History of Pittsburgh Steelers in Timeline

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Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team established in 1933 and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. As the seventh-oldest NFL franchise and the oldest in the AFC, the Steelers have a rich history in American football.

July 8, 1933: Joined NFL as Pittsburgh Pirates

On July 8, 1933, the Pittsburgh Steelers joined the NFL as the Pittsburgh Pirates. The team was owned by Art Rooney and took its name from the baseball team, as was common practice at the time.

September 20, 1933: First game as Pittsburgh Pirates

On September 20, 1933, the Pittsburgh Pirates played their first game, losing to the New York Giants 23-2.

1933: Forrest Douds coaches the Steelers to a 3–6–2 record in 1933

In 1933, Forrest Douds coached the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 3–6–2 record as their first coach.

1933: Eagles and Steelers begin play

In 1933, the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers both began play and were located in Pennsylvania. From that season through 1966, this was a major rivalry for both teams, as both were part of the same division.

1933: Steelers in the NFL Eastern Division

In 1933, the Pittsburgh Steelers became part of the NFL Eastern Division.

1933: Founding of the Pittsburgh Steelers

In 1933, the Pittsburgh Steelers were founded, marking the beginning of the franchise's history in the National Football League (NFL). The Steelers are the seventh-oldest franchise in the NFL, and the oldest franchise in the AFC.

1933: Steelers share Forbes Field with the Pittsburgh Pirates starting in 1933

Starting in 1933, the Pittsburgh Steelers shared Forbes Field with the Pittsburgh Pirates for 31 seasons.

1933: Steelers founded on or after 1933

The Pittsburgh Steelers can claim the most honorees of any NFL franchise founded on or after 1933.

1934: Reference to the jerseys of 1934

The uniform introduced in 2012 represented the jerseys worn by the Steelers in their 1934 season.

1936: Best Record Through 1930s

In 1936, the Pittsburgh Pirates achieved their best record of the 1930s, but still did not finish higher than second place in their division or with a record better than .500.

1938: Signed Byron White

In 1938, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Byron White, who later became a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, to the biggest contract in NFL history at the time.

1939: Dapper Dan Charities started naming the "Sportsman of the Year" in 1939

Since 1939, the regional Dapper Dan Charities has named the "Sportsman of the Year" in the Pittsburgh region.

1940: Renamed as the Steelers

Prior to the 1940 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates were renamed the Pittsburgh Steelers.

1943: Merged with Philadelphia Eagles to form the "Steagles"

During the 1943 season, due to player shortages during World War II, the Steelers merged with the Philadelphia Eagles to form the "Phil-Pitt Eagles", also known as the "Steagles". This team finished with a record of 5–4–1.

1943: Steagles' colors

In 1943, during the Steelers' merger with the Philadelphia Eagles to form the "Steagles", the team's colors were green and white due to wearing Eagles uniforms.

1943: Steelers in the NFL Eastern Division

In 1943, the Pittsburgh Steelers remained in the NFL Eastern Division.

1943: Temporary merger with Philadelphia Eagles

In 1943, the Pittsburgh Steelers temporarily merged with the Philadelphia Eagles due to player losses during World War II. This temporary team was known as the "Phil-Pitt Eagles" or "Steagles".

1944: Steelers in the NFL Western Division

In 1944, the Pittsburgh Steelers briefly joined the NFL Western Division.

1944: Temporary merger with Chicago Cardinals

In 1944, the Pittsburgh Steelers temporarily merged with the Chicago Cardinals due to player shortages during World War II. The merged team was known as "Card-Pitt".

1944: Merged with Chicago Cardinals to form Card-Pitt

In 1944, the Steelers merged with the Chicago Cardinals and were known as Card-Pitt. The team went 0–10, marking the only winless team in franchise history.

1946: Reference to the uniforms of 1946

The Color Rush uniforms introduced in 2016 were based on the uniforms the Steelers wore from 1946.

1947: First Playoff Appearance

In 1947, the Pittsburgh Steelers made their first playoff appearance, tying for first place in the division with the Philadelphia Eagles at 8–4. They lost the tie-breaking playoff game 21-0.

1947: Steelers Postseason Game

Since the 1947 playoff game, the Steelers are 36-26 (.580) in the postseason, with all but one game having been played since the AFL-NFL merger.

1949: Steelers in the NFL Eastern Division

In 1949, the Pittsburgh Steelers returned to the NFL Eastern Division.

1950: Steelers and Browns divisional rivalry begins

In 1950, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns began their divisional rivalry, marking the start of their head-to-head matchups.

1950: Steelers in the NFL American Conference

In 1950, the Pittsburgh Steelers joined the NFL American Conference.

1952: Steelers in the NFL American Conference

In 1952, the Pittsburgh Steelers remained in the NFL American Conference.

1953: Steelers in the NFL Eastern Conference

In 1953, the Pittsburgh Steelers joined the NFL Eastern Conference.

