Sports season
The1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 47th season in theNational Football League (NFL). The Steelers successfully defended their Super Bowl Championship from the previous year, despite not improving on their 14–2 record from last year with a 12–4 record. They went on to defeat the Los Angeles Rams inSuper Bowl XIV . The Steelers started out to a 4–0 record. Adding to the previous season, the Steelers had won 12 in a row. They finished the regular season at 12–4. In six of those games the opponents were held to a touchdown or less. In the playoffs Pittsburgh defeated Miami, 34–14 and then for the second consecutive season beat Houston 27–13, in the AFC championship game. The Steelers ended the decade by defeating theLos Angeles Rams 31–19 inSuper Bowl XIV . Despite them and theSan Diego Chargers having 12–4 records, the Chargers were awarded the top seed in the AFC because of their victory over the Steelers.
With the win, and thePittsburgh Pirates win in the1979 World Series , Pittsburgh would be the last city to claim Super Bowl and World Series wins in the same year until 1986 when theNew York Mets won theWorld Series in 7 games over theBoston Red Sox , and theNew York Giants wonSuper Bowl XXI 39–20 over theDenver Broncos .
The 1979 Steelers are the only team to win a Super Bowl featuring players that had never played for another team, featuring 40 original draft picks and six undrafted free agents. The 1979 squad would set a franchise record for total points and points-per-game, with both records later broken in2014 . They also remain the only team to win four Super Bowls in six years, as well as the only team with two streaks of consecutive Super Bowl wins.
On February 23, 2007,NFL Network airedAmerica's Game: The Super Bowl Champions , the1979 Pittsburgh Steelers , with team commentary fromJohn Banaszak ,L. C. Greenwood andJohn Stallworth , and narrated byEd Harris .
1979 Pittsburgh Steelers staff Front office
Chairman of the board –Arthur J. Rooney President –Daniel M. Rooney Vice president – John R. McGinley Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr. Public relations director – Ed Kiely Traveling secretary – James A. Boston Publicity director – Joe Gordon Controller – Dennis P. Thimons Assistant controller – James S. Maund Director of ticket sales – Geraldine Glenn Director of player personnel –Dick Haley Assistant director of player personnel –Bill Nunn Director of professional scouting – V. Timothy Rooney Talent scout – West Coast –Bob Schmitz Pro talent scout –Tom Modrak College talent scout –Joe Krupa Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Strength and conditioning
Strength –Louis Riecke Flexibility –Paul Uram Physician, M.D. – Dr. David S. Huber Physician, M.D. – Dr. Anthony P. Yates Physician, orthopedic – Dr. Paul B. Steele, Jr. Dentist – Dr. George P. Boucek Trainer – Ralph Berlin Assistant trainer – Robert Milie Equipment manager – Anthony Parisi Field manager – Jack Hart Film director – Bob McCartney Photographer – Harry Homa [ 1]
Notes :
Week Date Opponent Kickoff TV Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 3 atNew England Patriots 9:00 p.m.EDT ABC W 16–13(OT) 1–0 Schaefer Stadium 60,978
Recap 2 September 9 Houston Oilers 1:00 p.m.EDT NBC W 38–72–0 Three Rivers Stadium 49,792
Recap 3 September 16 atSt. Louis Cardinals 4:00 p.m.EDT NBC W 24–213–0 Busch Memorial Stadium 50,416
Recap 4 September 23 Baltimore Colts 1:00 p.m.EDT NBC W 17–134–0 Three Rivers Stadium 49,483
Recap 5 September 30 atPhiladelphia Eagles 1:00 p.m.EDT NBC L 14–174–1 Veterans Stadium 70,352
Recap 6 October 7 atCleveland Browns 4:00 p.m.EDT NBC W 51–355–1 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 81,260
Recap 7 October 14 atCincinnati Bengals 1:00 p.m.EDT NBC L 10–345–2 Riverfront Stadium 52,381
Recap 8 October 22 Denver Broncos 9:00 p.m.EDT ABC W 42–76–2 Three Rivers Stadium 49,699
Recap 9 October 28 Dallas Cowboys 1:00 p.m.EST CBS W 14–37–2 Three Rivers Stadium 50,199
Recap 10 November 4 Washington Redskins 1:00 p.m.EST CBS W 38–78–2 Three Rivers Stadium 49,462
Recap 11 November 11 atKansas City Chiefs 1:00 p.m.EST NBC W 30–39–2 Arrowhead Stadium 70,132
Recap 12 November 18 atSan Diego Chargers 4:00 p.m.EST NBC L 7–359–3 San Diego Stadium 52,426
Recap 13 November 25 Cleveland Browns 1:00 p.m.EST NBC W 33–30(OT) 10–3 Three Rivers Stadium 48,773
Recap 14 December 2 Cincinnati Bengals 1:00 p.m.EST NBC W 37–1711–3 Three Rivers Stadium 46,521
Recap 15 December 10 atHouston Oilers 9:00 p.m.EST ABC L 17–2011–4 Astrodome 55,293
Recap 16 December 16 Buffalo Bills 1:00 p.m.EST NBC W 28–012–4 Three Rivers Stadium 48,002
Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are inbold text.
