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Pittsburgh Steelers

From Alfawiki
Pittsburgh Steelers
Company typeProfessional sports franchise
IndustryAmerican football
FoundedJuly 8, 1933; 93 years ago (1933-07-08)
FounderArt Rooney
Headquarters
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
,
United States
Area served
United States
OwnerRooney family
Websitewww.steelers.com

The Pittsburgh Steelers represent a professional American football franchise located in Pittsburgh. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as part of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. Established in 1933, the team holds the distinction of being the oldest franchise within the AFC and ranks seventh in age across the entire NFL.

Although the team struggled prior to the AFL–NFL merger, the Steelers have evolved into one of the league's most accomplished organizations, particularly noted for their dominant run during the 1970s. They are tied with the New England Patriots for the highest number of Super Bowl victories, each securing six titles. Additionally, Pittsburgh has participated in eight Super Bowls, a record matched by the Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, and San Francisco 49ers. The Steelers also lead all NFL teams in both appearances and hosting duties for conference championship games.

Initially known as the Pittsburgh Pirates, after the city's Major League Baseball team, the franchise was created by Art Rooney on July 8, 1933. To avoid confusion with the baseball Pirates, local press began calling them the Rooneymen, a nickname that persisted even after they adopted the Steelers name. The Rooney family has maintained ownership since the team's inception; Art Rooney's son Dan Rooney managed operations from 1988 until his passing in 2017, with leadership responsibilities currently shared by Dan’s son, Art Rooney II.

The Steelers boast a passionate and extensive fanbase referred to as Steeler Nation. Their home contests take place at Acrisure Stadium on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, a venue inaugurated in 2001 to succeed Three Rivers Stadium. Acrisure Stadium also serves as the home field for University of Pittsburgh Panthers football. Previous stadiums include Forbes Field, Pitt Stadium, and Three Rivers Stadium.

Rooney family era (1933–present)

The franchise made its debut as the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 20, 1933, suffering a 23–2 defeat against the New York Giants. During the 1930s, the Pirates never finished above second place in their division nor achieved a winning season. In 1938, Pittsburgh gained attention by signing Byron White—who would later become a U.S. Supreme Court Justice—to what was then the NFL’s largest contract; however, White played only one season before transferring to the Detroit Lions. Prior to the 1940 campaign, the team officially changed its name to the Steelers.

World War II led to player shortages that forced temporary mergers: in 1943, they combined with the Philadelphia Eagles to form the "Steagles," finishing with a 5–4–1 record; and in 1944 merged with the Chicago Cardinals as "Card-Pitt," resulting in an 0–10 season—the only winless record in franchise history.

The Steelers qualified for their first playoff appearance in 1947 by tying for first place in their division with an 8–4 record but were defeated in a tiebreaker game against the Philadelphia Eagles. This was their only playoff berth before the AFL-NFL merger; they also participated in an unofficial Playoff Bowl in 1962.

In 1970, coinciding with their relocation to Three Rivers Stadium and following the AFL-NFL merger, Pittsburgh joined the newly established American Football Conference alongside rivals Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Colts to balance league alignment. The team received a $3 million relocation fee—a substantial financial influx that facilitated building a competitive roster after years of limited resources.

Chuck Noll era (1969–1991)

The Steelers' trajectory transformed dramatically with the appointment of Chuck Noll as head coach for the 1969 campaign, arriving from the NFL champion Baltimore Colts. Noll demonstrated exceptional skill in talent acquisition through the draft, selecting future Hall of Famers such as "Mean" Joe Greene in 1969, followed by Terry Bradshaw and Mel Blount in 1970, Jack Ham in 1971, and Franco Harris in 1972. His 1974 draft class was unprecedented, bringing in four eventual Hall of Famers: Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, and Mike Webster, a record-setting achievement unmatched in NFL history.

These pivotal drafts during the early 1970s laid the foundation for a dominant era, resulting in eight playoff appearances and capturing four Super Bowl championships within six seasons—the highest number achieved by any franchise at that time. Additionally, from 1971 through 1979, the Steelers maintained an impressive 49-game regular-season winning streak against teams that concluded their seasons with losing records.

The 1980 season was hampered by injuries, leading to a 9–7 outcome and missing the playoffs, followed by an even 8–8 finish in 1981. Subsequently, the team witnessed the retirement of several cornerstone players from its championship years: Greene in 1981, Swann and Ham in 1982, Bradshaw and Blount in 1983, and Lambert in 1984.

After these departures, the Steelers endured their first losing campaigns since 1971, failing to achieve a winning record in 1985, 1986, and 1988. During the strike-shortened 1987 season, they posted an 8–7 record but did not qualify for postseason play. In 1989, bolstered by talents like Merrill Hoge and Rod Woodson, Pittsburgh advanced to the second round of the playoffs but narrowly missed postseason qualification over the next two years, marking the closing chapter of Noll’s coaching career.

Chuck Noll ended his coaching stint with a cumulative record of 209–156–1, having established one of the NFL’s most successful organizations through astute drafting and effective leadership.

Bill Cowher era (1992–2006)

Following Chuck Noll’s retirement in 1992, defensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs, Bill Cowher, a native of Pittsburgh’s suburb Crafton, was appointed head coach.

Cowher directed the Steelers to postseason appearances in each of his initial six seasons—a milestone previously reached only by legendary coach Paul Brown. Throughout this span, his squads contested three AFC Championship Games and made an appearance in Super Bowl XXX after the 1995 season, driven by the formidable "Blitzburgh" defense. The Steelers were defeated by the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX, following a memorable AFC Championship victory over the Indianapolis Colts. A decade later, Cowher led Pittsburgh to its fifth Super Bowl triumph—tying a franchise record—by defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. This win positioned the Steelers as only the third team to claim five Super Bowls and marked them as the first sixth-seeded playoff team to win since the NFL expanded its postseason to twelve teams in 1990. Cowher concluded his tenure after the 2006 season with an 8–8 record and narrowly missing playoff qualification. His overall leadership encompassed ten playoff berths across fifteen seasons, six AFC Championship appearances, two Super Bowl participations, and one championship title.