September 29, 1957: First African-American assistant coach

On September 29, 1957, the Pittsburgh Steelers hired Lowell Perry as the first African-American assistant coach in the NFL.

1958: Steelers start splitting home games at Pitt Stadium in 1958

In 1958, the Pittsburgh Steelers began splitting their home games at Pitt Stadium.

1960: Steelers defeat Cowboys in first franchise game

In 1960, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the Cowboys' first game as a franchise at the Cotton Bowl with a score of 35-28.

1961: The Steelerettes formed in 1961

In 1961, the Pittsburgh Steelers became the first NFL team to have a cheerleading squad, known as the Steelerettes.

1962: Introduction of the Steelers logo

In 1962, the Pittsburgh Steelers introduced their logo, based on the "Steelmark" designed by Pittsburgh's U.S. Steel, consisting of the word "Steelers" surrounded by three astroids.

1962: Qualified for "Playoff Bowl"

In 1962, the Pittsburgh Steelers qualified for a "Playoff Bowl" as the second-best team in their conference, though it was not considered an official playoff game.

1963: Steelers add "ers" to the logo

In 1963, after a petition to AISI, the Pittsburgh Steelers were given permission to add "ers" to the formal Steelmark logo, completing the team name on the logo.

1963: Steelers end sharing Forbes Field with Pirates in 1963

In 1963, the Pittsburgh Steelers ended their 31-season sharing of Forbes Field with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

1963: Reference to the uniforms of 1963

The third uniform introduced in 2007 was meant to evoke the memory of the 1963 uniforms.

1964: Steelers retired Stautner's #70 in 1964

In 1964, the Pittsburgh Steelers retired Stautner's #70 before establishing a 50-year tradition of not retiring numbers.

1964: Steelers exclusively play at Pitt Stadium starting in 1964

Starting in 1964, the Pittsburgh Steelers played exclusively at Pitt Stadium.

1964: Reference to the uniforms of 1964

The third uniform introduced in 2007 was meant to evoke the memory of the 1964 uniforms.

1965: Reference to the uniforms of 1965

The Color Rush uniforms introduced in 2016 were based on the uniforms the Steelers wore from 1965.

1966: Steelers in the NFL Eastern Conference

In 1966, the Pittsburgh Steelers remained in the NFL Eastern Conference.

1966: Start of Steelers' Road Losing Streak

Starting in 1966, which was also the start of the Super Bowl era, the Pittsburgh Steelers have lost ten straight games on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles.

1967: Eagles and Steelers Placed in Separate Divisions

In 1967, the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers were placed in separate divisions, but remained in the same conference for three years.

1967: Steelers in the Century Division of the Eastern Conference

In 1967, the Pittsburgh Steelers were placed in the Century Division of the Eastern Conference.

1968: Introduction of current uniform designs

In 1968, the Pittsburgh Steelers introduced the current uniform designs, featuring gold pants and either black or white jerseys.

1968: Reference to the uniforms of 1968

The third uniform unveiled in 2018 was based on the uniforms worn by the Steelers starting in 1968.

1969: Hiring of Chuck Noll

In 1969, Chuck Noll was hired as the coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

1969: Steelers stop exclusively playing at Pitt Stadium in 1969

In 1969, the Pittsburgh Steelers ended their exclusive use of Pitt Stadium as their home field.

1969: End of the Steelerettes cheerleading squad in 1969

In 1969, the Pittsburgh Steelers' cheerleading squad, the Steelerettes, was disbanded, marking the end of their run.

1970: Myron Cope started as Steelers radio color commentator in 1970

In 1970, Myron Cope began his 35-season tenure as the Pittsburgh Steelers radio color commentator.

1970: Oilers join AFC Central with Steelers

In 1970, the Houston Oilers were aligned into the AFC Central division with the Pittsburgh Steelers, marking the beginning of a 32-season divisional rivalry.

1970: Drafted Terry Bradshaw and Mel Blount

In 1970, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Terry Bradshaw and Mel Blount.

1970: Moved to AFC

In 1970, the Pittsburgh Steelers moved into Three Rivers Stadium and switched to the newly formed American Football Conference (AFC) as part of the AFL–NFL merger. They received a $3 million relocation fee.

1970: Steelers wear white pants with white jerseys

In 1970, the Pittsburgh Steelers wore white pants with their white jerseys.

1970: Steelers in the AFC Central

In 1970, when the league reformed into the NFC and AFC, the Pittsburgh Steelers were placed in the AFC Central.

1970: Steelers dominate Browns since 1970

Since 1970, the Pittsburgh Steelers have dominated the Cleveland Browns with a 66-27-1 record after previously posting a 9-31 record in the first 40 games.

1970: Steelers best record since AFL-NFL merger

Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, the Pittsburgh Steelers have posted the best record in the league, winning the most regular-season games, playoff games (33), divisional titles (20), and accumulating the most Super Bowl wins (6).

