1, 1955, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Courson played college football at the University of South Carolina, where he began using steroids as an 18-year-old freshman in 1973. Drafted by the Steelers in the 1977 NFL Draft, he spent six seasons (1978–1983) with the team—contributing to the offensive line and winning two Super Bowls (XIII and XIV)—before joining the Buccaneers for his final two seasons (1984–1985). After retiring from the NFL, Courson developed cardiomyopathy, which he attributed to his steroid use, and was placed on a heart transplant list by 1988. He became an outspoken advocate against performance-enhancing drugs, detailing his experiences in interviews, public appearances, and his co-authored book False Glory: Steelers and Steroids. In 2005, just months before his death, Courson testified before a U.S. House committee on steroid use in the NFL, highlighting the pressures that led players to turn to such substances. Courson died on November 10, 2005, at age 50, in a tragic accident at his home in Henry Clay Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, when a tree he was cutting fell on him. His candid revelations helped raise early awareness about the health risks and prevalence of steroids in professional football.

Early life

Birth and family background

Steve Courson was born on October 1, 1955, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a working-class family in the Gettysburg area, where his family maintained strong ties to the local community. His mother, Elizabeth Courson, lived in Gettysburg throughout much of his life. This Pennsylvania environment provided the early context for his development in a modest, small-town setting.

High school and early athletic development

Steve Courson attended Gettysburg High School in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1973. He participated in football during his high school years, which contributed to his early athletic development as a lineman and prepared him for his subsequent recruitment to play college football at the University of South Carolina. Limited detailed records exist of his specific high school performance, positions, or individual honors such as all-state selections, though his progression to a major college program indicates he was a competitive player at the scholastic level. His time at Gettysburg High School marked the beginning of his development into a physically imposing athlete known for size and strength in later years.

College football at South Carolina

Steve Courson played college football at the University of South Carolina for the Gamecocks from 1973 to 1977, where he appeared as an offensive lineman at the guard position. Specific playing statistics, such as games started or total appearances, are not widely documented for his college tenure, as was typical for offensive linemen of that era. No individual honors or all-conference recognitions are noted in available records from his time with the Gamecocks. Courson became draft-eligible following his college career and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round (125th overall) of the 1978 NFL Draft. This selection marked his transition from collegiate play at South Carolina to professional football.

Professional football career

Pittsburgh Steelers (1978–1983)

Steve Courson was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round (125th overall) of the 1977 NFL Draft and joined the team as an offensive guard. He wore number 77 and began his professional career in 1978, appearing in all 16 regular season games while starting one and playing in three postseason contests without a start. As a rookie, he contributed to the Steelers' offensive line during their successful run to Super Bowl XIII, which they won following the 1978 season. Courson's role expanded in 1979, when he played in all 16 regular season games and started nine at right guard, helping anchor the line for the team's victory in Super Bowl XIV after that season. He started two of three playoff games that year, including key postseason matchups. In 1980, he appeared in eight games with six starts before missing time, then returned to full-time starting duty in 1981 with 16 starts and in the 1982 strike-shortened season with eight starts. In 1983, Courson started the first nine games of the season at right guard. Across his six seasons with Pittsburgh, Courson played in 73 regular season games and started 49, primarily at right guard, while also appearing in eight postseason games with four starts. He was a member of the Steelers' offensive line during the final years of the team's 1970s dynasty and earned two Super Bowl championships with the team.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1984–1985)

Following his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Steve Courson was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1984 in exchange for offensive lineman Ray Snell. He played as an offensive guard for the Buccaneers over the next two seasons, primarily at left guard. In 1984, Courson appeared in 14 games and started 12 for Tampa Bay. He followed that with a more complete campaign in 1985, playing in all 16 games while starting 13. Courson was released by the Buccaneers after the 1985 season, ending his NFL career.

Steroid use and public disclosure

Steroid use during NFL career

Steve Courson used anabolic steroids extensively during his NFL career, particularly while playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He reported beginning heavy use of anabolics around 1982–1983, which he credited with transforming him into “a lethal machine at that point, with my parameters of size and speed.” Toward the end of his eight-year professional career, he described injecting and ingesting “massive quantities of performance-enhancing chemicals.” Substances he referenced in connection with his use included Dianabol, a common oral anabolic steroid during that era. Courson claimed that steroid use was widespread among NFL players during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly among offensive linemen. In his 1991 book, he stated that 75 percent of the offensive linemen on the Steelers' late-1970s Super Bowl teams had used steroids. He portrayed steroid use as a lingering league-wide issue in the NFL at the time.