Cowher’s final record with Pittsburgh stood at 149–90–1 during regular seasons and an overall mark of 161–99–1 including playoff contests.

Mike Tomlin era (2007–present)

On January 7, 2007, Bill Cowher stepped down as head coach of the Steelers, citing family considerations while leaving open the possibility of returning to NFL coaching in the future. The search for his successor was overseen by a committee composed of Art Rooney II, Dan Rooney, and Kevin Colbert. On January 22, 2007, the team appointed Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin as head coach, marking the franchise’s first African-American head coach. In his debut season, Tomlin led Pittsburgh to a 10–6 record and secured the AFC North title, though they were defeated by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wild Card Round.

The following year, the Steelers improved their record to 12–4, captured the division crown again, and advanced through playoff victories against the Chargers and Ravens to reach the Super Bowl. On February 1, 2009, Tomlin became the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl when Pittsburgh triumphed 27–23 over the Arizona Cardinals; he was also just the second African-American coach to achieve this feat. The 2009 season ended with a 9–7 record and no postseason appearance.

In 2010, Tomlin guided the Steelers to another 12–4 finish and an AFC North championship. The team won playoff games against Baltimore and New York but fell short in Super Bowl XLV against Green Bay. The 2011 campaign saw a repeat 12–4 record but concluded with an overtime loss to Denver in the Wild Card Round. Pittsburgh celebrated its 400th franchise victory in 2012 but finished with an even 8–8 record, missing out on playoff contention.

The Steelers recorded back-to-back 8–8 seasons in both 2012 and 2013 before reclaiming the AFC North title in 2014 with an 11–5 mark; however, their postseason run ended with a Wild Card loss. Returning to the playoffs in 2015 after a 10–6 season, Pittsburgh defeated Cincinnati but was eliminated by Denver. The following year, they once again won the division at 11–5 and advanced to the AFC Championship game, where they were defeated by New England. In 2017, the Steelers achieved a franchise-best regular-season record of 13–3 and captured the AFC North title but were ousted by Jacksonville during the playoffs.

Pittsburgh failed to qualify for postseason play in both 2018 (9–6–1) and 2019 (8–8). The Steelers began strong in 2020 with an NFL-leading 11–0 start but ultimately finished 12–4 and lost to Cleveland in the Wild Card Round. In the 2021 season, Pittsburgh posted a 9–7–1 record and earned a playoff berth but was eliminated by Kansas City. That year also marked the retirement of longtime quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Up through the conclusion of the 2021 season, Tomlin amassed a career coaching record including playoffs that is distinguished by never having endured a losing season—an unprecedented achievement for a Steelers head coach. Between 2013 and 2017, Pittsburgh’s offense was highlighted by the "Killer B's" trio: Antonio Brown, Ben Roethlisberger, and Le'Veon Bell; kicker Chris Boswell also earned recognition for his clutch kicking performances during this period.

Ahead of the 2022 season, Pittsburgh selected University of Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett with their first-round draft pick. Pickett started twelve games as the team finished with a 9–8 record but missed out on playoff qualification. In 2023, the Steelers posted a 10–7 record, finishing third in the AFC North and suffering a Wild Card Round defeat at the hands of Buffalo. Prior to the start of the 2024 season, Pittsburgh traded Pickett to Philadelphia and bolstered their quarterback roster by acquiring Justin Fields from Chicago via trade and signing free agent Russell Wilson.

Summary

Since the 1970 NFL merger, the Pittsburgh Steelers have compiled a regular-season record of 444–282–2 (.635) and an overall tally including playoffs of 480–305–2 (.635). They have qualified for the playoffs on 30 occasions, secured 22 division titles, competed in 16 AFC championship contests, and captured six Super Bowl championships. Notably, they remain the sole NFL franchise without a single season of 12 or more losses since the introduction of the 16-game schedule in 1978.

Ownership

Beginning in 2008, the Rooney family incorporated several new investors while maintaining majority control to meet NFL ownership regulations. Dan Rooney and his son Art Rooney II continue to serve as president and principal owner respectively, whereas Timothy and Patrick Rooney shifted their focus toward racetrack enterprises in Florida and New York. The installation of video slot machines at these venues conflicted with NFL rules that restrict involvement in gambling-related businesses.

After Dan Rooney passed away in 2017, he and Art Rooney II retained the league-mandated minimum ownership share of 30%. Additional stakeholders include:

  • Members of the Rooney family such as Art Rooney Jr., John Rooney, and the McGinley family.
  • The Robert A. Paul family, associated with Pittsburgh’s Ampco Corporation and other ventures, holding board positions at Cornell University, UPMC, and Harvard Medical School.
  • Former Steelers wide receiver John Stallworth, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
  • Legendary Pictures chief executive Thomas Tull.
  • Bruce V. Rauner, chairman of GTCR.

Other investors encompass:

  • The Peter Varischetti family from Brockway, Pennsylvania, proprietors of nursing homes and commercial properties.
  • Paul Evanson, chairman and CEO of Allegheny Energy.
  • Russ and Scott Swank of Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania.

It is noteworthy that three minority investors in the Steelers have since become majority owners of other NFL franchises:

Season-by-season records

As of the conclusion of the 2023 season, Pittsburgh holds an all-time record including playoffs of 707–606–22. Over the past ten years, they have reached the postseason six times and captured their division title four times.

Since the AFL–NFL merger in 1970, the Steelers boast the league’s best overall performance. They lead all teams in regular-season victories, playoff wins (33), division championships (20), appearances in conference championship games (15), and instances hosting conference title matches (11). Alongside the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and New England Patriots, they share the record for most Super Bowl appearances (8) since 1970 and hold the highest number of Super Bowl victories (6). In 2017, they became the first franchise to surpass 450 regular-season wins after the merger. Their postseason record stands at 36–26 (.580), with nearly all playoff contests occurring post-merger.

