Pittsburgh Steelers

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This article is about the NFL team; for uses defining the worker, see Steel worker (disambiguation)
Pittsburgh Steelers
Current season
Established 1933 (1933)
Play in Heinz Field
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Headquartered in UPMC Sports Performance Complex
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Logo
League/conference affiliations

National Football League (1933–present)

Current uniform
Team colors

Black, Gold, White

              
Mascot Steely McBeam
Personnel
Owner(s) The Rooney Family
Chairman Dan Rooney
President Art Rooney II
General manager Kevin Colbert
Head coach Mike Tomlin
Team history
Championships

League championships (6)

Conference championships (8)

Division championships (20)

Playoff appearances (27)
Home fields
Team owner(s)
The Rooney family (1933–present)
Team president(s)

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). Founded in 1933, the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC. Pittsburgh has won more Super Bowl titles (six), won more AFC Championship Games (eight) and played in (fifteen) and hosted more (eleven) conference championship games than any other AFC or NFC team. The Steelers share the record for most Super Bowl appearances with the Dallas Cowboys (eight). The Steelers won their most recent championship, Super Bowl XLIII, on February 1, 2009.

The Steelers were founded as the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 8, 1933, by Art Rooney, taking its original name from the baseball team of the same name, as was common practice for NFL teams at the time.[1] The ownership of the Steelers has remained within the Rooney family since its founding.[2] The current owner is Art's son, Dan Rooney, who has given much control of the franchise to his son Art Rooney II. Long one of the NFL's flagship teams,[3] the Steelers enjoy a large, widespread fanbase nicknamed Steeler Nation.[4] The Steelers currently play their home games at Heinz Field on Pittsburgh's North Side in the North Shore neighborhood, which also hosts the University of Pittsburgh Panthers. Built in 2001, the stadium replaced Three Rivers Stadium which hosted the Steelers for 31 seasons. Prior to Three Rivers, the Steelers had played their games in Pitt Stadium and Forbes Field.

Franchise history

For more details on this topic, see History of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
See also: American football in Western Pennsylvania

The Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL first took to the field as the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 20, 1933, losing 23–2 to the New York Giants.[5] Through the 1930s, the Pirates never finished higher than second place in their division, or with a record better than .500 (1936).[6] Pittsburgh did make history in 1938 by signing Byron White, a future Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, to what was at the time the biggest contract in NFL history,[7] but he played only one year with the Pirates before signing with the Detroit Lions.[8] Prior to the 1940 season, the Pirates renamed themselves the Steelers.

During World War II, the Steelers experienced player shortages. They twice merged with other NFL franchises to field a team. During the 1943 season, they merged with the Philadelphia Eagles forming the "Phil-Pitt Eagles" and were known as the "Steagles". This team went 5–4–1. In 1944, they merged with the Chicago Cardinals and were known as Card-Pitt (or, mockingly, as the "Carpets").[7] This team finished 0–10, marking the only winless team in franchise history.[9]

The Steelers made the playoffs for the first time in 1947, tying for first place in the division at 8–4 with the Philadelphia Eagles. This forced a tie-breaking playoff game at Forbes Field, which the Steelers lost 21–0.[10] That would be Pittsburgh's only playoff game for the next 25 years; they did qualify for a "Playoff Bowl" in 1962 as the second-best team in their conference, but this was not considered an official playoff.[11]

In 1970, the year they moved into Three Rivers Stadium and the year of the AFL-NFL merger, the Pittsburgh Steelers were one of three old-guard NFL teams to switch to the newly formed American Football Conference (the others being the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Colts), in order to equalize the number of teams in the two conferences of the newly merged league. The Steelers also received a $3 million ($18 million today) relocation fee, which was a windfall for them; for years they rarely had enough to build a true contending team.[12]

The Chuck Noll era

For more details on this topic, see Chuck Noll.

The Steelers' history of bad luck changed with the hiring of coach Chuck Noll for the 1969 season. Noll's most remarkable talent was in his draft selections, taking Hall of Famers "Mean" Joe Greene in 1969, Terry Bradshaw and Mel Blount in 1970, Jack Ham in 1971, Franco Harris in 1972,[13] and finally, in 1974, pulling off the incredible feat of selecting four Hall of Famers in one draft year, Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, and Mike Webster.[14] The Pittsburgh Steelers' 1974 draft was their best ever; no other team has ever drafted four future Hall of Famers in one year, and only very few (including the 1970 Steelers) have drafted two or more in one year.

The players drafted in the early '70s formed the base of an NFL dynasty, making the playoffs in eight seasons and becoming the only team in NFL history to win four Super Bowls in six years, as well as the first to win more than two. They also enjoyed a regular season streak of 49 consecutive wins (1971–1979) against teams that would finish with a losing record that year.

The Steelers suffered a rash of injuries in the 1980 season and missed the playoffs with a 9–7 record. The 1981 season was no better, with an 8–8 showing. The team was then hit with the retirements of all their key players from the Super Bowl years. "Mean" Joe Greene retired after the 1981 season, Lynn Swann and Jack Ham after 1982's playoff berth, Terry Bradshaw and Mel Blount after 1983's divisional championship, and Jack Lambert after 1984's AFC Championship Game appearance.

After those retirements, the franchise skidded to its first losing seasons since 1971. Though still competitive, the Steelers would not finish above .500 in 1985, 1986, and 1988. In 1987, the year of the players' strike, the Steelers finished with a record of 8–7, but missed the playoffs. In 1989, they would reach the second round of the playoffs on the strength of Merrill Hoge and Rod Woodson before narrowly missing the playoffs in each of the next two seasons.

The Bill Cowher era

For more details on this topic, see Bill Cowher.

In 1992, Chuck Noll retired and was succeeded by Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Bill Cowher, a native of the Pittsburgh suburb of Crafton.