1970: Regular-Season Record Since NFL Merger

Since the NFL merger in 1970, the Pittsburgh Steelers have compiled a regular-season record of 444–282–2 (.635).

1970: Steelers-Bengals rivalry dates back to 1970

The Pittsburgh Steelers' rivalry with the Cincinnati Bengals dates back to the 1970 season, when the AFL-NFL merger was completed.

1970: Steelers' rivalry with Broncos begins

The Pittsburgh Steelers' rivalry with the Denver Broncos dates back to 1970, marking the beginning of a long-standing series of games and playoff matchups.

1971: First losing seasons since 1971

After retirements of key players the franchise skidded to its first losing seasons since 1971.

1971: Drafted Jack Ham

In 1971, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Jack Ham.

1971: Steelers wear white pants with white jerseys

In 1971, the Pittsburgh Steelers wore white pants with their white jerseys.

1971: Start of NFL Dynasty

Starting in 1971, the players drafted in the early 1970s formed the base of an NFL dynasty for the Pittsburgh Steelers, making the playoffs in eight seasons.

December 23, 1972: Steelers' first playoff victory

On December 23, 1972, the Pittsburgh Steelers achieved their first playoff victory in franchise history with a 13-7 win over the Oakland Raiders, marked by the "Immaculate Reception."

1972: Drafted Franco Harris

In 1972, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Franco Harris.

1972: Every home game sold out since 1972 season

Since the 1972 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have sold out every home game.

December 3, 1973: First African-American quarterback to start

On December 3, 1973, the Pittsburgh Steelers made history with Joe Gilliam as the first African-American quarterback to start in a game.

1973: Broncos defeat Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium

In 1973, the Denver Broncos handed the Pittsburgh Steelers their first regular-season defeat at Three Rivers Stadium, with a score of 23-13.

1974: Steelers defeat Raiders in AFC Championship

In 1974, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship with a score of 24-13, advancing to the Super Bowl.

1974: Drafted five Hall of Famers

In 1974, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted five Hall of Famers: Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, Donnie Shell and Mike Webster.

January 12, 1975: First African-American Super Bowl MVP

On January 12, 1975, Franco Harris became the first African-American player to be named Super Bowl MVP while playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

1975: Steelers defeat Raiders in AFC Championship for second consecutive year

In 1975, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship for the second consecutive year with a score of 16-10, securing their spot in the Super Bowl.

1975: The Terrible Towel Conceived

In 1975, the Terrible Towel was conceived by broadcaster Myron Cope as a fan symbol for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

1976: Raiders defeat Steelers in AFC Championship

In 1976, the Oakland Raiders defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game with a score of 24-7. Earlier that season, Chuck Noll referred to Raider George Atkinson as part of the NFL's "criminal element" after an alleged cheap-shot on Lynn Swann, leading to a defamation lawsuit that Atkinson lost.

1976: Steelers win against Bengals in 1976

In 1976, the Pittsburgh Steelers kept their playoff hopes alive with a late-season 7-3 win in snowy Cincinnati against the Bengals.

1977: Steelers defeat Cowboys in regular season

In 1977, Roger Staubach and the Dallas Cowboys had their second and last loss of their Super Bowl XII winning season being inflicted by Terry Bradshaw and the Pittsburgh Steelers, 28–13 at Three Rivers Stadium in November.

1977: Broncos win first playoff game against Steelers

In 1977, the Denver Broncos hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round for Denver's first playoff game, resulting in a 34-21 victory for the Broncos.

1978: No Season with 12+ Losses

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the only NFL team not to have a season with 12 or more losses since the league expanded to a 16-game schedule in 1978.

1979: Consecutive wins against teams with losing record

From 1971 to 1979, the Pittsburgh Steelers had a regular-season streak of 49 consecutive wins against teams that would finish with a losing record that year.

1979: Steelers defeat Cowboys en route to Super Bowl title

In 1979, Roger Staubach's final season, the two defending conference champs met again at Three Rivers, the Pittsburgh Steelers winning 14–3 en route to winning their fourth Super Bowl title.

1979: Release of "Renegade" song

In 1979, Styx released the song "Renegade", which would later become a rallying song for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

1979: Steelers owners assist Iowa Hawkeyes with uniform design

In 1979, the Pittsburgh Steelers' owners assisted then-Iowa Hawkeyes Head Coach Hayden Fry in designing his team's uniforms to resemble the Steelers, sending him reproductions of Terry Bradshaw's home and away jerseys. The Hawkeyes still retain the 1979 Steelers uniforms as their colors.

1980: Missed playoffs due to injuries

In 1980, the Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a rash of injuries and missed the playoffs with a 9–7 record.

1981: 8-8 Season

In 1981, the Pittsburgh Steelers had an 8–8 record and did not make the playoffs. "Mean" Joe Greene retired after the 1981 season.