Advocacy for civil rights

The Steelers organization and the Rooney family have consistently promoted equal opportunities for minorities and women. Significant achievements include employing the NFL's inaugural African-American assistant coach (Lowell Perry, 1957), starting their first African-American quarterback (Joe Gilliam, 1973), having the first African-American Super Bowl MVP (Franco Harris, 1975), naming the first African-American coordinator (Tony Dungy, 1984), and introducing the "Rooney Rule," which requires minority candidates to be interviewed for head coaching roles. Moreover, they were pioneers in hiring the NFL's first full-time female athletic trainer (Ariko Iso, 2002).

Super Bowl titles

style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Season style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Head Coach style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Super Bowl style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Venue style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Opponent style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Final Score style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Season Record
1974 Chuck Noll IX Tulane Stadium (New Orleans) Minnesota Vikings 16–6 10–3–1
1975 X Orange Bowl (Miami) Dallas Cowboys 21–17 12–2
1978 XIII Dallas Cowboys 35–31 14–2
1979 XIV Rose Bowl (Pasadena) Los Angeles Rams 31–19 12–4
2005 Bill Cowher XL Ford Field (Detroit) Seattle Seahawks 21–10 11–5
2008 Mike Tomlin XLIII Raymond James Stadium (Tampa) Arizona Cardinals 27–23 13–3
Total Super Bowl victories: 6

AFC titles

style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Season style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Head Coach style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Venue style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Opponent style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Final Score
1974 Chuck Noll Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (Oakland) Oakland Raiders 24–13
1975 Three Rivers Stadium (Pittsburgh) Oakland Raiders 16–10
1978 Houston Oilers 34–5
1979 Houston Oilers 27–13
1995 Bill Cowher Indianapolis Colts 20–16
2005 Invesco Field at Mile High (Denver) Denver Broncos 34–17
2008 Mike Tomlin Heinz Field (Pittsburgh) Baltimore Ravens 23–14
2010 New York Jets 24–19
Total AFC titles secured: 8

Division titles

Throughout their history, the Steelers have participated in multiple NFL divisions: Eastern Division (1933–43, 1945–49), Western Division (1944), American Conference (1950–52), Eastern Conference (1953–66), Century Division within the Eastern Conference (1967), AFC Central (1970–2001), and AFC North (2002 to present).

Year Head Coach Season Record
1972 Chuck Noll 11–3
1974 10–3–1
1975 12–2
1976 10–4
1977 9–5
1978 14–2
1979 12–4
1983 10–6
1984 9–7
1992 Bill Cowher 11–5
1994 12–4
1995 11–5
1996 10–6
1997 11–5
2001 13–3
2002 10–5–1
2004 15–1
2007 Mike Tomlin 10–6
2008 12–4
2010 12–4
2014 11–5
2016 11–5
2017 13–3
2020 12–4
Total Division Titles Achieved: 24

Emblem and team attire

Since their founding, the Steelers have consistently worn black and gold, with the exception of the merged "Steagles" season in 1943 when they donned the Philadelphia Eagles’ green and white uniforms. Their choice of black and gold mirrors Pittsburgh’s other professional sports franchises—the Pirates and Penguins—and corresponds to the official colors of the city’s flag. The Steelers’ shade of gold is a vivid canary yellow, setting it apart from the Penguins' metallic "Vegas Gold" and the Pirates' mustard tone.

The team's emblem, introduced in 1962, is derived from the "Steelmark," a logo created by U.S. Steel and owned by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). It displays the word "Steelers" encircled by three hypocycloids symbolizing steel production elements: yellow for coal, red for iron ore, and blue for scrap steel. Permission to add "ers" to the original "Steel" mark was granted in 1963.

A distinctive feature of the Steelers’ helmets is that their logo appears solely on the right side—a design initially intended as an experiment but ultimately maintained permanently. They adopted black helmets a year after unveiling the logo to improve its visibility. Along with the New York Giants, they are one of only two NFL franchises that display uniform numbers on both front and back helmet surfaces.

The current uniform style dates back to 1968, comprising gold pants paired with either black or white jerseys; white pants were occasionally worn during the early seventies. In 1997, jersey numbers were updated to a rounded font matching that on the helmets, accompanied by a logo placed on the left chest.

The well-received third uniform made its debut during the Steelers’ 75th anniversary season in 2007: this ensemble includes a black jersey with gold numbering, white pants featuring stripes, and a gold helmet—reminiscent of their early sixties appearance—and continues to be used for home contests.

For their eightieth anniversary season in 2012, the Steelers introduced a "bumblebee" alternate uniform consisting of yellow jerseys with black horizontal stripes, beige trousers, matching striped socks, and standard helmets. This design remained active through the conclusion of the 2016 campaign before being retired.

In addition, a black Color Rush alternate uniform was launched in 2016, inspired by mid-century aesthetics yet paired with black pants.

A third alternate uniform released in 2018 echoes jerseys from the Steel Curtain era (1968-1997), closely resembling current styles but omitting the chest logo and utilizing block lettering instead.

Interestingly, in 1979, Hayden Fry—head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes—adopted uniforms modeled after those of the Steelers; this design continues to be worn by Iowa today.

Rivals

The Pittsburgh Steelers' main adversaries are their division opponents: the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and Cincinnati Bengals. Additional rivalries have developed through previous postseason clashes with teams such as the Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, and Tennessee Titans. They also share an intrastate rivalry with the Philadelphia Eagles, although current scheduling restricts their meetings to once every four years.

Cleveland Browns

Since 1950, the Steelers and the Cleveland Browns have been division competitors. The Steelers struggled early on with a 9–31 record in their initial 40 games, but from 1970 onward, they have largely dominated, boasting a 66–27–1 overall record and an impressive 42–6 record at home. Presently, the Steelers lead the series 75–58–1. Particularly after Cleveland's return to the NFL in 1999, Pittsburgh won twelve consecutive games from 2003 through 2009. The Browns have faced significant losing streaks in Pittsburgh, including stretches of 16 games (1970–1985) and 15 games (2004 to present). Adding intensity to this rivalry, former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher had previously coached Cleveland’s special teams and secondary before joining Pittsburgh. The two teams have met three times in playoff contests—in 1994, 2002, and 2021—with the Steelers winning the first two but falling in the most recent meeting.