Steelers' five Super Bowl rings before 2009

Cowher led the Steelers to the playoffs in each of his first six seasons, a feat that had been accomplished only by legendary coach Paul Brown of the Cleveland Browns. In those first six seasons, Cowher coached them as deep as the AFC Championship Game three times and following the 1995 season an appearance in Super Bowl XXX on the strength of the "Blitzburgh" defense. However, the Steelers lost to the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX, two weeks after a thrilling AFC Championship victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Cowher produced the franchise's record-tying fifth Super Bowl win in Super Bowl XL over the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks ten years later. With that victory, the Steelers became the third team to win five Super Bowls, and the first sixth-seeded playoff team to reach and win the Super Bowl since the NFL expanded to a 12-team post-season tournament in 1990. He coached through the 2006 season which ended with a 8–8 record, just short of the playoffs. Overall Cowher's teams reached the playoffs 10 of 15 seasons with six AFC Championship Games, two Super Bowl berths and a championship.

The Mike Tomlin era

For more details on this topic, see Mike Tomlin.
Roethlisberger in a Steelers' throwback jersey during 500th franchise win

On January 7, 2007, Cowher resigned from coaching the Steelers, citing a need to spend more time with his family. He did not use the term "retire," leaving open a possible return to the NFL as coach of another team. A three-man committee consisting of Art Rooney II, Dan Rooney, and Kevin Colbert was set up to conduct interviews for the head coaching vacancy.[15] The candidates interviewed included: offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, offensive line coach Russ Grimm, former offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin, and Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. On January 22, 2007, Mike Tomlin was announced as Cowher's successor as head coach. Tomlin is the first African-American to be named head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers in its 75-year history. Tomlin became the third consecutive Steelers Head Coach to go to the Super Bowl, equaling the Dallas Cowboys (Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer) in this achievement. He was named the Motorola 2008 Coach of the Year. On February 1, 2009, Tomlin led the Steelers to their second Super Bowl of this decade, and went on to win 27–23 against the Arizona Cardinals. At age 36, he was the youngest head coach to ever win the Super Bowl, and he is only the second African-American coach to ever win the Super Bowl (Tony Dungy was the first). The 2010 season made Tomlin the only coach to reach the Super Bowl twice before the age of 40. Tomlin led the team to his second Super Bowl (Super Bowl XLV) on Feb. 6, 2011. However, the Steelers were defeated in their eighth Super Bowl appearance by the Green Bay Packers by the score of 31–25. The Steelers recorded their 400th victory in 2012 after defeating the Washington Redskins.[16]

Since the NFL merger in 1970, the Pittsburgh Steelers have compiled a regular season record of 363–235–2 (.607) and an overall record of 394–253–2 (.609) including the playoffs, reached the playoffs 25 times, won their division 20 times, played in 15 AFC championship games, and won six of eight Super Bowls. They are also the only NFL team not to have a season with twelve or more losses since the league expanded to a 16-game schedule in 1978.[17]

Ownership

Heinz Field, current home of the Pittsburgh Steelers

Since 2008, the Rooney family has brought in several investors for the team while retaining control of the team itself. This came about so that the team could comply with NFL ownership regulations.[18] Current Steelers Chairman, Dan Rooney, and his son, Art Rooney II, president of the franchise, wanted to stay involved with the franchise, while two of the brothers – Timothy and Patrick – wanted to further pursue racetracks that they own in Florida and New York.[19] Since 2006, many of the racetracks have added video slot machines, causing them to violate "NFL policy that prohibits involvement with racetrack and gambling interests".[20]

While Dan Rooney and Art Rooney II retain control of the team with the league-minimum 30%, the following make up the other investors:

Season-by-season records

For more details on this topic, see List of Pittsburgh Steelers seasons.

Through the end of the 2009 season, the Steelers have an all-time record of 565–529–21, including playoffs. In recent seasons the Steelers have generally performed well, qualifying for the playoffs six times in the past ten seasons and winning the Super Bowl twice since 2005.[25]

In the NFL's "modern era" (since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970) the Steelers have posted the best record in the league. The franchise has won the most regular season games, the most playoff games (33 playoff wins; the Dallas Cowboys are second with 32), won the most divisional titles (20), has played in the most conference championship games (15), hosted the most conference championship games (11), and is tied with the Dallas Cowboys for the most Super Bowl appearances(8). The Steelers have the best winning percentage (including every expansion team), earned the most All-Pro nominations, and have accumulated the most Super Bowl wins (6) since the modern game started in 1970. Since the merger, the team's playoff record is 33–19 (.635), which is second best in terms of playoff winning percentage behind the Green Bay Packers' playoff record of 28–16 (.636), through January 23, 2011. [citation needed]

Civil Rights Advocacy

The franchise, along with the Rooney family have for generations been strong advocates for equality of opportunity for both minorities and women. Among these achievements of the Steelers was the first to hire an African-American Assistant Coach (September 29, 1957 with Lowell Perry), the first to start an African-American quarterback (December 3, 1973 with Joe Gilliam), the first team to boast of an African-American Super Bowl MVP (January 12, 1975 with Franco Harris), the first to hire an African-American Coordinator (September 2, 1984 with Tony Dungy), the first owner to push for passage of an "equal opportunity" mandating that at least one minority candidate is given an interview in all head coach hiring decisions throughout the league (the Rooney Rule in the early 2000s), and the first to hire a female as full-time athletic trainer (Ariko Iso on July 24, 2002).
Note: Although Marlin Briscoe is sometimes erroneously cited as the first African-American starting quarterback in 1968, this was not for an NFL team and not in an NFL game, additionally the vast majority of Briscoe's career was not as quarterback.