1982: All-Time team named as part of 50th anniversary commemoration in 1982

In 1982, the Pittsburgh Steelers named an All-Time team of 24 players as part of the 50th anniversary commemoration.

1982: Lynn Swann and Jack Ham retired after 1982's playoff berth

Lynn Swann and Jack Ham retired after 1982's playoff berth.

1983: Terry Bradshaw's Last NFL Game

Following the 1983 regular season, the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 38-10 in the AFC Divisional round. This game turned out to be the last NFL game for Steeler Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, who did not play due to injury.

1983: Terry Bradshaw and Mel Blount retired after 1983's divisional championship

Terry Bradshaw and Mel Blount retired after 1983's divisional championship.

September 2, 1984: First African-American Coordinator

On September 2, 1984, the Pittsburgh Steelers hired Tony Dungy as their coordinator, making him the first African-American to hold such a position.

1984: Steelers upset Broncos in Mile High Stadium

In the 1984 divisional round game at Mile High Stadium, the Pittsburgh Steelers pulled off an upset victory over the Denver Broncos with a score of 24-17.

1984: Jack Lambert retired after 1984's AFC Championship Game appearance

Jack Lambert retired after 1984's AFC Championship Game appearance.

1985: Finished Below .500

In 1985, the Pittsburgh Steelers did not finish above .500.

1986: Finished Below .500

In 1986, the Pittsburgh Steelers did not finish above .500.

1987: Steelers use Point Stadium for game week practices during strike season of 1987

During the strike season of 1987, the Pittsburgh Steelers used Point Stadium in nearby Johnstown for game week practices.

1987: Missed Playoffs

In 1987, the year of the players' strike, the Steelers finished with a record of 8–7, but missed the playoffs.

1988: Ownership transferred to Dan Rooney

In 1988, Art Rooney's son, Dan Rooney, became the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

1988: Finished Below .500

In 1988, the Pittsburgh Steelers did not finish above .500.

1989: Reached Second Round of Playoffs

In 1989, the Pittsburgh Steelers reached the second round of the playoffs, before narrowly missing the playoffs in each of the next two seasons.

1990: First sixth-seeded playoff team to reach and win the Super Bowl

With a victory, the Steelers became the third team to win five Super Bowls, and the first sixth-seeded playoff team to reach and win the Super Bowl since the NFL expanded to a 12-team post-season tournament in 1990.

1992: Chuck Noll Retired

In 1992, Chuck Noll retired as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers and was succeeded by Bill Cowher.

1994: 75th Anniversary All-Time Teams selected in 1994

In 1994, the Pittsburgh Steelers players were named to NFL All-Decade Teams and 75th Anniversary All-Time Teams.

1994: "Here We Go" song becomes popular

Since 1994, the song "Here We Go" by local singer Roger Wood has gained popularity among Pittsburgh Steelers fans.

1994: Steelers beat Browns in Postseason

The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns in the postseason in 1994.

1995: Super Bowl XXX Appearance

Following the 1995 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers, led by Bill Cowher, made an appearance in Super Bowl XXX, but lost to the Dallas Cowboys.

1996: Cowboys defeat Steelers in Super Bowl

In 1996, the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17 in their record third Super Bowl meeting. Dallas cornerback Larry Brown intercepted Pittsburgh quarterback Neil O'Donnell twice and was named the game's MVP.

1996: Patriots defeat Steelers

In 1996, the New England Patriots defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers with a score of 28-3. Ty Law and Curtis Martin, who had Pittsburgh-area roots, were playing for the Patriots at the time.

1996: Terrible Towel proceeds benefiting Allegheny Valley School

Since 1996, proceeds from the Terrible Towel have helped raise more than $2.5 million for the Allegheny Valley School, which cares for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities.

1997: Broncos win AFC Championship Game against Steelers

In 1997, the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers met in Pittsburgh for the AFC Championship Game, where Denver won with a score of 24-21.

1997: Changes to Steelers jersey design

In 1997, the Pittsburgh Steelers switched to rounded numbers on the jersey to match the number font on the helmets, and a Steelers logo was added to the left side of the jersey.

1997: Steelers win against Patriots

In 1997, the Pittsburgh Steelers won against the New England Patriots with a score of 7-6. The Patriots still had players with Pittsburgh-area roots, Ty Law and Curtis Martin, on their roster. This was Curtis Martin's final game with the Patriots before he left to play for the New York Jets.

1997: Rivalry shifts as Oilers move to Tennessee

In 1997, the rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Houston Oilers shifted after the franchise moved to Tennessee and became the Tennessee Titans. The Titans won 13 of 22 meetings, including a bitter playoff showdown in 2002, and won seven consecutive games from 1997-2001, which was the longest win streak by either team in the series.

1997: Reference to the uniforms of 1997

The third uniform unveiled in 2018 was based on the uniforms worn by the Steelers until 1997.

