The 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 42nd in the National Football League (NFL). They improved to a 10–3–1 regular-season record, won the AFC Central division title, sending them to the playoffs for the third consecutive season, and won a Super Bowl championship, the first league title in Steelers' history. This was the first of six consecutive AFC Central division titles for the Steelers, and the first of four Super Bowl championships in the same time period.
The Steelers also made history by playing in the NFL's first-ever regular season overtime game, the league having introduced a 15-minute sudden-death period to break ties. Their Week 2 contest against the Denver Broncos nevertheless ended in a 35–35 tie. As of 2023 no other team has ever won the Super Bowl after recording a tie in the overtime era.
On March 9, 2007, NFL Network aired an episode of America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions that covered the 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers, with team commentary from Franco Harris, Joe Greene, and Andy Russell, and narrated by Ed Harris.
Offseason NFL draft During the offseason, the Steelers held their training camp in St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
During the 1974 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers would draft WR Lynn Swann in Round 1, LB Jack Lambert in Round 2, WR John Stallworth in Round 4, and C Mike Webster in Round 5, and they also signed S Donnie Shell as an undrafted free agent. All five would later be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As of 2025, the 1974 Steelers are the only team in NFL history to select four Hall of Fame players in one single draft and acquire five in a single rookie class.
Preseason In the 1974 preseason, the Steelers went 6–0 and were the only undefeated team in the NFL. However, most of the talk was centered around the NFL's first successful black quarterback, Joe Gilliam. Chuck Noll started Gilliam in the preseason and after it ended, Noll started him for the first few games of the regular season. Gilliam's stellar performance in the preseason sparked a quarterback controversy in Pittsburgh.
Regular season Following playoff appearances in both of the two previous seasons, the Steelers appeared to be in great shape after finishing the preseason as the only undefeated team in the NFL. After the first two regular season games, the Steelers had scored a total of 65 points and were 1–0–1, but then lost to the Oakland Raiders at home. The play of the Steelers' starting quarterback at the time, Joe Gilliam, continually deteriorated. By week 7, the Steelers were 4–1–1 and Gilliam was benched for Terry Bradshaw during a win against the Atlanta Falcons. Bradshaw won the next two games, but after a loss in Cincinnati, Noll benched Bradshaw again, this time in favor of Terry Hanratty (who had been selected in the 1969 draft). However, Hanratty played horribly in Cleveland. The offense was struggling, but the Steelers had won those tough games behind the still-maturing Steel Curtain defense. When Bradshaw was brought back into the starting lineup, the Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns and the New Orleans Saints (in a game in which Bradshaw ran for more yards than he passed for). After a loss to Houston, the Steelers played the most important game of their regular season in New England. A win over the Patriots would clinch the AFC Central division title for the Steelers and put them in the playoffs for the third straight year. The Steelers defeated the Patriots, then beat the Cincinnati Bengals, and awaited the playoffs.
Playoffs In the divisional round of the playoffs, the Steelers played the Buffalo Bills. Sports Illustrateds Dan Jenkins wrote that Pittsburgh was "the only team to reach the playoffs without a quarterback". However, the Steelers dominated Buffalo and held its star running back O. J. Simpson to 49 yards rushing (it was Simpson's only playoff game appearance).
In the 1974 AFC Championship game, the Steelers played an old foe, the Oakland Raiders. Each year, their rivalry was escalating: they had met in the playoffs the previous two seasons. In 1972, the Steelers won in Pittsburgh; in 1973, the Raiders returned the favor in Oakland. In this third playoff meeting, the Steelers were ready for anything the Raiders could throw at them. Using the new "Stunt 4–3 defense" the Steelers held the Raiders to 29 yards rushing as the Steelers themselves ran for over 200 yards in Oakland. After a Franco Harris touchdown run, the Steelers clinched their first Super Bowl appearance in club history (and their first league championship game appearance).
