10 Decades of Steelers Football: 60's - 80's

Welcome back to my four-part series on the history of the black and gold! If you missed my recap of the 30's through 50's - go ahead and check that out here. But for now it's onward and upward - just like it was for the Pittsburgh Steelers... at least as we inch closer to the 70's. But first, lets start with the swingin' sixties.

The 60s: The Steel Burden

The Steelers would debut in the 60s with an underwhelming start, just below .500 to start the first two seasons. That is until 1962, when they went 9-5 and made the playoffs for the second time in their franchise history. It would be short-lived, however, as the Steelers would lose to the Detroit Lions. The rest of the decade would further submit the Steelers as the league's punching bag. A grand win-loss total of 46-85-7 in the 60s, had fans thinking about the days of the "Steagles" again. But the pieces were coming together as the Steelers drafted and hired two men who would single-handedly change their franchise. In 1969, the Steelers fired their head coach, Bill Austin, and hired a former player of the Cleveland Browns named Chuck Noll as their head coach. And with the 3rd overall pick in the 1969 draft, the Steelers would draft a North Texas defensive lineman prospect. His name was Charles Edward Greene. Steelers fans may know him today as "Mean" Joe Greene. It's time to set it off.

The 70's: The Immaculate Dynasty

Pittsburgh needed to continue their excellent drafting before the '70s could kick off. The Steelers had the first overall pick in the draft and controlled their destiny with this pick. The Steelers went with a Louisiana Tech QB named Terry Bradshaw. And the Steelers would later pick a cornerback out of Southern University called Mel Blount. Add in a new home as the Steelers played their first game in Three Rivers Stadium, and the pieces were forming for a great team. But a rebuild doesn't happen overnight, as the Steelers went 5-9 in 1970.

Another great player however was on the way, because Pittsburth drafted Penn State linebacker Jack Ham in the 2nd round. 1971 still wouldn't be the Steelers year, as they only got one more win than last year and went 6-8. But the league was about to be surprised by what the Steelers were about to accomplish, as that would be their final losing record in the 70s. The Steelers, in the 1972 NFL Draft, would select a running back out of Penn State named Franco Harris. 

Decent drafting.

The Steelers first great season finally was here as they went 11-3, won their division for the first time in franchise history, and made the playoffs for the first time since 1947. They would make the AFC Divisional Round and look to win their first playoff game against the Oakland Raiders. You may know the rest, but I'll remind you anyways.

The Steelers were down 7-6 with 22 seconds in the game. On a 4th and-ten situation, with no timeouts, the Steelers would need a big play. Terry Bradshaw would face tremendous pressure and have to drop back and throw it to John "Frenchy" Fuqua. Jack Tatum, Raiders safety, would collide with Fuqua, and the ball would fly toward the ground. Until a fellow rookie running back named Franco Harris would create one of, if not the greatest plays of all time, and scoop the ball before it hit the ground and run into the endzone. That play won the game for the Steelers, and would deliver them to their first AFC Championship! The Steelers would, unfortunately, lose to the undefeated '72 Dolphins team, but what a season to kick off the Steel Curtain era. You just knew the tide was turning.

In 1973, the Steelers would go 10-4 and make the playoffs for the first time in two straight years, but the revenge-fueled Raiders would whoop the Steelers, 33-14 in the divisional round. Would the Immaculate Reception be the peak for the Steelers franchise? Well, let's see the draft the Steelers put together in 1974. The Steelers would draft Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, Mike Webster, and other more. So, I have two questions. How did the Steelers get away with highway robbery?

And are you surprised the Steelers won their first Super Bowl after this draft? That's right! The Steelers would go 10-3-1, win their division, beat the Bills and Raiders in the playoffs, dominate the Vikings defensively in the Super Bowl with a score of 16-6, and walk away with their first Lombardi! 

After their fantastic draft last year, the Steelers wouldn't draft any notable names. Names like Dave Brown, Bob Barber, and Walter White---no, not that one, would all be signed but make little impact, but this didn't stop the Steelers as they would go back-to-back. A 12-2 season, eleven pro bowlers, and beat the Colts and Raiders in the playoffs, before besting the Cowboys in the Super Bowl, and won their second Lombardi in two years! 

After two straight years of Lombardi wins, the Steelers would go two consecutive years with none. Can't win em all. A playoff loss in 1976 to the Raiders and in 1977 to the Broncos would pump the brakes on the dynasty. However, the Steelers weren't done. 

In 1978, the Steelers would go 14-2 and beat the Broncos and Oilers in the playoffs to go to their third Super Bowl in five years, beat the Cowboys, and become three-time champs. Smells like a dynasty to me. In 1979, rinse and repeat, beat the Dolphins and Oilers and beat the Rams in the Super Bowl to become the four-time Lombardi winners, and with the Pirates also winning the World Series, the Yinzers of Pittsburgh were sitting on nothing but bragging rights for years! 

With the 70s over, one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history started with the hire of Chuck Noll and the drafting of "Mean" Joe Greene and ended a decade later with a 99-44-1 record, four Super Bowls, seven drafted hall of famers, and 61 total Pro Bowl nominations.

What will the 80s hold for Pittsburgh, though?

The 80s: The Curtain Closes

The Steel Curtain era is long gone for the Steelers, as the 80s would bring them back down to earth. As new dynasties would enter the league, including the 49ers dynasty formed with Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and Ronnie Lott, the Steelers would be forced to become what they were in the 60s. They returned to the drawing board, as they only made the playoffs four times, had a playoff record of 2-4, and never made it past the divisional round. The 80s Steelers would go 77-75 overall. And a lot of Steel Curtain members would leave in the 1980s. In 1981, the Steelers would lose "Mean" Joe Greene. In 1982, the Steelers would lose Lynn Swann. In 1983, Terry Bradshaw hung it up. In 1984, the Steelers would lose Mel Blount, Jack Lambert, and Franco Harris. In 1987, John Stallworth retired. And finally, in 1988, Mike Webster would be signed by the Chiefs before retiring in 1991. 

What. A. Run.

NEXT! We enter the the age of the millenials - as we recap the 90's and early 2000's later this week!