AUTOGRAPHS

The Pittsburgh Steelers A Historic NFL Team

Of all the franchises in the NFL, the Steelers are the 5th oldest..In 1933, the team was founded and went by the name of the Pirates..  That was the same name as the city’s baseball team and it was common for NFL teams to do that.The team’s name was changed to the Steelers before the 1940 season had begun..
For the first time in their history, the Steelers made the play-offs in 1947..The Steelers were shut out by the Eagles 21-0 in their first ever play-off game. That game would be their last play-off game for the next 25 years..

Before the 1969 started, the Steelers hired Chuck Noll as their new coach. In 1970, the Steelers moved thier games to a new stadium known as Three Rivers Stadium..Chuck Noll had some great talents as a coach, but drafting was his greatest talent..Noll drafted 9 Hall of Fame Players from 1969 up until the 1974 season..Noll’s greatest draft was in 1974, when he selected 4 Hall of Fame players in one draft..  A record that will probably never be broke.
The Steelers started winning because of great drafting..The Immaculate Reception is one of the most famous plays in all of sports and that play also clinched the Steelers first ever play-off win..  The score was 7-6 Raiders with seconds left in the game.  On 4th and 10, QB Terry Bradshaw throws a pass downfield that looks like it was broken up and the game would end.The pass actually hit off a Raiders defender and went backwards. Then a shoestring grab was made by the Steelers first year running back Franco Harris. Harris wasted no time to get into the endzone to win the game for the Steelers..Some argue whether or not the play was legal, however the win started the Steelers dynasty of the 70′s..The Steelers pretty much dominated the 70′s. Winning 4 Super Bowls in 6 years, and going to the play-offs 8 of 10 years..

The Steelers were a mediocre football team for much of the 80′s.Chuck Noll retired and Bill Cowher took over the Steelers coaching job in 1992..Cowher and the Steelers were able to reach the play-offs his first 6 seasons as coach..The legendary Paul Brown was the only other coach ever to accomplish that feat..Cowher was able to get passed the Colts in the AFC Championship game, but lost to the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX during the ’95 season..  10 years later, Cowher and the Steelers made it back to the Super Bowl.The Steelers were able to defeat the Seahawks 21-10 for 5th Super Bowl championship tying the 49ers and Cowboys..  The following season the Steelers went 8-8 and Cowher resigned from the head coaching job.  His teams made the play-offs 10 of the 15 seasons, with 6 AFC Championship Games, and 2 Super Bowls, and 1 Super Bowl win.

On Janauary 22nd 2007, the Steelers named Mike Tomlin as their new head coach..  Tomlin was the first African-American coach in the Steelers 75 year history.  His first season as the Steelers coach he lead them to a 10-6 record and to the play-offs.  The Steelers lost to the Jaguars in the AFC Wild Card Game however.The Steelers went 12-4 in 2008. They made their way to the Super Bowl and defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27-23..Tomlin became the youngest coach ever to win the Super Bowl..The Steelers now have more Super Bowl trophies than any other franchise with 6 after that win..  2009 the Steelers finished 9-7 and missed the play-offs.2010, the Steelers finished the season with a 12-4 record and made it back to the Super Bowl..The Packers hung on to the lead and defeated the Steelers 31-25 for the Steelers 2nd Super Bowl loss..The Cowboys and Steelers are now tied with 8 Super Bowl appearances, that is more than any other NFL teams..

The Steelers success is bound to continue because of the great owership they have with the Rooney family..  Steelers fans can show their Steelers pride with one of the Pittsburgh Steelers Watches from Game Time.

Steelers Hall of Fame