Pittsburgh Steelers lore is packed with some interesting stories. From the Immaculate Reception and the Super Bowl dynasty of the 1970s to the present wild ride of GM Omar Khan’s wheeling and dealing during the 2024 offseason, being a Steelers fan is rarely boring.
When it comes to football history, Steeler Nation knows its stuff. But, a few odd twists and tales might surprise even the most die-hard Steelers fans.
5 Interesting Tales About the Pittsburgh Steelers
1. Mark Malone’s Record Reception
Fans who lived through the 1980s likely remember Mark Malone as the Steelers starting quarterback between 1984 and 1987. But, for a long while, he also held the record for the longest touchdown reception in team history.
In 1981, injuries forced Malone, the third-string quarterback at the time, to play wide receiver against the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle left him uncovered, quarterback Terry Bradshaw hit him in stride as he raced down the sideline, and Malone outran the defense for a 90-yard score.
A few Steelers tied the mark over the years, but none of them surpassed Malone’s record until Martavis Bryant’s 94-yard touchdown catch in 2014.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers Original Names
Before the Steelers, founder Art Rooney owned a semi-pro team called the J.P. Rooneys. Rooney started his Pittsburgh NFL franchise in 1933 when Pennsylvania relaxed the “Blue Laws” that banned professional sports on Sundays. The J.P. Rooneys became the Steelers.
Well, almost. The Pittsburgh Steelers were called the Pittsburgh Pirates for the first six seasons. Yes, like the baseball team, and it wasn’t a coincidence.
Baseball was huge back then, and, while college football was popular, professional football still struggled to find an audience. This eventually became confusing, and Rooney renamed the team for the final time in 1940.
3. Origins of the Terrible Towel
Every NFL fan knows about the Terrible Towel, and most Steelers fans know radio announcer Myron Cope created it. However, the full story is a little more interesting.
Cope had originally encouraged fans to bring black or gold towels to a playoff game in 1975 to rally the team, and the Steelers won. The “Terrible Towel” tradition caught on, somewhat frustrating the local stores and shops, who grew tired of fans only buying black and gold hand towels and breaking up full bath sets.
The Steelers, in conjunction with the local Gimbels department store, finally created the first mass-produced and branded Terrible Towels in 1978. It turned out to be a win for the store, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Steelers fans to this day.
4. The Steagles and the Carpets
During World War II, most NFL players were off fighting. Those who remained could not serve due to failing their draft physical or because of their age. It left many NFL teams hurting for players, and some without enough bodies to field a team.
This led to a deal between the Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles, where they would combine rosters for the 1943 season. The “Steagles”, as they became known, posted a 5-4-1 record that year.
The Pittsburgh Steelers joined forces with the Chicago Cardinals the next season. Card-Pitt went 0-10 in 1944, earning them the ” Carpets ” nickname.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers Cheerleaders
Today, the Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the few NFL teams that do not have cheerleaders, but that wasn’t always true. Back in the 1960s, the Steelerettes cheered the team on to mediocrity.
The Steelerettes attended Robert Morris Junior College, a local school without a football team. Before they disbanded, they were a fixture at Steelers games from 1961 to 1969.
While the team hasn’t had a cheerleading squad since, the Steelers do have a mascot in the form of Steely McBeam who has been around since 2007.
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