Sports season
The 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 47th season in the National 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 in Super 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 the Los Angeles Rams 31–19 in Super Bowl XIV . Despite them and the San 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 the Pittsburgh Pirates win in the 1979 World Series , Pittsburgh would be the last city to claim Super Bowl and World Series wins in the same year until 1986 when the New York Mets won the World Series in 7 games over the Boston Red Sox , and the New York Giants won Super Bowl XXI 39–20 over the Denver 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 in 2014 . 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 aired America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions , the 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers , with team commentary from John Banaszak , L. C. Greenwood and John Stallworth , and narrated by Ed Harris .
Offseason
NFL draft
Personnel
Staff
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]
Roster
Preseason
Schedule
Notes :
Regular season
Schedule
Week
Date
Opponent
Kickoff
TV
Result
Record
Venue
Attendance
Recap
1
at New 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 38–7
2–0
Three Rivers Stadium
49,792
Recap
3
September 16
at St. Louis Cardinals
4:00 p.m. EDT
NBC
W 24–21
3–0
Busch Memorial Stadium
50,416
Recap
4
September 23
Baltimore Colts
1:00 p.m. EDT
NBC
W 17–13
4–0
Three Rivers Stadium
49,483
Recap
5
September 30
at Philadelphia Eagles
1:00 p.m. EDT
NBC
L 14–17
4–1
Veterans Stadium
70,352
Recap
6
October 7
at Cleveland Browns
4:00 p.m. EDT
NBC
W 51–35
5–1
Cleveland Municipal Stadium
81,260
Recap
7
October 14
at Cincinnati Bengals
1:00 p.m. EDT
NBC
L 10–34
5–2
Riverfront Stadium
52,381
Recap
8
Denver Broncos
9:00 p.m. EDT
ABC
W 42–7
6–2
Three Rivers Stadium
49,699
Recap
9
October 28
Dallas Cowboys
1:00 p.m. EST
CBS
W 14–3
7–2
Three Rivers Stadium
50,199
Recap
10
November 4
Washington Redskins
1:00 p.m. EST
CBS
W 38–7
8–2
Three Rivers Stadium
49,462
Recap
11
November 11
at Kansas City Chiefs
1:00 p.m. EST
NBC
W 30–3
9–2
Arrowhead Stadium
70,132
Recap
12
November 18
at San Diego Chargers
4:00 p.m. EST
NBC
L 7–35
9–3
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 37–17
11–3
Three Rivers Stadium
46,521
Recap
15
at Houston Oilers
9:00 p.m. EST
ABC
L 17–20
11–4
Astrodome
55,293
Recap
16
December 16
Buffalo Bills
1:00 p.m. EST
NBC
W 28–0
12–4
Three Rivers Stadium
48,002
Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Notes :
a All times are EASTERN time. (UTC–4 and UTC–5 starting October 28)
Game summaries
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 that Vince Lombardi won during his career.
Week 11: at Kansas City Chiefs
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
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
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
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
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
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
Standings
Stats
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
Postseason
Schedule
Notes :
Game summaries
AFC Divisional Playoff: vs. Miami Dolphins
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
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
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
Statistics
Passing
Player
Comp
Att
Yards
TD
INT
Terry Bradshaw
259
472
3,724
26
25
Rushing
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
Receiving
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]
Honors and awards
References
External links
Formerly the Pittsburgh 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
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