Steeler Nation

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Lore & Background

The Steelers have had a following in Western Pennsylvania since 1933. That year, Pennsylvania relaxed its blue laws allowing sporting events on Sundays, paving the way for the Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles to begin play for the 1933 NFL season. By the 1950s, the Steelers had gained some popularity in the city and were on par with Pitt, but still a distant second behind the Pirates. In the early 1970s, the Steelers began to rise in popularity. In 1969, there was the hiring of head coach Chuck Noll and the drafting of future Hall of Fame defensive tackle 'Mean Joe' Greene. By 1972, the Steelers were a playoff contender and began a sellout streak in Three Rivers Stadium that carried over to Heinz Field and still stands to this day. The team is second to the Washington Commanders for the longest active consecutive sellout streak in league history. The team's four Super Bowl victories in the 1970s coincided with a recession that struck the United States, and the city in particular, that would lead to the closure of several steel mills in the early 1980s. The team's success was credited with giving people in the city hope and leading to the increased fan base. Due to economic uncertainty, many Steelers fans relocated to other areas but retained their identification with the Steelers. During the lead up to Super Bowl XIII, Phil Musick contrasted the Dallas and Pittsburgh fans. Jack Lambert said of Steeler Nation during his Hall of Fame induction speech: 'How lucky I was to have played for the Pittsburgh Steelers fans. A proud, hard-working people, who loves their football, and their players.' In the 1970s many fans organized player fan clubs including Franco's Italian Army, Frenchy's Foreign Legion, Gerela's Gorillas, Bradshaw's Brigade, Lambert's Lunatics, Dobre Shunka (Good Ham, for Jack Ham), Rocky and the Flying Squirrels, Shell's Bombers, and Russell's Raiders. Since the 1970s, the Steelers have enjoyed a large fan base and have eclipsed the Pittsburgh Pirates as the most popular sports team in Pittsburgh. In November 2007, a study by Turnkey Sports found that the Steelers brand was the strongest in its local market of any team in the NHL, NBA, MLB or NFL. Many regional communities not officially associated with the 'Pittsburgh' market have overwhelming numbers of Steeler fans who regularly flood local stations in both Harrisburg and Erie with requests

In Their Own Story

Since the 1970s, the Steelers have enjoyed a large fan base and have eclipsed the Pittsburgh Pirates as the most popular sports team in Pittsburgh. The team's success gained it a large fan base nationally, demonstrated when teams whose home turnout would otherwise require a local blackout on television end up selling out when hosting the Steelers. At Super Bowl XL, an ESPN.com columnist suggested that Steelers fans outnumbered Seattle Seahawks fans more than 25–1, though that may have to do with the geographical closeness of Ford Field to Pittsburgh. In November 2007, a study by Turnkey Sports found that the Steelers brand was the strongest in its local market of any team in the NHL, NBA, MLB or NFL. NFL Films president Steve Sabol stated at the team's 75th anniversary gala: 'The Steelers don't need a mascot. Their fans are their mascot...There were Gerela's Gorillas, Franco's Italian Army, Lambert's Lunatics, people dressed up like a bumble bee. You don't need a mascot when you have fans like that. When we'd go to Pittsburgh to do the game for NFL Films we never brought enough cameras.'

Reader's Guide

Attempts at quantifying the loyalty of Steeler Nation relative to other NFL fan bases have shown mixed results. A 2006 study by the American City Business Journals placed the team's fans 21st out of 32 teams, behind all three of its division rivals in the AFC North. That ranking was down seven slots from the publication's survey conducted in 1997, which ranked Steelers Nation 14th out of 30 teams. On the other hand, a 2008 study from Forbes.com ranked Steelers fans 8th overall, citing among other things a long season-ticket waiting list. A 2008 article for ESPN.com ranked Steelers fans as the best in the NFL, citing their 'unbelievable' sellout streak of 299 consecutive games. Anti–Steeler Nation sentiment has grown strong enough that in some cases, front offices for other teams have taken steps to keep Pittsburgh fans out of games in their cities. Instead of being permitted to buy tickets to a Chargers–Steelers game in San Diego, they were required to pay for tickets to two other games. In other cases, teams refused to sell tickets to fans calling from Pittsburgh's 412 area code. Steelers President Art Rooney II complained to the NFL about the situation, but his grievance was not acted upon.