1998: Steelers win inaugural game at M&T Bank Stadium

In 1998, the Pittsburgh Steelers won the inaugural game played at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium, defeating the Baltimore Ravens 20-13.

1999: Steelers dominate Browns since Browns return to NFL

Since the Cleveland Browns' return to the NFL in 1999, the Pittsburgh Steelers have particularly dominated them, winning twelve straight meetings between 2003 and 2009.

2000: Ravens defeat Steelers during NFL championship season

During their NFL championship season in 2000, the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, 16-0, in the season opener. The Steelers later exacted revenge with a 9-6 victory in Baltimore.

2000: Construction of UPMC Sportsplex

In 2000, the Pittsburgh Steelers' headquarters and practice facilities were constructed at the state-of-the-art University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sportsplex.

2000: Steelers upset Raiders

Towards the end of the 2000 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers achieved an upset victory against the Oakland Raiders, preventing the Raiders from securing homefield advantage in the playoffs.

2001: Titans' win streak against Steelers

Between 1997 and 2001, the Tennessee Titans secured a seven-game winning streak against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which was the longest win streak by either team in the series.

2001: Opening of Heinz Field

In 2001, Heinz Field, now known as Acrisure Stadium, was built and became the home stadium for the Pittsburgh Steelers, replacing Three Rivers Stadium.

2001: Ravens hand Steelers first loss at Heinz Field

In 2001, the Baltimore Ravens handed the Pittsburgh Steelers their first-ever loss at Heinz Field, with a score of 13-10. Later that season, Pittsburgh won a divisional playoff game 27-10 against Baltimore, who was the defending Super Bowl champion.

2001: Patriots upset Steelers in AFC Championship Game

In 2001, the New England Patriots upset the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field. This game marked the emergence of the Patriots as a prominent rival for the Steelers.

2001: Steelers move to Heinz Field in 2001

In 2001, the Pittsburgh Steelers moved into Heinz Field, marking a new home for the franchise.

2001: Steelers in the AFC North Division

In 2001, the Pittsburgh Steelers were realigned into the AFC North Division.

July 24, 2002: First female full-time athletic trainer

On July 24, 2002, the Pittsburgh Steelers hired Ariko Iso as their full-time athletic trainer, marking the first time a woman held such a position in the league.

2002: Patriots defeat Steelers at start of season

At the start of the 2002 season, the New England Patriots defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers with a score of 30-14, further solidifying the Patriots' dominance over the Steelers.

2002: Titans defeat Steelers in Playoff Showdown

In 2002, the Tennessee Titans defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in a bitter 34-31 playoff showdown. This was part of a larger trend where the Titans won 13 of 22 meetings after the franchise moved to Tennessee in 1997.

2002: "Renegade" song played at games

Since 2002, the 1979 Styx song "Renegade" has been played during Pittsburgh Steelers games to rally the crowd.

2002: Steelers beat Browns in Postseason

The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns in the postseason in 2002.

2003: Steelers dominate Browns with twelve straight wins

Between 2003 and 2009, the Pittsburgh Steelers won twelve straight meetings against the Cleveland Browns.

2004: Steelers end Patriots' winning streak; lose AFC Championship

In week 6 of the 2004 NFL season, the Pittsburgh Steelers ended the New England Patriots' record-setting 21-game winning streak. However, later that season, the Steelers lost to the Patriots in the AFC Championship game after a 15-1 regular season.

2004: Myron Cope served as Steelers radio color commentator until 2004

Myron Cope served as the Pittsburgh Steelers radio color commentator until 2004, marking the end of his 35-season career.

2004: Myron Cope retired in 2004

Myron Cope, the longtime color analyst and inventor of the "Terrible Towel", retired after the 2004 season.

2004: Browns losing streak in Pittsburgh

The Cleveland Browns had a 15-game losing streak in Pittsburgh from 2004.

2004: Steelers win against Cowboys

The first two meetings of the 21st century (2004 and 2008) were won by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

2005: Steelers' 2005 AFC Wildcard Playoff Win

In the 2005 AFC Wildcard playoff game, the Pittsburgh Steelers won a 31-17 come-from-behind victory against the Cincinnati Bengals after Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer was injured. Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh used a Terrible Towel to polish his cleats after a Week 13 game, further fueling the rivalry.

2006: Steelers' flagship radio stations in 2006

As of 2006, the Pittsburgh Steelers' flagship radio stations were WDVE 102.5 FM and WBGG 970 AM.

2006: Steelers eliminate Bengals from playoff contention in 2006

In 2006, The Steelers are also responsible for ending the Bengals' season in Cincinnati two years in a row, taking them out of contention in 2006.

2006: Racetrack interests conflict with NFL policy

In 2006, Timothy and Patrick Rooney's racetrack interests, which included video slot machines, conflicted with NFL policy prohibiting involvement with racetrack and gambling interests.