Super Bowl IX The Steelers met the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX. Both teams had a hard time in the rough weather conditions at old Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. After many exchanges of punts, the Steelers finally scored a safety on a bobbled handoff by Viking quarterback Fran Tarkenton. The score at the half was 2–0. The Steel Curtain continually dominated the Vikings. Vikings coach Bud Grant tried to run at the strength of the Steel Curtain, but they were shut down. The only points Minnesota scored came from a blocked punt that the Vikings recovered in the end zone for a touchdown; the subsequent extra point attempt was blocked. After the MVP performance by running back Franco Harris (34 carries for a then-Super Bowl-record 158 yards and a touchdown), the Steelers came away with a 16–6 victory. It was the first league title in Steelers history.
Personnel
Staff
Roster
1974 schedules
Preseason schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue 1 at New Orleans Saints W 26–7 1–0 Tulane Stadium 2 Chicago Bears W 50–21 2–0 Three Rivers Stadium 3 at Philadelphia Eagles W 33–30(OT) 3–0 Veterans Stadium 4 New York Giants W 17–7 4–0 Three Rivers Stadium 5 at Washington Redskins W 21–19 5–0 RFK Stadium 6 Dallas Cowboys W 41–15 6–0 Texas Stadium
Regular season schedule Week Date Opponent TV Result Record Venue 1 September 15 Baltimore Colts NBC W 30–0 1–0 Three Rivers Stadium 2 September 22 at Denver Broncos NBC T 35–35(OT) 1–0–1 Mile High Stadium 3 September 29 Oakland Raiders NBC L 0–17 1–1–1 Three Rivers Stadium 4 October 6 at Houston Oilers NBC W 13–7 2–1–1 Astrodome 5 October 13 at Kansas City ChiefsNBC W 34–24 3–1–1 Arrowhead Stadium 6 October 20 Cleveland Browns NBC W 20–16 4–1–1 Three Rivers Stadium 7 Atlanta Falcons ABC W 24–17 5–1–1 Three Rivers Stadium 8 November 3 Philadelphia Eagles CBS W 27–0 6–1–1 Three Rivers Stadium 9 November 10 at Cincinnati Bengals NBC L 10–17 6–2–1 Riverfront Stadium 10 November 17 at Cleveland Browns NBC W 26–16 7–2–1 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 11 at New Orleans Saints ABC W 28–7 8–2–1 Tulane Stadium 12 December 1 Houston Oilers NBC L 10–13 8–3–1 Three Rivers Stadium 13 December 8 at New England Patriots NBC W 21–17 9–3–1 Schaefer Stadium 14 Cincinnati Bengals NBC W 27–3 10–3–1 Three Rivers StadiumNote: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Postseason schedule Week Date Opponent TV Result Record Venue Divisional December 22 Buffalo Bills NBC W 32–14 11–3–1 Three Rivers Stadium AFC Championship December 29 at Oakland Raiders NBC W 24–13 12–3–1 Oakland Coliseum Super Bowl IX January 12 Minnesota Vikings NBC W 16–6 13–3–1 Old Tulane Stadium
Standings
Game summaries Week 1 (Sunday, September 15, 1974): vs. Baltimore Colts
Point spread: Over/under: Time of game: 0 hours, 0 minutes
ColtsGame statisticsSteelers11 First downs 1834–118 Rushes–yards 29–103102 Passing yards 2899–20–2 18–37–16–54 Sacked–yards 0–048 Net passing yards 289166 Total yards 39298 Return yards 738–33.3 4–45.53–2 Fumbles–lost 3–13–20 Penalties–yards 4–32
In week 1, the Steelers started #17 Joe Gilliam as he completed 17 of his 31 passes for 257 yards, 2 TDs, and an interception. Gilliam became the first African-American quarterback in league history to play in a game as the designated opening-day starter. The defense held Baltimore to 166 total yards and forced 4 turnovers in the shutout win.
