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Pittsburgh Steelers Team History The Pittsburgh Steelers have more history than almost any other NFL team, being the fifth oldest NFL team currently in existence, after the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, New York Giants and Arizona (By way of Chicago and St. Louis) Cardinals. Founded by Art Rooney, whose name has become synonymous with football ownership, the Steelers began in 1933 as the Pittsburgh Pirates, taking part in the tradition at the time of naming football franchises based on the corresponding baseball club.
Rooney made history for the first time in 1938 when the team signed running back Byron “Whizzer” White to a $15,800 contract, at the time the biggest contract in NFL history. White distinguished himself not only in the football field but in government, as he is the only NFL player every to both lead the league in rushing and serve on the United States Supreme Court.
In 1940, Rooney changed the name of the team to the Pittsburgh Steelers to reflect the city’s “Steel town” pride, steel work being a major industry in Pittsburgh. This brought with it a winning atmosphere; as the team went on to post their first winning record, 7-4, in 1942.
World War II meant belt-tightening, and in the case of the Steelers this meant temporary mergers to fill out the rosters devastated by the draft. The Phil-Pitt “Steagles” (Steelers-Eagles) took the field in 1943, and Card-Pitt (Steelers-Cardinals) took their shot in 1944.
In 1957, the Steelers made history again by hiring Lowell Perry as the NFL’s first African-American head coach. Buddy Parker was hired as the head coach and the team enjoyed some limited success on the arm of Hall of Fame Quarterback Bobby Layne.
The birth of the dynasty that the Pittsburgh Steelers are known as today began in 1969, when Chuck Noll was hired as head coach. Noll used the draft as his own personal dream team recruiting machine, eventually selecting nine players who would end up in the Hall of Fame, including defensive end “Mean” Joe Greene, quarterback Terry Bradshaw, linebacker Jack Ham, running back Franco Harris and wide receiver Lynn Swan. These players and other stars combined to form one of the most dominant teams in football history. The Steel Curtain defense stopped opposing offenses cold while Bradshaw’s golden arm rarely failed to find Swann open for a big play. Plays like the “immaculate reception,” where an errant pass “magically” appeared in the arms of Franco Harris who ran for a playoff winning touchdown, only added to the Steelers growing legend.
By the time the smoke cleared, Noll and Bradshaw’s Steelers had an unprecedented four Super Bowl rings to their credit, in 1975, 1976, 1978 and 1979, with victories in Super Bowl IX over the Minnesota Vikings (16-6), Super Bowls X and XIV over the Dallas Cowboys (21-17 and 35-31), and the Super Bowl XV over the Los Angeles Rams (31-19).
The Steelers of the ‘80s had little hope of living up to the legend of “the team of the decade,” and after a number of disappointing seasons, Chuck Noll retired in 1991. Young Bill Cowher picked up the reigns at the age of 34 and began a new winning era for the Steelers. They won their division in 1992 and Cowher was named Coach of the Year. In 1994 Cowher’s Steelers made it to the AFC Championship game and in the 1995-1996 season, they went all the way to Super Bowl XXX, but were not able to earn the “one for the thumb,” fifth Super Bowl ring due to some stellar defensive play by MVP Larry Brown and a loss to the Cowboys, 27-17.
In 2000, the Steelers moved from historic Three Rivers Stadium to their current home, Heinz Field. The move did not seem to dampen the team’s spirit too much, as they finally got over the playoff hump to make it back to the Super Bowl in 2006. This time, the heavens aligned and the Steelers, utilizing stars such as workhorse running back Jerome “The Bus” Bettis, quarterback “Big” Ben Roethlisberger and sure-handed receiver Hines Ward earned their coveted fifth Super Bowl with a 21-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. Bill Cowher, no doubt having done all he set out to do with the team, resigned, leaving 34 year old Mike Tomlin to lead Pittsburgh to future glory.
Pittsburgh Steelers Memorable Moments
September 20, 1933
The Pittsburgh Pirates make their pro football debut in a game against the New York Giants.
December 23, 1972
The “Immaculate Reception.” In the AFC Divisional Playoffs, the Steelers got their first post-season win after a late-game pass from Terry Bradshaw bounced off of Frenchy Fuqua and Raider Jack Tatum into the hands of a charging Franco Harris. Harris ran for a score and sealed the victory for the Steelers.
January 12, 1975
The Steelers win their first championship after defeating the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX.
January 18, 1976
Pittsburgh wins it’s second consecutive championship after Lynn Swann puts up 161 yards against the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl X.