Notes :
a EASTERN time. (UTC–4 and UTC–5 starting October 28)Game information First quarter
NE – Russ Francis 4-yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick) NE 7-0 Second quarter
PIT – Sidney Thornton 2-yard run (kick failed) NE 7-6 NE – John Smith 31-yard field goal NE 10-6 NE – John Smith 32-yard field goal NE 13-6 Fourth quarter
PIT – Sidney Thornton 21-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick) 13-13 tie Overtime
PIT – Matt Bahr 41-yard field goal PIT 16-13 Passing
PIT: Terry Bradshaw 15/26, 221 yards, TD NE: Steve Grogan 11/33, 123 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing
PIT: Franco Harris 26 att, 74 yards NE: Sam Cunningham 17 att, 62 yards Receiving
PIT: John Stallworth 5 rec, 95 yards NE: Russ Francis 5 rec, 53 yards, TD
Week 2: vs. Houston Oilers [ edit ] Game information First quarter
PIT – Sidney Thornton 1-yard run (Matt Bahr kick) Second quarter
PIT – Matt Bahr 45-yard field goal Third quarter
PIT – Sidney Thornton 16-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick) PIT – Greg Hawthorne 8-yard run (Matt Bahr kick) Fourth quarter
PIT – Jim Smith 18-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick) PIT – Dirt Winston 41-yard interception return (Matt Bahr kick) HOU – Guido Merkins 9-yard pass from Gifford Nielsen (Toni Fritsch kick) Passing
HOU: Gifford Nielsen 4/11, 41 yards, TD, 2 INT PIT: Terry Bradshaw 12/29, 198 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing
HOU: Earl Campbell 16 att, 38 yards PIT: Franco Harris 14 att, 42 yards Receiving
HOU: Billy Johnson 2 rec, 32 yards PIT: Lynn Swann 5 rec, 95 yards
Week 3: at St. Louis Cardinals [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
STL – Theotis Brown 1-yard run (kick failed) Third quarter
STL – Mike Wood 24-yard field goal STL – Mike Wood 27-yard field goal Fourth quarter
Passing
PIT – Terry Bradshaw 14/31, 206 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT STL – Jim Hart 12/24, 132 yards Rushing
PIT – Rocky Bleier 13 att, 73 yards, TD STL – Theotis Brown 14 att, 69 yards, TD Receiving
PIT – John Stallworth 6 rec, 80 yards, TD STL – Mel Gray 1 rec, 48 yards
Week 4: vs. Baltimore Colts [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
BAL – Steve Mike-Mayer 24-yard field goal Fourth quarter
Passing
BAL – Greg Landry 17/34, 195 yards, TD, 2 INT PIT – Terry Bradshaw 19/29, 249 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing
BAL – Joe Washington 21 att, 65 yards PIT – Sidney Thornton 13 att, 129 yards Receiving
BAL – Roger Carr 4 rec, 68 yards, TD PIT – John Stallworth 4 rec, 83 yards, TD
Week 5: at Philadelphia Eagles [ edit ] Game information Second quarter
Third quarter
PHI – Tony Franklin 48-yard field goal PHI – Wilbert Montgomery 1-yard run (Tony Franklin kick) Fourth quarter
Passing
PIT – Terry Bradshaw 12/26, 176 yards, TD, 2 INT PHI – Ron Jaworski 11/20, 158 yards, 2 INT Rushing
PIT – Sidney Thornton 16 att, 88 yards, TD PHI – Wilbert Montgomery 28 att, 98 yards, TD Receiving
PIT – John Stallworth 5 rec, 102 yards, TD PHI – Keith Krepfle 4 rec, 95 yards
Week 6: at Cleveland Browns [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Passing
PIT – Terry Bradshaw 12/21, 161 yards, 3 TD CLE – Brian Sipe 22/41, 351 yards, 5 TD, 3 INT Rushing
PIT – Franco Harris 19 att, 153 yards, 2 TD CLE – Mike Pruitt 15 att, 73 yards Receiving