1989 grand jury testimony and congressional hearings

In 1989, Steve Courson testified before a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh as part of an investigation into anabolic steroid distribution. He admitted to his own use of steroids during his NFL career while providing information relevant to the probe. That May, Courson appeared as a witness before the Senate Judiciary Committee during hearings examining steroid abuse in professional sports. On May 9, 1989, he told the committee that anabolic steroid use in the NFL had reached epidemic proportions. Courson estimated conservatively that 50 percent of offensive and defensive linemen positions were filled by players who had augmented or were still periodically augmenting their training programs with steroids. He indicated that usage was lower among linebackers, running backs, and wide receivers. Courson also disclosed that he personally began using steroids in college and continued through his professional career, asserting that this long-term use had damaged the wall around his heart. He contrasted his account with the NFL's reported low positive rates from limited testing, underscoring what he saw as widespread acceptance of steroids in the league's culture. These appearances marked some of the earliest public disclosures by a former NFL player detailing the extent of steroid use in the league, drawing significant media attention and contributing to growing congressional and public concern over performance-enhancing drugs in sports. Courson's willingness to speak out drew both support for highlighting the issue and criticism from some NFL figures who viewed his claims as exaggerated or damaging to the league's image.

Later life

Post-NFL activities and health issues

Following his retirement from the NFL after the 1985 season, Steve Courson returned to the Pittsburgh area in 1988 after periods living in Wyoming and Florida. In November 1988, he was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that enlarges and weakens the heart muscle, which he attributed to his prior use of anabolic steroids during his playing career. Courson was placed on a heart transplant waiting list at Allegheny General Hospital in March 1989, with physicians estimating he had about two years to live without a transplant. During this time, he became very weak, lost significant weight to an adult low of 225 pounds, and required experimental heart medications that allowed some improvement, such as a gain to 255 pounds and the ability to perform light exercise like treadmill walking and lifting 15-pound weights. The NFL community, including former teammates and owners, organized fundraising efforts to help cover the estimated $250,000 transplant cost, since Courson lacked insurance coverage. To support his medical needs, Courson began speaking publicly to high school students about the dangers of steroids and raised funds through the Steve Courson Medical Trust Fund. He was removed from the transplant list in 1993 after adopting a disciplined regimen of the Zone Diet for blood sugar control, consistent resistance training and low-impact cardio activities such as hiking, biking, swimming, and walking, under medical supervision. This approach led to substantial recovery, with his left ventricular ejection fraction improving from 18% at diagnosis to a normal 53% by 2004, when he weighed a fit 245 pounds and described having made a full recovery. Courson worked as a corporate wellness trainer and devoted much of his time to advocacy against performance-enhancing drugs, delivering as many as 100 speeches per year to youth and sports groups to warn against steroids while promoting fitness and obesity prevention. He authored the book "False Glory," which detailed his experiences with steroids, and co-wrote a history chapter in the research book "Anabolic Steroids in Sports and Exercise."

Death and legacy

Circumstances of death

Steve Courson died on November 10, 2005, at the age of 50, following an accident at his home in Farmington, Pennsylvania. He was killed when a tree he was cutting down on his property fell on him, causing fatal injuries. The Pittsburgh Steelers organization released a statement expressing sorrow over the sudden and untimely nature of his death, extending sympathies to his family and friends. The accident occurred while Courson was working on his land, highlighting the unexpected circumstances that ended his life. No prior medical event was reported as contributing to the incident itself.

Impact on steroid discussion in sports

Steve Courson's public disclosures about his steroid use marked him as one of the first NFL players to speak openly on the topic, significantly contributing to the broader conversation on performance-enhancing drugs in professional sports. His 1985 Sports Illustrated interview detailed his experiences with steroids during his playing career, establishing an early precedent for athletes acknowledging the issue and drawing attention to its prevalence in the league. Courson's testimony before Congress in April 2005, shortly before his death, further amplified scrutiny of the NFL's steroid policies as he criticized the league's testing program as inadequate and highlighted the long-term health risks he personally faced. He spoke candidly about the culture of steroid use in the NFL and its consequences, adding weight to ongoing debates about doping controls at a time when steroid issues were prominent across American sports. His willingness to serve as a whistleblower helped shine a light on steroids in sports, influencing public awareness and discourse on the topic both during his lifetime and in posthumous reflections on his legacy. Courson's actions are credited with helping to bring the darker aspects of performance enhancement into the open, contributing to greater examination of the issue within professional football.

