In the fifth round of the 1980 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers saw something special in the tough, relentless offensive lineman out of Syracuse. Chuck Noll, who built his team on hard-nosed football, saw him as a perfect fit for their offensive line, and the Buffalo native was more than up for the battle. “I remember our first encounter in camp was a fight,” said Edmund Nelson, a defensive tackle picked by the franchise in the 1982 Draft. “He body-slammed me on the first play, and then I body-slammed him on the second play.” That was Craig Wolfley summed up. That was Craig Wolfley to the core. A heartbeat of Noll’s team and later a fixture on the Steelers radio broadcast team, “Wolf” passed away on Monday at the age of 66.

Wolfley spent most of his 12-year career playing in Pittsburgh. He became a presence at left guard and then left tackle during his time with the Steelers, making 104 starts across 10 seasons. Alongside his teammate, the late Tunch Ilkin, he held down the left side of the Steelers offensive line and became best of friends, something that blossomed more when they became broadcast partners on Steelers Nation Radio.  As a football player, Wolfley took no prisoners. He embodied the Steelers’ smashmouth football identity. Whether driving defenders off the ball as a guard or taking on some of the NFL’s toughest pass rushers as a tackle, Wolfley never backed down from contact. His toughness extended beyond football—he competed in boxing, MMA, and wrestling, proving his love for physical competition. Yet, this wasn’t all Craig Wolfley was.

The real Wolf, the one his teammates, friends, and family knew, was a man of warmth and loyalty, a gentle giant who cared as deeply as he competed. He had a spirit that could lift up those around him just as effortlessly as he once lifted stones in the World’s Strongest Man competition in 1981.

The Steelers President Art Rooney II’s tribute to Wolfley perfectly captured his personality from his playing days to his time at the broadcast table.

“Craig was an outstanding player who brought both toughness and heart to the field during his 10 seasons with the Steelers. As an offensive lineman, his grit and dedication were essential to our success, contributing to the solid foundation of the Steelers’ offensive line in the 1980s. His work ethic and commitment to excellence were felt both in the locker room and on the field, and his leadership was always evident.

Following his retirement from playing, Craig seamlessly transitioned into a broadcaster, providing insightful commentary and analysis as part of the Steelers Audio Network. His passionate voice and deep understanding of the game made him a trusted figure for Steelers fans, and his humor, warmth, and enthusiasm left a lasting impact on our community. On behalf of the entire Steelers organization, we offer our deepest condolences to Craig’s family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him,” the statement read.

A cause of death was not revealed, but as per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Wolfley had been quietly battling cancer in recent months with the same resilience that defined him.

Born in Buffalo, New York, Craig Wolfley was never one to shy away from a fight—literal or figurative. He built his reputation at Syracuse University, where his blend of brute strength and technical skill earned him All-American honors and a place on the Syracuse All-Century team. The Steelers saw that fire in him when they made him a fifth-round draft pick.

Pittsburgh had no use for soft players, and Wolfley fit right in. He arrived in a locker room still dripping with the sweat of four Super Bowl titles, surrounded by legends like Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, and Mel Blount. The trenches were a proving ground, and Wolfley—undersized at 6’1”, 265 pounds for a lineman of his era—had to fight for every rep.

And he did. By his second season, he was a starter under Chuck Noll, holding down the line for a decade. He played in 129 games, starting 104, carving out his place in a blue-collar city that respected toughness above all else. He protected Terry Bradshaw, cleared the way for Franco Harris, and went to war with some of the league’s most feared defensive linemen.

After his exit from Pittsburgh, he played two more years in Minnesota in 1990 and 1991 before retiring, but then found a second home in the Steelers’ broadcast booth. He joined the Steelers Radio Network first as a sideline reporter, then as a booth analyst, bringing his energy and colorful voice to the game broadcasts. And alongside his best friend Tunch Ilkin, he brought Steelers football to life for the fans who adored him. Ilkin and Wolfley who for more than five seasons had shaped the Steelers’ offense, formed a new partnership with “In the Locker Room with Tunch and Wolf.”  Their voices became part of Sundays, a rhythm as familiar as the Terrible Towels waving in the stands.

They had a chemistry you couldn’t fake because it was built over decades of friendship, of shared battles, of a brotherhood that ran deeper than football. Bill Hillgrove, who called games with them for years, put it best: “It’s beyond friendship. We’re talking 41 years. It’s a brotherhood, and it’s probably something deeper than that.”

