Tag: Super Bowl IX

Steelers to wear throwback jerseys in honor of Super Bowl IX 50th anniversary

In Week 7 against the New York Jets, the Pittsburgh Steelers will wear throwback uniforms inspired by their Super Bowl IX win in the 1974 season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will wear throwback jerseys, inspired by their Super Bowl victory 50 years ago, against the New York Jets in Week 7. Super Bowl IX holds a special place in the hearts of all Pittsburgh fans because it was when the Pittsburgh Steelers earned their first Lombardi Trophy, kicking off a journey to become arguably the greatest NFL franchise of all time. 

The 1974 season not only resulted in winning the greatest trophy in all of professional football, but it was also responsible for perhaps the greatest draft class in Pittsburgh sports history, producing five Pro Football Hall of Famers: WR Lynn Swann, LB Jack Lambert, WR John Stallworth, C Mike Webster and SS Donnie Shell. 

In that Super Bowl, played at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans on Jan. 12, 1975, the Steelers defeated the Minnesota Vikings 16-6. Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain defense held quarterback Fran Tarkenton and the Vikings to 119 total yards, which is still a Super Bowl record low.

https://twitter.com/steelers/status/1846265288439824434

The beloved block-number-style jerseys are coming back in Week 7, and along with the classic look, gray face masks will also return, which were part of the iconic look of this phenomenal team. The Steelers will look to dominate the Jets in classic Steel Curtain fashion, not only to improve their record to 5-2 on the season but to perform at a level the 1974 Steelers would be proud of.

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Former Steelers coach Woody Widenhofer dies at 77

Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers coach and defensive coordinator died Sunday in Colorado.

Robert “Woody” Widenhofer, 77, Butler, Pa. native and four-time Super Bowl-winning coach with the Steelers, died Sunday in Colorado Springs, Colo. from stroke complications.

“Woody played an important role coaching our famed Steel Curtain defense when he helped us win four Super Bowls in the 1970s,” said Steelers president, Art Rooney II. “He coached some of the best linebackers in NFL history during his time in Pittsburgh and was later elevated to defensive coordinator, where he guided the defense in our Super Bowl XIV victory over the Los Angeles Rams.”

Widenhofer served as linebackers coach from 1973 to 1978 and defensive coordinator from 1979 to 1983.

After being promoted to DC, the Steelers took home their fourth Super Bowl title in six years. His defense was second in yards allowed and fourth against the run.

The Steelers made the playoffs again in 1982 and 1983 before Widenhofer left to become head coach of the USFL Oklahoma Outlaws in 1984.

The Outlaws went 6-12, and Widehofer went to Missouri. He was head coach of the Tigers from 1985-88 and the Vanderbilt Commodores from 1997-2001. In between colleges, Widenhofer was DC with the Detroit Lions and LB coach of the Cleveland Browns.

It’s hard to believe, but the Super Bowl teams of the ’70s had three different defensive coordinators. Bud Carson was the coordinator for Super Bowl IX and X, George Perles for Super Bowl XIII, and Widenhofer for Super Bowl XIV.

A team with that much turnover doesn’t usually have that kind of success, but it is the Steel Curtain we’re talking about.

Before taking over as Steelers DC, Widenhofer coached Hall of Famer linebackers Jack Lambert and Jack Ham, and Andy Russell, Henry Davis, and Loren Toews — all critical parts of the Steel Curtain.

In 2007, Widenhofer finished his coaching career as DC at Mexico State.