Did You Know?

• The term 'Steeler Nation' was coined by NFL Films narrator John Facenda in the team's 1978 highlights film.
• The Steelers' sellout streak began in 1972 at Three Rivers Stadium and carried over to Heinz Field.
• In the 1970s, fan clubs included Franco's Italian Army, Gerela's Gorillas, and Lambert's Lunatics.
• A 2008 ESPN.com article ranked Steelers fans as the best in the NFL.
• Some teams have refused to sell tickets to fans calling from Pittsburgh's 412 area code.

Season Overview and Playoff Elimination

The 2018 campaign marked the franchise's 86th year within the National Football League, continuing under the steady leadership of General Manager Kevin Colbert for his 19th season and Head Coach Mike Tomlin in his 12th. The team began with remarkable momentum, posting a 7–2–1 record that suggested a strong playoff push. However, this promising start collapsed dramatically as Pittsburgh lost four of their final six games. The season concluded in Week 17 when simultaneous victories by the Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts eliminated the Steelers from postseason contention. This outcome secured the AFC North title for the Ravens while handing the final Wild Card spot to the Colts. Consequently, the team missed the playoffs for the first time since 2013, ending a six-year streak of consecutive playoff appearances that had defined their recent history.

Locker Room Turmoil and Star Departures

The season was overshadowed by significant internal conflict and media scrutiny regarding the team's culture. Star running back Le'Veon Bell refused to sign his franchise tag, holding out for a long-term contract and missing the entire year. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger faced criticism for publicly criticizing teammates and reacting negatively to the drafting of Mason Rudolph. The most volatile situation involved wide receiver Antonio Brown, whose off-field incidents included tossing furniture from an apartment window and speeding over 100 mph. On the field, he clashed with offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner and eventually Roethlisberger himself. After being benched for the final game following a heated argument, Brown stormed out of the facility, ignoring all contact. His tipping point appeared to be teammate JuJu Smith-Schuster being named team MVP, leading Brown to demand a trade before ultimately departing for the Oakland Raiders.

Cultural Fallout and Satirical Commentary

Following the disappointing season, fans, analysts, and former players widely lamented the toxic atmosphere within the organization. Many attributed the late-season collapse, characterized by close losses filled with mistakes and penalties, to a fractured team culture and Head Coach Mike Tomlin's perceived inability to manage a drama-filled locker room. This chaotic narrative was famously chronicled in a satirical manner by Steve "Schlasser" Linkowski, a prominent Pittsburgh-based YouTuber known for his channel UrinatingTree. Linkowski created a video series titled "Days of our Steelers," parodying the soap opera *Days of Our Lives* to highlight the weekly melodrama. The team eventually blocked Linkowski on Twitter during Week 6, yet his commentary continued sporadically in subsequent seasons, with frequent allusions made to the 2018 turmoil depending on the team's performance.

Roster Construction and Draft Maneuvers

The front office executed several complex transactions to reshape the roster throughout the year. In the draft, Pittsburgh traded their fourth-round pick to San Francisco for tight end Vance McDonald and a fifth-round selection. They also engaged in a multi-team shuffle involving Cleveland and Tampa Bay to acquire cornerback Justin Gilbert and safety J.J. Wilcox while moving various later-round picks. A major trade sent wide receiver Martavis Bryant to the Oakland Raiders, netting a third-round pick that was subsequently flipped to Seattle for another high-value third-round selection. Additionally, cornerback Ross Cockrell was traded to the New York Giants for a seventh-round pick. These moves reflected an aggressive approach to asset management, though they occurred amidst a season where on-field cohesion remained elusive.