(1974,75,78,79) Pittsburgh Steelers Team Season Highlights "The Championship Years"

[Music] [Music] [Music] he's missing all the fun because all the fun is down here if I can get to my band we'd like to have them play a little song for all the people in the Pittsburgh area just just a quickie to give you an idea of the fun crowd the family type cloud that's in downtown Pittsburgh right now here's Jack for selling his boys [Music] [Applause] [Applause] the Pittsburgh Steelers were considered certain Super Bowl contenders at the start of 1974 despite the fact that two new faces appeared in the starting lineup of all places they were at quarterback where three-year proto Gilliam would start and at middle linebacker where a rookie Jack Lambert number 58 treaded water for a while got his feet wet and then came on with a splash with Lambert in the middle the steel of defense rose up in a mighty goal-line stand that he'd their shutout of the Colts rock-ribbed defense was nothing new for Pittsburgh fans but Jefferson Street Joe Gilliam was and he was magnificent leading the Steeler offense to 30 points two first-year wide receivers John Stallworth number 82 and Lynn Swann number 88 also had splendid debuts in all 14 rookies made the Steeler roster and mixed with young veterans like Frank Lewis number 43 the Steelers were young but they were tough in Denver gillum's buggy with bright arm accounted for 31 completions and 348 yards including a spectacular screen to Steve Davis as the high-powered Steeler offense rolled to 35 more ports [Music] but Pittsburgh also gave up 35 points and the Steelers settle for an unsatisfying time then after scoring 65 points in their first two games the Steeler offense disappeared [Music] the Oakland Raider defense was the magician and the Steelers lost 17 to nothing Pittsburgh's progress was a patchwork one devastating win one disappointing tie and one depressing defeat such inconsistency would gnaw at the superstructure of the Steelers and threatened to ruin their season against the Houston Oilers the Stila scored just 13 points and actually trailed 7 to 6 in the fourth for the Oilers enjoyed their touchdown immensely but it was the only one they got as the Pittsburgh defense paved the road to a 13-7 Steeler victory facing the Chiefs the next week the defense claimed nine turnovers and put points on the board on Glenn Edwards 50-yard interception return as defense keyed another Steeler victory though Chuck Noll was concerned over his sleeping giant offense one thing that never let him down was the Magnificent Steel Curtain defense the strength of the steel of defense is the front for number 68 LC Greenwood number 75 Joe green number 63 Ernie hole and number 78 Dwight White Mad Dog Mean Joe Pat's Hollywood bag Arrowhead Ernie pointed the way to the past pocket and no matter what you call them or in what order you name them the Steeler front four just kept coming by the end of the regular season 52 past pockets had been pillaged [Music] chief beneficiary of the brutal Pittsburgh pass-rush was the secondary Steeler most valuable player safety Glenn Edwards cornerbacks Mel Blount number 47 and JT Thomas number 24 and safety Mike Wagner number 23 the Steeler front four was equally brilliant against the rush and freed of much run responsibilities the stickers in the secondary were left looking for someone with his head down or drooling for the ball by the end of the regular season 25 enemy passes had been pirated outside linebackers Andy Russell number 34 and Jack ham were different yet similar Russell is one of the leading proponents of the Blitz and no linebacker intercepted more passes than number 59 Jack ham in 1974 but one thing no one ever did was break outside of either man [Music] before the season middle linebacker seemed to be the only question mark but rookie Jack Lambert from Kent State turned question mark into exclamation point Joe Greene put it rather well when he said Jack Lambert is so mean he doesn't even like himself [Music] Jack Lambert the third Steeler named Rookie of the Year the past six seasons is emblematic of Pittsburgh's rise 34 currents dealers are original Pittsburgh draft choices and several rookies made it big this season including Lambert in wide receivers Lynn Swann the number one pick from USC and John Stallworth chosen in round four from Alabama A&M [Music] in addition to his talent as a receiver the graceful lynn swann number 88 compiled the second greatest punt return yardage performance in the history of pro football [Music] swamps performance was a tribute to Steeler specialty roy gerela who led the American Conference in scoring for the second straight season and 11-year veteran and oldest dealer at 36 Bobby Walden put the ball in play and everyone else bombed after it [Music] there was never any question that defense and special teams would go a long way in making the Steelers number one the Pittsburgh offense was in a period of transition on the seasons sixth Sunday the Steelers beat the Browns 20 to 16 but the magic had gone out of their aerial circus and it was becoming increasingly clear that the Steelers would have to run for their playoff lives [Music] much of the challenge fell on the broad shoulders of Franco Harris who due to a series of Nicks and bruises had rushed for just 206 yards in the season's first six games the challenge touched Rocky Bleier the Steelers best blocking running back who became a starter but most of all the challenge called on Terry