 Noll with theCleveland Browns in 1954 | |
| No. 65 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Guard Linebacker |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | (1932-01-05)January 5, 1932 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died: | June 13, 2014(2014-06-13) (aged 82) Sewickley, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Benedictine (Cleveland, Ohio) |
| College: | Dayton |
| NFL draft: | 1953: 20th round, 239th pick |
| Career history | |
As a player: | |
As a coach: | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season: | 193–148–1 (.566) |
| Postseason: | 16–8 (.667) |
| Career: | 209–156–1 (.572) |
| Coaching profile at Pro Football Reference | |
| Stats atPro Football Reference | |
Charles Henry Noll (January 5, 1932 – June 13, 2014) was an American professionalfootball player andhead coach. Regarded as one of the greatest head coaches of all time, his sole head coaching position was for thePittsburgh Steelers of theNational Football League (NFL) from1969 to1991. When Noll retired after 23 years, only three other head coaches in NFL history had longer tenures with one team.[a]
After a seven-year playing career that included twoNFL Championships as a member of his hometownCleveland Browns and several years as an assistant coach with various teams, in 1969 Noll took the helm of the then moribund Steelers (which had played in only one post-season game in its previous 36 years, a 21–0 loss), and turned it into a perennial contender. As a head coach, Noll won four Super Bowls, four AFC titles and nine Central Division championships, compiled a 209–156–1 (.572) overall record, a 16–8 playoff record and had winning records in 15 of his final 20 seasons.[2] His tenure was defined by a dominant Steelers team, built on the legendary "Steel Curtain" defense and a potent offense. WithTerry Bradshaw atquarterback,Franco Harris,Lynn Swann, andJohn Stallworth led the attack, while defensive greatsJoe Greene,Jack Lambert, andMel Blount anchored one of the most feared units in NFL history.[3] His fourSuper Bowl victoriesrank second behindBill Belichick for the most of any head coach in NFL history, and are the most ever by a head coach without a Super Bowl loss.
Between his playing and coaching tenures, Noll won a total of seven NFL Championships as well as one AFL Championship and was elected to thePro Football Hall of Fame in 1993, his first year of eligibility.
Noll built the team through astute drafting and meticulous tutoring. During his career, he was notable for the opportunities he gave African Americans, starting the first black quarterback in franchise history and hiring one of the first black assistant coaches in league history. He was often credited with maintaining the morale ofWestern Pennsylvania, despite the region's steep economic decline in the late 20th century, by creating a team of champions in the image of its blue-collar fan base.
Noll was born inCleveland, Ohio, the youngest of three siblings (by eight years) of William Noll, a butcher, frequently unable to work owing toParkinson's disease, and Katherine Steigerwald Noll, a florist.[4] The family lived in the house Noll's mother grew up in with her 12 siblings, near East 74th Street,[5] in a neighborhood with a large African-American population,[4] a fact that helps account for Noll's early championing of opportunity for African Americans in the NFL (both players from traditionally black colleges and later as coaches).
On a local youth football team Noll played with Harold Owens, the nephew of Olympic starJesse Owens.[6]Noll attendedBenedictine High School. He began working in seventh grade and by the time he entered high school, he had saved enough for two-year's worth of the $150 tuition. Throughout high school he continued to work, making 55-cent an hour at Fisher Brothers meat market after school.[5] Education was always important to him, so despite the schedule, he studied enough to graduate 28th in his class of 252.[4]
Noll playedrunning back andtackle on the high schoolfootball team, winning All-State honors.[6] During his senior year, he was named to the "All Catholic Universe" team by the Diocese of Cleveland newspaper.[7] Noll was also awrestler while in high school.[8]
Noll planned to attendNotre Dame, but during a practice before his freshman year he suffered an epileptic seizure on the field.[4] Notre Dame coachFrank Leahy refused to take the risk of allowing Noll to play there and so Noll accepted a football scholarship to theUniversity of Dayton. Noll graduated with a degree in secondary education.[6] As a member of theFlyers, he was a lineman, linebacker and a co-captain,[6] and acquired the nickname, the "Pope," for his "'infallible' grasp of the game."[9]
Noll was selected by theCleveland Browns in the 20th round of the1953 NFL draft (239th overall). During his first year, the Browns lost to theDetroit Lions in theNFL championship. The next two years, however, the Browns were NFL champions, and Noll finished his NFL career with eight interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and a touchdown on one of each.
