Gimme a Six-Pack

Without question, the team of the 1970s in the NFL was the Pittsburgh Steelers. During the decade, the Steelers won four Super Bowls. However, the team for which this book was written, the 1976 squad, was not one of them. However, many Steelers of the time, including its founder, Art Rooney, said that the 1976 was the best of them all. It did not seem like it after the first five games of the season as the Steelers won only one of those games. They also lost starting quarterback Terry Bradshaw in the fifth game to injury for several games and had to move on with rookie Mike Kruczek in control of the offense. Knowing that one more loss would destroy any hopes they had to make the playoffs and a chance to win an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl, the Steel Curtain defense dominated like no other defense in “modern” NFL history. In their last nine games, all victories, the Steelers gave up only 28 points during that span. No other defense can even come close to numbers like that. In addition, with their passing game struggling due to injuries, the running attack that featured the “Ground Crew” offensive line gained hundreds of rushing yards per game during their nine-game winning streak. Running backs Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier to both rush for over 1000 yards in 1976, only the second pair of running backs to ever do so in the same 14-game season.

The 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers had an incredible conglomeration of some of the NFL’s all-time greats in their organization, 13 of which are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Cornerback Mel Blount was so dominant that the NFL changed defensive coverage rules, one of which was named after him. Quarterback Terry Bradshaw won four Super Bowls, winning MVP in Super Bowl XIII and XIV, and showed how clutch he was by throwing a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of each Super Bowl. Defensive tackle Joe Greene, the first draft pick by head coach Chuck Noll, was Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1969, Defensive Player of the Year in 1972 and 1974, made the Pro Bowl ten times, and was All-Pro four times. Outside linebacker Jack Ham was a six-time All-Pro who was considered one of the finest pass coverage linebackers of all-time. Franco Harris finished his career second on the all-time rushing list and was named MVP of Super Bowl IX. Inside linebacker Jack Lambert was the emotional leader of the defense, was six-time All-Pro, and was the Defensive Player of the Year in 1976. Wide Receiver John Stallworth retired as the Steelers’ all-time leader in receptions, receiving yardage, and touchdowns and scored the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XIV. Safety Donnie Shell was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020 was such a fierce hitter that his teammates gave him the nickname “Torpedo”. Wide receiver Lynn Swann was Super Bowl X MVP and made some of the greatest catches of all-time during his career. Center Mike Webster anchored the offensive line for fifteen years and was named All-Pro five times. Head coach Chuck Noll was also named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is the only coach to win four Super Bowls without a loss. Owner Art Rooney and his son Dan Rooney, who was team president in 1976, were also inducted into the Hall of Fame.