Logo and uniforms

For more details on this topic, see Logos and uniforms of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
US Airways logo jet featuring the colors of the Pittsburgh Steelers
The script logo.
The Steelers have used black and gold as their colors since the club's inception, the lone exception being the 1943 season when they merged with the Philadelphia Eagles and formed the "Steagles"; the team's colors at that time were green and white as a result of wearing Eagles uniforms. Originally, the team wore solid gold-colored helmets and black jerseys. Unique to Pittsburgh[citation needed], the Steelers' black and gold colors are now shared by all major professional teams in the city, including the Pittsburgh Pirates in baseball and the Pittsburgh Penguins in ice hockey, and also the Pittsburgh Power of the reformed Arena Football League, and the Pittsburgh Passion of the Independent Women's Football League. However, the Penguins currently use "Vegas Gold", a color similar to metallic gold, and the Pirates' gold is a darker mustard yellow-gold, while the Steelers "gold" is more of a bright canary yellow. Black and gold are also the colors of the city's official flag.
Steelers logo, 1963–present

The Steelers logo was introduced in 1962 and is based on the "Steelmark", originally designed by Pittsburgh's U.S. Steel and now owned by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). In fact, it was Cleveland-based Republic Steel that suggested the Steelers adopt the industry logo. It consists of the word "Steelers" surrounded by three astroids (hypocycloids of four cusps). The original meanings behind the astroids were, "Steel lightens your work, brightens your leisure, and widens your world." Later, the colors came to represent the ingredients used in the steel-making process: yellow for coal, red for iron ore, and blue for scrap steel.[26] While the formal Steelmark logo contains only the word "Steel," the team was given permission to add "ers" in 1963 after a petition to AISI.

The Steelers are the only NFL team that puts its logo on only one side of the helmet (the right side). Longtime field and equipment manager Jack Hart was instructed to do this by Art Rooney as a test to see how the logo appeared on the gold helmets; however, its popularity led the team to leave it that way permanently.[27] A year after introducing the logo, they switched to black helmets to make it stand out more.

The Steelers, along with the New York Giants, are one of only two teams in the National Football League to have the players' uniform numbers on the front and back of the helmets.

The current uniform designs were introduced in 1968. The design consists of gold pants and either black jerseys or white jerseys, except for the 1970 and 1971 seasons when the Steelers wore white pants with their white jerseys. In 1997, the team switched to rounded numbers on the jersey to match the number font (Futura Condensed) on the helmets, and a Steelers logo was added to the left side of the jersey.

The current third uniform, consisting of a black jersey with gold lettering, white pants with black and gold stripes, and a gold helmet were first used during the Steelers' 75th anniversary season in 2007. They were meant to evoke the memory of the 1963–1964 era uniforms. The uniforms were so popular among fans that the Steeler organization decided to keep them and use them as a third option during home games only.

In 2008–2009, the Steelers became the first team in NFL history to defeat an opponent three times in a single season using three different uniforms.[citation needed] They defeated the Baltimore Ravens in Pittsburgh in Week 4 in their third jerseys, again Week 15 in Baltimore in their road whites, and a final time in the AFC Championship in Pittsburgh in their home black jerseys.

In 1978, the team owners were approached by then-Iowa Hawkeyes Head Coach Hayden Fry about designing his fading college team's uniforms in the image of the Steelers. Three days later, the owners sent Fry home and away reproduction jerseys of then quarterback Terry Bradshaw. Today, the Hawkeyes still retain the 1978 Steelers uniforms as their home, and away colors.

Rivals

The Pittsburgh Steelers have three primary rivals, all within their division: (Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and Cincinnati Bengals). They also have rivalries with other teams that arose from post-season battles in the past, most notably the New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys. They also have an intrastate rivalry with the Philadelphia Eagles, but under the current scheduling the teams play each other only once every four years.

Divisional rivals

  • The Cleveland Browns and the Steelers have been divisional rivals since the two cities' teams began playing against each other in 1950. After posting a 9–31 record in the first 40 games of the series between the two cities, the Steelers recently took over the all-time series lead for the first time ever (64–56); partly due to their dominance over the post-1999 Cleveland Browns franchise and won twelve straight before the Browns snapped their losing skid against them by beating them 13–6 on December 10, 2009. Additionally, the Browns lost 16 straight years in Pittsburgh from 1970–1985 and posted an abysmal 5–24 record at Three Rivers Stadium overall. Former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher coached the Browns special teams and secondary before following Marty Schottenheimer for a brief tenure as Kansas City Defensive Coordinator, and then hired by Pittsburgh. This has only intensified the rivalry.
  • The Baltimore Ravens and the Steelers have had several memorable match-ups and have a bitter divisional rivalry. Both teams handed the other their first losses at their current home fields. The Steelers won the inaugural game played at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium in 1998, 20–13, and three years later the Ravens handed the Steelers their first-ever loss at Heinz Field, 13–10. Later that season (2001) Pittsburgh won a divisional playoff game 27–10 against Baltimore, who was the defending Super Bowl champion. During their NFL championship season in 2000, the Ravens defeated the Steelers in Pittsburgh, 16–0, in the season opener with the Steelers later exacting revenge, 9–6, in Baltimore (the Ravens' final loss of the season). During the Steelers 2008 Championship run, they beat the Ravens three times, including a win in the AFC Championship game. The Steelers lead the series (begun in 1996), 16–10. The two teams complement each other by consistently fielding strong defenses in their division.
  • The Bengals–Steelers rivalry dates from the 1970 season, when the AFL-NFL merger was completed. In 1976, the Steelers kept their playoff hopes alive (they later won the division) with a late-season 7–3 win in snowy Cincinnati. One of the most memorable games was the 2005 AFC Wildcard playoff game, in which the Steelers, en route to a Super Bowl title, won a 31–17 come-from-behind victory after Bengals QB Carson Palmer was forced to leave the game with a knee injury. The injury happened when nose tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen contacted Palmer's knee during a passing play. The Bengals players called this a dirty play; the NFL ruled that it was accidental and did not fine von Oelhoffen for the hit. This incident has led to an intensifying of the rivalry since this game. The Bengals beat the Steelers in week 13 of the 2005 season 38–31, and wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh used a Terrible Towel to polish his cleats while walking up the tunnel after the game, fueling the rivalry. The Steelers and Bengals finished 2005 and 2006 with identical records (11–5 and 8–8 respectively), splitting both regular-season series, the Bengals winning the tiebreaker both years due to having a superior division record. The Steelers also are responsible for ending the Bengals' season in Cincinnati two years in a row, eliminating them from the playoffs in 2005 and taking them out of contention in 2006. The Steelers lead the all-time series, 52–32.

