Pittsburgh Steelers

Lore & Background

The Steelers, whose history may be traced to a regional pro team that was established in the early 1920s, joined the NFL as the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 8, 1933. The team was owned by Art Rooney and took its original name from the baseball team of the same name. To distinguish them from the baseball team, local media took to calling the football team the Rooneymen. The ownership of the Steelers has remained within the Rooney family since the organization's founding.

Art Rooney's son, Dan Rooney, owned the team from 1988 until his death in 2017. Much control of the franchise has been given to Dan Rooney's son, Art Rooney II. The Steelers enjoy a large, widespread fanbase nicknamed Steeler Nation. They currently play their home games at Acrisure Stadium on Pittsburgh's North Side in the North Shore neighborhood, which also hosts the University of Pittsburgh Panthers.

Built in 2001 as Heinz Field, the stadium replaced Three Rivers Stadium, which had hosted the Steelers for 31 seasons. Prior to Three Rivers, the Steelers had played their games in Pitt Stadium and at Forbes Field.

Reader's Guide

The Steelers are tied with the New England Patriots for the most Super Bowl titles, with six, and holds the NFL record with 16 conference championship game appearances and 11 hosted. The Steelers have also won eight AFC championships, tied with the Denver Broncos and trailing only the Patriots' record 12. They are also tied with the Broncos, the Dallas Cowboys, and the San Francisco 49ers for the second-most Super Bowl appearances, with eight. The team's dynasty in the 1970s saw them become the only team in NFL history to win four Super Bowls in six years, capturing championships in Super Bowls IX, X, XIII, and XIV.

At the core of the Steelers' dominance was the famed 'Steel Curtain' defense, anchored by Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Ernie Holmes, and Dwight White along the defensive line, with linebackers Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, and Andy Russell providing elite support. Offensively, quarterback Terry Bradshaw evolved into a premier deep passer, connecting with receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, while Franco Harris anchored a powerful running game behind a dominant offensive line led by Mike Webster.

Did You Know?

• The 'Immaculate Reception' by Franco Harris in 1972 secured the Steelers' first postseason victory ever.
• The Steelers' 1974 draft produced four future Hall of Famers: Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, and Mike Webster.