Pat Brady grew up in Seattle in the 1930s and '40s. He went to O'Dea High School and spent time at both Everett Community College and Seattle University.

He doesn't live in the area any longer, but Seattle still occupies a special place in the 79-year-old's heart. On Super Bowl Sunday, however, he'll be waving a Terrible Towel.

So why is a Seattle native who now calls Reno, Nev., home rooting for Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl?

The answer is quite simple. Brady, though hardly a household name to most football fans, is one of the Steelers' all-time greats.

When the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette named its all-time Steelers team in 1982 to commemorate the franchise's 50th season, Brady was named the punter.

His road from Seattle to Pittsburgh was hardly direct.

After serving in the Air Force during World War II, Brady briefly returned to Seattle. One of his officers in the Air Force knew the coach at the University of Nevada, Joe Sheetketski, so Brady hitchhiked to Reno and enrolled in school.

He later transferred to Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. After college, he was drafted by the New York Giants, but ended up playing professionally in Canada for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

In 1952, Brady left Canada to join the Steelers. He played only four seasons and missed out on the team's Super Bowl glory by two decades, but during his time in Pittsburgh he was considered one of the league's top punters.

"I've played all over the place," said Brady, who still keeps in touch with Art Rooney Jr., whose dad owned the team during Brady's playing days. "But the Steelers are my team. I love Seattle, and I still try to get back there to visit, but I'll be cheering for the Steelers Sunday. It's going to be a hell of a game, though."

When his playing days ended, Brady returned to Reno with his wife Odile. He worked in the printing business, and later owned a casino for 20 years before retiring three years ago.

More Seahawks / NFL headlines...