Although the undersized Noll was drafted as a linebacker,[10] CoachPaul Brown used him as one of his "messenger guards" to send play calls to the quarterback, beginning withOtto Graham. Brown recalled that Noll soon "could have called the plays himself without any help from the bench. That's how smart he was."[9] According toArt Rooney, Jr., director of scouting for the Steelers before and during most of Noll's tenure, Noll felt demeaned by Brown's use of him in that way and "disliked the term 'messenger boy' so much that as coach of the Steelers he entrusted all the play calling to his quarterbacks."[11]
Noll was paid only $5,000 per season with the Browns and so while there he acted as substitute teacher atHoly Name High School[12] and sold insurance on the side.[5] During that period Noll also attendedCleveland-Marshall College of Law at night. He toldDan Rooney that he decided against becoming a lawyer because "he didn't really like the constant confrontation and arguments that come with being a lawyer."[13]
When Noll lost the starting guard position toJohn Wooten, he chose to retire at age 27 expecting to begin his coaching career at hisalma mater. He was surprised, however, when he was not offered an open position on the University of Dayton coaching staff.[14] He was offered a position bySid Gillman on the staff of the Los Angeles Chargers, during its inaugural season.[10]
Noll was an assistant coach for theAmerican Football League's then Los Angeles and laterSan Diego Chargers from1960 to1965. He then became assistant to head coachDon Shula of the NFLBaltimore Colts from1965 to1968, when he was selected as thePittsburgh Steelers' head coach.
Noll is considered part ofSid Gillman's coaching tree. He later remembered Gillman as "one of the game's prime researchers and offensive specialists. In six years, I had more exposure to football than I normally would have received in 12 years."[14] During Noll's six-year tenure with the Chargers, where he was defensive line coach, the defensive backfield coach and defensive coordinator, the team appeared in five AFL championship games.[15] Gillman said that Noll "had a great way with players," specifically "If a guy didn't do the job expected, Chuck could climb on his back."[16] Massive defensive tackleErnie Ladd said that Noll was a "fiery guy" but also "the best teacher I ever played under." "He and I were always fighting, always squabbling, but he had a great way of teaching. I take my hat off to Chuck. He was one of the main reasons for our success."[16] The defensive line under Noll became known as the "Fearsome Foursome," and during 1961 defensive endEarl Faison was named AFL rookie of the year.
During Noll's time at Chargers,Al Davis was also an assistant and scout. Davis would later become coach and general manager of theOakland Raiders, the principal AFC rival of the Steelers' in the 1970s.
With the Colts, Noll was defensive backfield coach and later defensive coordinator. Together with assistant coachBill Arnsparger the Colts employed shifting alignments of rotating zone and maximum blitz defensive packages.[17] In1968, Noll's last season as defensive coordinator, the Baltimore Colts compiled a 13–1 record in the regular season and tied the NFL season record for fewest points allowed (144).[18]
Shula was impressed by Noll's approach: "He explained how to do things and wrote up the technique. He was one of the first coaches I was around that wrote up in great detail all of the techniques used by players—for example, the backpedal and the defensive back's position on the receiver. He was like a classroom teacher."[5]
The Colts won theNFL championship by routing theCleveland Browns 34–0 in Cleveland, but were shocked by the upstart AFL championNew York Jets, 16–7, inSuper Bowl III at theOrange Bowl inMiami. The next day, Noll interviewed for the head coach position in Pittsburgh.
At age 37, Noll was named the 14th head coach of thePittsburgh Steelers on January 27,1969,[19][20] afterPenn State coachJoe Paterno turned down an offer for the position.[21] At the time of his hiring, he was the youngest head coach in the NFL.[22] Steelers ownerArt Rooney would later credit Don Shula as the person who recommended Noll as a head coach.[23]
Noll inherited a struggling team that had yet to record a postseason victory and regularly trotted out short-term coaches with Noll being the16th coaching change in the 36 years of the franchise's existence. In his first season as head coach, Noll led the Steelers to theirworst season to date in franchise history,[24] finishing with a 1–13 record.[25] This record allowed for the Steelers to hold the first overall pick in the1970 NFL draft which the team used to selectLouisiana Tech quarterbackTerry Bradshaw.[26]
Prior to the1970 season, Noll cut much of the team's roster. Laying the foundation for the coaching style he later became known for, Noll told the team, "The reason you've been losing is you're not any good. You're not fast enough, you're not strong enough, you're not quick enough, you're not smart enough. I'm going to have to get rid of most of you."[27] In total, only 14 players from the 1969 roster returned in 1970.[28][29] With a rebuilding team, Noll helped the Steelers improve to a record of 5–9, moving them to third place in theAFC Central.[30] Noll became known during practice to dwell on fundamentals—such as thethree-point stance, things that professional players were expected to know.Andy Russell, already aPro Bowl linebacker before Noll arrived and one of the few players Noll kept after purging the roster, was told by Noll that he didn't have his feet positioned correctly.[31]