Baltimore Ravens

The rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens is a highly competitive divisional matchup characterized by several notable encounters. Each team handed the other their first loss in their respective current stadiums: Pittsburgh triumphed in Baltimore’s inaugural game at M&T Bank Stadium with a 20–13 victory, while three years later Baltimore defeated Pittsburgh 13–10 for the Steelers’ first loss at Heinz Field. In postseason play, Pittsburgh defeated Baltimore—the reigning Super Bowl champions—27–10. During Baltimore’s championship season in 2000, they shut out the Steelers 16–0 in Pittsburgh but later suffered their only loss that year with a narrow 9–6 defeat in Baltimore. The Steelers swept all three meetings against the Ravens during their 2008 championship campaign, including an AFC Championship victory. Both franchises are recognized for consistently elite defensive units. The all-time series favors Pittsburgh at 32–24, including a 3–1 advantage in playoff games.

Cincinnati Bengals

The rivalry with the Cincinnati Bengals began following the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. A key moment occurred in 1976 when Pittsburgh secured an important late-season victory, winning 7–3 on Cincinnati’s turf en route to clinching a division title. Tensions escalated during the 2005 AFC Wild Card playoff game when the Steelers rallied from a 31–17 deficit after Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer was injured by nose tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen—a hit ruled accidental by the NFL but criticized as dirty by Bengals players. That same season, Cincinnati defeated Pittsburgh 38–31, highlighted by wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh controversially wiping his cleats with a Terrible Towel postgame. Both teams finished with identical records of and , splitting their regular-season meetings; however, Cincinnati won tiebreakers due to superior division records. The Steelers eliminated Cincinnati from playoff contention in both of those seasons. Since 2015, hostilities have intensified once more, fueled by Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict’s aggressive style resulting in multiple serious injuries to Steelers players. In the 2015 Wild Card playoff game, Burfict’s late penalty helped set up an improbable comeback victory for Pittsburgh, who won 18–16. Overall, the Steelers hold a commanding lead in this rivalry with a 63–35 all-time record and remain undefeated at 2–0 in postseason matchups against Cincinnati.

New England Patriots

The New England Patriots emerged as a significant adversary for the Steelers following their upset victory in the 2001 AFC Championship Game held at Heinz Field. Prior to that, the two teams had clashed twice in postseason play: the Patriots secured a 28–3 win in 1996, while the Steelers edged out a 7–6 triumph in 1997. Both squads featured athletes with ties to the Pittsburgh area, such as Ty Law and Curtis Martin, whose final appearance with New England came during the 1997 playoffs before moving on to the New York Jets.

After the surprising 2001 result, the Patriots again defeated Pittsburgh 30–14 early in the 2002 campaign. The Steelers halted New England’s NFL-record 21-game winning streak in week 6 of 2004 but later succumbed to the Patriots—who finished that season 15–1—in the AFC Championship Game. Between 1998 and 2007, New England claimed six of seven contests until Pittsburgh broke through with a commanding 33–10 win at Foxborough in 2008, capitalizing on five turnovers by Matt Cassel.

In 2013, New England became the first team to put up 55 points against Pittsburgh, prevailing 55–31. The Patriots also triumphed in matchups during 2015, the 2016 regular season, and again in the 2016 AFC Championship Game by a score of 36–17. The rivalry intensified with a disputed call negating a Steelers touchdown in 2017. Despite missing postseason play that year, Pittsburgh managed a 17–10 victory over New England in December 2018.

Within playoff encounters, the Patriots hold a commanding 4–1 advantage and have outscored the Steelers by a margin of 135–75. Other AFC franchises maintaining winning postseason records against Pittsburgh include the Los Angeles Chargers (2–1), Jacksonville Jaguars (2–0), and Denver Broncos (5–3). Overall, Pittsburgh leads narrowly in regular-season meetings with a record of 15–13 against New England. Under Bill Belichick’s leadership, however, the Patriots have dominated with a 12–4 ledger versus the Steelers. Their latest contest concluded with a decisive Patriots victory, 33–3, on Sunday Night Football.

Tennessee Titans

The Steelers share a long-established rivalry with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans organization. Initially division rivals within the AFC Central starting in 1970, Pittsburgh held sway during the Houston Oilers era by winning all three playoff matchups. After relocating to Tennessee in 1997, the Titans gained momentum and won 13 out of their next 22 games against Pittsburgh—including an important playoff win of 34–31 in 2002. Tennessee also achieved a seven-game winning streak from 1997 through 2001, marking their longest stretch of dominance in this rivalry. To date, Pittsburgh leads overall with a total of 47 victories across 79 meetings following their narrow 27–24 triumph at Nissan Stadium in 2020.

Denver Broncos

The rivalry between the Steelers and Denver Broncos dates back to their initial meetings in 1970. By surpassing Oakland’s previous record in 2011, Denver holds the most playoff encounters against Pittsburgh with eight compared to six for Oakland. Notable moments include Denver handing Pittsburgh its first regular-season defeat at Three Rivers Stadium in 1973 and competing in the NFL’s inaugural regular-season overtime game in 1974 which ended tied. Denver claimed their first playoff victory over Pittsburgh in 1977 but then dropped divisional playoff games in both ’78 and ’84. A close divisional playoff loss by one point (24–23) occurred for Pittsburgh against Denver in 1989.

The teams faced off again during the 1997 AFC Championship Game, where Denver narrowly prevailed by three points (24–21). Pittsburgh later avenged this loss with a commanding 34–17 win en route to their Super Bowl XL championship eight years later. In January of 2012, Denver stunned Pittsburgh with an overtime victory known as the "316 game," followed by another regular-season win that September marking Peyton Manning’s debut for the Broncos. During the 2015 season, they split both regular and postseason contests. Through the end of the 2021 season, Denver leads their overall series against Pittsburgh with a record of 20–13–1 including a postseason edge of five wins to three losses. Neither franchise has managed more than three consecutive wins against each other; their most recent encounter resulted in a Steelers’ win by a score of 27–19 on October 10, 2021.

