ONE
In 1933, Pittsburgh native Art Rooney founded a professional football team that joined the NFL. Named after the city’s baseball team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team finished their inaugural season with a 3-6-2 record. In 1940, the Pirates became the Steelers - referencing Pittsburgh’s legacy in the steelworks industry. Over the next 34 seasons, Pittsburgh only had recorded eight winning seasons - making the playoffs just once, where they lost 21-0 at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1947. During World War Two, the Steelers merged with two different teams during two different seasons, combining with the Eagles in 1943 and the Chicago Cardinals in 1944.
Pittsburgh Steelers Logo
TWO
In 1969, Art Rooney made a decision that would change NFL history - hiring Chuck Noll as the team’s new head coach. Thanks to Noll’s innate ability to spot talent in the NFL Draft, a period of Steelers dominance began - starting in 1969, when Pittsburgh drafted defensive lineman Joe Greene with the fourth overall pick. The Steelers then used the first overall pick in the 1970 NFL Draft to select quarterback Terry Bradshaw, before drafting defensive back Mel Blount in the third round. In 1971, the team added to their now highly-talented roster with the selection of linebacker Jack Ham - followed by running back Franco Harris in 1972. All five of the aforementioned players were eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Noll’s most impressive feat, however, came in 1974 when he acquired four future Hall of Famers in one draft - receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, linebacker Jack Lambert, and center Mike Webster.
Terry Bradshaw, Quarterback 1970-1983
THREE
In the 1970s, the Pittsburgh Steelers were almost unstoppable - with their immense defensive line going down in history as the ‘Steel Curtain’. Pittsburgh joined the AFC as part of the AFL/NFL merger in 1970 and made their first playoff appearance in 25 years in 1972 - taking on the Oakland Raiders in a game that went down in history. Down 7-6 with just over 20 seconds left, Bradshaw launched the ball down the field in desperation. After bouncing off either his teammate, or an Oakland defender, the play appeared dead and the game lost. Suddenly, Franco Harris grabbed the ball - having chased after Bradshaw’s pass - before sprinting into the endzone to win the first playoff game in Steelers franchise history. The ‘Immaculate Reception’, as it became known, perfectly epitomised their unwillingness to admit defeat, and built the confidence that birthed one of the NFL’s greatest dynasties.
Joe Greene, Defensive Tackle 1969-1981
FOUR
The Pittsburgh Steelers dominated the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX in 1975. Minnesota managed to move the ball just 119 yards all game, whereas Franco Harris had 158 rushing yards alone. The game ended 16-6, and the Steelers won their first-ever title. They repeated as champions the following year after beating the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl X, as Lynn Swann became the first wide receiver to be named Super Bowl MVP in their 21-7 victory. The Steelers failed to return to the Super Bowl in the next two seasons, but re-found their form in 1978. The team allowed just 15 points in the playoff games ahead of Super Bowl XIII - a game which they won 35-31 against the defending champions, the Dallas Cowboys. Then, for the second time in four years, Pittsburgh defended their Super Bowl title - defeating the Los Angeles Rams 31-19 in Super Bowl XIV.
Pittsburgh Steelers Helmet
FIVE
Few have done more for the NFL than Art Rooney and his family. The Rooneys have always been known as strong supporters of inclusivity and diversity within the league, and in 1957, hired the NFL’s first African-American assistant coach. In 1974 they were the first to start an African-American quarterback in the season opener and had the first African-American Super Bowl MVP in Franco Harris. After Art Rooney died in 1988, his son, Dan, inherited ownership of the team and followed in his father’s footsteps. In 2003, the NFL established the ‘Rooney Rule, which means NFL teams have to interview at least one ethnic minority candidate when recruiting for head coaching and football operations positions. The Rooney family has served the NFL for as long as the Steelers have been a part of it. When Dan Rooney died in 2017, his son, Art II became the owner.
