1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season saw the Steelers successfully defend their Super Bowl Championship from the previous year as they achieved a 12–4 record and 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. Finally defeating the Los Angeles Rams 31-19 in Super Bowl XIV.
1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season | |
---|---|
Head coach | Chuck Noll |
General manager | Dick Haley |
Owner | Art Rooney |
Home field | Three Rivers Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 12–4 |
Division place | 1st AFC Central |
Playoff finish | Won Divisional Playoffs (Dolphins) 34–14 Won AFC Championship (Oilers) 27–13 Won Super Bowl XIV (Rams) 31–19 |
Pro Bowlers | 10
|
AP All-Pros | 6
|
Team MVP | John Stallworth |
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.
Contents
OffseasonEdit
NFL draftEdit
1979 Pittsburgh Steelers draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 28 | Greg Hawthorne | Running back | Baylor | |
2 | 56 | Zack Valentine | Linebacker | East Carolina | |
4 | 86 | Russell Davis | Running back | Michigan | |
4 | 110 | Calvin Sweeney | Wide Receiver | USC | |
Made roster |
PersonnelEdit
StaffEdit
1979 Pittsburgh Steelers staff | ||||||
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Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
Strength and conditioning
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RosterEdit
Pre-seasonEdit
Week | Date | Kickoff (ET) | TV | Opponent | Result | Record | Game Site |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sat. Aug. 4 | 6:00 pm | WIIC | at Buffalo Bills | W 15–7 | 1–0 | Rich Stadium |
2 | Sat. Aug. 11 | 6:00 pm | WIIC | New York Giants | W 10–3 | 2–0 | Three Rivers Stadium |
3 | Fri. Aug. 17 | 8:00 pm | WIIC | at New York Jets | W 27–14 | 3–0 | Giants Stadium |
4 | Sat. Aug. 25 | 9:00 pm | NBC | at Dallas Cowboys | L 14–16 | 3–1 | Texas Stadium |
Regular seasonEdit
ScheduleEdit
Week | Date | Kickoff (ET) | TV | Opponent | Result | Record | Game Site |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mon. Sep. 3 | 9:00 p.m. | ABC | at New England Patriots | W 16–13 (OT) | 1–0 | Schaefer Stadium |
2 | Sun. Sep. 9 | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Houston Oilers | W 38–7 | 2–0 | Three Rivers Stadium |
3 | Sun. Sep. 16 | 4:00 p.m. | NBC | at St. Louis Cardinals | W 24–21 | 3–0 | Busch Memorial Stadium |
4 | Sun. Sep. 23 | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Baltimore Colts | W 17–13 | 4–0 | Three Rivers Stadium |
5 | Sun. Sep. 30 | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 14–17 | 4–1 | Veterans Stadium |
6 | Sun. Oct. 7 | 4:00 p.m. | NBC | at Cleveland Browns | W 51–35 | 5–1 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium |
7 | Sun. Oct. 14 | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 10–34 | 5–2 | Riverfront Stadium |
8 | Mon. Oct. 22 | 9:00 p.m. | ABC | Denver Broncos | W 42–7 | 6–2 | Three Rivers Stadium |
9 | Sun. Oct. 28 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS | Dallas Cowboys | W 14–3 | 7–2 | Three Rivers Stadium |
10 | Sun. Nov. 4 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS | Washington Redskins | W 38–7 | 8–2 | Three Rivers Stadium |
11 | Sun. Nov. 11 | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | at Kansas City Chiefs | W 30–3 | 9–2 | Arrowhead Stadium |
12 | Sun. Nov. 18 | 4:00 p.m. | NBC | at San Diego Chargers | L 7–35 | 9–3 | San Diego Stadium |
13 | Sun. Nov. 25 | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Cleveland Browns | W 33–30 (OT) | 10–3 | Three Rivers Stadium |
14 | Sun. Dec. 2 | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Cincinnati Bengals | W 37–17 | 11–3 | Three Rivers Stadium |
15 | Mon. Dec. 10 | 9:00 p.m. | ABC | at Houston Oilers | L 17–20 | 11–4 | Astrodome |
16 | Sun. Dec. 16 | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Buffalo Bills | W 28–0 | 12–4 | Three Rivers Stadium |
Game summariesEdit
Week 1: at New England PatriotsEdit
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 16 |
Patriots | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
at Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Date: Monday, September 3
- Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 78 °F, wind 13 mph
- Game attendance: 60,978
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford (play by play), Don Meredith & Howard Cosell (color commentators)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 2: vs. Houston OilersEdit
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oilers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Steelers | 7 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 38 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: Sunday, September 9
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 63°F, (Partly Cloudy) wind 6 mph
- Game attendance: 49,792
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 3: at St. Louis CardinalsEdit
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 24 |
Cardinals | 9 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 21 |
at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
- Date: Sunday, September 16
- Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 63 F, wind 5 mph
- Game attendance: 50,416
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 4: vs. Baltimore ColtsEdit
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colts | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
Steelers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: Sunday, September 23
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 66°F, (Sunny) wind 10 mph
- Game attendance: 49,483
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- TV announcers (NBC): Sam Nover (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 5: at Philadelphia EaglesEdit
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Eagles | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia
- Date: Sunday, September 30
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 68 F, wind 12 mph
- Game attendance: 70,352
- Referee: Cal Lepore
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones (play by play), Len Dawson (color commentator)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 6: at Cleveland BrownsEdit
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 21 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 51 |
Browns | 0 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
- Date: Sunday, October 7
- Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 48 F, wind 17 mph
- Game attendance: 81,260
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui (play by play), John Brodie (color commentator)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 7: at Cincinnati BengalsEdit
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
Bengals | 7 | 20 | 0 | 7 | 34 |
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati
- Date: Sunday, October 14
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 40 F, wind 7 mph
- Game attendance: 52,381
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers (NBC): Sam Nover (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 8: vs. Denver BroncosEdit
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Steelers | 7 | 21 | 0 | 14 | 42 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: Monday, October 22
- Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 71°F, (Clear) wind 9 mph
- Game attendance: 49,699
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford (play by play), Don Meredith & Howard Cosell (color commentators)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 9: vs. Dallas CowboysEdit
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Steelers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: Sunday, October 28
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 59°F, (Partly Cloudy) wind 12 mph
- Game attendance: 50,199
- Referee: Dick Jorgensen
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall (play by play), Tom Brookshier (color commentator)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 10: vs. Washington RedskinsEdit
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Redskins | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Steelers | 7 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 38 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: Sunday, November 4
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 53°F, (Sunny) wind 7 mph
- Game attendance: 49,462
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- TV announcers (CBS): Curt Gowdy (play by play), Hank Stram (color commentator)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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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 mhis career.