Throughout1971, Noll implemented a defensive system that became known as the "Steel Curtain" defense. His defensive philosophy relied on controlling the line of scrimmage, stopping the run, and pressuring the quarterback, notably often done throughblitzing with players such as linebackersJoe Greene andJack Ham.[32] His coaching style earned him the nickname of The Emperor Chaz bysports announcerMyron Cope.[33] It was with this defensive strategy that the Steelers allowed just 175 points during the regular season, the second-fewest in the NFL and finished with a record of 11–3.[34] The team went on to record their first post season victory against theOakland Raiders 13–7, which included one of the most famous plays in NFL history, TheImmaculate Reception.[35] The Steelers went on to lose the AFC championship to theeventual Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins 21–17.[36]
Continuing to build on the team's success in1973, the Steelers won 10 of their 14 games and clinched a second consecutive playoff berth for the first time in franchise history. However, the team fell 33–14 against theOakland Raiders in a rematch of the previous season's divisional round.[37]
It was in 1974 that the tide turned for Noll and the team. After a regular season record of 10–3–1 clinched a playoff berth for the third year, Noll led the team on an upset playoff run. The Steelers defeated theBuffalo Bills andOakland Raiders in the playoffs, scoring 56 total points and only allowing a combined 27. The season culminated in aSuper Bowl IX victory over theMinnesota Vikings, giving the Steelers their first ever championship appearance and win.[38]
He led the team to continued dominance, winningSuper Bowl X the following year over theDallas Cowboys, making the Steelers the second team to ever repeat Super Bowl titles.[39] He went on to become the first head coach to win fourSuper Bowls (IX,X,XIII,XIV). The teams that wonSuper BowlsIX andX used a run-oriented offense, primarily featuringFranco Harris and blocking backRocky Bleier. Over the next few years,Terry Bradshaw matured into an outstanding passer, and the teams that won Super BowlsXIII andXIV fully utilized the receiving tandem ofLynn Swann andJohn Stallworth.
While most of his contemporaries enforced strictcurfew rules on its players, Noll was very lax on off-the-field behavior. This was shown atSuper Bowl IX. While Noll's counterpart –Minnesota Vikings head coachBud Grant – strictly kept his team in their hotel rooms except for practice before the game, Noll told his team upon arriving inNew Orleans to go out onBourbon Street "and get the partying out of your system now."[40]
Noll was notoriously shy and did not like the media or give many interviews. His 1970s teams were so talented that his contributions as head coach (and architect of the team) often were overlooked.
Infamously in1983's draft, Noll elected to pass onUniversity of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh nativeDan Marino, instead selectingnose tackleGabriel Rivera.[41] Marino went on to become aHall of Fame quarterback who broke numerous passing records with theMiami Dolphins and won honors such asleague MVP and theWalter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award while being named to thePro Bowl nine times.[42] Rivera only played six professional games due to beingparalyzed after an accident in which he wasdrunk driving.[43] Noll later explained his decision was a reaction to a rumor that Marino had donecocaine during his time at Pitt. Noll also believed the team would be able to retain then 34-year-old Bradshaw and thatCliff Stoudt would be able to replace him.[44]
In Noll’s twilight years as a head coach, his team’s performances waned. After Bradshaw unexpectedly retired at the conclusion of the 1983 season, Noll chose 1980’s first round pickMark Malone to be his successor. The Steelers finished 1984 going 9–7 and achieving first place in the AFC Central. Noll led the team on a playoff run that concluded with an AFC Championship loss to theMiami Dolphins who, ironically, had Marino as their starting quarterback.[45] Over Noll’s next four seasons, he led the team to a record of 26–37. In 1988, Noll led the team to the worst record they had experienced since 1969 when they won just five out of their 16 regular season games, making them fall to fourth place in the AFC Central.[46] As of the 2024 season, this remains the last time the Steelers placed last in their division.[47] Noll was heavily criticized during the season. His former quarterback, Terry Bradshaw, commented that "the game has passed him by".[48]
He rebounded in 1989, leading the team to an improved 9–7 record with quarterbackBubby Brister at the helm. Noll was recognized asNFL Coach of the Year, when he guided the Steelers into the second round of the playoffs, which they lost to theDenver Broncos with a final score of 24–23. The team was not especially talented and lost its first two regular-season games by scores of 51–0 and 41–10.[49] However, Noll kept the team focused and its play steadily improved enough to make the playoffs and play competitively in two playoff games; Noll went a combined 16–16 in his last two seasons at the helm of the Steelers.
Noll retired as Steelers head coach after the1991 season with a career record of 209–156–1, including regular season and postseason games. He was elected to thePro Football Hall of Fame two years later, in 1993.
Noll maintained a residence in suburbanPittsburgh, and also spent time at hisFlorida home. ThePittsburgh Steelers gave him a gift of a stationary bicycle, which he avidly used. Noll's mobility was limited by chronicback problems.
