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The Steel Curtain: the Pittsburgh Steelers story

Franchise era

1969—1979

The Steel Curtain

Pittsburgh Steelers

The story in one sentence

Chuck Noll built through the draft, the Immaculate Reception announced the breakthrough and Pittsburgh won four Super Bowls in six seasons.

01

A historic draft core wins four titles

02

Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris gave the era its recognizable core.

03

Its ending created the conditions for after the dynasty.

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Before 1969

    What came before

    Pittsburgh endured one playoff appearance in its first 36 seasons before the Rooney family entrusted a new coach with a patient rebuild.

  2. After 1979

    What came next

    Pittsburgh remained competitive as its Hall of Famers retired and Woodson became the versatile star of a new defensive generation.

The core

Faces of the chapter

← Previous eraBefore the Steelers dynasty1933—1968Next era →After the dynasty1980—1991