Posthumous recognition

Following his death in 2005, the Noah's Ark Humane Society in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, was renamed the Steve Courson Humane Society in recognition of his profound love for animals. This tribute highlighted his final act of bravery, when he positioned himself to shield his dog Rufus from a falling tree during a cutting accident, an unselfish deed described as a testament to his unconditional love. Shelter officials emphasized that the renaming honored this heroism rather than his football achievements or steroid advocacy, calling it a fitting memorial to his character. At his funeral in Gettysburg, attended by former teammates and family, his half-brother Bruce Courson stated that "Steve changed professional sports" through his early public disclosures about steroid use in the NFL. Family members and friends also announced plans to publish a book Courson had been writing and to organize a charity bike ride in his honor the following summer. His disclosures and testimony have continued to be cited in media discussions of the NFL's steroid era and the broader evolution of policies on performance-enhancing drugs.

References

  1. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-01-03-sp-2068-story.html
  2. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CourSt20.htm
  3. https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1990/02/25/in-need-of-heart-transplant-courson-rips-steroids-ex-bucs-lineman-tells-audience-of-drug-s-harmful-effects/
  4. https://www.amazon.com/False-Glory-Steelers-Steroids-Courson/dp/0681411872
  5. https://www.wistv.com/story/3271035/former-gamecock-testifies-about-nfl-steroid-use-for-congress/
  6. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/11/sports/steve-courson-50-nfl-player-who-acknowledged-steroid-use-is-dead.html
  7. https://www.espn.co.uk/espn/otl/news/story?id=3832996
  8. https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/c/cour00200.html
  9. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2005/11/16/courson-s-legacy-is-change/stories/200511160226
  10. https://www.patriots.com/news/former-steelers-lineman-courson-dead-at-50-93161
  11. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ex-nfl-lineman-dies-in-tree-mishap/
  12. https://www.adamssportshall.org/inductee/2003/steve-courson/
  13. https://www.wltx.com/article/news/former-usc-player-dies/101-383974535
  14. https://www.footballdb.com/players/steve-courson-coursst01
  15. https://www.nytimes.com/1984/08/03/sports/sports-people-courson-s-complaint.html
  16. https://www.bucpower.com/steve-courson.htm
  17. https://www.espn.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=3832996
  18. https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1074&context=mslj
  19. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-09-sp-3159-story.html
  20. https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/10/sports/senate-panel-is-told-of-nfl-steroid-use.html
  21. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1989/05/10/senate-panel-told-of-steroid-use-in-nfl/dbdebe64-8ed8-4765-95d5-ca05b5532867/
  22. https://archive.triblive.com/news/ex-steeler-who-used-steroids-will-testify-at-hearing/
  23. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-12-sp-3559-story.html
  24. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/chuck-finder/2004/11/07/Former-Steeler-Courson-at-heart-of-big-turnaround/stories/200411070243
  25. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/05/09/NFL-teammates-owners-help-Courson-pay-for-transplant/5322610689600/
  26. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-11-me-1367-story.html
  27. https://www.mcall.com/2005/05/26/ex-nfl-player-steve-courson-warns-of-dangers-of-steroids-the-former-steeler-talks-about-the-health-problems-hes-faced/
  28. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2005/11/11/ex-steeler-courson-dies/stories/200511110284
  29. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2005/11/16/never-tackling-the-truth/
  30. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-nov-11-me-courson11-story.html
  31. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/remember-courson-this-week/article20440346/
  32. https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2005/11/11/ex-steeler-courson-killed/25864047007/
  33. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jul-03-sp-courson3-story.html
  34. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nfl-steroid-policy-not-perfect/
  35. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2005/11/11/Courson-helped-shine-light-on-steroids-in-sports/stories/200511110273
  36. https://www.heraldstandard.com/opinion/2005/nov/15/petlover-tribute-animal-shelter-renamed-for-courson/
  37. https://hugssociety.org/directories/animal-shelters/united-states/pennsylvania/724/fayette-county-humane-society.html
  38. https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?sportCat=nfl&page=fleming/110127
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.