Oakland Raiders

Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, the rivalry between the Steelers and Raiders stood out as one of the NFL’s most intense. Pittsburgh’s initial postseason triumph occurred against Oakland on December 23, 1972, famously remembered for Franco Harris’s disputed Immaculate Reception. This win advanced the Steelers to their first AFC Championship Game. The two teams frequently clashed in playoff contests: while the Raiders triumphed in the 1973 Divisional Round, Pittsburgh secured AFC Championship victories in both 1974 and 1975, progressing to the Super Bowl in each of those seasons. Oakland recaptured the title in 1976, marking three straight AFC title matchups between these franchises. The rivalry was marked by high tensions, including a defamation suit filed by Raiders safety George Atkinson against Steelers coach Chuck Noll, which was ultimately dismissed.

Following the 1983 season, the Los Angeles Raiders handed Pittsburgh a 38–10 defeat in the AFC Divisional round, a game notable as Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw’s final appearance (though he was sidelined due to injury). The rivalry diminished as Oakland’s performance declined after 2002 but still featured key games affecting playoff positioning. In 2000, Pittsburgh’s upset victory denied Oakland homefield advantage; conversely, Raiders wins in 2006 and 2009 eliminated the Steelers from postseason contention. The Steelers decisively ended Oakland’s three-game winning streak with a 35–3 win at Heinz Field in 2010. Later meetings included Raiders comeback victories in 2012 and 2013, followed by a Steelers win in 2015.

On December 9, 2018, the Raiders defeated Pittsburgh 24–21 in Oakland, once again knocking the Steelers out of playoff contention. The Raiders also won at Pittsburgh in September 2021 but narrowly lost there on Christmas Eve of 2022. A subpar showing during a September 2023 loss contributed to the dismissal of Raiders coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler. Entering the 2024 season, the series stands closely contested with Oakland/Las Vegas leading narrowly at 17–16.

Dallas Cowboys

The Steelers share a longstanding rivalry with the Dallas Cowboys, beginning with Dallas’s inaugural game in 1960, which Pittsburgh won 35–28. These teams have met three times in the Super Bowl—the most between any two franchises—with Pittsburgh victorious in Super Bowls X and XIII, while Dallas claimed Super Bowl XXX. This rivalry showcased numerous future Pro Football Hall of Famers, including quarterbacks Terry Bradshaw and Roger Staubach.

During the late 20th century, Pittsburgh dominated six out of eight meetings in the 1970s and ’80s; however, Dallas swept all four encounters throughout the 1990s. A highlight was Dallas cornerback Larry Brown earning MVP honors during their 1996 Super Bowl win over Pittsburgh. In the new millennium, the Steelers won matchups in both 2004 and 2008, with one featuring a memorable comeback on home turf. The Cowboys responded with victories in 2012 and again in 2016. Overall, Dallas leads this series narrowly at 17–16.

This rivalry has permeated popular culture as well, serving as inspiration for the 1977 film Black Sunday, which included scenes shot during Super Bowl X. Most recently, Pittsburgh secured a close victory over Dallas with a score of 24–19.

Philadelphia Eagles

The rivalry between the Philadelphia Eagles and Steelers dates back to their shared origins within Pennsylvania, beginning in 1933. Until realignment in 1966 placed them in different divisions, these teams were fierce divisional rivals. Although they were assigned to separate divisions starting that year, they remained part of the same conference for three more seasons. The NFL’s major realignment in 1970 moved Pittsburgh into the American Football Conference and Philadelphia into the National Football Conference, reducing their regular-season meetings to once every four years. Their most recent contest occurred in 2024 at Lincoln Financial Field, where Philadelphia emerged victorious with a score of 27–13. Since moving divisions, Pittsburgh has endured an eleven-game road losing streak against Philadelphia; overall, Philadelphia leads their head-to-head series with a record of 50–29–3.

Mascot

Prior to the 2007 campaign, the Steelers unveiled Steely McBeam as their official mascot. The name was selected from a pool of 70,000 fan entries submitted during the team's 75th anniversary festivities. Diane Roles of Middlesex Township proposed the winning name, which reflects Pittsburgh’s steel manufacturing heritage ("steel"), honors the Rooney family’s Irish roots ("Mc"), and references locally produced steel beams, while also playfully nodding to Jim Beam, her husband’s preferred beverage. Steely McBeam makes appearances at all home contests and takes part in various charitable and team-related activities. His signature autograph features a large S alongside an L designed to resemble a steel beam.

Fanbase

The Steelers enjoy a broad and passionate fanbase that extends well beyond the Pittsburgh region. In August 2008, ESPN.com rated Steelers supporters as the NFL’s top fan group, spotlighting their remarkable streak of 299 straight sold-out games. The team’s dominance during the 1970s, coupled with the decline of Pittsburgh’s steel industry which led to population dispersal, played key roles in growing their nationwide following. The Steelers have maintained a sellout streak at every home game since 1972.

Across the country, numerous unofficial fan clubs assemble regularly, often gathering in establishments known as "Steeler bars," even in cities that host their own NFL franchises.

The Terrible Towel, created by broadcaster Myron Cope in 1975, stands as one of professional sports’ most iconic fan emblems. Ownership rights were donated to the Allegheny Valley School in Coraopolis, which serves over 900 individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities, including Cope’s autistic son. Since 1996, proceeds from Terrible Towel sales have generated over $2.5 million for the school.

Fight songs

Although the Steelers do not have an official fight song, fans have embraced renditions such as "Here We Go Steelers" and the "Steelers Polka" (a parody of "Pennsylvania Polka") by Jimmy Pol from the 1970s. Since 1994, "Here We Go" by local artist Roger Wood has gained popularity among supporters. Beginning in 2002, Styx's 1979 track "Renegade" is played late in the third quarter or early in the fourth to energize the crowd during defensive stands, often accompanied by recent defensive highlights. Additionally, hometown rapper Wiz Khalifa's "Black and Yellow", an anthem celebrating Pittsburgh, is a regular feature at home games.

Cheerleaders

The Steelers were pioneers in having an NFL cheerleading squad with the Steelerettes, active from 1961 until 1969. To date, they remain the franchise’s sole cheerleading team.