Historic rivals

  • The rivalry between the Steelers and Oakland Raiders was one of the most heated of the 1970s and early to mid-1980s. The Steelers' first playoff win was a 13–7 victory over the Raiders by way of Franco Harris's Immaculate Reception on December 23, 1972. The wild card Pittsburgh football team was knocked out of the playoffs the following year by the Raiders in the 1973 AFC Divisional round 33–14, but fired back with two straight AFC Championships in 1974 24–13 and 1975 16–10 over Oakland. Oakland responded with a victory over Pittsburgh in the 1976 AFC Championship game 24–7 (the third consecutive AFC title game between the two teams), but not before Chuck Noll referred to Oakland's George Atkinson as part of the NFL's "criminal element" after his alleged cheap-shot on Lynn Swann during a regular-season matchup. Atkinson and the Raiders later filed a defamation of character lawsuit against Noll, but lost. Following the 1983 regular season, the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Steelers 38–10 in the AFC Divisional round which turned out to be the last NFL game for Steeler NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw who did not play due to injury. While the rivalry has dissipated over the years (mostly due to Oakland's decline in recent seasons), the teams have had notable games against each other including an upset Steelers victory towards the end of the 2000 season to prevent the Raiders from obtaining homefield advantage in the playoffs, and an upset Raiders victory in week 8 of the 2006 NFL season (20–13), which helped cost the Steelers a playoff berth. The teams met at Pittsburgh in 2010, where the Steelers blew out the Raiders 35–3, and ended their 3-game winning streak. The Raiders then hosted the Steelers in 2012 and erased a 31–21 gap to win 34–31. The two clubs met again in 2013 and the Raiders won again, 21–18. The Steelers trail the all-time series 14–12 (11–9 in regular season).
  • The Cowboys–Steelers rivalry started with the Cowboys' first game as a franchise in 1960 (against the Steelers) at the Cotton Bowl with the Steelers coming away with a 35–28 victory. These teams hold a record for the most times (three) that two teams have met in a Super Bowl. The first two times the favored Steelers and Cowboys met came with Pittsburgh victories in the Orange Bowl Super Bowl X 21–17 and Super Bowl XIII 35–31. The Cowboys never won a regular season game in the Orange Bowl and lost three Super Bowl games (once to the Baltimore Colts and twice to the Steelers). Between the Cowboys and Steelers, Super Bowl XIII had the greatest number of future Pro Football Hall of Fame players participating, which as of 2010 numbered 20 – 14 players and six coaches/front office, including Ernie Stautner, defensive coordinator for the Cowboys who was a HoF defensive tackle for the Steelers. The teams featured an all-star matchup at quarterback between the Steelers' Terry Bradshaw and the Cowboys' Roger Staubach, both of whom are in the Hall of Fame. In 1977, Staubach and the Cowboys won Super Bowl XII, their second and last loss of their season being inflicted by Bradshaw and the Steelers, 28–13 at Three Rivers Stadium in November. In 1979, Staubach's final season, the two defending conference champs met again at Three Rivers, the Steelers winning 14–3 en route to winning their fourth Super Bowl title. The Steelers won six of eight meetings during the 1970s and 80s, before the Cowboys won all four meetings during the 1990s, including the teams' record third Super Bowl meeting in 1996, as this time the heavily favored Cowboys beat the Steelers 27–17. Dallas cornerback Larry Brown intercepted Pittsburgh quarterback Neil O'Donnell twice and was named the game's MVP. The teams' first two meetings of the 21st century (2004 and 2008) were won by the Steelers, including a come from behind victory December 7, 2008 in Pittsburgh, when the Steelers drove the length of the field to tie the game 13–13, then cornerback Deshea Townsend returned an intercepted pass from Tony Romo for the game's final score, Steelers 20, Cowboys 13. The all-time series is tied, 15–15. The Pittsburgh/Dallas rivalry served as a backdrop to the 1977 film Black Sunday, parts of which were filmed during Super Bowl X.
  • The Denver Broncos in 2011 broke a tie with the Oakland Raiders for the most playoff meetings versus the Steelers (the Broncos have met Pittsburgh seven times to Oakland's six). The rivalry dates from 1970, but the first notable contest came in 1973, when Denver dealt Pittsburgh its first regular-season defeat at Three Rivers Stadium, 23–13. The following year, they met in the NFL's first regular-season overtime game, which ended in a 35–35 tie. Denver's first playoff game had them hosting the Steelers in the 1977 divisional round; the Broncos won 34–21. The following year, the Steelers hosted and defeated Denver 33–10 in the divisional round. Their next playoff matchup was the 1984 divisional round in Mile High Stadium; the Steelers pulled the upset 24–17. They nearly pulled the upset again 5 years later in Denver, but the Broncos prevailed in the divisional playoff, 24–23. In 1997, they met in Pittsburgh for the AFC Championship Game, where Denver squeaked out at 24–21 win. Eight years later, the Steelers went to the Super Bowl by beating Denver 34–17 in Colorado, only to have their campaign to repeat as AFC Champions dashed in Denver after a stunning overtime upset by the Tim Tebow lead Broncos in January 2012. As of February 2012, Denver holds a 17–10–1 lead in the series, including 4–3 in the playoffs. Neither team has beaten the other more than three times in a row.
  • The rivalry between the Steelers and the New England Patriots emerged as a prominent rivalry in league circles when the Patriots upset the Steelers in the 2001 AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh did not exact revenge for the loss until ending the Patriots record-setting 21-game winning streak in week 6 of the 2004 NFL season. Later that season, the Steelers lost to the eventual champion Patriots in the AFC Championship game after a 15–1 season. The two also had a brief rivalry in the mid-1990s when the Steelers and Patriots split playoff meetings in 1996 and 1997, in which the Patriots had two young stars with Pittsburgh-area roots with Ty Law and Curtis Martin. Martin played his last game as a Patriot against the Steelers in the second playoff game before signing with the rival New York Jets during the offseason, where he became more well known. The Patriots won 6 of 7 meetings over a ten-year period (1998–2007) before the Steelers broke through with a 33–10 victory at Foxborough in 2008, after Matt Cassel had turned the ball over five times. The Steelers lead the all-time regular season series, 13–8. The Patriots in 2013 then made history by becoming the first opponent to score 55 points on the Steelers, winning 55–31. In the postseason, the Patriots have outscored the Steelers 99 points to 58, with the Patriots maintaining a 3–1 record. The only other franchises with winning AFC playoff records against Steelers include the Miami Dolphins (2–1, both wins in the AFC Championship), the Kansas City Chiefs (1–0), San Diego Chargers (2–1, all games played in Pittsburgh), the Jacksonville Jaguars (1–0, game at Heinz Field), and the Broncos (4–3). The Steelers have an all-time record of 14–11 against the Patriots.
  • Less well known is Pittsburgh's rivalry with the Houston Oilers-Tennessee Titans franchise. The Oilers were aligned into the AFC Central with the Steelers in 1970 and were division rivals for 32 seasons. The Steelers dominated the rivalry during the Houston era and defeated the Oilers in three playoff matchups. But since the franchise moved to Tennessee the rivalry shifted, with the Titans winning 13 of 20 meetings (including a bitter 34–31 playoff showdown in 2002) post-Houston. The Steelers have won 44 of 76 career meetings to date.