Bradshaw [Music] if the Steelers were to run to a title who better to step behind Center than the strongest running quarterback in the league but the challenge went deeper for Terry Bradshaw he took to reading his Bible again and the competition for the quarterback job would add to his growth as a man capable of controlling an offense the battle lines were drawn the foot soldiers of the offensive line ready when the Steelers faced the Atlanta house Rocky Bleier proved to be more than just a blocker and Franco Harris rushed for over a hundred yards for the first time in 1974 beginning a streak that would see him gain exactly 800 yards in the season's last eight games the next week against the Eagles Bradshaw is confident cool under a heavy rush breathe life back into the passing game as the steel is rolled up 27 points [Music] the Eagles got no points and were outscored when Mel Blanc returned an interception for a score with a crushing 27 nothing victory and a 6-1 and 1 record the Steelers at last appeared to have everything together but the sword of inconsistency still hung over [Music] with a chance to put away their closest pursuers for good the Steelers failed four times from the 20-yard line late in the game and lost 17 to 10 to the Bengals after two convincing wins and inconsistent performance by the Pittsburgh offense again cast a shadow of doubt on the Steeler season and led to another change against Cleveland Terry Hanratty stepped into the breach and started strongly with a strike to Ron Chandler but Hanratty would complete just two passes in the game and the 74 Steeler success formula was called on again [Music] Ronnie not passing and hard rock defense led to the Steelers first victory in Cleveland since 1964 when the Steelers met the Saints two more changes were made Steve Furness number 64 filled in for the injured Ernie Holmes on defense on offense Terry Bradshaw was back as Pittsburgh punished New Orleans 28 to 7 with another brace of impressive wins the Steelers again seemed to be gathering momentum but then the Bugaboo of inconsistency flew up and bit them again playing in a blizzard the Steelers managed just 10 points and lost to the Oilers this was the blackest loss of all for it kept the Bengals alive as the Steelers travels to Foxborough for a tough game against the Patriots for Terry Bradshaw the game was the turning point in his career unlike earlier in the season when Chuck Noll had replaced him after a loss no now stuck with Bradshaw and in a game where the offense simply had to get it done they did [Music] the Steelers were champions of the AFC Central Division but they're crowning as division title ists was greeted as mucked with a sigh of relief as with a joyous shout for the end to an on-again-off-again regular season was behind them and a new one was just beginning [Music] experts figured the defense would carry the Steelers Pittsburgh fans had use more sophisticated devices to pluck the Steelers future without any prejudice who's going to win the ballgame the Steelers are going to win because they're hungry they didn't have no breakfast today they'd be waiting furniture [Music] Oh Jay Simpson got just 49 yards rushing more than what the Steelers next two foes would amass combined but defense did not win this game for the Steelers The Awakening Steeler offense won this one the Pittsburgh attack took wing as Terry Bradshaw general his forces to over 400 yards and 32 points [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] led by Franco Harris's three touchdowns the Steeler offense blew away the bill [Applause] [Music] [Applause] can we get down to Oakland we go be the best rattles wine we gonna be back at home only [Applause] control of the AFC Championship game against the arch-enemy Oakland Raiders centered on a supposedly neutral strip of turf but it was not neutral on this day on offense Ray Mansfield Sam Davis gym class Gordon Gravelle Jerry Mullins John Cole and Larry Brown simply owned it 47 times Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier barged through giant cracks in the Raider defense for over 200 yards [Music] [Applause] [Music] Franco Harris cracked the end zone twice more and with Terry Bradshaw throwing short and long brain and fancy and always straight the Steelers moved in for the kill [Music] the Steel Curtain was no less brilliant in their domination of the scrimmage line limiting Raider runners to just twenty nine yards and rattling snake Stabler into three interceptions [Music] [Applause] with an awesome display of offensive and defensive football the Steelers earned their first ever conference championship and the Prophet from Pittsburgh who had predicted Superbowl Steelers had proved prophetic indeed again in Super Bowl 9 the Steelers were simply awesome despite the fact that Dwight white literally stepped out of the hospital and onto the field and injuries to handy Russell and Jack Lambert later in the game Laurent Aves and Ed Bradley number 38 stepped in smartly and the Steel Curtain gave up just 17 yards rushing and 123 yards total offense both Superbowl records fittingly in a half dominated by defense the only score was a safety and with a two nothing lead the Steelers got a break on the second half kickoff [Music] Super Bowl most valuable player and record-setting runner Franco Harris use two runs to turn the turnover into a nine nothing lead though Pittsburgh had nominated a blocked punt left them with a precarious lead with ten minutes to go but