Noll held the ceremonial title of administration adviser in the Pittsburgh Steelers' front office but had no real role in the team's operations after his retirement. He spent about half the year in Pittsburgh with his wife Marianne. Their son, Chris, is a teacher in a private high school inConnecticut.[50]
Noll died ofnatural causes in hisSewickley, Pennsylvania, condominium on June 13, 2014, after suffering for several years fromAlzheimer's disease, aheart condition, andback problems.[22] Noll's funeral was held on June 17, 2014, atSt. Paul's Cathedral in Pittsburgh.[51]
Noll's legacy includes providing opportunities forAfrican Americans. Under Noll,Joe Gilliam became the league's first African American starting quarterback just a few seasons after the AFL startedMarlin Briscoe, andJames Harris (Gilliam started ahead ofTerry Bradshaw briefly during the1974 season). In January 1975, Franco Harris became the first African American to win the Super Bowl MVP award.[52][53][54][55][56][57]
During the 1980s,Tony Dungy, who played for two seasons under Noll in the late 1970s, got his start as an NFL assistant coach, initially as the Steelers' defensive backs coach, and later he became the first African-American coordinator (defensive) in the NFL. Noll strongly promoted Dungy as a well-qualified head coaching candidate, but it did not happen for Dungy with the Steelers when Noll retired after the 1991 season.[58] However, Dungy did become head coach of theTampa Bay Buccaneers and later became the first African American coach to win a Super Bowl (XLI) with theIndianapolis Colts.[59][60][61][62]
On August 2, 2007, the field atSt. Vincent Seminary inLatrobe, Pennsylvania, was dedicated and renamedChuck Noll Field in honor of the former coach. The Steelers have held their summer camp at St. Vincent College, as it was Noll's idea to take the team away from the distractions in the city to prepare for the season each year, since 1975.[63] The team celebrated 50 years of utilizing the field in July 2015.[64]
Noll was honored on October 7, 2007, atHeinz Field during thePittsburgh Steelers' pre-game ceremonies before the Steelers blew out the Seahawks 21–0.[65]
On September 30, 2011, Pittsburgh honored Noll by naming a new street after him. Chuck Noll Way connects North Shore Drive to West General Robinson St. The street runs alongStage AE, on theNorth Shore ofPittsburgh.[66]
Noll has been the subject of multiple publications due to his on-field success. His biography, written by sports authorMichael MacCambridge,Chuck Noll: His Life's Work was published on October 28, 2016.[67]Men of Steel by Jim Wexwell was published in 2006, which heavily focuses on the Steelers' early success through the 1970's and 1980's, highlighting Noll's tenure with the team.[68]
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| PIT | 1969 | 1 | 13 | 0 | .071 | 4th in NFL Central | — | — | — | — |
| PIT | 1970 | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 3rd in AFC Central | — | — | — | — |
| PIT | 1971 | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 2nd in AFC Central | — | — | — | — |
| PIT | 1972 | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 1st in AFC Central | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to theMiami Dolphins inAFC Championship Game |
| PIT | 1973 | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 2nd in AFC Central | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to theOakland Raiders inAFC Divisional Round |
| PIT | 1974 | 10 | 3 | 1 | .750 | 1st in AFC Central | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Super Bowl IX champions |
| PIT | 1975 | 12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | 1st in AFC Central | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Super Bowl X champions |
| PIT | 1976 | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 1st in AFC Central | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to theOakland Raiders inAFC Championship Game |
| PIT | 1977 | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 1st in AFC Central | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to theDenver Broncos inAFC Divisional Round |
| PIT | 1978 | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | 1st in AFC Central | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Super Bowl XIII champions |
| PIT | 1979 | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 1st in AFC Central | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Super Bowl XIV champions |
| PIT | 1980 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3rd in AFC Central | — | — | — | — |
| PIT | 1981 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2nd in AFC Central | — | — | — | — |
| PIT | 1982 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 2nd in AFC Central | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to theSan Diego Chargers inAFC Wild Card Round |
| PIT | 1983 | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 1st in AFC Central | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to theLos Angeles Raiders inAFC Divisional Round |
| PIT | 1984 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 1st in AFC Central | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to theMiami Dolphins inAFC Championship Game |
| PIT | 1985 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2nd in AFC Central | — | — | — | — |
| PIT | 1986 | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 3rd in AFC Central | — | — | — | — |
| PIT | 1987 | 8 | 7 | 0 | .533 | 3rd in AFC Central | — | — | — | — |
| PIT | 1988 | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 4th in AFC Central | — | — | — | — |
| PIT | 1989 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 2nd in AFC Central | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to theDenver Broncos inAFC Divisional Round |
| PIT | 1990 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3rd in AFC Central | — | — | — | — |
| PIT | 1991 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2nd in AFC Central | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 193 | 148 | 1 | .566 | 16 | 8 | .667 | |||
Assistants under Chuck Noll who became college or professional head coaches:
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