Culture

Mascot

Steely McBeam signing autographs for fans at Steelers training camp on August 2, 2007

Prior to the 2007 season, the Steelers introduced Steely McBeam as their official mascot.[28] As part of the 75th anniversary celebrations of the team, his name was selected from a pool of 70,000 suggestions submitted by fans of the team.[28] Diane Roles of Middlesex Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania submitted the winning name which was "meant to represent steel for Pittsburgh's industrial heritage, "Mc" for the Rooney family's Irish roots, and Beam for the steel beams produced in Pittsburgh, as well as for Jim Beam, her husband's favorite alcoholic beverage."[29] Steely McBeam is visible at all home games and participates in the team's charitable programs and other club-sponsored events.[28] Steely's autograph is known to be drawn with an oversized 'S' and the "L" is drawn to look like a beam of steel.[28]

Fanbase

Main article: Steeler Nation

The Steelers have a tradition of having a large fanbase, which has spread from Pittsburgh. In August 2008, ESPN.com ranked the Steelers' fans as the best in the NFL, citing their "unbelievable" sellout streak of 299 consecutive games.[4][30] The team gained a large fan base nationally based on its success in the 1970s, but many consider the collapse of the city's steel industry at the end of the '70s dynasty into the 1980s (and the resulting diaspora) to be a large catalyst for the size of the fan base in other cities.[citation needed] The Steelers have sold out every home game since the 1972 season.[31]

The Pittsburgh Steelers have numerous unofficial fan clubs in many cities throughout the country, that typically meet in bars or taverns on game days. This phenomenon is known to occur for other NFL teams as well, but "Steeler bars" are more visible than most, including representative establishments even in cities that field their own NFL teams.

Sailors and Marines aboard the USS Essex react as the Pittsburgh Steelers score against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Terrible Towel has been described by the Associated Press as "arguably the best-known fan symbol of any major pro sports team".[31] Conceived of by broadcaster Myron Cope in 1975,[31] the towel's rights have since been given to the Allegheny Valley School in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, which cares for over 900 people with intellectual disability and physical disabilities, including Cope's autistic son.[32] Since 1996, proceeds from the Terrible Towel have helped raise more than $2.5 million for the school.[32]

Fight songs

The Steelers have no official fight song, but many fan versions of Here we go Steelers and the Steelers Polka (the latter a parody of Pennsylvania Polka) by ethnic singer Jimmy Pol, both originating in the 1970s, have been recorded. Since 1994, the song Here We Go by local singer Roger Wood has been popular among fans. During Steelers games, Styx's Renegade is often used to rally the crowd. Also, considered the fight song of the Pittsburgh Steelers is as of the 2010 NFL season is Black and Yellow by Wiz Khalifa.

Nicknames

The Steelers have several nicknames, most notably "The Black and Gold" and the Pittsburghese dialect "Stillers" or "Stihllers". Founder Art Rooney was almost always referred to by the nickname "The Chief" and Three Rivers Stadium as the "Blast Furnace" during the championship years of the 1970s. [citation needed]

Basketball

During the offseason, the Steelers have long participated in charity basketball games throughout Western Pennsylvania and neighboring areas. The games usually feature six active players as well as their player-coach playing against a group of local civic leaders.[33] The players, whose participants aren't announced until the day the game, sign free autographs for fans during halftime.[34]

Facilities

Stadiums

In 2001, the Steelers moved into Heinz Field. The franchise dating back to 1933 has had several homes. For thirty-one seasons, the Steelers shared Forbes Field with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1933 to 1963. In 1958, though they started splitting their home games with the football only Pitt Stadium three blocks away at the University of Pittsburgh. From 1964 to 1969, the Steelers played exclusively at the on campus facility before moving with the Pirates to Three Rivers Stadium on the city's Northside. Three Rivers is remembered fondly by the Steeler Nation as where Chuck Noll and Dan Rooney turned the franchise into a powerhouse, winning four Super Bowls in just six seasons and making the playoffs 11 times in 13 seasons from 1972 to 1984, the AFC title game seven times. Since 2001 however a new generation of Steeler greats has made Heinz Field legendary with multiple AFC Championship Games being hosted and two Super Bowl championships.