Week 11: at Kansas City ChiefsEdit
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 10 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 30 |
Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: Sunday, November 11
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 34 F, wind 15 mph
- Game attendance: 70,132
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui (play by play), John Brodie (color commentator)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 12: at San Diego ChargersEdit
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Chargers | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: Sunday, November 18
- Game time: 4:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 63 F, wind 9 mph
- Game attendance: 51,910
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 13: vs. Cleveland BrownsEdit
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Browns | 10 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 30 |
Steelers | 3 | 10 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 33 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: Sunday, November 25
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 62°F, (Cloudy) wind 6 mph
- Game attendance: 48,773
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones (play by play), Len Dawson (color commentator)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 14: vs. Cincinnati BengalsEdit
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bengals | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
Steelers | 10 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 37 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: Sunday, December 2
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 33°F, (Cloudy) wind 12 mph
- Game attendance: 46,251
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 15: at Houston OilersEdit
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 17 |
Oilers | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 20 |
- Date: Monday, December 10
- Game time: 9:00 pm EST
- Game weather: Dome
- Game attendance: 55,923
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford (play by play), Fran Tarkenton & Howard Cosell (color commentators)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Week 16: vs. Buffalo BillsEdit
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bills | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Steelers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: Sunday, December 16
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 48°F, (Cloudy) wind 13 mph
- Game attendance: 48,002
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui (play by play), John Brodie (color commentator)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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StandingsEdit
AFC Central | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Pittsburgh Steelers(2) | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 4–2 | 9–3 | 416 | 262 | W1 |
Houston Oilers(4) | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 4–2 | 9–3 | 362 | 331 | L1 |
Cleveland Browns | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 2–4 | 6–6 | 359 | 352 | L2 |
Cincinnati Bengals | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 2–4 | 2–10 | 337 | 421 | W1 |
StatsEdit
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 |
PostseasonEdit
ScheduleEdit
Week | Date | Kickoff (ET) | TV | Opponent | Result | Game Site |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Divisional | Sun. Dec. 30 | 12:30 pm | NBC | Miami Dolphins | W 34–14 | Three Rivers Stadium |
Conference | Sun. Jan. 6 | 1:00 pm | NBC | Houston Oilers | W 27–13 | Three Rivers Stadium |
Super Bowl XIV | Sun. Jan. 20 | 6:15 pm | CBS | vs. Los Angeles Rams | W 31–19 | Rose Bowl |
Game summariesEdit
AFC Divisional Playoff: vs. Miami DolphinsEdit
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dolphins | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
Steelers | 20 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: Sunday, December 30
- Game time: 12:30 pm EST
- Game weather: 28°F (Fog)
- Game attendance: 50,214
- Referee: Cal Lepore
- TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui (play by play), John Brodie (color commentator)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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AFC Championship: vs. Houston OilersEdit
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oilers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
Steelers | 3 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 27 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: Sunday, January 6
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 27°F, (Light Freezing Rain) wind 18 mph
- Game attendance: 50,475
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentators)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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Super Bowl XIV: vs. Los Angeles RamsEdit
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rams | 7 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 19 |
Steelers | 3 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
at Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California
- Date: Sunday, January 20
- Game time: 6:15 pm EST
- Game weather: 67 °F (Sunny), wind 17 mph
- Game attendance: 103,985
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall (play by play), Tom Brookshier (color commentator)
- Box Score
Game information | ||
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StatisticsEdit
PassingEdit
Player | Comp | Att | Yards | TD | INT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Terry Bradshaw | 259 | 472 | 3,724 | 26 | 25 |
RushingEdit
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 |
ReceivingEdit
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 |
Honors and awardsEdit
- Terry Bradshaw, Super Bowl MVP