THE STEEL CURTAINAn American Story

The Beginning

THE START OF A FRANCHISE

ABOUT ARTHUR ROONEY• Founder of the Fifth

oldest Franchise in the National Football League

• Founded July 8th, 1933

• Bought the Pittsburgh Pirates with Horse Racing Money

• Changed name after 8 losing seasons

ART’S STRUGGLES

• In 1942 war caused Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to combine teams become the Phil-Pitt Combine

• In 1944 they combined with the Chicago Cardinals becoming the Card-Pitt Combine & winless season

• Unlucky seasons for the next 20 years

A NEW beginning

THE START OF A DYNASTY.

WHO IS CHUCK NOLL ?• Charles Henry “Chuck” Noll hired

January 27, 1969

• Played for Cleveland Browns 1953-1959

• Assistant coach for the San Diego Chargers and Baltimore Colts

• Implemented a defensive system in Pittsburgh that became known as the legendary “Steel Curtain” defense

CHUCK NOLL STATS AS HEAD COACH

Coached 23 years342 games winning 193, losing 148, 1 tie, 12 post-season appearances,4 Super Bowl Championships

Team

Year Game

Win Loses

Ties Finish

Post- SeasonWins Loses

Results

PIT 1974 14 10 3 1 1st in AFC

3 0 SUPERBOWLCHAMPIONS

PIT 1975 14 12 2 0 1st in AFC

3 0 SUPERBOWLCHAMPIONS

PIT 1976 14 10 4 0 1st in AFC

1 1 Lost 7-24 @ Oakland Raiders

PIT 1977 14 9 5 0 1st in AFC

0 1 Lost 21-34 @ Denver Broncos

PIT 1978 16 14 2 0 1st in AFC

3 0 SUPERBOWLCHAMPIONS

PIT 1979 16 12 4 0 1st in AFC

3 0 SUPERBOWLCHAMPIONS

HALL OF FAMERS UNDER THE CHUCK NOLL ERA

Mel Blount (CB) Terry Bradshaw(QB) Joe Greene (DE)

Jack Ham (LB) Franco Harris (RB) Jack Lambert (LB)

John Stallworth (WR) Lynn Swann (WR) Mike Webster (C)

Keeping hope alive

THE TURN OF THE CENTURY

BILL COWHER • Became Head Coach January 21, 1992• Coached 15 Seasons • 21 playoff games • 6 AFC Championships• 2 Super Bowl Appearances (1995, 2006)• 1 Super Bowl Ring

CHANGE IN FIELDS

Three River Stadium

Heinz Field

The stadium opened in 2001, after the controlled implosion of the teams' previous stadium.

Young and in Charge

THE NEW GUY ON THE BLOCK

MIKE TOMLIN• Hired January 22, 2007 at age

34

• youngest head coach in NFL history to both coach in and win a Super Bowl in victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII

• .672 winning percentage in his first five seasons

• three division titles in his first four seasons.

• Two Super Bowl Appearances in 4 Years

• Super Bowl Ring

ROAD TO WINNING1ST YEAR SUPER BOWL YEAR

Won 10 Games Lost 4 Games Lost in the Post Season

to the Jacksonville Jaguars

Won 12 Games Lost 2 Games Won the Super Bowl

Against the Arizona Cardinals

THREE COACHES SIX RINGS• Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, Mike Tomlin

Win Loses

209

156149

9066

33

Wins per last three head coaches

Chuck Noll Bill Cowher Mike Tomlin

Total Wins 424 Total Loses 279