Training camp

Steelers at training camp in Latrobe

The Steelers hold training camp east of the city at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The site is one of the most storied in the league with Peter King of SI.com describing it as: "... I love the place. It's the perfect training-camp setting, looking out over the rolling hills of the Laurel Highlands in west-central Pennsylvania, an hour east of Pittsburgh. On a misty or foggy morning, standing atop the hill at the college, you feel like you're in Scotland. Classic, wonderful slice of Americana. If you can visit one training camp, this is the one to see.[35]

The team has its headquarters and practice facilities at the state-of-the-art University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sportsplex on Pittsburgh's Southside. Constructed in 2000 the facility combines the vast expertise of sports medical professionals and researchers as well as hosting the University of Pittsburgh Panthers football team. [citation needed]

Historical facilities

The Rooney family has long had a close relationship with Duquesne University in the city and from the teams founding in the 1930s to the late 1990s used Art Rooney Field and other facilities on campus as either its primary or secondary in-season training site as well as Greenlee Field during the 1930s.[36]

In the 1970s and 1980s, the team had season scrimmages at South Park in the suburban south hills of Pittsburgh. During various seasons including the strike season of 1987, the Steelers used Point Stadium in nearby Johnstown, Pennsylvania for game week practices.[37] During the 1950s St. Bonaventure University[38] and suburban Ligonier[39] also served as a pre-season training camp sites.

Statistics

Further information: Pittsburgh Steelers statistics

Players

Main article: List of Pittsburgh Steelers players

Current roster

Pittsburgh Steelers roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists
  • Currently empty

Unrestricted FAs

Exclusive-Rights FAs

Rookies in italics
Roster updated January 28, 2014
Depth Chart • Transactions
62 Active, 0 Inactive, 22 FAs

→ More rosters

AFC East
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MIA
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CIN
CLE
PIT
South
HOU
IND
JAX
TEN
West
DEN
KC
OAK
SD
NFC East
DAL
NYG
PHI
WAS
North
CHI
DET
GB
MIN
South
ATL
CAR
NO
TB
West
ARI
STL
SF
SEA

Retired uniform numbers

Pittsburgh Steelers retired numbers
N° Player Position Seasons Ref.
70 Ernie Stautner DT 1950–63 [40]

Although the Steelers have retired only one number to date (Stautner's #70), other numbers are no longer issued since the retirement of the players that wore them:[41]

Pro Football Hall of Famers

The Steelers boast the third most "primary" inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They also can claim the most honorees of any franchise founded on or after 1933 and the only franchise with three members of ownership in the Hall.

Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Famers [42]
No. Name Year Inducted Position(s) Years w/ Steelers Ref.
– Bell, BertBert Bell 1963 Co-owner
Head coach 		1941–1946
1941		[43]
47 Blount, MelMel Blount 1989 CB 1970–1983 [44]
12 Bradshaw, TerryTerry Bradshaw 1989 QB 1970–1983 [45]
80 Butler, JackJack Butler 2012 CB 1951–1959 [46]
63 Dawson, DermonttiDermontti Dawson 2012 C 1988–2000 [47]
35 Dudley, BillBill Dudley 1966 RB, DB 1942, 1945–1946 [48]
75 Greene, Joe"Mean" Joe Greene 1987 DT 1969–1981 [49]
59 Ham, JackJack Ham 1988 LB 1971–1982 [50]
32 Harris, FrancoFranco Harris 1990 RB 1972–1983 [51]
35 Johnson, John HenryJohn Henry Johnson 1987 RB 1960–1965 [52]
35 Kiesling, WaltWalt Kiesling 1966 G
Head coach 		1936–1938 (player);
1939–1944, 1954–1956 (coach) 		[53]
58 Lambert, JackJack Lambert 1990 LB 1974–1984[54]
22 Layne, BobbyBobby Layne 1967 QB 1958–1962 [55]
– Noll, ChuckChuck Noll 1993 Head coach 1969–1991 [56]
– Rooney, ArtArt Rooney 1964 Founder, Owner 1933–1988 [57]
– Rooney, DanDan Rooney 2000 Executive, Owner 1975–present [58]
82 Stallworth, JohnJohn Stallworth 2002 WR 1974–1987 [59]
70 Stautner, ErnieErnie Stautner 1969 DT 1950–1963 [60]
88 Swann, LynnLynn Swann 2001 WR 1974–1982 [61]
52 Webster, MikeMike Webster 1997 C 1974–1988 [62]
26 Woodson, RodRod Woodson 2009 DB 1987–1996 [63]

Award recipients

Steelers in the Hall for contributions elsewhere

Steelers in the Hall for contributions elsewhere[42]
No. Name Year Inducted Steeler Position(s) Years w/ Steelers Impact Team(s) Impact Position(s) Ref.
†Cal Hubbard 1963 Offensive Tackle 1936Green Bay Packers Offensive Tackle [65]
† John "Blood" McNally 1963 Fullback 1934
1937–1938		Green Bay Packers Fullback [66]
36 Motley, MarionMarion Motley 1968 Fullback 1955 Cleveland Browns Fullback [67]
16 Dawson, LenLen Dawson 1987 Quarterback 1957–1959 Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback [68]
7 Jim Finks 1995 Quarterback 1949–1955 Vikings, Bears, Saints Team Administrator [69]
— Dick LeBeau 2010 defensive coordinator 1992–1996
2004–present 		Lions Cornerback [70]

Pro Bowl players

The following Steelers players have been named to the Pro Bowl:

League MVPs

Steelers players who have been named the league MVP:

Defensive Player of the Year Awards winners

Steelers players who have been named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year:

Rookie of the Year Award winners

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Steelers players who have been named the Offensive Rookie of the Year:

