The History of Football in the Steel City
Written by Cassie St. John
With the NFL Draft quickly approaching, football talk is the buzz of Downtown. Football has always been an important part of Pittsburgh’s culture, most notably with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The team was founded on July 8, 1933 by Arthur J. Rooney, and was originally named after Pittsburgh’s iconic baseball team, the Pirates. It wasn’t until 1940 that the team was renamed to the Steelers, a tribute to the blue collar workers a part of the dominant steel industry in Pittsburgh.
From 1933-1962, the team played at Forbes Field, a baseball stadium located in Oakland. In 1963, the team spent 6 years at Pitt Stadium, the home of the University of Pittsburgh’s football team. By 1970, the Steelers found their home on the North Shore with the opening of Three Rivers Stadium, which they shared with the Pirates.
Three Rivers Stadium - Image Courtesy of Steelers
The 1970s saw the great potential of the Steelers come to life. In 1972, the team won the division title for the first time since their founding. Two seasons later, the Steelers claimed their first Super Bowl victory, beating the Minnesota Vikings 16-6.
From 1972-1979, the Steelers went on to win seven divisional titles and four Super Bowls. They became the first team in NFL history to win four Super Bowls and are still the only team to win back-to-back Super Bowls twice.
Terry Bradshaw in Super Bowl XIV - Image Courtesy of Steelers
During this time, the Steelers championed several future Hall of Famers such as head coach Chuck Noll, defensive tackle “Mean” Joe Greene, quarterback Terry Bradshaw, and running back Franco Harris. The 1970s Steelers are often regarded as one of the greatest franchises in NFL history.
This era of Steelers football also featured many iconic moments and memorabilia. The 70s saw the dominance of the “Steel Current”, the nickname given the team’s impenetrable defensive line. This is also when the famous “Immaculate Reception” happened, one of the greatest plays in history. This era also saw the start of the Terrible Towel, created in 1975, when fans were encouraged to bring yellow dish towels to the game to cheer on the team.
Franco Harris and the Immaculate Reception - Image Courtesy of Steelers
In 2001, the team moved stadiums again, this time to Heinz Field, where the team is currently located (the building itself has been renamed to Acrisure Stadium). In 2007, as a part of the 75th anniversary celebration, Steely McBeam joined the Steelers as an official mascot.
Currently, the Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowls wins in history with six and are looking to the 2026 season as a chance to bring home another victory. Pittsburgh will host the NFL Draft this coming April, and with fans visiting from around the country, there’s no better time to show your pride for one of the greatest franchises in sports history!
More information about all NFL Draft related events can be found on the NFL Draft in Downtown section of our website.
