Super Bowl XIV

Lore & Background

The Rams became the first team to reach the Super Bowl after posting nine wins or fewer during the regular season since the NFL season expanded to 16 games in 1978. Their 9–7 regular season record was followed by postseason wins over the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Steelers were the defending Super Bowl XIII champions, and finished the 1979 regular season with a 12–4 record, and posted playoff victories over the Miami Dolphins and the Houston Oilers.

Despite the final score, Super Bowl XIV was a seesaw battle for the majority of the contest. The lead changed seven times, which remains a Super Bowl record as of 2023. It was the third Super Bowl where the winning team was behind at halftime (Super Bowl V and Super Bowl X were the others; the Colts trailed the Cowboys 13–6 at the half in V en route to win 16–13, while the Steelers trailed the Cowboys 10–7 in X and won 21–17) and the first where they were behind by the fourth quarter.

Los Angeles took the lead three times while Pittsburgh took it four times, including the game clincher. The Rams led 13–10 at halftime before Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw connected with wide receiver Lynn Swann on a 47-yard touchdown pass. Los Angeles regained the lead on a halfback option play with running back Lawrence McCutcheon's 24-yard touchdown pass to Ron Smith. But Pittsburgh controlled the fourth quarter, scoring 14 unanswered points with Bradshaw's 73-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver John Stallworth, and running back Franco Harris' 1-yard touchdown run.

Despite throwing three interceptions, Bradshaw was named Super Bowl MVP by completing 14 of 21 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns.

Reader's Guide

The NFL awarded Super Bowl XIV to Pasadena on June 14, 1977, at the owners' meetings held in New York City. For the first time since 1973, multiple Super Bowl host sites were selected at the same meeting. A total of eight cities submitted bids: Miami, Pasadena, (Rose Bowl), Los Angeles (Coliseum), Houston, New Orleans, Dallas (Cotton Bowl), Seattle (Kingdome), and Detroit (Pontiac Silverdome). Seattle and Detroit were attempting to become the first cold-weather city to host a Super Bowl, albeit inside a domed stadium.

Though neither were selected, Detroit was invited to bid for a future game at the next meeting. The selection of Pasadena came just six months after the Rose Bowl hosted its first Super Bowl (XI). Observers noted that the owners stuck with familiar venues this time around, choosing Miami for XIII and Pasadena for XIV. Early favorite Houston (Rice Stadium) reportedly fell out of favor with owners when it was revealed that birds were found in the showers of the Vikings training facility during Super Bowl VIII. Likewise New Orleans was passed over since the Superdome was already set to host Super Bowl XII.

Did You Know?

• The Rams' defense established a still-current NFL record by holding the Seattle Seahawks' offense to a total of minus 7 yards for the game on November 4, 1979.
• The Steelers led the league with 6,258 yards in total offense, an average of 391 yards per game and just 31 yards short of an NFL record.
• Pittsburgh's offense led the NFL with a staggering 52 turnovers in the regular season, a trend that would continue in Super Bowl XIV.

Historic Milestones and Venue Significance

Super Bowl XIV stands as a landmark event in NFL history, primarily because it marked the first time a single franchise secured four championship titles. The Pittsburgh Steelers achieved this unprecedented feat by defeating the Los Angeles Rams with a final score of 31–19 on January 20, 1980. Uniquely, this was the inaugural Super Bowl played within the home market of one of the competing teams; Pasadena sits merely ten miles from downtown Los Angeles and fifteen miles from the Rams' then-home stadium, the Memorial Coliseum.

This proximity created a distinct atmosphere for the NFC champions, who were fighting on familiar turf against the defending AFC champions. The selection of Pasadena followed a competitive bidding process involving eight cities, where owners favored established venues over cold-weather domes like those in Seattle and Detroit, ultimately choosing to return to a location that had hosted Super Bowl XI just six months prior.

The Rams' Remarkable Underdog Journey

The Los Angeles Rams entered the championship game as one of the most unlikely contenders in NFL history, becoming the first team since the 1978 season expansion to reach the Super Bowl with nine or fewer regular-season wins. Their 9–7 record was the worst ever for a Super Bowl participant at the time, a statistic later matched by other franchises decades later. This improbable run occurred amidst significant turmoil; owner Carroll Rosenbloom had drowned earlier in the off-season, triggering a bitter power struggle between his widow, Georgia Frontiere, and their son, Steve, which resulted in Frontiere taking control of the franchise.

Despite these internal conflicts and severe injuries that sidelined starting quarterback Pat Haden, replacement Vince Ferragamo led the team to victory in six of their final seven games. The offense was anchored by halfback Wendell Tyler, who averaged a league-leading 5.1 yards per carry, while the defense set an enduring NFL record by holding the Seattle Seahawks to minus-seven total yards in November.

A Seesaw Battle and Fourth Quarter Dominance

Despite the lopsided final score, Super Bowl XIV was defined by its volatility, featuring a record seven lead changes that remains unmatched as of 2023. The game was a true seesaw contest where neither team held a consistent advantage for long; Los Angeles took the lead three times while Pittsburgh claimed it four times. Notably, this event became only the third Super Bowl in history where the eventual winner trailed at halftime, and the first where they fell behind as late as the fourth quarter.

The Rams led 13–10 when Terry Bradshaw connected with Lynn Swann for a crucial touchdown, but Los Angeles immediately responded with a trick play involving Lawrence McCutcheon throwing to Ron Smith. However, Pittsburgh seized control in the final period, scoring 14 unanswered points through a massive 73-yard pass from Bradshaw to John Stallworth and a short run by Franco Harris to seal the victory.

Terry Bradshaw's Resilient MVP Performance

Pittsburgh quarterback Terry Bradshaw was named the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, delivering a performance that defied his statistical imperfections. His ability to overcome mistakes and orchestrate the offense in the fourth quarter was instrumental in turning a tight game into a decisive win. The MVP award recognized his leadership as the Steelers became the first team to win four Super Bowls, cementing their legacy as a dynasty of the era. Bradshaw's connection with wide receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth provided the explosive plays necessary to shift momentum, particularly when the Rams threatened to regain control late in the game. His performance highlighted his resilience under pressure, proving that even with turnovers, precise execution in key moments could secure a championship title for the defending champions.