Pioneering Former Steelers, Pitt Player Dies

PITTSBURGH, PA — Jimmy Joe Robinson, who broke racial barriers as the first Black varsity football player at the University of Pittsburgh, has died.

He was 97.
During his time with the Panthers (1945, 1947–48), he led the team in rushing, receiving, and scoring to emerge as one of the top performers on the field.

"Jimmy Joe didn't just wear the uniform—he wore the weight of history, and he
carried it with strength and grace," Pitt head football coach Pat Narduzzi. said in a statement. 'He helped change this program forever."

Robinson was drafted by the Cleveland Browns following his collegiate career. After a stint in professional football, he served in the Korean War before returning home to play briefly for the Steelers.