2006: Raiders Upset Steelers

In week 8 of the 2006 NFL season, the Oakland Raiders achieved an upset victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a score of 20-13, which contributed to the Steelers missing a playoff berth.

2006: Ended season with an 8–8 record

The 2006 season ended with an 8–8 record, just short of the playoffs.

January 7, 2007: Bill Cowher Resigned

On January 7, 2007, Bill Cowher resigned from coaching the Steelers.

January 22, 2007: Mike Tomlin Named Head Coach

On January 22, 2007, Mike Tomlin was announced as Bill Cowher's successor as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, becoming the first African-American head coach in team history.

2007: Steelers announce an updated All-Time team of the 33 best players in 2007

In 2007, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced an updated All-Time team of the 33 best players who have ever played for the team, in celebration of the franchise's 75th season.

2007: Introduction of third uniform for 75th anniversary

In 2007, the Pittsburgh Steelers introduced a third uniform for their 75th anniversary season, featuring a black jersey with gold lettering, white pants, and a gold helmet, meant to evoke the memory of the 1963-1964 era uniforms.

2007: Mike Tomlin hired as the Steelers current coach prior to the 2007 season

Prior to the 2007 season, Mike Tomlin was hired as the current head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

2007: Introduction of Steely McBeam

Prior to the 2007 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers introduced Steely McBeam as their official mascot as part of the team's 75th anniversary celebrations.

August 2008: Steelers' fans ranked best in NFL

In August 2008, ESPN.com ranked the Pittsburgh Steelers' fans as the best in the NFL, citing their "unbelievable" sellout streak of 299 consecutive games.

December 7, 2008: Steelers victory over Cowboys

On December 7, 2008, the Pittsburgh Steelers won a come-from-behind victory against the Dallas Cowboys in Pittsburgh. The Steelers drove the length of the field to tie the game 13-13, then cornerback Deshea Townsend returned an intercepted pass from Tony Romo for the game's final score, Steelers 20, Cowboys 13.

2008: Steelers beat Ravens three times en route to championship

During the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2008 Championship run, they beat the Baltimore Ravens three times, including a win in the AFC Championship game.

2008: Steelers victory at Foxborough

In 2008, after the Patriots had won six of seven meetings over a ten-year period (1998-2007), the Steelers broke through with a 33-10 victory at Foxborough after Matt Cassel turned the ball over five times.

2008: Rooney family brings in investors

In 2008, the Rooney family brought in several investors to comply with NFL ownership regulations, while retaining control of the Pittsburgh Steelers team. This allowed Dan Rooney and Art Rooney II to stay involved, while Timothy and Patrick Rooney pursued racetrack interests.

2008: Myron Cope died in 2008

Myron Cope, the longtime color analyst and inventor of the "Terrible Towel", died in 2008.

February 1, 2009: Won Super Bowl XLIII

On February 1, 2009, Mike Tomlin led the Pittsburgh Steelers to victory in Super Bowl XLIII against the Arizona Cardinals, with a score of 27–23, becoming the youngest head coach to ever win the Super Bowl at age 36.

2009: Steelers dominate Browns with twelve straight wins

Between 2003 and 2009, the Pittsburgh Steelers won twelve straight meetings against the Cleveland Browns.

2009: Raiders upset Steelers

In Week 13 of the 2009 season, the Oakland Raiders achieved another upset victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The game had five lead changes on five touchdowns in the fourth quarter, with Raiders QB Bruce Gradkowski's third touchdown of the quarter winning it with nine seconds to go. The 27-24 loss cost the Steelers a playoff run.

2010: Steelers Blowout Raiders

In 2010, the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Oakland Raiders and won with a score of 35-3, ending their 3-game winning streak. During the game, Richard Seymour of the Raiders threw a punch against Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

2010: AFC North Title and Super Bowl XLV Appearance

In the 2010 season, Mike Tomlin led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 12-4 record and an AFC North title, leading the team to Super Bowl XLV.

February 6, 2011: Super Bowl XLV Loss

On February 6, 2011, the Pittsburgh Steelers were defeated by the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV, 31–25.

2011: Steelers campaign to repeat as AFC Champions dashed

In 2011, after appearing in Super Bowl XLV, the Steelers had their campaign to repeat as AFC Champions dashed in Denver after a stunning overtime upset by the Tim Tebow-led Broncos in January 2012, in what would become known as the "316 game".

2011: Steelers keep popular third uniform

In 2011, due to the popularity of the third uniform introduced in 2007, the Pittsburgh Steelers' organization decided to keep using it as a third option during home games only.

2011: Broncos lead in playoff meetings versus the Steelers

In 2011, the Denver Broncos surpassed the Oakland Raiders for the most playoff meetings versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Broncos have met Pittsburgh eight times in the playoffs to Oakland's six.

