Table of Contents
Pittsburgh Steelers
Oldest Franchise in the AFC
The Steelers were founded in 1933, making them the oldest team in the AFC.1)
Original Name Was the Pirates
When Art Rooney founded the team, they were called the Pittsburgh Pirates, like the city's baseball team.2)
Renamed the Steelers in 1940
The name change paid homage to Pittsburgh’s steel industry.3)
Six-Time Super Bowl Champions
The Steelers have won six Super Bowls (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2005, 2008).4)
Only NFL Team with Three Head Coaches in Over 50 Years
Chuck Noll (1969-1991), Bill Cowher (1992-2006), and Mike Tomlin (2007-present).5)
The Immaculate Reception
Franco Harris' legendary catch in the 1972 playoffs is one of the most famous plays in NFL history.6)
First Team to Win Four Super Bowls
They achieved this feat by winning four titles in six seasons (1974-1979).7)
Steel Curtain Defense
The 1970s Steelers’ defense, led by legends like Mean Joe Greene, was one of the most dominant ever.8)
Terry Bradshaw: First QB with Four Rings
Bradshaw was the first quarterback to win four Super Bowls.9)
Franco Harris’ Super Bowl MVP
Harris was the first African American and Italian American to win a Super Bowl MVP (Super Bowl IX).10)
Hines Ward: Super Bowl MVP
Ward, a Steelers legend, was named MVP of Super Bowl XL.11)
Ben Roethlisberger’s Rookie Magic
Big Ben won all 13 of his regular-season starts as a rookie in 2004, an NFL record.12)
Longest Regular-Season Winning Streak
The Steelers had an 18-game winning streak spanning the 2004-2005 seasons.13)
Won Super Bowl XL as a No. 6 Seed
They became the first sixth-seeded team to win a Super Bowl (2005 season).14)
Home to the First African American QB to Win a Super Bowl
Doug Williams was the first African American QB to win, but Joe Gilliam started for the Steelers in 1974.15)
The Terrible Towel Tradition
Created by broadcaster Myron Cope in 1975, the Terrible Towel is an iconic Steelers symbol.16)
Most Wins on Monday Night Football
The Steelers have one of the best Monday Night Football records in NFL history.17)
Longest-Tenured Coach in Steelers History
Chuck Noll coached for 23 seasons, winning four Super Bowls.18)
Steelers Helped Merge the AFL & NFL
In 1943, they temporarily merged with the Philadelphia Eagles to form the “Steagles” due to World War II.19)
First Team with a Female Owner
After Dan Rooney passed away, his wife Patricia Rooney became a co-owner.20)
The Rooney Rule Originated with the Steelers
Named after Dan Rooney, it requires NFL teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching positions.21)
Mike Tomlin: Youngest Super Bowl-Winning Coach
Tomlin won Super Bowl XLIII at age 36, making him the youngest head coach to win.22)
Heinz Field’s Record Crowd
Over 68,000 fans packed Heinz Field for an AFC Championship Game in 2009.23)
One of the Most Expensive Franchises
The Steelers are valued at over $4 billion.24)
Only NFL Team with a Logo on One Side of the Helmet
Their unique logo placement honors a 1962 equipment experiment.25)
Black and Gold Unity
Pittsburgh’s teams (Steelers, Penguins, Pirates) all wear black and gold—the only U.S. city with a single color scheme for all major teams.26)
First Team to Wear Numbers on Helmets
In the 1950s, the Steelers added numbers to their helmets, a short-lived but notable trend.27)
Franchise Record 8 Super Bowl Appearances
They’ve played in eight Super Bowls, winning six.28)
Home of Hall of Famers
The Steelers have over 30 Hall of Famers, including Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, and Troy Polamalu.29)
Steelers Once Drafted Johnny Unitas
They cut the legendary quarterback before he ever played a game.30)