Photos from the SI Vault: Pittsburgh Steelers

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jan 31, 2011

Photos from the SI Vault: Pittsburgh Steelers

Quarterback Bobby Layne ended his illustrious 15 years in the NFL by donning the black and yellow from 1958 to 1962. When he retired, he held the record for career touchdown passes, passing yards and completions. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1967.

Franco Harris scores a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders Neal Colzie during the 1976 AFC Playoffs.

Franco Harris rushes against the Baltimore Colts in 1976.

Quarterback Terry Bradshaw celebrates back-to-back titles after winning Super Bowl XIV at the Rose Bowl in 1980. The Steelers beat the Rams 31-19 for their fourth championship in the 1970's.

Steelers center Ray Mansfield and quarterback Terry Bradshaw converse on the bench during a game against the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 15, 1973, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. The two played together from 1970 to '76 and won two Super Bowl titles in that period.

QB Terry Bradshaw plays in Super Bowl XIV against the St. Louis Rams.

Noll was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993 after winning 16 games in the playoffs and 193 games in the regular season during his 23-year tenure as the Pittsburgh head coach.

Before he was a lineman and kicker for the Colts, with whom he missed two field goal attempts in the 16-7 Super Bowl loss to Joe Namath and the Jets, Lou Michaels (79) helped hold down the middle for the Steelers. Here he works against the New York Giants in a 1963 game at Yankee Stadium.

Terry Bradshaw during game against the Cleveland Browns in 1971.

After winning the first of his eventual four championships, head coach Chuck Noll was carried off the field by Franco Harris (32) and Joe Greene. The Steelers beat the Minnesota Vikings 16-6 in Super Bowl IX on Jan. 12, 1975, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. Harris ran for 158 yards and was named MVP.

A staple of the Steel Curtain defense in the 1970's, "Mean Joe" Greene sacks Green Bay quarterback Lynn Dickey during a Nov. 2, 1980, game at Three Rivers Stadium. Greene played his entire career with Pittsburgh, recording 78.5 sacks in 13 seasons. He made 10 Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984.

Steelers tight end Randy Grossman reaches out to make a grab against the Green Bay Packers in November 1980. Grossman was a key contributor on four Steelers championship teams and caught a touchdown pass in Super Bowl X.

Art Rooney was the founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and saw his franchise win four titles before his passing in 1988, when he was 87. Rooney paid the necessary entrance fee to the NFL in 1933.

Wide receiver Lynn Swann leaps above a Los Angeles Rams defender to secure a catch during Pittsburgh's 31-19 victory in Super Bowl XIV, in 1980.

Joe Greene in 1971 in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers

Franco Harris scores the game-winning touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1976.

Fullback Rocky Bleier hauls in a seven-yard touchdown catch at the end of the first half against the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII. The Steelers and Cowboys have faced off three times in the Super Bowl and Pittsburgh has won twice.

Pirates Willie Stargell (L) and Pittsburgh Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw (R) with workers at Jones & Laughlin steel mill during their 1979 Sportsmen of the Year photoshoot.

Defenders Mean Joe Greene (75) and Jack Lambert (58) swarm Mark Van Eeghen of the Oakland Raiders during the AFC Championship Game on Dec. 26, 1976, at Alameda County Stadium in Oakland. The Raiders won 24-7, ending the Steelers three-peat bid.

Wide receiver John Stallworth hauls in a 73-yard, go-ahead touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter during Super Bowl XIV. The pass barely missed the outstretched hand of Rod Perry.

Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw (12) with brother Houston Oilers QB Craig Bradshaw back in 1980

Terry Bradshaw hands off to running back Franco Harris in Super Bowl XIII, on Jan. 21, 1979, at the Orange Bowl in Miami. The Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the final minutes, 35-31. Bradshaw was named MVP after throwing four TD passes.

L.C. Greenwood on the sideline during a game against the Green Bay Packers in 1980.

Jack Ham (59), Joe Greene (75), and L.C. Greenwood (68) were an intimidating crew for years.

Franco Harris enters the field before a game against the Los Angeles Rams in 1980.

Steelers defensive end Dwight White enjoys a hot tub during training camp on July 28, 1973, at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. The college has hosted the Steelers training camp for the past 44 years.

After missing the entire regular season and most of the postseason because of a torn ACL suffered in Week 1, defensive back Rod Woodson returned to play in Super Bowl XXX in 1996. Although the Steelers lost 27-17, his comeback was a big storyline.