2011: Lost in Overtime to the Denver Broncos

In the 2011 season, the Steelers made the postseason with a 12–4 record. They lost in overtime to the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card Round.

January 2012: Broncos upset Steelers in Overtime

In January 2012, the Pittsburgh Steelers' campaign to repeat as AFC Champions was dashed in Denver after an overtime upset by the Tim Tebow-led Broncos, in what would become known as the "316 game".

December 16, 2012: Cowboys defeat Steelers in overtime

On December 16, 2012, the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboys Stadium by a 27-24 margin in overtime.

2012: Raiders Erase Gap to Win

In 2012, the Oakland Raiders hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers and erased a 31-21 gap to win 34-31.

2012: Introduction of "bumblebee jerseys"

In 2012, the Pittsburgh Steelers introduced a new third uniform for their 80th anniversary season, consisting of a yellow jersey with black horizontal lines, representing the jerseys worn in their 1934 season, nicknamed the "bumblebee jerseys".

2012: Recorded 400th Victory

In Week 8 of the 2012 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers recorded their 400th victory after defeating the Washington Redskins, finishing the season 8-8 and missing the postseason.

2013: Patriots score 55 points on Steelers

In 2013, the New England Patriots became the first opponent to score 55 points on the Pittsburgh Steelers, winning the game 55-31.

2013: Raiders Defeat Steelers

In 2013, the Oakland Raiders won against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a score of 21-18.

2013: Missed Postseason

In the 2013 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers went 8–8 and missed the postseason.

2013: Record Performances from the "Killer B's"

The 2013–17 seasons were noted for record performances from the "Killer B's", consisting of Antonio Brown, Ben Roethlisberger and Le'Veon Bell.

2014: Steelers retired Greene's #75 in 2014

In 2014, the Pittsburgh Steelers retired Greene's #75, leaving open the possibility of retiring other players' jersey numbers in the future.

2014: Won AFC North and Lost in Wild Card Round

In the 2014 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers won the AFC North with an 11–5 record but lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card Round.

2015: Edmund Nelson retired from broadcasting in 2015

In 2015, former Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Edmund Nelson retired from broadcasting and was replaced by Charlie Batch and Chris Hoke.

2015: Broncos and Steelers playoff meeting

In 2015, the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers had another playoff meeting. This added to the Broncos' lead over the Oakland Raiders for the most playoff meetings versus the Steelers.

2015: Patriots win against Steelers

In 2015, the New England Patriots won against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a score of 28-21.

2015: Steelers defeat Broncos in regular season, lose in Divisional Round

In 2015, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos met twice; the Steelers defeated the Broncos in the regular season but lost in the Divisional Round of the AFC playoffs.

2015: Steelers Defeat Raiders at Heinz Field

In 2015, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Oakland Raiders with a score of 38-35 at Heinz Field.

2015: Made Playoffs and Lost in Divisional Round

In the 2015 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers finished with a 10–6 record, made the playoffs, defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card Round, and lost to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round.

2015: Bengals-Steelers rivalry intensifies in 2015

The Cincinnati Bengals-Pittsburgh Steelers rivalry has become more intense again since the 2015 season, marked by controversial hits and a Wild Card playoff game where a penalty on Vontaze Burfict led to a Steelers comeback victory.

November 13, 2016: Cowboys defeat Steelers at Heinz Field

On November 13, 2016, the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field with a score of 35-30.

November 2016: Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research Launched in November 2016

In November 2016, the Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research was launched with a $1 million donation from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

2016: Introduction of Color Rush uniforms

Also in 2016, the Pittsburgh Steelers introduced its alternate black Color Rush uniforms, based on the uniforms they wore from 1946 to 1965, but with black pants in place of either gold or white pants.

2016: Patriots defeat Steelers twice

In 2016, the New England Patriots defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the regular season with a score of 27-16 and then again in the AFC Championship Game with a score of 36-17.

2016: Retirement of "bumblebee jerseys"

In 2016, the Pittsburgh Steelers retired the "bumblebee jerseys" after using them up through the 2016 season due to their popularity.

2016: Won AFC North and Lost in AFC Championship

In the 2016 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers won the AFC North with an 11–5 record, defeated the Miami Dolphins in the Wild Card Round and the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round, before falling to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship.

June 2017: Inaugural charity walk announced in June 2017

In June 2017, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced an inaugural charity walk to raise money for the Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research.

August 1, 2017: The Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor was established on August 1, 2017

On August 1, 2017, the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor was established.

2017: Death of Dan Rooney

In 2017, Dan Rooney, the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers since 1988, passed away.

2017: Controversial call in Steelers-Patriots game

In 2017, a go-ahead touchdown reception by Steelers' tight end Jesse James was controversially called back during a game against the New England Patriots.

2017: Ownership structure after Dan Rooney's death

In 2017, following Dan Rooney's death, he and Art Rooney II retained control of the Pittsburgh Steelers with the league-minimum 30%, with other investors making up the remaining ownership.