Basketball

During the offseason, Steelers players take part in charity basketball matches throughout Western Pennsylvania and neighboring communities. These events typically involve six current players and their player-coach, competing against local civic figures. Rosters are revealed on game day, and players provide complimentary autographs during halftime.

Stadiums

The Steelers relocated to Heinz Field in 2001. Since their founding in 1933, they have played at various venues. For 31 years, from 1933 to 1963, they shared Forbes Field with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Beginning in 1958, some home games were held at Pitt Stadium on the University of Pittsburgh campus. Between 1964 and 1969, all home games took place exclusively at Pitt Stadium before moving alongside the Pirates to Three Rivers Stadium located on Pittsburgh's Northside. In 2001, they transitioned to Heinz Field. After Heinz opted not to renew naming rights in February 2022, a new agreement led to renaming the venue Acrisure Stadium through a partnership with Acrisure.

Training Camp

The Steelers hold their annual training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, situated east of Pittsburgh. This location is esteemed throughout the NFL for its rich heritage and scenic environment.

The team's main offices and practice venues are housed within the state-of-the-art UPMC Sports Performance Complex located on Pittsburgh's Southside. Established in 2000, this facility combines cutting-edge sports medicine resources and also accommodates the University of Pittsburgh Panthers football program.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Steelers relocated their training camps to Heinz Field during 2020 and 2021, before resuming activities at Saint Vincent College in 2022.

Former Facilities

The Rooney family has historically maintained a close association with Duquesne University, utilizing Art Rooney Field along with other campus facilities as primary or supplementary in-season training grounds from the franchise’s inception in the 1930s through the late 1990s. This included usage of Greenlee Field during the 1930s.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, season scrimmages were conducted at South Park, located in Pittsburgh’s southern suburban hills. During specific seasons, such as the 1987 NFL strike, practices took place at Point Stadium in nearby Johnstown. In the 1950s, preseason camps were held at St. Bonaventure University, where Art Rooney’s brother Silas served as athletic director, as well as in suburban Ligonier.

Retired Jersey Numbers

colspan=6 style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle;"| Pittsburgh Steelers Retired Jerseys
style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle;"|Number style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle;"|Player style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle;"|Position style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle;"|Years Active style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle;"|Date Retired style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle;"|Reference
32 Franco Harris FB 1972–1983 December 24, 2022
70 Ernie Stautner DT 1950–1963 October 25, 1964
75 Joe Greene DT 1969–1981 November 2, 2014

The #70 jersey worn by Stautner was retired in 1964, preceding a five-decade period during which no numbers were officially retired. The #75 of Greene was honored in 2014, with the organization remaining open to retiring additional numbers. Numerous jerseys have remained out of circulation since their respective players’ retirements, including:

"Primary" Inductees

The Steelers hold the third position in the number of "primary" inductees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a category that includes players who spent the majority or entirety of their professional careers in Pittsburgh. Among franchises established on or after , they lead in this distinction and are unique in having three members from ownership inducted.

colspan=6 style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle;"|Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Famers
colspan=6 style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle; text-align:center;"|Players
No. Name Inducted Position(s) Years w/ Steelers Ref.
36 Jerome Bettis 2015 RB 1996–2005 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
47 Mel Blount 1989 CB 1970–1983 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
12 Terry Bradshaw 1989 QB 1970–1983 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
80 Jack Butler 2012 CB 1951–1959 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
63 Dermontti Dawson 2012 C 1988–2000 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
35 Bill Dudley 1966 RB 1942, 1945–1946 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
66 Alan Faneca 2021 G 1998–2007 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
75 Joe Greene 1987 DT 1969–1981 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
59 Jack Ham 1988 OLB 1971–1982 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
32 Franco Harris 1990 FB 1972–1983 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
35 John Henry Johnson 1987 FB 1960–1965 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
35 Walt Kiesling 1966 G 1937–1944 (Card-Pitt) Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
58 Jack Lambert 1990 OLB 1974–1984 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
43 Troy Polamalu 2020 SS 2003–2014 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
31 Donnie Shell 2020 S 1974–1987 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
82 John Stallworth 2002 WR 1974–1987 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
70 Ernie Stautner 1969 DT 1950–1963 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
88 Lynn Swann 2001 WR 1974–1982 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
52 Mike Webster 1997 C 1974–1988 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
26 Rod Woodson 2009 CB 1987–1996 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
91 Kevin Greene 2016 OLB 1993–1995 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content

! colspan=6 style="; text-align: center" | Coaches and Contributors |} ! colspan=2 | Name ! Inducted ! Position(s) ! Years w/ Steelers ! Ref. |} |- 

|style =" text -align :center " colspan = "2" | Bill Cowher ||2020|| Head coach||1992–2006||Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content

|- 

|style =" text -align :center " colspan = "2" | Chuck Noll ||1993|| Head coach||1969–1991||Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content

|- 

|style =" text -align :center " colspan = "2" | Bill Nunn  ||2021|| Scout, Assistant Director Player Personnel, Senior Scout||1968–2014||Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content

|- 

|style =" text -align :center " colspan = "2" | Art Rooney  ||1964|| Founder, Owner||1933–1988||Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content

|- 

|style =" text -align :center " colspan = "2" | Dan Rooney  ||2000|| Executive, Owner||1975–2017||

|}


Steelers Honored in the Hall for Achievements with Other Teams

}
Various Award Honorees

Players Selected to the Pro Bowl

The following Steelers athletes have been selected for the Pro Bowl:[1]