the Steelers had waited 42 years for this game and Terry Bradshaw summoned the Steeler offense to a blood-and-guts victory drive [Music] with their third-straight total destruction of championship-caliber competition and in their 43rd year of existence the Steelers laid waste to the tired tag same old Steelers a new one now applies the super Steelers victors in Super Bowl 9 champions of a National Football League [Music] the Pittsburgh Steelers football club was founded by Arthur J Rooney in 1933 Rooney's early Steelers were a hearty band of pioneers who lured curious fans into ol Forbes Field to watch Chuck Sutherlands wide open single wait the names were bullet bill Dudley Johnny blood and Byron Whizzer white and while they never won a title they did introduce Pittsburgh to NFL excitement in the 50 is the scene shifted to pit stadium the names changed to stop 'nor hope Butler and shad noise but for all their promise the Steelers were never quite caught up championship timber in 1969 an unknown young coach named Chuck Noll arrived to try his hand where eleven others had failed no work no sudden miracles his first dealer team was one in 13 and at one point the losing streak reached 16 straight but Nold was patiently laying a foundation for future greatness Pittsburgh coaches and Scouts were constructing a champion in the NFL Draft Pittsburgh on a first-round selects Lynn Swann wide receiver Southern California in six seasons of judicious drafting Pittsburgh went from 1 and 13 to a silver Super Bowl salute for the man who started it all this is the story of the building of a team executives Scouts coaches and players rising together to a world championship then defending that title this is the story of a Pittsburgh Steeler blueprint for victory [Music] any blueprint needs a cornerstone and Chuck Knowles first concern was a solid defense the lineup that opened the 1975 season was testament to the work of a master plan [Music] during the building years nine draft choices and one free agent had a ride a form pro football's most feared and ferocious defense greatness begins in the raw power of the frontlines for young men from tiny southern colleges have delivered the title Steel Curtain into legend the quiet one but golden shoes a six feet six inch LC Greenwood a tenth round choice from Arkansas a eminence bring what is a lean and limber all-pro using nimbleness to weave his web Ernie Fats Holmes's Greenwood stocky opposite a stern and sturdy heavy who anchor scrimmage like a cement Coast homes arrived in the 71 draft from Texas Southern and brought with him another Steeler trademark intimidation the youngest member is Dwight white a cocky kid from East Texas State with a mischievous grin but the smile fades when white prepares a full-speed assault on an opponent backfield [Music] White's game is aggression and agility as often finesse gives way to youthful exuberance [Music] after the game fun-loving Dwight Dwight regains his winning smile but everyone knows the one they called Mean Joe is a killer actually Joe Green is a happy friendly fellow who arrived on the first round in 1969 from North Texas States Green became a five-time All Pro and emotional leader of his team but 1975 was not kind injuries Bent's Green for the first time in his career yet his misfortune proved that Pittsburgh had also drafted for death Steve Furness stepped in and the defense never missed a beat it is a measure of the man that injury did not dampen his spirit Green's infectious enthusiasm continued to lead and inspire as a Steel Curtain held strong with resident all pros and newcomer Steve furnace a big rush needs solid support in Penn State's jackhammer rived on the second round and 71 to take away the screen opponents tried to counter pressure with short tosses but ham is an exceptional athlete with playbook perfect technique opposite ham is the grand old man of the Steeler defense back in 63 Pittsburgh invested a 16th round draft choice in a feisty little outside backer for missoura named Andy Russell 12 years later number 34 still blitzes with the best while Russell is the only Steeler defender over 30 his experienced style is matched by 23 year old Jack Lambert Lambert arrived in 74 as a surprise second-round choice from Kent State the beanpole middle backer needed some beating up but Lambert started it middle linebacker in his first pro game and has been there ever since Rookie of the Year in 74 all-pro in 75 but the toughest dudes of all might be in the secondary Steeler back hit and leading the pack is free safety Glenn Edwards number 27 [Music] actually enemy receivers pay a double price cornerback JT Thomas can deliver a lick or get back in the passing lanes and pick an opponent clean strong safety Mike Wagner is also a clever ball hawk the fact is every Pittsburgh defensive back can go get the ball including reserves like Jimmy Allen but 1975's brightest star was a quarterhorse rancher from Slidell Louisiana named Mel Blount [Music] a starter since arriving in the 70 Draft plunk became the first dealer since bullet bill Dudley to lead the league in interceptions for his endzone heroics blunts teammates named him most valuable but this is one defense where no single individual supports the rest 11 Angry Men each of all-star quality yet willing to blend in to the hole the men in black an ominous intimidating force that will be judged with history's best [Music] [Music] [Music] on every football team even a world champion there are the shadow