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Steelers players who have been named the Defensive Rookie of the Year:

Super Bowl MVPs

The following Steelers players have been named Super Bowl MVP:

All-time team

In 2007, in celebration of the franchise's 75th season, the team announced an updated All-Time team of the 33 best players who have ever played for the Steelers.[73] This team supplanted the previous All-Time team of 24 players named as part of the 50th anniversary commemoration in 1982.[74]

A "Legends team" consisting of the club's best pre-1970's players was released concurrently with the latest All-Time team.[75]

Further information: Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team

Dapper Dan Sportsman of the Year

The regional Dapper Dan Charities has since 1939 named the "Sportsman of the Year" in the Pittsburgh region. 18 Steelers have won the award in 22 events:

  • 1941 Aldo Donelli
  • 1942 Bill Dudley
  • 1946 Bill Dudley
  • 1950 Joe Geri
  • 1952 Red Dawson
  • 1955 John Michelosen
  • 1962 Lou Michaels
  • 1962 John Michelosen
  • 1968 Dick Hoak
  • 1972 Chuck Noll
  • 1974 Joe Greene
  • 1975 Terry Bradshaw
  • 1977 Franco Harris
  • 1984 John Stallworth
  • 1985 Louis Lipps
  • 1992 Bill Cowher
  • 1994 Bill Cowher
  • 1997 Jerome Bettis
  • 2001 Kordell Stewart
  • 2005 Jerome Bettis
  • 2004 Ben Roethlisberger
  • 2008 Mike Tomlin

Coaches

Main article: List of Pittsburgh Steelers head coaches

The Steelers have had sixteen coaches through their history. Their first coach was Forrest Douds, who coached them to a 3–6–2 record in 1933. Chuck Noll had the longest term as head coach with the Steelers; he is one of only four coaches to coach a single NFL team for 23 years.[1] Hired prior to the 2007 season, the Steelers current coach is Mike Tomlin.[76]

Current staff

Pittsburgh Steelers staff
Front Office
  • Chairman – Dan Rooney
  • President – Art Rooney II
  • Vice President – Art Rooney, Jr.
  • General Manager – Kevin Colbert
  • Director of Football and Business Administration – Omar Khan
  • Player Personnel Coordinator – Dan Rooney, Jr.
  • College Scouting Coordinator – Phil Kreidler
  • Pro Personnel Coordinator – Brandon Hunt

Head Coaches

Offensive Coaches

  

Defensive Coaches

Special Teams Coaches

Strength and Conditioning

  • Strength and Conditioning – Garrett Giemont
  • Conditioning Assistant – Marcel Pastoor


→ Coaching Staff
→ Management
→ More NFL staffs

AFC East
BUF
MIA
NE
NYJ
North
BAL
CIN
CLE
PIT
South
HOU
IND
JAX
TEN
West
DEN
KC
OAK
SD
NFC East
DAL
NYG
PHI
WAS
North
CHI
DET
GB
MIN
South
ATL
CAR
NO
TB
West
ARI
STL
SF
SEA

Media

Map of radio affiliates.
Further information: Pittsburgh Steelers Radio Network

As of 2006, the Steelers' flagship radio stations were WDVE 102.5 FM and WBGG 970 AM. Both stations are owned by Clear Channel Communications. Games are also available on 51 radio stations in Pennsylvania, Western Maryland, Ohio, and Northern West Virginia.[77] The announcers are Bill Hillgrove and Tunch Ilkin. Craig Wolfley is the sideline reporter. Myron Cope, the longtime color analyst and inventor of the "Terrible Towel", retired after the 2004 season, and died in 2008.

Pre-season games not shown on one of the national broadcasters are seen on CBS O&O KDKA-TV, channel 2; sister CW O&O WPCW, channel 19; and Root Sports Pittsburgh. KDKA-TV's Bob Pompeani and former Steelers lineman Edmund Nelson do the announcing for the pre-season games, as well as the two hosting the pre-game program Steelers Kickoff during the regular season prior to the national airing of The NFL Today. The two also host the Steelers Postgame Extra following the game on days when CBS does not have that week's NFL doubleheader. Coach Mike Tomlin's weekly press conference is shown live on Root Sports Pittsburgh.

National NFL Network broadcasts are shown locally on KDKA-TV or sister station WPCW (which shows KDKA-TV's normal CBS programming when KDKA shows the game, during which normal CW programming is pre-empted), while national ESPN broadcasts are shown locally on WTAE-TV, channel 4. (WTAE-TV is owned by the Hearst Corporation, which owns a 20% stake in ESPN.) By virtue of being members of the AFC, most of the Steelers' games air on CBS except for home games against NFC opponents, which air locally on WPGH-TV, which is a Fox affiliate.

The team announced a one-year agreement with Mexico City radio station XHM-FM to bring Steelers games in Spanish on the radio in Mexico. The Steelers are only the third NFL team with a Spanish radio affiliate in Mexico.[78]

Figures with broadcasting resumés

Main article: List of Pittsburgh Steelers figures in broadcasting

The Steelers franchise has a rich history of producing well-known sportscasters over the years. The most famous of these is probably Myron Cope, who served as a Steelers radio color commentator for 35 seasons (1970–2004).

Several former Steelers players have gone on to careers in media after completing their playing careers.

Newspaper

The Steelers Digest is the only official newspaper for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It has been published for 22 years and is currently published by Dolphin/Curtis Publishing in Miami, FL, which also handles several other publications. The newspaper is very widely acknowledged by Steelers fans. Issues are mailed out to paying subscribers weekly through the season after every regular season game and continues through playoffs as long as the Steelers do. After a Super Bowl victory, a bonus issue is published, which is followed by a draft preview, draft recap, and training camp edition every other month, then leading into the pre-season. There are typically 24 issues of the paper within a publishing year. The newspaper is listed on the official Steelers.com page.

