Pittsburgh Steelers · Franchise era 4 of 6
The Cowher teams: the Pittsburgh Steelers story
The story in one sentence
Bill Cowher restored annual contention, and a second-year Ben Roethlisberger helped Bettis finish his career with the Super Bowl XL championship.
Blitzburgh reaches two Super Bowls
Jerome Bettis, Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for tomlin, ben and another title.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 1992
What came before
Pittsburgh remained competitive as its Hall of Famers retired and Woodson became the versatile star of a new defensive generation.
1996-01-14
Conference Championship: Indianapolis Colts vs Pittsburgh Steelers
1996-01-28
Super Bowl: Dallas Cowboys vs Pittsburgh Steelers
- 16TradeApril 20, 1996
April 20, 1996
The trade that made Jerome Bettis a Pittsburgh icon
The Rams had shifted away from Bettis after only three seasons. Pittsburgh saw the power runner capable of restoring the identity lost when Franco Harris departed.
To PIT19963RDround asset
To LAR19962NDround asset1997PICKround assetJerome Bettis to PittsburghPIT receives Jerome Bettis, 1996 3rd-round pickLAR receives 1996 2nd-round pick, 1997 fourth-round pick4 original assets · 1 outcomes tracedOpen trade → 2006-02-05
Super Bowl: Seattle Seahawks vs Pittsburgh Steelers
After 2006
What came next
Mike Tomlin won Super Bowl XLIII in his second season and kept Pittsburgh in contention through elite defenses and increasingly explosive passing teams.
The core