men these are the members of the special teams reserves who set out to prove themselves in the crash and tumble of Kip coverage take your lumps but get back in the chase like number 31 Donny shale for free agent shale a first-round draft choice Dave Brown of a 36 it is a chance to display skills that may one day lead to a starting role an opportunity to contribute for linebackers Ed Bradley Laurent Aves and Marv Keller defensive lineman John Bama sack running backs Mike Collier and Reggie Harrison and wide receiver Reggie Garrett another group of shadow men controls the destiny of Pittsburgh's offense the Steeler offensive line with Jerry Mullins and Gordon gravel Jim clacked and John Cole and at Center veteran Raymond's feel some switched positions each quarter others like Sam Davis and Mike Webster shuttle in the split time with starters here versatility is the key the result is a rotating seven man front which opens the holes that made Franco favors [Music] in 1972 Pittsburgh scouts and coaches decided to spend their first-round pick on a running back from Penn State named Franco Harris they envisioned the power of a big back blended for the open field agility of a smaller man [Music] from Rookie of the Year to superstar Harris has not disappointed during 1975 Franco was at his best in the big games as Pittsburgh won a division title by sweeping all six games in the strong AFC Central along the way number 32 set all-time toots burg rushing records but modest Franco prefers to mention the courage of his running mate Rocky Bleier [Music] originally a 16th round pick in 68 Playa miraculously recovered from Vietnam shrapnel wounds to finally make the squad in 72 at first number 20 s main role was designated blocker for Franco Harris by 74 they couldn't keep him out of the starting lineup with a style that was all guts and grinded out in 1975 in a game against the Green Bay Packers flyer gained 163 yards and all year demonstrated how far heart and determination can take a man a little 16th round draft choice and a big first round pick have both found a place in the Pittsburgh blueprint in 1970 a wild and woolly Louisiana Tech quarterback impressed Scouts with unpolished skills and a rocket right on Terry Bradshaw arrived in Pittsburgh full of starry-eyed rookie intentions this is the new era the Steelers it's not like the old Steelers believe me that the public the football world miles will wake up and just take what I'm saying and heat it because and as the games come along as your progress as I hope to continually get better in and in the future I hope to be the greatest quarterback who's ever stepped foot on the stadium or any other stadium but in five NFL seasons number 12 has experienced some ups and downs NFL reality talk harsh lessons and Terry Bradshaw lost some hair but all that raw talent remained intact and Chuck Noll has been patient for number 12 is still capable of unique feats of strength and daring [Applause] Bradshaw can turn near a disaster into a 20 yard game but he also has discovered there are times to feather his touch as well as times to reach back for that 60 yard screen because of his arm Bradshaw takes the deepest drop and longest looked in football if he doesn't like what he sees there's always another option at 27 Terry Bradshaw Pittsburgh's all-time leading passer he's won a World Championship and cut a country-and-western record but deep down he's not too far removed from that wild and wooly Louisiana Tech quarterback playing football for the fun of it [Music] Terry Bradshaw will never be called dull but 1975 brought more consistency he threw only nine interceptions against 18 touchdown passes to a variety of receivers with tight end Larry Brown and Randy Grossman Bradshaw can work the short game then go down range to a deep stable of wide receiver Frank Lewis is a former starter who now splits time because of the success of the 74 draft two young receivers arrived in contributed immediately the sleeper was number 82 John Stallworth from Alabama A&M Stallworth first round friend was a hotshot from USC with a reputation as California's finest all-around athlete number 88 lynn swann lived up to his billing [Music] often gifted young receivers arrive in the NFL unprepared for the joke of going over the middle but Swann was a pro from his first day willing to go anywhere for a pass [Music] soon Pittsburgh fans were singing praises of the young man with a stride in style as graceful as his name [Music] the emerging star became part of an unusual equation Terry Bradshaw and Lynn Swann made it work 11 times in 75 [Music] unstoppable offense matched immovable defense as the 1975 Steelers won more games scored more points and gave up fewer than any team in Pittsburgh history next the NFL playoffs on a steel gray December day the second season began playoff time brought the sky-high Baltimore Colts to Three Rivers but their storybook season was about to be spoiled by a brutally basic Pittsburgh ground-attack Franco Harris gained one yard less than the entire Baltimore offense then the men in black put it away for good fittingly an elder statesman accepted the honors Andy Russell set a playoff record for elapsed time during a 97 yard touchdown run Pittsburgh eased home with a win but a stiffer challenge was yet to come in an icy AFC Championship Pittsburgh faced archrival Oakland a playoff opponent for the fourth consecutive year the chill factor was sub-zero but Steeler fans persevered a sea of black and