Usage in popular culture

The Steelers success over several decades has permeated film and literature. The Steelers are portrayed in the following big-budget Hollywood films:

See also

  • Active NFL playoff appearance streaks

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Steelers history". PittsburghSteelers.com. Retrieved May 6, 2008. 
  2. ↑ ESPN.com (2007-06-08). "ESPN.com – The Best: Owner". Sports.espn.go.com. Retrieved 2012-09-03. 
  3. ↑ What happened to the flagship 49ers?
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mosley, Matt (August 29, 2008). "NFL's best fans? We gotta hand it to Steelers (barely)". ESPN. Retrieved August 30, 2008. 
  5. ↑ Team – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  6. ↑ PDF File: NFL Past Standings
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Official site of the Pittsburgh Steelers – Team History
  8. ↑ :The U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals:
  9. ↑ World War II Steagles to be honored at tonight's game – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
  10. ↑ Pittsburgh Steelers Team Encyclopedia – Pro-Football-Reference.com
  11. ↑ The Playoff Bowl (Bert Bell Benefit Bowl)
  12. ↑ Sherrington, Kevin (February 1, 2011). "Dallas meeting in '66 saved Steelers from stinking". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved February 6, 2011. 
  13. ↑ Pittsburgh Steelers Draft History, Stats and more on databaseFootball.com
  14. ↑ History: 1974 Draft – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  15. ↑ Official site of the Pittsburgh Steelers – Article
  16. ↑ "Steelers' 400th Win In The NFL Comes Against The Redskins". CBS Local. 2012-10-29. Retrieved 2012-10-29. 
  17. ↑ "San Diego Chargers vs. Denver Broncos – Recap – January 02, 2011 – ESPN". Scores.espn.go.com. 2011-01-02. Retrieved 2012-09-03. 
  18. ↑ "Steelers Ownership Transition". PittsburghSteelers.com. July 7, 2008. Retrieved July 13, 2008. 
  19. ↑ "Rooneys look to restructure Steelers ownership". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 7, 2008. Retrieved July 13, 2008. 
  20. ↑ Dulac, Gerry (July 8, 2008). "Steelers ownership in turmoil". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 13, 2008. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 ESPN – NFL approves Rooney's ownership plan
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Browns owner Haslam sells stock in Steelers – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Post-gazette.com (2013-04-11). Retrieved on 2013-07-23.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2
  24. ↑ Steelers Add Partner To Ownership Group
  25. ↑ "Pittsburgh Steelers Franchise Encyclopedia". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved April 8, 2010. 
  26. ↑ AISI | The Story Behind the Pittsburgh Steelers Logo
  27. ↑ Official site of the Pittsburgh Steelers – Logo History
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 Dvorchak, Robert (August 9, 2007). "Catching up with their competitors, the Steelers christen a mascot". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 27, 2008. 
  29. ↑ Byko, Maureen (August 19, 2007). "Middlesex grandmother won Steelers 'Name the Mascot' contest". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 27, 2008. 
  30. ↑ "ESPN ranks Steelers fans No. 1". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. August 30, 2008. Retrieved August 30, 2008. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 "Steelers' former radio announcer Myron Cope dies at 79". USA Today. Associated Press. February 28, 2008. Retrieved June 7, 2008. 
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Allegheny Valley School Mourns the Loss of Myron Cope". Allegheny Valley School. February 27, 2008. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved February 29, 2008. 
  33. ↑ "Youngstown News, Steelers to play basketball in Poland". Vindy.com. 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2012-09-03. 
  34. ↑ "Steelers to play basketball game April 22 at Behrend | GoErie.com/Erie Times-News". Goerie.com. Retrieved 2012-09-03. 
  35. ↑ "Postcard from camp: Steelers"; accessed 08-20-2010.
  36. ↑ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search
  37. ↑ , Pittsburgh Press 09-24-1987
  38. ↑ "Butler recalls when Steelers cut Unitas at St. Bona – Press Coverage | The Buffalo News". Blogs.buffalonews.com. 2012-08-03. Retrieved 2013-01-31. 
  39. ↑ The Washington Reporter - Google News Archive Search
  40. ↑ "Only One Retired Number", Time.com, 4 February 2011
  41. ↑ Grdnic, Dale. Pittsburgh Steelers Glory Days. ISBN 978-1613213292. 
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 Franchises – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  43. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  44. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  45. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  46. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Famer
  47. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Famer
  48. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  49. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  50. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  51. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  52. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  53. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  54. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  55. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  56. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  57. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  58. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  59. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  60. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  61. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  62. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  63. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Famer
  64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 Bouchette, Ed (August 6, 2007). "Steelers Notebook: Players pushing LeBeau for Canton". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved March 30, 2010. 
  65. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  66. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  67. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  68. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  69. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  70. ↑ Member – Pro Football Hall of Fame
  71. ↑ "Joe F. Carr Trophy (MVP) winners". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 30, 2010. 
  72. ↑ "National Football League MVPs". ESPN. January 2, 2009. Retrieved March 30, 2010. 
  73. ↑ "Steelers Announce All-Time Team as Part of Club's 75th Season Celebration". Steelers.com. October 2007. Retrieved March 19, 2010. 
  74. ↑ Robinson, Alan (October 24, 2007). "1970s stars dominate Steelers all-time team". USA Today. Retrieved March 19, 2010. 
  75. ↑ "Steelers Announce Legends Team as Part of 75th Season Celebration Twenty-Four Honored as Best Pre-1970's Players in Club History". Steelers.com. October 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2010. 
  76. ↑ Dulac, Gerry (January 18, 2007). "Tomlin, 34, is NFL's rising coaching star". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 27, 2008. 
  77. ↑ Official site of the Pittsburgh Steelers – Broadcasts
  78. ↑ "Pittsburgh Steelers | News". News.steelers.com. 2012-04-28. Retrieved 2012-09-03. 
  79. ↑ http://www.superbowlconcierge.com/Super_Bowl_IX.html

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