Week 2 (Sunday, September 22, 1974): at Denver Broncos
Point spread: Over/under: Time of game: 3 hours, 7 minutes
SteelersGame statisticsBroncos33 First downs 2040–160 Rushes–yards 37–156348 Passing yards 19131–50–2 12–27–23–24 Sacked–yards 3–15324 Net passing yards 176484 Total yards 332121 Return yards 1456–41.7 7–44.43–2 Fumbles–lost 1–112–91 Penalties–yards 7–61
In week 2, the Steelers were carried to a 35–35 OT tie with #32 Franco Harris' running game and #17 Joe Gilliam's 348 passing yards. It was the first regular season overtime game in NFL history. Denver coach John Ralston said of Gilliam that "it was possibly the finest performance I have ever seen by a quarterback."
Game Summariesweek 3: vs. Oakland Raiders
In week 3, after 2 brilliant games by #17 Joe Gilliam, the Raiders came to Pittsburgh for a rematch of the 1973 Divisional Round Playoff game in which Oakland won. However, a fluttering Gilliam completed 10 of his 31 passed which laid the first defeat on Pittsburgh. To make things worse, #32 Franco Harris was injured and would miss the next 2 games. Damp and dark weather hung over the stadium and Terry Bradshaw's relief of Gilliam with a little under 2 minutes left in the game drew cheers from remaining fans. (1–1–1)
week 4: at Houston Oilers
In week 4, the Steelers recovered from the loss at home by beating Houston. #17 Joe Gilliam didn't recover completely; he threw for only 202 yards and 2 interceptions. However, on the game's lone touchdown drive, Gilliam completed 4 consecutive passes. Without #32 Franco Harris, the offense would continuously fall apart. (2–1–1)
week 5: at Kansas City Chiefs
In week 5, the Steelers came away from Kansas City with a 10-point win, 34–24, behind #27 Glen Edwards' 49-yard interception return. The Chiefs used a combined three quarterbacks to throw 7 interceptions. However, #17 Joe Gilliam's play was still deteriorating, and after the horrible performance in next week's game he was benched. (3–1–1)
week 6: vs. Cleveland Browns
In week 6, the Steelers offense continued to flutter with #17 Joe Gilliam's 5 out of 18 and 78 yard passing performance (despite the return of #32 Franco Harris). In the 3 games after the loss to Oakland, the defense forced 15 turnovers, and that is how the Steelers managed to win all 3 games. The front four of #78 Dwight White, #63 Ernie Holmes, #75 Joe Greene, and #68 L. C. Greenwood had become dominant. Together, they became known as the Steel Curtain. After 6 games, the Steelers were 4–1–1, however, the offense was going to need some help if they were to become a contender. In week 7, the Steelers found that help. (4–1–1)
week 7: vs. Atlanta Falcons
In week 7, #12 Terry Bradshaw replaced the failing #17 Joe Gilliam. By 1974, the 5-year veteran was known as the unpredictable and inconsistent quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was often overlooked by fans and coaches for making mistakes. It was at this time Bradshaw was going through some emotional problems. He had lost his starting job and fans and players continuously doubted and sometimes mocked him. A failing relationship with his head coach continued to decline. He was often in seclusion at his home as well. Yet, his team did miss him after he watched the first 6 games from the sidelines. However, on a Monday night against Atlanta, Bradshaw returned. The backfield that would start 4 of the next 6 Super Bowls was finally in place. Runningbacks #32 Franco Harris and #20 Rocky Bleier combined for over 200 yards rushing as the Steelers rolled to a 24–17 win. (5–1–1)
week 8: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
In week 8, the Steelers won behind another shutout by the defense that included a 52-yard interception return by #47 Mel Blount. It was one of two career interceptions returned for touchdowns by the Hall of Famer. #12 Terry Bradshaw was still a colt who had not yet been broken; Chuck Noll's patience with him continued to disappear. (5–1–1)
week 9: at Cincinnati Bengals