gold had come to pay homage to the conquering hero [Applause] I'm gonna I'm gonna get it hard and show you [Applause] the bitter battle began to take its toll on both sides [Music] then through a Gathering Storm the game turned on to fourth-quarter players [Music] [Applause] let's get the snake [Applause] in a classic struggle the Steelers have endured for a 16 to 10 victory on two sunny Superbowl 10 against the Dallas Cowboys when hold a Bobby Walden and kicker Roy Joella missed the first half field goal number 43 Cliff Harris celebrated prematurely the tactic backfired as Jack Lambert said things straight [Music] Paris was quickly whisked away from danger but Lambert played the rest of the game with controlled fury [Music] Lambert's play inspired the entire Pittsburgh defense and for the first time in years the Super Bowl was truly super [Music] Dallas held it home but this was an uphill fight against the team built strong in so many ways a defense of skill and dairy a powerful big back running game swarming special teams which contributed a safety to the cars a poised and polished quarterback and his host of gifted receiver [Music] but above all a Super Bowl showcase for an artist named Swan [Music] in Super Bowl 10 the Pittsburgh Steelers defended their World Championship with courage and class [Music] but the best is yet to come they are young and eager for more a team with a blueprint and the title [Music] the Pittsburgh Steelers ended the 1978 season dreaming of a return to the Super Bowl but beneath their calm exterior this was a team troubled by one major concern even in their Super Bowl years Pittsburgh success had been largely 2-dimensional of punishing defense that intimidated opponents into submission and a ball control ground game that usually scored enough points to win but just know knew that to return to the top his team would need a third and decisive dimension [Music] and so the 78 Steelers went to the air and they were unstoppable they powered their way to another divisional title and then on January 21st they returned to the Super Bowl and what this is the story of a decade's finest football team in its finest hour [Music] the focal point of Pittsburgh's return to glory was quarterback Terry Bradshaw always on the periphery of greatness in 1978 Terry Bradshaw was football's most prolific passer bradshaw's 1978 performance silenced all the critics he led the American Conference in passing and he abandoned the reckless style of his youth running the ball only when there was a safe place for a splashdown a more mature Bradshaw now steps aside for another look down Z and his soft pass underneath - Randy Grossman is the perfect complement to the legendary Bradshaw bullet it was a new look Steeler offense in 78 one that led the entire NFL and touchdown passes and nobody was more grateful than veteran fullback Franco Harris for six years Harris was the heart and soul of Pittsburgh's attack and he had the yardage to prove it Franco Harris isn't kind of unique back for a big man he's 6-3 about 235 240 pounds and he's awfully quick 10 or 15 carries he may have 25 or 30 yards and then boom he's a big play man he makes a lot of big plays he's never really fit the classic fullback mold for his style has always been - calculating some people call it avoiding contact Franco calls it picking his hole [Music] in 1978 the light steppin full-back emerged from the tangle for his six thousand yard seasons and became the fifth leading rusher of all time while Franco provides the finesse mr. Mike provides the muscle Mike Webster is the all-pro center on a line that includes Sam Davis Ted Peterson and Jerry Muller ray penny Barry Brown and John Cole their pro football's most effective truck blocking unit and when Steeler guards open a hole runners such as Sidney Thornton make the most of even before the football is handed off Pittsburgh fat man has eyeballed his target and the result is often a clear path to six points and a show of gratitude to the men with a muscle [Applause] and finally there are the pass catchers a pair of matching bookends without equal first there's Lynn Swann whose career has been a crash course in survival but Swan is never intimidated last year he braved the middle for a career-high sixty-one captures and as always he did it with him peccable star swans soft-spoken colleague doesn't have Lynne's flamboyant reputation but John Stallworth talent is every bit as spectacular his hands are surpassed only by his uncanny ability to pick his way through a broken field for no wide receiver in the game does it better in 1978 John Stallworth and lynn swann were the hit men a pro football's most explosive strike force an offense that could beat you in so many ways there is Bradshaw getting the ball to fire while reverses at the Swan he gives it back to Bradshaw [Music] the Pittsburgh Steelers won their first seven games and looked awesome in doing so through seven weeks the Steeler scored more points than any team in football it was no wonder their leader was optimistic they just don't believe they're gonna lose and they have a great desire to go back to the Super Bowl very hungry bunch of football players and when you get great talented men and assembling together that have a goal in mind that they want to be the world champions again I don't know what's gonna stop them in Week eight Monday Night Football came to Three Rivers and so did a rookie sensation named Earl Campbell Campbell tunneled his way through