January 15, 1978
Pittsburgh defeats the Dallas Cowboys 35-31. Terry Bradswhaw was named MVP as the Steelers became the first franchise to win three Super Bowls
January 20, 1980
Steelers beat up the LA Rams 31-19 to win Super Bowl XIV. Terry Bradshaw wins his second consecutive Super Bowl MVP Award.
February 5, 2006
The Steelers win one for the thumb by taking out the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. The Final score was 21-10. Pittsburgh Steelers Records
All-time regular season franchise record: 505 - 482 - 20
All-time playoff franchise record: 28 - 18
All-time franchise passing leader: Terry Bradshaw - 27989 yards
All-time franchise rushing leader: Franco Harris - 11950 yards
All-time franchise receiving leader: John Stallworth - 8723 yards
Pittsburgh Steelers Playoff Results
2005
AFC Wildcard Game: won 31 - 17 at Cincinnati Bengals
AFC Divisional Playoff: won 21 - 18 at Indianapolis Colts
AFC Championship Game: won 34 - 17 at Denver Broncos
Super Bowl: won 21 - 10 vs. Seattle Seahawks
2004
AFC Divisional Playoff: won 20 - 17 vs. New York Jets
AFC Championship Game: lost 27 - 41 vs. New England Patriots
2002
AFC Wildcard Game: won 36 - 33 vs. Cleveland Browns
AFC Divisional Playoff: lost 31 - 34 at Tennessee Titans
2001
AFC Divisional Playoff: won 27 - 10 vs. Baltimore Ravens
AFC Championship Game: lost 17 - 24 vs. New England Patriots
1997
AFC Divisional Playoff: won 7 - 6 vs. New England Patriots
AFC Championship Game: lost 21 - 24 vs. Denver Broncos
1996
AFC Wildcard Game: won 42 - 14 vs. Indianapolis Colts
AFC Divisional Playoff: lost 3 - 28 at New England Patriots
1995
AFC Divisional Playoff: won 40 - 21 vs. Buffalo Bills
AFC Championship Game: won 20 - 16 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Super Bowl: lost 17 - 27 vs. Dallas Cowboys
1994
AFC Divisional Playoff: won 29 - 9 vs. Cleveland Browns
AFC Championship Game: lost 13 - 17 vs. San Diego Chargers
1993
AFC Wildcard Game: lost 24 - 27 at Kansas City Chiefs
1992
AFC Divisional Playoff: lost 3 - 24 vs. Buffalo Bills
1989
AFC Wildcard Game: won 26 - 23 at Houston Oilers
AFC Divisional Playoff: lost 23 - 24 at Denver Broncos
1984
AFC Divisional Playoff: won 24 - 17 at Denver Broncos
AFC Championship Game: lost 28 - 45 at Miami Dolphins
1983
AFC Divisional Playoff: lost 10 - 38 at Los Angeles Raiders
1982
AFC Wildcard Game: lost 28 - 31 vs. San Diego Chargers
1979
AFC Divisional Playoff: won 34 - 14 vs. Miami Dolphins
AFC Championship Game: won 27 - 13 vs. Houston Oilers
Super Bowl: won 31 - 19 at Los Angeles Rams
1978
AFC Divisional Playoff: won 33 - 10 vs. Denver Broncos
AFC Championship Game: won 34 - 5 vs. Houston Oilers
Super Bowl: won 35 - 31 at Dallas Cowboys
1977
AFC Divisional Playoff: lost 21 - 34 at Denver Broncos
1976
AFC Divisional Playoff: won 40 - 14 at Baltimore Colts
AFC Championship Game: lost 7 - 24 at Oakland Raiders
1975
AFC Divisional Playoff: won 28 - 10 vs. Baltimore Colts
AFC Championship Game: won 16 - 10 vs. Oakland Raiders
Super Bowl: won 21 - 17 at Dallas Cowboys
1974
AFC Divisional Playoff: won 32 - 14 vs. Buffalo Bills
AFC Championship Game: won 24 - 13 at Oakland Raiders
Super Bowl: won 16 - 6 at Minnesota Vikings
1973
AFC Divisional Playoff: lost 14 - 33 at Oakland Raiders
1972
AFC Divisional Playoff: won 13 - 7 vs. Oakland Raiders
AFC Championship Game: lost 17 - 21 vs. Miami Dolphins
1947
NFL Divisional Playoff: lost 0 - 21 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
All-time playoff record: 28 - 18
SOURCE: Pro Football Reference |
Pittsburgh Steelers
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Pittsburgh Steelers HISTORY 