When Tunch passed away in 2021, it shattered Wolfley. He lost the guy who had stood next to him on the field, in the booth, and in life. But even through that heartbreak, Wolfley kept going. He partnered with Max Starks for the talk show on Steelers Nation Radio and then moved into the booth alongside Hillgrove when Starks was added as the sideline reporter.

He became known for his witty on-air delivery — he’d often respond “better than I deserve” whenever he was asked how he was doing by a listener of the show. Over the past decade, Craig Wolfley quietly revealed another talent beyond the gridiron—his gift for writing.

His long-form pieces were more than just analysis; they wove together sharp insight, rich anecdotes, and a touch of humor, making them a pleasure to read. There was something fitting about the image of Wolfley, hunched over a notebook, scribbling away in cursive, always downplaying his own abilities. But make no mistake—Craig Wolfley could write. He knew football inside and out, having been coached by Chuck Nicoll, he understood the game well. And more than anything, he loved the Steelers.

Meanwhile, Wolfley’s impact and association with Pittsburgh went beyond football.

The annual Tunch & Wolf’s Walk for the Homeless to raise money for Light of Life Rescue Mission. Over the years, Tunch and Wolf helped raise over $1 million for the initiative.

“What I love about Wolf is he used his platform. He used his time. He used his money to support the most vulnerable men, women and children in our city for nearly 40 years. And that’s the heart that we always got to see. And that’s what we will miss so much,” Doug Smith, assistant executive director of Light of Life Mission said about Wolfley.

Over the years, Pittsburgh has lost so many legendary voices—Tunch, Stan Savran, and now Craig Wolfley. His passing feels almost surreal. For decades, he had been there—in the trenches, on the sidelines, in the booth, always a part of Steelers Sundays. Now, the man who never backed down is finally at rest, leaving behind a city that will never forget him.

Pittsburgh will take time to recover from this loss

A beloved player, broadcaster, and community figure, Wolfley was more than just a Steeler—he was part of Pittsburgh’s heartbeat. His loss was felt across Pittsburgh, as fans poured in with heartfelt tributes.

One fan captured the sentiment perfectly: “RIP Craig Wolfley. The big chalooch. A strong piece of Steelers history. Tunch & Wolf together again. 😢” That last part hits home—losing Tunch Ilkin in 2021 was tough, and now, the legendary duo is reunited in the heavens. They weren’t just voices on the radio; they were the soundtrack of Steelers Sundays.

Another fan expressed what so many are feeling: “RIP to a wonderful person @CraigWolfley I’ll miss hearing you on the radio.” And let’s be real—Steelers broadcasts won’t sound the same. Wolfley’s insights, humor, and deep love for the game made every play feel personal. From breaking down the trenches to sharing locker room stories, he wasn’t just calling the game; he was bringing fans into it.

“Just the energy and the passion that he brought to life,” said Charlie Batch, who works as a pre-game analyst for the Steelers. “Not just from a Steelers perspective, but he genuinely cared about people … “Ultimately, he was able to share that as he went from the sideline to the booth. And he brought a different element. People enjoyed listening to him … The older I got in my playing career, knowing that I wanted to transition into that media side, he would give me tips and little things that he may have done that helped him get to that transition point. And then ultimately, having the chance to work with him and Tunch Ilkin on different shows. They were two peas in a pod.”

The impact wasn’t just about football. Wolfley was a fixture in Pittsburgh, giving back through the Light of Life Rescue Mission and standing alongside Mike Tomlin at ManUp events. One fan summed it up simply: “I’m crestfallen by the passing of Craig Wolfley. What an awesome dude.” That’s the thing—he wasn’t just a great Steeler, he was a great person. Tough as nails on the field, but off it? One of the warmest, most generous guys around.

Apart from football and being a part of competitive weightlifting, Wolfley also had a penchant for boxing. He owned a boxing club in the Pittsburgh area and in 2002, he lost a four-round boxing match to Butterbean. He also held a black belt in jiu-jitsu.

“Craig Wolfley. Unbelievably nice man. RIP. #Steelers,” wrote another fan in their tribute. It’s rare to find someone who excelled in every phase of their football life—player, broadcaster, mentor—but Wolfley did it effortlessly. Whether he was battling in the trenches or breaking down a blitz on air, he gave it everything he had.

And then there’s the reality sinking in for Steelers fans. A listener put it bluntly: “Wow @937theFan is reporting long-time #Steelers commentator Craig Wolfley has passed. So sad…”.

It’s not just about the loss of a broadcaster or former player; it’s about losing someone who made Steelers football feel like home. Wolfley would be the first to remind us that it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.