One of the more versatile players in NFL history, Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart began his career in Pittsburgh as a running back and receiver from 1995 to '96. In his first season as a full-time starter in 1997, Stewart led the Steelers to the AFC Championship Game. In his eight-year career in Pittsburgh, Stewart threw for 46 touchdowns, ran for 35, and caught four passes for scores.

Running back Franco Harris scores one of his two touchdowns in Super Bowl XIV against the Los Angeles Rams. Best known for his "Immaculate Reception" in 1972, Harris was enshrined into the Hall of Fame in 1990 after amassing 12,120 career rushing yards in his 13-year career.

Running back Reggie Harrison bursts through the line to block a punt in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl X. The blocked ball went through the end zone and resulted in a safety, narrowing the Dallas lead to 10-9.

L.C. Greenwood made six Pro Bowls and was a two-time First Team All-Pro selection.

Swann was the first wide receiver to win Super Bowl MVP honors, doing so after the Steelers 21-17 victory over Dallas in Super Bowl X.

Pittsburgh beat the Raiders 16-10 on Jan. 4, 1976, to advance to Super Bowl X. Cliff Branch (pictured) was tackled at the 15 as time ran out at Three Rivers Stadium.

Fred McAfee is tackled during a game against Miami Dolphins Jerry Wilson (24) and Kenny Mixon (79) in 1998.

On the brink of being doused with the ceremonial Gatorade shower, Bill Cowher celebrates a 21-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. Cowher retired one year later.

Jack Lambert won four Super Bowls with the Steelers and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice (in 1976 and 1983).

Dermontti Dawson poses in front of a school bus at Three Rivers stadium back in 1998.

Jerome Bettis, nicknamed "The Bus", won Super Bowl XL with the Steelers.

Steelers' Hines Ward goes up against Ty Law of the New England Patriots during the AFC playoffs in 2002.

Super Bowl XIII: Lynn Swann runs the ball against the Dallas Cowboys during Super Bowl XIII.

Pittsburgh Steelers in huddle during game vs Philadelphia Eagles in 2004.

Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward was on the receiving end of a trick play in Pittsburgh's Super Bowl XL victory. Wide receiver Antwan Randle El took a reverse handoff from running back Willie Parker and threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Ward, marking the first time in Super Bowl history that a receiver threw a touchdown pass.

Hines Ward is victorious with son Jaden and Vince Lombardi trophy after winning Super Bowl XL vs Seattle Seahawks in 2006.

Mike Tomlin became the youngest head coach to lead a team to a Super Bowl victory as his Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.

Jerome "The Bus" Bettis, known for bulldozing defenders as a punishing runner, retired after the Steelers won Super Bowl XL in his hometown of Detroit. Bettis spent the last 10 years of his 13-year career with the Steelers. His 13,662 career rushing yards rank fifth all time.

Troy Polamalu in 2005.

Willie Parker rushes against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006.

QB Ben Roethlisberger warming up before game vs Philadelphia Eagles in 2004.

Lynn Swann, the Steelers' first round draft pick in the 1974 draft, poses during a photo shoot at Mount Washington in 1979.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Jets in 2012 at Heinz Field.

QB Ben Roethlisberger during Super Bowl XLIII against the Arizona Cardinals.

Santonio Holmes got both feet in bounds on this six-yard touchdown catch that gave the Steelers a win over Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII. Holmes caught four passes during the game-winning drive and was named MVP.

Santonio Holmes celebrates after making the game winning touchdown catch vs Arizona Cardinals in the 4th quarter during Super Bowl XLIII in 2009.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger celebrates his second AFC Championship. Pittsburgh fell to the Green Bay Packers 31–25 in Super Bowl XLV.

Santonio Holmes celebrates with Nate Washington (85) after returning kick for touchdown against the San Diego Chargers during the AFC Playoffs in 2009.

Willie Parker rushes against the Baltimore Ravens in 2008

Safety Troy Polamalu leaps for a tackle of Arizona Cardinals running back Tim Hightower during Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The Steelers won 27-23, earning their sixth title.

Rashard Mendenhall in a huddle with team during the AFC Divisional Playoffs against the Baltimore Ravens in 2011.

Antonio Brown, drafted by the Steelers in 2010, has made the Pro Bowl in five of his seven complete seasons in the NFL.

The third of the three "Killer B's" (Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell), Le'Veon Bell is en route to this third 1,000-plus-yard rushing season.