PIT – John Stallworth 4 rec, 96 yards, TD CLE – Ozzie Newsome 6 rec, 97 yards, TD
Week 7: at Cincinnati Bengals [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
CIN – Pete Johnson 1-yard run (kick failed) CIN – Howard Kurnick 12-yard fumble return (Chris Bahr kick) CIN – Jim LeClair 27-yard fumble return (Chris Bahr kick) Fourth quarter
Passing
PIT – Terry Bradshaw 21/40, 275 yards, TD, 2 INT CIN – Ken Anderson 9/20, 120 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing
PIT – Franco Harris 9 att, 45 yards CIN – Charles Alexander 19 att, 91 yards Receiving
PIT – John Stallworth 6 rec, 126 yards, TD CIN – Archie Griffin 4 rec, 65 yards
Week 8: vs. Denver Broncos [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Fourth quarter
Passing
DEN – Craig Morton 16/31, 261 yards, TD, INT PIT – Terry Bradshaw 18/24, 267 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing
DEN – Jon Keyworth 4 att, 29 yards PIT – Franco Harris 17 att, 121 yards, 2 TD Receiving
DEN – Haven Moses 5 rec, 133 yards, TD PIT – Lynn Swann 2 rec, 76 yards, TD
Week 9: vs. Dallas Cowboys [ edit ] Game information Second quarter
Third quarter
Passing
DAL – Roger Staubach 11/25, 113 yards PIT – Terry Bradshaw 11/25, 126 yards Rushing
DAL – Tony Dorsett 19 att, 73 yards PIT – Franco Harris 18 att, 102 yards, 2 TD Receiving
DAL – Drew Pearson 5 rec, 89 yards PIT – John Stallworth 7 rec, 98 yards
Week 10: vs. Washington Redskins [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Passing
WAS – Joe Theismann 14/31, 147 yards, INT PIT – Terry Bradshaw 15/27, 311 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing
WAS – John Riggins 13 att, 56 yards, TD PIT – Franco Harris 15 att, 62 yards Receiving
WAS – Danny Buggs 3 rec, 37 yards PIT – John Stallworth 6 rec, 126 yards, 2 TD
In that game. Franco Harris became the 5th man to rush for 8,000 career rushing yards, and it was also Chuck Noll's 95th win as a head coach, the same number thatVince Lombardi won during his career.
Week 11: at Kansas City Chiefs [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Passing
PIT – Terry Bradshaw 17/29, 232 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT KC – Steve Fuller 9/20, 89 yards, INT Rushing
PIT – Franco Harris 20 att, 68 yards KC – Mike Williams 6 att, 19 yards Receiving
PIT – John Stallworth 4 rec, 88 yards, TD KC – J.T. Smith 3 rec, 47 yards
Week 12: at San Diego Chargers [ edit ] Game information First quarter
SD – John Jefferson 16-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Mike Wood kick) Second quarter
SD – Bob Klein 6-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Mike Wood kick) SD – Bo Matthews 2-yard run (Mike Wood kick) Third quarter
PIT –Rocky Bleier 2-yard run (Matt Bahr kick) SD – Woodrow Lowe 77-yard interception return (Mike Wood kick) Fourth quarter
SD – Hank Bauer 2-yard run (Mike Wood kick) Passing
PIT – Terry Bradshaw 18/36, 153 yards, 5 INT SD – Dan Fouts 11/24, 137 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing
PIT – Franco Harris 20 att, 44 yards SD – Mike Thomas 13 att, 53 yards Receiving
PIT – John Stallworth 4 rec, 55 yards SD – John Jefferson 5 rec, 106 yards, TD
Week 13: vs. Cleveland Browns [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Overtime
Passing
CLE – Brian Sipe 23/38, 333 yards, 3 TD, INT PIT – Terry Bradshaw 30/44, 364 yards, TD, INT Rushing