Art Rooney II, Owner 2017-Present
SIX
After a decade of dominance, the Pittsburgh Steelers had something of a decline in the 1980s - with many of the dynasty’s key players retiring. In the 1987 NFL Draft, the team held the tenth overall pick, using it on defensive back and future Steelers legend, Rod Woodson. Woodson, a now-Hall of Famer, retired with an NFL record of 12 interceptions returned for touchdowns. In 1991, after 23 years as head coach, Chuck Noll retired. He was replaced by Bill Cowher, and the Steelers made the playoffs in each of his first six seasons - even making an appearance in Super Bowl XXX. Pittsburgh soon added two key pieces offensively, trading for Jerome Bettis in 1996 before drafting Hines Ward - who would retire as the team’s all-time leader in receiving touchdowns - in 1998. Following Woodson’s departure in 1997, Pittsburgh were in desperate need of a new star safety along with a franchise quarterback. True to the storied reputation, Pittsburgh found both pieces in the NFL Draft - selecting safety Troy Polamalu in 2003, and signal-caller Ben Roethlisberger in 2004.
Troy Polamalu, Safety 2003-2014
SEVEN
Under Cowher, the Pittsburgh Steelers formed a new reputation, this time as a team that couldn’t win big games. In the 2005 postseason, the Steelers faced the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional round. With 1:20 remaining, they found themselves leading 21-18. However, rather than taking a knee to secure victory, Ben Roethlisberger handed the ball to the sure-handed Jerome ‘The Bus’ Bettis - who promptly fumbled. Indianapolis’ Nick Harper picked up the ball and raced towards Pittsburgh’s endzone, but somehow, Roethlisberger got to Harper’s legs - saving a touchdown with a tackle at the Colts’ 42-yard line. The Steelers eventually won the game, thanks in large part to the ‘Immaculate Redemption’. After defeating the Denver Broncos 34-17 in the AFC Championship Game, Pittsburgh made Super Bowl XL. In a game overshadowed by controversial refereeing decisions, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 to win their fifth Lombardi Trophy. Hines Ward was named Super Bowl MVP, and Bettis retired after winning his first ring. When Pittsburgh were unable to defend their title the following season, Cowher followed Bettis into retirement.
EIGHT
The Pittsburgh Steelers hired their third head coach in 39 years when Mike Tomlin was appointed in 2007. In only his second season in charge, he led the Steelers to Super Bowl XLIII where they faced the Arizona Cardinals. The Steelers were up 20-7 at the start of the fourth quarter, but Arizona mounted a furious comeback to lead 23-20 with 2:37 left in the game. The Steelers offense answered, and drove down to Arizona’s six-yard line. In the dying stages of the game, ‘Big Ben’ Roethlisberger threw a dramatic touchdown pass to receiver Santonio Holmes to claim a 27-23 victory. The Steelers became the first team to win six Super Bowls, and Tomlin the then-youngest head coach to ever reach and subsequently win a Lombardi Trophy. Tomlin took Pittsburgh back to the Super Bowl two years later, where they took on the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV. Tomlin couldn’t repeat his previous efforts, and Pittsburgh lost, 31-25. One thing Tomlin could repeat, however, was winning. In Tomlin’s 17 years in charge of the Steelers, the team has never finished with a losing record.
Ben Roethlisberger, Quarterback 2004-2021
NINE
In 2010, The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted wide receiver Antonio Brown and in 2013, the team selected running back Le’Veon Bell. Brown and Bell soon combined with Ben Roethlisberger to form the ‘Killer B’s’. In their five seasons together, the Killer B’s made four playoff appearances, including a trip to the AFC Championship Game in 2017. The trio broke up soon after. Bell refused to sign a contract in 2018 and joined the New York Jets the following year. Brown had numerous scandals in the league before playing his last down in 2021. The remaining B - Ben Roethlisberger - retired from the game in 2021, prompting the team to draft Kenny Pickett as his successor. Despite maintaining Tomlin’s non-losing season streak, the Steelers made the decision to move off of Pickett following a turbulent 2023 season. With the signings of nine-time Pro Bowler, Russell Wilson and former first-round pick Justin Fields, 2024 brings a new era under center in Pittsburgh.
BEFORE YOU GO
Thanks to their four Super Bowl wins in the seventies, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a large and loud fanbase, nicknamed ‘Steeler Nation’. Steeler Nation has become famous for their use of the ‘Terrible Towel’ - with the image of fans waving the yellow cloth at games an iconic piece of NFL fan culture.
Pittsburgh fans have ensured that every single Steelers home game has sold out since 1972 - even when the team moved from Three Rivers Stadium to Heinz Field in 2001.
Valued by Forbes at $4.63 billion in 2023, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the 18th most valuable franchise in the NFL.
