NFL hero Terry Bradshaw saves trapped plane passengers and gets thanks from pilot | NFL | Sport

Terry Bradshaw reportedly saved the day by busting open a plane door which was jammed shut for half an hour. The NFL legend was sitting on the front row of the plane, which arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport on Thursday, when he shocked passengers and forced the door open at the age of 76.

Bradshaw won four Super Bowl crowns with the Pittsburgh Steelers and established himself as a legend across 13 years with the franchise. The former No. 1 draft pick was also named the NFL’s most valuable player in 1978, and led the league in passing touchdowns in two separate seasons.

American football veteran Bradshaw is now more commonly known as a prominent member of the Fox Sports punditry team, and he is regularly seen on US television screens. He was believed to be on his way to take part in Mel Blount’s celebrity roast when he encountered the troublesome plane door.

A passenger told CBS News Pittsburgh that people on the plane had joked about Bradshaw being too old to remedy the situation in the way he could have done in his physical prime. But they were quick to eat their words, and the pilot was quick to offer up words of gratitude.

They said: “The pilot announced and you could kind of hear he was chuckling as he said it, but he said ‘thanks to the strength of one of our passengers, we were finally able to get the door open’ and I think we all knew he was alluding to Mr. Bradshaw.

“I mean honestly I was just ready to get off the flight, but the guy next to me had made the joke that they should have him bust down the door and I was like, ‘well maybe he could a few years ago’, so I’m definitely eating my words.”

Bradshaw has been named Master of Ceremonies for Mel Blount’s comedy roast, which has been held to mark half a century since the Steelers’ first Super Bowl triumph.

Unsurprisingly, Bradshaw was instrumental in that 1974 win, completing nine of his 14 passes and producing a fourth-quarter touchdown pass against the Minnesota Vikings which put the game to bed.