NFL Most Valuable Players

colspan=8 style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle;"| Steelers Recognized in the Hall for Contributions Elsewhere
colspan=8 style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle; text-align:center;"|Players
No. Name Induction Year Position(s) with Steelers Steelers Tenure Main Team Affiliation Primary Role(s) Ref.
36 Cal Hubbard 1963 Offensive Tackle 1936 Green Bay Packers Offensive Tackle
15 Johnny "Blood" McNally 1963 Fullback
Head Coach		 1934, 1937–1939 Green Bay Packers Fullback
22 Bobby Layne 1967 Quarterback/Kicker 1958–1962 Detroit Lions Quarterback/Kicker
36 Marion Motley 1968 Fullback 1955 Cleveland Browns Fullback
14 Johnny Unitas 1979 Quarterback 1955 Baltimore Colts Quarterback
16 Len Dawson 1987 Quarterback 1957–1959 Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback
7 Jim Finks 1995 Quarterback 1949–1955 Minnesota Vikings General Manager
21 Tony Dungy 2016 Safety
Defensive Backs Coach
Defensive Coordinator		 1977–1978, 1981–1988 Indianapolis Colts Head Coach
Bert Bell 1963 Co-owner
Head Coach		 1941–1946 National Football League Commissioner
Mike Munchak 2001 Offensive Line Coach 2014–2018
 Houston Oilers Guard
Russ Grimm 2010 Offensive Line Coach 2001–2006
 Washington Redskins Guard
Dick LeBeau 2010 Defensive Coordinator 1992–1996, 2004–2014 Detroit Lions Cornerback
colspan="4" style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle;"|NFL Most Valuable Player Recipients
style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle;"|Year style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle;"|Athlete style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle;"|Role
1946 Bill Dudley HB
1978 Terry Bradshaw QB

Defensive Player of the Year Awardees

colspan="4" style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle;"| NFL Defensive Player of the Year Recipients
style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle;"| Year style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle;"|Athlete style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle;"|Position
1972 Joe Greene DT
1974
1975 Mel Blount CB
1976 Jack Lambert LB
1993 Rod Woodson DB
2008 James Harrison LB
2010 Troy Polamalu S
2021 T. J. Watt LB

Rookie of the Year Honorees

colspan="3" style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle;" |NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Recipients
style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle;" | Year style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle;" |Player style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle;" |Role
1972 Franco Harris RB
1984 Louis Lipps WR/RS
2004 Ben Roethlisberger QB
colspan="3" style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle;" |NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Recipients

Super Bowl Most Valuable Players

colspan="3" style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle;" |Super Bowl MVP Awardees
style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle;" |Super Bowl style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle;" |Player style="Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle;" |Position
IX Franco Harris RB
(Super Bowl X) Lynn Swann WR
}

NFL All-Decade Teams

Below is a list of Pittsburgh Steelers players honored on various NFL All-Decade Teams, including selections for the 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams announced in 1994 and 2019. Only those who played for Pittsburgh during the specified decades are included. Players inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame are highlighted in bold.

colspan= "3 "style= "Template:NFLPrimaryStyle; " | Super Bowl MVP Award Winners
style= "Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle; " | Super Bowl style= "Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle; " | Player style= "Template:NFLAltPrimaryStyle; " | Position
(Super Bowl XIII) Terry Bradshaw QB
(Super Bowl XIV)
(Super Bowl XL) Hines Ward WR
(Super Bowl XLIII) Santonio Holmes WR
colspan="4" style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle;"|NFL 1930s All-Decade Team
No. Player Position Tenure
15 Johnny "Blood" McNally HB 1934, 1937–38
colspan="4" style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle;"|NFL 1940s All-Decade Team
No. Player Position Tenure
35 Bill Dudley HB 1942, 1945–46
76 Bucko Kilroy T 1943
79 Vic Sears T 1943
70 Al Wistert T 1943
colspan="4" style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle;"|NFL 1950s All-Decade Team
No. Player Position Tenure
22 Bobby Layne QB 1958–62
70 Ernie Stautner DT 1950–63
80 Jack Butler DB 1951–59
colspan="4" style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle;" | NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
No. Player Position Tenure
No Pittsburgh players selected
colspan="4" style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle;" | NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
No. Player Position Tenure
12 Terry Bradshaw QB 1970–83
32 Franco Harris RB 1972–83
88 Lynn Swann WR 1974–82
52 Mike Webster C 1974–88
68 L. C. Greenwood DE 1969–81
75 Joe Greene DT 1969–81
58 Jack Lambert MLB 1974–84
59 Jack Ham OLB 1971–82
colspan="4" style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle;" | NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
No. Player Position Tenure
52 Mike Webster C 1974–88
58 Jack Lambert MLB 1974–84
47 Mel Blount CB 1970–83
"1" Gary Anderson K 1982–94
colspan="4" style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle;" | NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
No. Player Position Tenure
"14" Johnny Unitas QB 1955
"36" Marion Motley FB 1955
"52" Mike Webster C 1974–88
"75" Joe Greene DT 1969–81
"58" Jack Lambert LB 1974–84
"59" Jack Ham LB 1971–82
"47" Mel Blount CB 1970–83
"26" Rod Woodson CB 1987–96
colspan="4" style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle;" | NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
No. Player Position Tenure
"63" Dermontti Dawson C 1988–2000
"91" Kevin Greene LB 1993–95
"54" Hardy Nickerson LB 1987–92
"99" Levon Kirkland LB 1992–2000
"26" Rod Woodson CB 1987–96
"37" Carnell Lake S 1989–98
"1" Gary Anderson 1982–94|
NFL 2000s All-Decade Team - No. - Player - Position - Tenure

-|66|||"Alan Faneca"'|||G|||1998-2007|

-|55||| Joey Porter |||LB|||1999-2006|

-|43|||" Troy Polamalu "'|||S|||2003-14|

- colspan=4 style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle" | NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team - No. - Player - Position - Tenure

-|14|||" Johnny Unitas "'|||QB|||1955|

-|36|||" Marion Motley "'|||RB|||1955|

-|52|||" Mike Webster "'|||C|||1974-88|

-|36|||" Cal Hubbard "'|||T|||1936|

-|75|||" Joe Greene "'|||DT|||1969-81|

-|58|||" Jack Lambert (American football) "'|||LB|||1974-84|

-|59|||" Jack Ham "'|||LB|||1971-82|

-|47|||" Mel Blount "'|||CB|||1970-83|

-|26|||" Rod Woodson "'|||CB|||1987-96|

-| colspan=2 | Chuck Noll | Coach |1969-91 |

- colspan=4 style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle" | NFL 2010s All-Decade Team - No. - Player - Position - Tenure

-|84||| Antonio Brown |||WR|||2010-18 |

-|53||| Maurkice Pouncey |||C|||2010-20 |


All-time team

In celebration of their seventy-fifth season in the league during the 2007 Pittsburgh Steelers season, the franchise unveiled an updated All-Time team comprising the top thirty-three players in its history. This new roster superseded the earlier twenty-four player list announced for the fiftieth anniversary in 1982 Pittsburgh Steelers season.

