[3][2][7][8][6] He played football at Kent State University (1970–73), winning two first-team All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) linebacker honors.

[5] Kent State awards the Jack Lambert Cup annually to the most improved player on defense.

[12] (Lambert played quarterback at Crestwood HS before switching to defensive end at Kent State.)

[6] The Steelers took a chance on Lambert when he replaced injured middle linebacker Henry Davis.

[15] In 1975, future hall of fame defensive tackle Joe Greene suffered from groin and nerve injuries and missed all or part of five regular season games; even considering retirement.

In the ensuing championship game, Lambert was all over the field, recovering a record three fumbles in the Steelers' victory.

Loren Toews became the regular starter at the other inside linebacker position late in Lambert's career.

According to Steelers media guides,[citation needed] Lambert averaged 146 tackles per season through his 10th year.

[29] In a nine-year span, Jack Lambert was named to nine straight Pro Bowls and was NFL Defensive Player of the Year once.

[6] Although he had a removable partial denture he wore in public, he did not wear it during games,[33] and pictures of Lambert's toothless snarl became an iconic image of the famous Steeler defense.

[12][13][34] In 1976, Lambert assumed the role as leader of the Steelers after star defensive tackle "Mean Joe" Greene missed several games due to a chronic back injury.

[23][22]) After quarterback Terry Bradshaw, receiver Lynn Swann and several other starters went down with injuries,[citation needed] the Steelers struggled to a 1–4 record.

[22][35][36][37]) At a "players only" meeting, Lambert made it clear that "the only way we are going to the playoffs to defend our title is to win them all from here out.

"[This quote needs a citation] In a remarkable nine-game span, the Steelers defense allowed only two touchdowns and a total of 28 points, including five shutouts.

[38][39] The defense gave up only a league leading 138 points for the entire season, and allowed the fewest yards.

[44] In a first, all three of the Steelers starting linebackers (Lambert, Jack Ham and Andy Russell), were named Pro Bowl starters.

[5] Lambert married his wife, Lisa Harbison, a former volleyball player for Clemson University, in 1988.

Once, when asked by a sports reporter if he thought his parents' divorce as a small child affected him, Lambert replied, "'I'm sure it did ... but I don't think it's the business of readers of The Pittsburgh Press.

[citation needed] From 1991 to 2018, the Jack Lambert Trophy was an annual award given by the Touchdown Club of Columbus to the top American collegiate linebacker.

The Steelers have only retired three jersey numbers: 70, 75 and 32, worn by Ernie Stautner, Joe Greene and Franco Harris respectively.

[62] Adding to Lambert's mystique has been his reclusiveness in retirement; aside from his Hall of Fame induction and the Steelers last game at Three Rivers Stadium, Lambert has rarely made any public appearances related to football, preferring to live a private life.