1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season

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1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season
OwnerArt Rooney
Head coachChuck Noll
General managerDick Haley
Home fieldThree Rivers Stadium
Results
Record12–4
Division place1st AFC Central
Playoff finishWon Divisional Playoffs (vs. Dolphins) 34–14
Won AFC Championship (vs. Oilers) 27–13
Won Super Bowl XIV (vs. Rams) 31–19
Pro Bowlers
10
  • CB Mel Blount
  • QB Terry Bradshaw
  • DT Joe Greene
  • DE L. C. Greenwood
  • LB Jack Ham
  • RB Franco Harris
  • LB Jack Lambert
  • S Donnie Shell
  • WR John Stallworth
  • C Mike Webster
AP All-Pros
6
  • Jack Ham (1st team)
  • Jack Lambert (1st team)
  • Donnie Shell (1st team)
  • John Stallworth (1st team)
  • Mike Webster (1st team)
  • Mel Blount (2nd team)
Team MVPJohn Stallworth

The 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 47th season in the National Football League. 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.

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. They are the last NFL team to win a championship to feature players that did not come from another team. The records for most points scored per game as well as in the regular season overall for the Steelers belonged to the 1979 squad, until they scored 436, amounting to 27.3 per game in 2014, the all-time franchise record in both categories.

Offseason[]

NFL draft[]

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  

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

  • Head Coach – Chuck Noll
  • Assistant Head Coach – George Perles

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[]

1979 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

  • 76 John Banaszak DE
  • 65 Tom Beasley DT
  • 67 Gary Dunn DT
  • 64 Steve Furness DT
  • 75 Joe Greene DT
  • 68 L. C. Greenwood DE
  • 78 Dwight White DE
Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad [2] [3] [4]


Rookies in italics
46 active, 6 inactive, 0 practice squad

Pre-season[]

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 season[]

Schedule[]

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 summaries[]

Week 1: at New England Patriots[]

1 2 34OTTotal
Steelers 0 6 07316
Patriots 7 6 00013

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

Week 2: vs. Houston Oilers[]

1 2 34Total
Oilers 0 0 077
Steelers 7 3 141438

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

Week 3: at St. Louis Cardinals[]

1 2 34Total
Steelers 7 0 01724
Cardinals 9 6 6021

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

Week 4: vs. Baltimore Colts[]

1 2 34Total
Colts 10 0 3013
Steelers 7 3 0717

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

Week 5: at Philadelphia Eagles[]

1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 7 0714
Eagles 0 7 10017

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

Week 6: at Cleveland Browns[]

1 2 34Total
Steelers 21 9 71451
Browns 0 14 71435

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

Week 7: at Cincinnati Bengals[]

1 2 34Total
Steelers 3 0 0710
Bengals 7 20 0734

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

Week 8: vs. Denver Broncos[]

1 2 34Total
Broncos 7 0 007
Steelers 7 21 01442

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

Week 9: vs. Dallas Cowboys[]

1 2 34Total
Cowboys 0 3 003
Steelers 0 7 7014

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

Week 10: vs. Washington Redskins[]

1 2 34Total
Redskins 0 7 007
Steelers 7 17 7738

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

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[]

1 2 34Total
Steelers 10 10 01030
Chiefs 0 0 303

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

Week 12: at San Diego Chargers[]

1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 0 707
Chargers 7 14 7735

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

Week 13: vs. Cleveland Browns[]

1 2 34OTTotal
Browns 10 10 73030
Steelers 3 10 017333

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

Week 14: vs. Cincinnati Bengals[]

1 2 34Total
Bengals 0 10 7017
Steelers 10 14 10337

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

Week 15: at Houston Oilers[]

1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 0 31417
Oilers 0 7 31020

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

  • 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

Week 16: vs. Buffalo Bills[]

1 2 34Total
Bills 0 0 000
Steelers 7 7 7728

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

Standings[]

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

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[]

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
AFC Championship 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 summaries[]

AFC Divisional Playoff: vs. Miami Dolphins[]

1 2 34Total
Dolphins 0 0 7714
Steelers 20 0 7734

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

AFC Championship: vs. Houston Oilers[]

1 2 34Total
Oilers 7 3 0313
Steelers 3 14 01027

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

Super Bowl XIV: vs. Los Angeles Rams[]

1 2 34Total
Rams 7 6 6019
Steelers 3 7 71431

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

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[]

  • Terry Bradshaw, Super Bowl MVP

References[]

  1. ^ 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  2. ^ 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  3. ^ 1980 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  4. ^ "1979 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  5. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com

External links[]

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