Founded in 1933, the Pittsburgh Steelers (or Pirates as they were known until 1945) quickly established themselves as one of the worst teams in the NFL. "For over forty years, no team was ever as bad as the Pittsburgh Steelers; their offense seemed as if it was directed by the Marx Brothers, and on defense --they looked like paper soldiers in the wind," is how these early years are described by the NFL Films. Finally in 1969 owner Art Rooney Sr. hired coach Chuck Noll, and he began the process of organizing the team that dominated the 70s. Under the leadership of quarterback Terry Bradshaw, the team began to assert itself. The legs of runningback Franco Harris controlled the ground, while the air was dominated by the dynamic duo, Lynn Swann and John Stallworth. On defense the "Steel Curtain" dominated the game with men like "Mean" Joe Greene, Jack Lambart, and Jack Ham, just to name a few. Together they won four Superbowls and elevated the team's status to that of a dynasty...a team that will forever live on.
In the eighties, the awesome power that signified the team began to disappear. As the older players began to retire, the team began to suffer. Though still competitive, the team was no longer the powerhouse that it had been in the 70s. They struggled throughout the decade and finally in 1992, Chuck Noll was fired. Noll was replaced with the able Bill Cowher. He immediately turned the team around, resulting in a record tying six straight playoff births, including a Superbowl appearance in 1995 (which they lost to the Cowboys --thanks Neil). Since that time, the ever increasing freeagency defections, have taken their toll on the team; nevertheless the team continues to remain strong, leading many of her fans (including yours truely) to believe that they will once again raise the Lombardi Trophy in triumph.
The NFL's Official Steelers Site is pretty good during the season, but it's lame the rest of the year.
ESPN's NFL site is a good site! It's updated frequently during the day, so you might find some breaking news here.
The Official Pittsburgh Tribune's Steelers Site is an excellent source of news and info on the team!
The Washington Post's site is not that bad either.
Eric Wagner's Ultimate Steeler Fan Handbook is the best Steelers' site period. If you're a Steelers' fan then visiting this site is a MUST!
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