CLE – Brian Sipe 3 att, 30 yards PIT – Franco Harris 32 att, 151 yards, 2 TD Receiving
CLE – Dave Logan 7 rec, 135 yards, TD PIT – Franco Harris 9 rec, 81 yards, TD
Week 14: vs. Cincinnati Bengals [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Passing
CIN – Ken Anderson 20/36, 258 yards, 2 TD PIT – Terry Bradshaw 17/29, 339 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing
CIN – Pete Johnson 18 att, 51 yards PIT – Franco Harris 20 att, 92 yards, TD Receiving
CIN – Isaac Curtis 5 rec, 119 yards, 2 TD PIT – Lynn Swann 5 rec, 192 yards, 2 TD
Week 15: at Houston Oilers [ edit ] Game information Second quarter
HOU – Ken Burrough 25 pass from Dan Pastorini (Toni Fritsch kick) Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Passing
PIT – Terry Bradshaw 14/29, 137 yards, TD, 2 INT HOU – Dan Pastorini 10/16, 170 yards, TD Rushing
PIT – Franco Harris 12 att, 59 yards HOU – Earl Campbell 33 att, 109 yards Receiving
PIT – Bennie Cunningham 2 rec, 67 yards HOU – Ken Burrough 3 rec, 48 yards, TD
Week 16: vs. Buffalo Bills [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Passing
BUF – Joe Ferguson 11/31, 103 yards, 2 INT PIT – Terry Bradshaw 14/27, 209 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing
BUF – Mike Collier 16 att, 49 yards PIT – Franco Harris 21 att, 100 yards, 2 TD Receiving
BUF – Jerry Butler 3 rec, 54 yards PIT – Lynn Swann 3 rec, 61 yards, TD
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Kicking
Punting
Kick Return
Punt Return
Defense & Fumbles
Scoring Summary
Team
Quarter-by-quarter
Quarter-by-quarter 1 2 3 4 OT T Steelers 89 114 62 145 6 416 Opponents 57 104 53 48 0 262
Notes :
AFC Divisional Playoff: vs. Miami Dolphins [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Passing
MIA – Don Strock 8/14, 125 yards, INT PIT – Terry Bradshaw 21/31, 230 yards, 2 TD Rushing
MIA – Larry Csonka 10 att, 20 yards, TD PIT – Franco Harris 21 att, 83 yards, TD Receiving
MIA – Nat Moore 5 rec, 93 yards PIT – John Stallworth 6 rec, 86 yards, TD
AFC Championship: vs. Houston Oilers [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Fourth quarter
Passing
HOU – Dan Pastorini 19/28, 203 yards, INT PIT – Terry Bradshaw 18/30, 219 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing
HOU – Earl Campbell 17 att, 15 yards PIT – Franco Harris 21 att, 85 yards Receiving
HOU – Tim Wilson 7 rec, 60 yards PIT – Lynn Swann 4 rec, 64 yards
Super Bowl XIV: vs. Los Angeles Rams [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Passing
LA – Vince Ferragamo 15/25, 212 yards, INT PIT – Terry Bradshaw 14/21, 309 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing
LA – Wendell Tyler 17 att, 60 yards PIT – Franco Harris 20 att, 46 yards, 2 TD Receiving
LA – Billy Waddy 3 rec, 75 yards PIT – John Stallworth 3 rec, 121 yards, TD
Player Comp Att Yards TD INT Terry Bradshaw 259 472 3,724 26 25
Player Att Yards TD Franco Harris 267 1,186 11 Sidney Thornton 118 585 6 Rocky Bleier 92 434 4 Terry Bradshaw 21 83 Lynn Swann 1 9
Player Rec Yards TD John Stallworth 70 1,183 8 Lynn Swann 41 808 5 Bennie Cunningham 36 512 4 Franco Harris 36 291 1 Rocky Bleier 31 277 Sidney Thornton 16 231 4
[ 5]
Formerly thePittsburgh Pirates (1933–1939)
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Media Division championships (24) Conference championships (8) League championships (6) Retired numbers Hall of Fame members Current league affiliations
