Important Moments in Pittsburgh Steelers History

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a long history in the National Football League. Founded in 1933, they are the oldest franchise in the AFC. They have won more Super Bowls (six) than any other team and have won more AFC Championship games (eight) than anyone else. Achieving such success doesn't come easy and doesn't come without some landmark moments in team history, as well as league history.

The names tied to this franchise need no introduction: Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, Mean Joe Greene, Bill Cowher, Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu.

In this article, we have came up with several of the most important moments in the history of one of the most beloved teams in all of sports, the Pittsburgh Steelers. These are listed in no particular order.

1969 NFL Draft: Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Joe Greene

As a franchise, the Pittsburgh Steelers were consistent in their early days. They lost and they lost a lot. Things began to change with the fourth pick of the 1969 NFL draft. The Steelers selected North Texas defensive tackle Joe Greene.

"Mean Joe" Greene became the cornerstone of a defense that would dominate the league in the 1970s. He would be part of the Steel Curtain defense, helping the Steelers win four Super Bowls in the that decade.

LB Jack Lambert Changes Super Bowl X After Missed FG

In Super Bowl X, the Dallas Cowboys had the momentum, and it looked like that would continue when kicker Roy Gerela missed a field goal attempt for the Steelers. But that's when Cowboys' defender Cliff Harris made a crucial mistake of patting Gerela on the helmet after the miss.

Steelers' linebacker and enforcer Jack Lambert saw this and immediately rushed over and forcefully threw Harris to the ground. In an instant, the Pittsburgh sideline was recharged and they became the aggressors again. They would go on to win Super Bowl X, 21-17.

The "Immaculate Reception"

One of the most incredible, iconic and debated plays in NFL history is the "Immaculate Reception." In the 1972 playoffs, facing 4th-and-10 on their own 40-yard line with 22 seconds remaining, Steelers' quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw the ball toward running back "Frenchy" Fuqua.

But the pass bounced off Raiders' safety Jack Tatum and was caught by rookie running back Franco Harris, who then ran the rest of the way down the field to score a touchdown that gave the Steelers a 12-7 lead with five seconds remaining in the game. The Steelers would lose the next week to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Miami Dolphins.

And Instant Replay Was Born

Late in the third quarter of the 1979 AFC Championship game, Houston appears to tie the game at 17 in Pittsburgh, only to have the referees rule otherwise. Both announcers, Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen, believe this was an Oilers' touchdown.

The Steelers wound up winning 27-13, but this play became one of the catalysts for the NFL's eventual adoption of instant replay. The Steelers would go on to beat the L.A. Rams in Super Bowl XIV.

Victory in Super Bowl IX

Art Rooney founded the Steelers as an expansion team in 1933. They suffered through losing seasons for most of their 40-plus year history and had never made it to an NFL championship game or a Super Bowl.

They hired coach Chuck Noll in 1969 and things began to change. They rebuilt the team through the draft, selecting players like Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Mel Blount, Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, Lynn Swann, Mike Webster and, well, you get the rest.

By soundly defeating the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX, the Steelers finally won one for "The Chief." The Steelers, to a man, wanted to win that first Super Bowl for their beloved owner, Art Rooney.

Pittsburgh would set three impressive Super Bowl defensive records: allowing only nine first downs, 119 yards of total offense, and 17 rushing yards.

They also tied Super Bowl records for the least rushing first downs allowed (two) and the least passing first downs allowed (five). It was also the first Super Bowl to have a safety scored. The Steelers defense didn't allow one point. Minnesota scored on a blocked punt return for TD. The Vikings even missed the extra point.