2017: Steelers reach 450 victories

In 2017, the Pittsburgh Steelers became the first team to reach 450 regular-season victories since the 1970 merger.

2017: Won AFC North and Lost in Divisional Round

In the 2017 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers won the AFC North with a 13–3 mark but lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Divisional Round.

December 9, 2018: Raiders defeat Steelers in Oakland

On December 9, 2018, the Oakland Raiders defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-21 in Oakland, which would cost Pittsburgh another playoff berth.

December 16, 2018: Steelers defeat Patriots

On December 16, 2018, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the New England Patriots by a score of 17-10 in Pittsburgh, though they ultimately missed the playoffs.

2018: Missed Playoffs

Despite a 9–6–1 record in the 2018 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers missed the playoffs.

2018: Unveiling of third uniform based on 1968-1997 era

In 2018, the Pittsburgh Steelers unveiled a third uniform based on those worn from 1968 to 1997, coinciding with the Steel Curtain teams of the 1970s.

2019: 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams selected in 2019

In 2019, the Pittsburgh Steelers players were named to NFL All-Decade Teams and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams.

2019: Missed Postseason

In the 2019 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers went 8–8 and missed the postseason.

2019: Steelers Country opens at Kennywood in 2019

In the summer of 2019, Kennywood theme park near Pittsburgh opened Steelers Country, a new land themed to the Pittsburgh Steelers, featuring the Steel Curtain coaster.

2020: Training camp held at Heinz Field in 2020

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pittsburgh Steelers held their training camp at Heinz Field.

2020: Steelers win at Nissan Stadium

In 2020, the Pittsburgh Steelers won against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium with a score of 27-24, contributing to their overall record of 47 wins in 79 career meetings.

2020: Franchise-Best Start and Wild Card Loss

The 2020 season saw the Pittsburgh Steelers have a franchise-best 11–0 start but faded to finish 12–4 and lost in the Wild Card Round to the Cleveland Browns.

September 19, 2021: Raiders win at Pittsburgh

On September 19, 2021, the Las Vegas Raiders won at Pittsburgh with a score of 26-17.

October 10, 2021: Steelers beat Broncos in Pittsburgh

On October 10, 2021, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Denver Broncos in Pittsburgh with a score of 27-19.

2021: Training camp held at Heinz Field in 2021

In 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pittsburgh Steelers held their training camp at Heinz Field.

2021: Made Postseason and Ben Roethlisberger Retired

In the 2021 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers went 9–7–1 and made the postseason, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card Round. Longtime quarterback Ben Roethlisberger retired following the season.

2021: Browns beat Steelers in Postseason

The Cleveland Browns beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the postseason in 2021.

2021: Mike Tomlin's record

Through the end of the 2021 season, Mike Tomlin's record is 162–94–2 (.632), including playoffs. He is the first Pittsburgh coach to never post a losing season.

February 2022: Stadium renamed Acrisure Stadium in February 2022

In February 2022, Heinz declined to sign a new deal after naming rights expired, and the Pittsburgh Steelers signed a deal with Acrisure, renaming Heinz Field to Acrisure Stadium.

2022: Eagles defeat Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field

In 2022, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field with a score of 35-13. This recent meeting was due to the addition of a regular season game based on opposing conference divisional finish from the season before.

2022: Training camp returned to Saint Vincent College in 2022

In 2022, the Pittsburgh Steelers returned to Saint Vincent College for their training camp.

2022: Steelers Win Against Raiders on Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve 2022, the Pittsburgh Steelers won against the Las Vegas Raiders with a score of 13-10 on a last-minute touchdown by rookie Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett.

2022: Drafted Kenny Pickett

Prior to the 2022 season, the team drafted Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett with their first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Steelers went 9-8 and missed the postseason in the 2022 season.

September 23, 2023: Raiders defeat Steelers in Vegas

On September 23, 2023, a lifeless performance in a 23-18 loss at Vegas contributed to the later firing of Raiders coach Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler.

2023: Playoff defeat by Buffalo Bills

In the 2023 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers finished 10-7, third in the AFC North. They made the playoffs and were defeated by the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round 31–17.

2023: Bill Hillgrove retired in 2023

Longtime lead announcer Bill Hillgrove retired after the 2023 season.

2023: Steelers all-time record through 2023 season

Through the end of the 2023 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers held an all-time record of 707–606–22, including playoff games. In recent seasons, the team has performed well, qualifying for the playoffs six times in the past ten seasons and winning their division four times.

2024: Raiders lead All-Time Series

As of the 2024 season, the Las Vegas Raiders lead the all-time series against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a record of 17-16.

2024: Traded for Justin Fields and signed Russell Wilson

Prior to the 2024 season, the Steelers traded Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles. The team traded for Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears and signed Russell Wilson, who was released from the Denver Broncos.