At the same time, a separate "Legends team," highlighting standout players from before the 1970s era, was introduced.

Further information: Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team

Dapper Dan Sportsman of the Year

Since its inception in 1939, the regional organization known as Dapper Dan Charities has annually recognized Pittsburgh’s "Sportsman of the Year." To date, nineteen individuals associated with the Steelers have received this honor on twenty-three occasions:

Hall of Honor

Established on August 1, 2017, the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor currently includes sixty inductees.

Denotes members also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
colspan="5" style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle;" | Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor Members
N° Name Position(s) Years with Team Year Inducted

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Coaches

Throughout their history, the Pittsburgh Steelers have employed sixteen head coaches, reflecting one of the most stable coaching staffs in modern NFL history. The team's first head coach was Forrest Douds, who guided them to a record of three wins, six losses, and two ties in their inaugural season of 1933. The longest-serving coach is Chuck Noll, who led the franchise for twenty-three seasons—a tenure matched by only three other NFL coaches with a single team. Since the year 2007, Mike Tomlin has been at the helm as head coach.

Current staff

Template:Pittsburgh Steelers staff

History of Offensive Coordinators

Source:[2]

Years Name
2024–present Arthur Smith
2023 (interim) Eddie Faulkner
2021–2023 Matt Canada
2018–2020 Randy Fichtner
2012–2017 Todd Haley
2007–2011 Bruce Arians
2004–2006 Ken Whisenhunt
2001–2003 Mike Mularkey
1999–2000 Kevin Gilbride
1998 Ray Sherman

History of Defensive Coordinators

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Media

As of the year 2006, the primary radio outlets broadcasting Steelers games were WDVE at frequency 102.5 FM and WBGG AM at frequency 970, both owned by iHeartMedia. Coverage extends over fifty-one stations across Pennsylvania, western Maryland, Ohio, and northern West Virginia. The broadcast team includes commentator Tunch Ilkin and sideline reporter Craig Wolfley. The late Myron Cope, renowned as both longtime color analyst and creator of the "Terrible Towel," retired following the conclusion of the 2004 season and passed away in 2008. Bill Hillgrove served as lead announcer until his retirement after the 2023 season.

Preseason contests not nationally televised are shown locally on CBS-owned KDKA-TV and its independent sister station WPKD-TV, along with AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh. Announcers for preseason games and regular-season pregame programming titled Steelers Kickoff include Bob Pompeani from KDKA-TV and former quarterback Charlie Batch. Pompeani teams with ex-lineman Chris Hoke to host Xfinity Xtra Point, a postgame show airing when CBS does not broadcast NFL doubleheaders; otherwise, it appears on WPKD-TV. Weekly press conferences featuring head coach Mike Tomlin are broadcast live on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh. Batch and Hoke succeeded former lineman broadcaster Edmund Nelson in this role starting in 2015.

Local broadcasts of Thursday Night Football games air on Fox affiliate WPGH-TV (channel 53), while Monday Night Football on ESPN is carried locally by NBC affiliate WTAE-TV (channel 4), which is owned by Hearst Corporation—a minority stakeholder in ESPN. As members of the AFC, most Steelers regular-season matchups are televised regionally by CBS via KDKA-TV; NBC affiliate WPXI (channel 11) carries Sunday Night Football.

Additionally, the Steelers maintain a national radio agreement with Mexico’s Grupo Imagen network to broadcast games across seventeen Mexican cities.

Notable broadcasters affiliated with Steelers

Main article: List of Pittsburgh Steelers figures in broadcasting

The franchise boasts a rich legacy of prominent sportscasters associated with it—most notably Myron Cope, who served as radio color commentator for thirty-five seasons from 1970 through 2004. Numerous former players have transitioned into media roles after their playing careers ended.

Official newspaper

The Steelers Digest, recognized as the official publication for fans of the team, has been produced for over two decades by Dolphin/Curtis Publishing based in Miami, Florida. Highly regarded among supporters, it is mailed weekly to subscribers throughout both regular seasons and playoff periods. Following Super Bowl victories or during draft season, bonus issues are issued to total approximately twenty-four editions annually. This publication is also accessible via the official website Steelers.com.

Presence in popular culture

The sustained achievements of the Steelers have inspired numerous appearances across film and literature:

  • The January 11, 1975 episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show incorporated Super Bowl IX into its storyline.
  • Featured or referenced in films such as Black Sunday (1977), Heaven Can Wait (1978), Smokey and the Bandit II (1980), Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story (1980), Hey Kid, Catch! (1980), ...All the Marbles (1981), and others.
  • Television series like Evening Shade aired from 1990 to 1994 included nods to the team.
  • Bill Cowher made a cameo appearance in The Waterboy (1998).
  • The team was featured in The Longest Yard remake (2005) and theatrical production The Chief.
  • The music video "Black and Yellow” (2010) celebrated them explicitly.
  • In The Dark Knight Rises (2012), several Steelers players portrayed Gotham Rogues; filming took place at Heinz Field.
  • A reference appeared during an episode of Mad Men season six (2013).
  • The movie Concussion (2015) depicted players suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Moreover, author John Grisham’s novel The Associate features a protagonist who is an avid fan of the franchise.

In 2019, Kennywood amusement park in Pittsburgh unveiled "Steelers Country," a themed area that includes attractions such as the record-setting Steel Curtain roller coaster alongside a dedicated 'End Zone Restaurant,' enhancing fan engagement through immersive entertainment experiences.

The Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research

In November 2016, the Steelers contributed $1 million to establish the Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research. Initiated by Steelers president Art Rooney II, this foundation is dedicated to advancing education and research concerning brain injuries and concussions linked to sports.

By June 2017, the Steelers introduced their first charity walk event aimed at generating financial support for the foundation.

See also

Further reading

External links

  1. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named AllTimeSteelersCoaches
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