the Steel Curtain for three short yardage touchdowns and performed like a champion the Steelers meanwhile played like a team and a trance [Music] Pittsburgh lost their first and the after-effects lingered in week 9 Kansas City scored 24 points but made one fatal mistake it resulted in Donnie shells first Pro touchdown and a narrow three-point Steeler win the following week Rocky Bleier caught his first ever regular-season touchdown pass but it came with less than two minutes to play as Pittsburgh struggled from behind to beat the Saints then in week 11 the faltering Steelers crumbled in the LA Coliseum [Music] a crucial rematch with Houston was only three weeks away there was no need to panic nonetheless it was time to get back to the basics he looks like Count Dracula in pleats and nobody's approach to football is more basic than that of all-pro middle linebacker Jack Lambert getting back to the basics means turning Lambert loose to play his game and breathe fire into those around him it also means adding some muscle to the pass rush sending not only the front four but linebackers and secondary people as well in a punishing array of blitzing [Music] through the final five weeks of the season the Steel Curtain was once again invincible there simply was no way through LC Greenwood Steve furnace Joe Greene John bonacic and white white no way around Robin Cole Lauren Hayes Dennis Winston and all-pro jackass and no way over Mel Blanc and Ron jumps Donny shell Tony Dungy and Mike Wagner in the Astrodome in week 14 the Steel Curtain dug in for a rematch with Earl Campbell and the Oilers only this time the Steelers were playing basic defense it's Birds Hammad Earl Campbell into submission and the NFL Rookie of the Year spent most of his afternoon on the oiler sideline nursing saw ribs and watching Pittsburgh clinched the Central Division title [Music] [Applause] Bradshaw de Stallworth produced the games only six pointer but it was enough to ensure Chuck Noel's team of its seventh straight playoff appearance an American Football Conference record and so as playoff whether settled over three Rivers Stadium the Steelers readied themselves for the Superbowl chase this was the deepest dealer team ever the air game had quality reserves and crew check and stock and receivers Jim Smith and Theo bell chasing down gorillas and Colquitt escapes where such names as forsen Delaplane Anderson Beasley Moses done and Ola [Applause] [Music] on the kick return side rookies Randy Rudy sham and number 30 Larry Anderson gave Pittsburgh a season of outstanding field position as well as the NFL's second-highest kickoff return ever there were new faces on defense too but the same old results [Music] the 1978 fix Birds dealers scored more points and won more games than any team and Steeler history and as the regular season drew to a close they were playing near perfect football Terry Bradshaw Super Bowl prophecy was looking better in depth and the time was drawing near to make it a reality coming up the NFL playoffs during the week Pittsburgh Pennsylvania makes the nation steal but on Sunday they become the Steeler Nation [Music] so the sealers go in with plenty of offense and lots of defense and it takes us back from those 74 and 75 teams Plus which the Steelers have that terrible table going form yep this year we've had a revival of the terrible cow and this carried the Steelers all the way in 75 minutes great strengths for the Steelers and if need be poses mysterious difficulties for the enemy thousands upon thousands of waving I didn't know today that terrible pal is poised to strike so are the Steelers in the opening round of the playoffs the Denver Broncos couldn't stop Pittsburgh's dynamic duo John Stallworth dazzled the Broncos with a playoff record ten receptions Lynn Swann caught only two but one of those will go down as one of the great catches in playoff history the Steeler Nation had wins number one they were halfway to Super Bowl 13 but the second leg of the journey would depend on the defense the NFL's leading Russia became beef in the stew the NFL's best protected quarterback was treated rudely then left to ponder his predicament in a Pittsburgh Pato the mighty Steel Curtain did not allow a touchdown while Houston took a bath Pittsburgh took the early lead as both Paris and blyer hydroplane to first period score then late in the first half a close game became a laugher as loyal Steeler fans were treated to a scoring bliss bird [Applause] [Music] [Applause] looking for the end zone each person down the middle Stallworth happens [Applause] first deepest best to be the best office we got the terribly talk the Pittsburgh Steelers were going to the Super Bowl [Music] January 21st 1979 Super Bowl 13 on Pittsburgh's first offensive possession Terry Bradshaw revealed his game plan to the Dallas doomsday defense zone John Stallworth caught only three passes in the game but two went for touchdowns and his 75 yard sprint through traffic tied a Super Bowl record but the defending Super Bowl champion Cowboys were quick to steal away Pittsburgh's momentum minor setbacks however did not alter the steelers master plan [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] which pittsburgh took a seven-point lead in the period three but Dallas risked life and limb to get back into the game [Music] he went to jackie spit and the turkey lost him Dallas wasted its best opportunity they settled for a field goal and Pittsburgh took the four-point lead into the