Bill Cowher

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Cowher became the 15th head coach in Steelers history on January 21, 1992, succeeding Chuck Noll. He was only the team's second head coach since the NFL merger in 1970. In his first season, the Steelers improved from 7–9 to 11–5 and earned home-field advantage in the AFC after missing the playoffs six of the previous seven years. That season ended with a 24–3 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional round. In 1995, Cowher led the Steelers to an 11–5 record and a first-round bye. They beat the Bills 40–24 and the Colts 20–16 to become AFC Champions for the first time since 1979. At age 38, Cowher became the youngest coach to lead his team to a Super Bowl, though the Steelers lost 27–17 to the Dallas Cowboys. He is only the second coach in NFL history to lead his team to the playoffs in each of his first six seasons, joining Paul Brown. Cowher's teams appeared in the postseason 10 times, including six consecutive appearances from 1992 to 1997. Cowher's Super Bowl XL victory marked the first championship for the franchise in over two decades. After retiring, he joined The NFL Today as a studio analyst.

In Their Own Story

Cowher went undrafted in the 1979 NFL draft. He began his NFL career as a linebacker with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1979, then signed with the Cleveland Browns the following year. He played three seasons from 1980 to 1982 in Cleveland, making him a member of the Kardiac Kids, before being traded back to the Eagles, where he played from 1983 to 1984. During his playing career, Cowher primarily played special teams, which influenced his emphasis on special teams as a coach. Cowher began his coaching career in 1985 at age 28 under Marty Schottenheimer with the Cleveland Browns. He took a significant pay cut from what he would have made as a player because he saw more of a future as a coach. He was the Browns' special teams coach in 1985–86 and secondary coach in 1987–88. When Schottenheimer left for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1989, Cowher followed and was named defensive coordinator. He interviewed for the Browns' head coaching vacancy in 1991 but lost out to close friend Bill Belichick. He was also a finalist for the Cincinnati Bengals head coaching position in 1991 but was passed over for Dave Shula.

Reader's Guide

Cowher's coaching career began in 1985 under Marty Schottenheimer with the Cleveland Browns. He served as special teams coach (1985–86) and secondary coach (1987–88). He followed Schottenheimer to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1989 and became defensive coordinator. In 1992, he was named head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cowher's Steelers won eight division titles, two AFC Championship Games, and Super Bowl XL. The team appeared in the postseason 10 times, including six consecutive appearances from 1992 to 1997. Cowher is the second NFL head coach to reach the playoffs during each of his first six seasons, after Paul Brown. His Super Bowl victory was the first championship for the franchise in over two decades and the first not won by Chuck Noll. Cowher was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020. After retiring following the 2006 season, he joined The NFL Today as a studio analyst.

Did You Know?

• Cowher went undrafted in the 1979 NFL draft and began his NFL career as a linebacker with the Philadelphia Eagles.
• He is only the second NFL head coach to reach the playoffs during each of his first six seasons, after Paul Brown.
• At age 38, Cowher became the youngest coach to lead his team to a Super Bowl (Super Bowl XXX).
• Cowher's Super Bowl XL victory was the first championship for the Steelers in over two decades and the first not won by Chuck Noll.
• After retiring, Cowher joined The NFL Today as a studio analyst.