final period where three plays would decide the outcome [Applause] [Applause] there's Durrell of scrubbing the kickdown short inside the 25 picked up at the 24 [Applause] who has got the football the Pittsburgh Steelers had the football and now Terry Bradshaw would throw it to a world champion yeah [Music] [Applause] [Applause] Darla's Cowboys played their hearts out but they were a single team against an entire nation [Music] the mighty Pittsburgh steel in the last five years they have won an unprecedented three Super Bowl titles pass the word pro football the king is back [Music] put yourself in this difficult situation you're a professional football player your team is on the road and your team bus has just arrived outside Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium [Applause] [Music] there are 27 teams in pro football and then there are the Pittsburgh steel [Applause] [Applause] not since the old Green Bay Packers as a pro football team become as well-known as the Pittsburgh Steelers familiar faces that will make handsome busts in the Hall of Fame it's a team of great character men of superior physical strength and superb athletic ability man who would give you the shirt off their back but the architect of this NFL power remains a mystery Chuck knows a pro football fundamentals basically we would like to pride ourselves on being a very fundamental football team because when it all comes down to things you don't fool too many people very often you have to you have to win by blocking well and tackling well out hitting your opponents and it takes special kinds of people to do that and those special kinds of people are the ones we're looking for and I think we have those kinds of people special kinds of people each one homegrown no member of Chuck Mills team has ever played for another NFL club and each of Noel's players has the qualities Pittsburgh fans admire the guts to go over the myth the moxie to make a statement and back it up the determination to get the ball away and the teamwork to make it count there's a closeness on this club not found on most other professional teams a genuine camaraderie that can't be installed our coach it's a closeness that involves Pittsburgh's fans as well disparate fans are very warm people and they adopt you they Mickey one of they all Pittsburgh is a closed community it's tight and they do get involved with with this football team and as I say they adopted this football team and we are we belong to them and that's my Pittsburgh Steeler right there it would have tremendous fans and they will not be outdone by any other NASA football league city like they're loyal admirers the Steeler defense will not be outdone [Music] each week the game's brightest offensive stars come to Pittsburgh eager to impress each week the Steel Curtain makes them humble [Music] the names are well-known Greenwood white mana sack and easily done for nests in a tent I'm all-pro named Joe Greene Pam and cold caves of Winston Valentine and mr. Latta Blount Thomas and junked Woodruff Wagner in number 31 Donnie shell three words describe this defense the first is intense [Music] the second aggressive the third opportunity sustaining a drive against Pittsburgh is like trying to breast stroke through a vat of molten steel painfully impossible [Music] the mighty steel cook from north south east and west today arrived treating their opponents like stepped on buttons making them wish they had chosen another profession [Music] the Pittsburgh Steelers are a sterling silverr testament to building through the college draft young men live in the shadows of all pros waiting for their moment in the Sun when it arrives Pittsburgh's eager youngsters are ready you look ease always say well I have to be tough to get to make this ballclub and I think that our teams do play a rough tough football game they have always even in the days when we lost somehow Matt bar doesn't fit the Steeler mold nonetheless 1979 baby-faced rookie was worth his weight in gold especially in overtime the 37-yard a tip snap the ball is down bar kicks it long enough it is good it is good that part kicks it from 27 yards out 37 yards make it and the Steelers hoist team up with their shoulders the ball game is over it's sudden death that bar picks a 37 yard Barr's buddies on Pittsburgh special teams do pit the Steeler mole rough tough and intimidate every NFL coach wants quality reserved Pittsburgh hostile in players such as Zack Valentine Tom graves Larry Anderson Tom dawn Brooke and cutter Craig Colquitt reserves such as quarterbacks Mike crew check and cliffs down and running backs Rick Moses Greg Hawthorn and number 33 Anthony Anderson reserves such as T bell at number 86 Jim Smith it didn't suggest it that Pittsburgh's second unit could win the Central Division pittsburgh's first unit does due in large part to an offensive line whose short sleeve jerseys leave nothing to the imagination Mike Webster Sam Davis Jared Mullins temp Peterson John Cowles and Steve Corsa pro football's most dependable escort service follow a Steeler back to the point of attack and you will spot a steel alignment chopping down defensive temple [Music] Sidney Thornton followed his blocks to a co-starring role and though he round the 75 yard dash in less than world-class time he and Rocky Bleier together combined for 1019 yards rushing [Music] nagging injuries Hanford's the early season performance of Pittsburgh's perennial thousand-yard Russia causing a foolish few to write Franco Harris off as over the hill but in week six guard Sam Davis zeroed in on a defenseless Cleveland Brown and downfield Franco got a block from the rock the big fullback was on his way to his seven thousand yard seasons [Music] before Franco Harris the Pittsburgh Steelers never once made the playoffs with him they have never met Franco had the fourth leading rusher of all time Franco Harris is vital to Pittsburgh's attack but quarterback Terry Bradshaw has seen to it that Franco is no longer a force of what everybody knows we run Franco we run Frank : everybody's trying to stop Franco and so we just said fine you stop Franco will throw the football when it comes to throwing a football whether standing still or on the run nobody does it better than Terry Bradshaw his targets include tight ends Benny Cunningham and Randy Grossman wide receivers T Bell and Jim Smith but his favorite two receivers are a Barnum & Bailey act in cleats Lynn Swann and John Stallworth Swann is the high-flying Acrobat of Gary and grace Stallworth is the hard-working magician the Harry Houdini of NFL pass catch together they are the most dangerous pass catching tandem in football in 1979 John Stallworth was Pittsburgh's most valuable play the leading man in a 45 man cast that played to a record eighth straight playoff appearance they weren't always perfect but when those lead pipe arms finally put the ball in play Pittsburg outscored every day team in football running away with their seventh Central Division title in eight years they entered the 79 season has Super Bowl champions now it was time to defend that Tyra coming up the MFL playoff [Music] with Chuck Mills team closing in on a fourth Super Bowl appearance the city saluted its heroes by day and sang their gospel by night [Applause] oh it's the greatest thing ever it's done too much of a Pittsburgh for the Sportsman's nationwide notoriety rains see we're greater than just mill workers there's more than that to Pittsburgh right you're going the Pittsburgh Steelers into the National Football League playoffs going up against the Miami Dolphins the Steelers to win their fourth Super Bowl victory the Steelers coming into the NFL playoffs looking for big numbers for the Steelers are so great and it may the best of all be paid our bills will do their Superboy [Applause] in the opening round of the playoffs Pittsburgh's past catches ran away from the Miami Dolphins [Music] the Steelers scored touchdowns on their first three possessions to advance to the AFC championship games there they would face the used annoyance a team that had shown a lot of heart in an upset win over San Diego I'm watching yesterday ain't banged up at all you know fine team fine team great attitude they are they made that they're made of of outstanding stuff well you know we still got a lot of respect for him but you know we must rather have them in Pittsburgh we've got about three weeks ago on Monday night and it wasn't when I'd better nice but uh you know we got on right where we want this time I think they're good football team they have the capabilities to overcome bad things that happen to them and we're gonna have to be ready to play a very tough physical mistake-free football game here if we want to want to win it as Bradshaw calls the signals and rocks back to the Pittsburgh Steelers they can't give good that fires the pass intercepted at the 25 back over the 30 to 35 the party here they come it's Burnet Perry with a BA the 50 the 40 the 30 he's down to the Pittsburgh 20 the 15 the 10 is going all the way for a Houston touchdown Vernon Perry who was a key [Music] [Music] with plenty of time [Applause] [Music] they in period three with Pittsburgh leading by a touchdown boiler receiver Mike Renfro caught a pass in the corner of the endzone the officials ruled that Renfro was juggling the ball as he crossed the end line no one will ever know for sure what is certain is that this close call ignited Pittsburgh's game-winning fourth-quarter Drive there's Bradshaw parents on their side there's plier to pull event on a great catch at the 18 first dog Pittsburgh [Music] [Applause] [Music] for the fourth time in six years the Pittsburgh Steelers were going to the Super Bowl [Music] at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena California Pittsburgh set out to crush the Los Angeles raft the heavily favored Steelers managed only a single touchdown through a difficult and perplexing first half but if the defending champions were upset with the halftime score it didn't show in their head coach for Chuck no have yet to fire his big gun [Music] like two hard-hitting heavyweights the Steelers of Rams traded knockout punches but somehow you knew the final round would go to the time the Steelers once again had the Rams on the floor and this time they weren't about to let them back in the fight [Music] [Applause] [Music] and Bradshaw lets it fly down the middle of there goes solid again Eddie hasn't the beholder these are cool beats the coverage to get it pictured at the 23-yard the team of the decade stepped forward to take its rightful place among the greatest teams at the rams punch it up front Grossman in motion to the left [Music] [Applause] [Music] there are 28 teams in pro football but only one is a cut above [Music]

Channel: Sports Odyssey

Views: 16,627

Rating: 4.8947368 out of 5

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Id: CvI5ZeUht3s

Length: 96min 48sec (5808 seconds)

Published: Fri Sep 06 2019