Chuck Noll’s 1972 Steelers: How a Rookie and a Defense Built a Legacy

From 1933 (their first season in the NFL) through 1971, the Pittsburgh Steelers had only eight winning seasons and had never played in the Championship game.

From 1964 to 1968, the team had a dismal record of 18–49–3. Changes were needed. In 1969, the Steelers replaced Head Coach Bill Austin with Chuck Noll, an assistant coach with the Chargers and Colts from 1960 through 1968.

The Steelers made some good draft selections in 1969. Offensively, they chose quarterback Terry Hanratty and tackle John Kolb. Defensively, they chose defensive end LC Greenwood and defensive tackle Joe Greene, who won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Despite these changes and apparent improvements, the team got worse, finishing the season with one win and thirteen losses.

In 1970, Pittsburgh drafted quarterback Terry Bradshaw, wide receiver Ron Shanklin, and cornerback Mel Blount. Still, the team lost, finishing the season with a 5–9 record.

In 1971, they drafted wide receiver Frank Lewis, linebacker Jack Ham, guard Gerry Mullins, defensive end Dwight White, tackle Larry Brown, defensive tackle Ernie Holmes, and defensive back Mike Wagner. The team improved slightly, winning six games and losing eight.

With all the talented players the Steelers had drafted in the past three years, it was hard to understand why they were still a losing team. As is usually the case when a team isn’t winning, the Head Coach and quarterback receive most of the blame. Some called for the firing of Coach Chuck Noll, while others called for a quarterback change. Neither Terry Hanratty nor Terry Bradshaw played up to expectations.

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1972 Pittsburgh Steelers

But if you look closely at the Steelers roster, you will notice the lack of a top-notch running back. That changed in 1972 when Pittsburgh drafted Franco Harris out of Penn State. Could this be the missing piece of the puzzle?

Harris didn’t do much in the first game of the season, gaining just 28 yards on 10 carries in a 34–28 win over the Oakland Raiders. Bradshaw’s stats weren’t impressive either, completing only 7 of 17 passes for 124 yards while throwing three interceptions.

But Bradshaw did contribute to the win with his running, gaining 49 yards rushing and scoring two touchdowns. Ron Shanklin caught only one pass, but it was a 57-yard touchdown. Defensively, the ‘Steel Curtain’ held Oakland to only 97 yards rushing and recovered two fumbles. The Steelers gave up 290 yards through the air but intercepted three passes. Pittsburgh also benefitted from a blocked punt for a touchdown.

The Steelers’ offense didn’t do much for the second week in a row, gaining only 205 yards. Their defense played well, holding the Bengals to 269 yards in the 15–10 loss. However, the game was sloppy, as the two teams combined for seven turnovers and 18 penalties.

The Steelers’ offense played better in week three. Preston Pearson ran for 78 yards on 13 carries and added another 37 yards on five receptions. Bradshaw completed 25 of 40 passes for 229 yards with one touchdown. He also ran for 35 yards with one touchdown. Frank Lewis caught a 38-yard pass for the winning touchdown. The defense held the Cardinals’ running game to 58 yards and forced four interceptions. Pittsburgh won 25–19.

Struggling Steelers Offense

The Steelers offense struggled again in a week-four loss to the defending Super Bowl Champion Dallas Cowboys. Bradshaw completed only 12 of 39 passes for 166 yards and threw one interception. He was also sacked three times.

Cornerback Mel Blount scored a touchdown on a 35-yard fumble return to give Pittsburgh a 13–3 lead, but their defense had a tough time stopping the Cowboys running game. Calvin Hill ran for 108 yards on 23 carries with one touchdown, and Walt Garrison added another 76 yards on 12 carries. In the third quarter, Calvin Hill threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Ron Sellers to give Dallas a 17–13 lead they did not relinquish.
After four weeks of play, it was evident the team had improved, especially on defense, but there was no indication the Steelers would end up in the AFC Championship Game.

After carrying the ball only 26 times for 79 yards in the first four games, Coach Chuck Noll decided it was time to test out his rookie running back Franco Harris. Harris carried the ball 19 times for 115 yards and scored his first NFL touchdown. The Steelers defense held the Oilers offense to just 108 yards and sacked quarterback Dan Pastorini five times en route to a 24–7 win.

Offense Breaks Out

The Steelers offense finally broke out in a week six win over the New England Patriots. Their offensive line overpowered the Patriots defense as Pittsburgh ran the ball 40 times, gaining 243 yards. John ‘Frenchy’ Fuqua was the featured running back in this game, gaining 111 yards on 17 carries and scoring one touchdown. Bradshaw threw only 11 passes, but those passes accounted for 173 yards and a touchdown. Fullback Steve Davis scored on a 28-yard touchdown run. Backup quarterback Terry Hanratty completed 2 of 3 passes for 23 yards. Ron Shanklin caught five passes for 111 yards, one a 30-yard touchdown.

Patriots running back Carl Garrett had a good game, gaining 97 yards on the ground and 92 yards through the air, but the Steel Curtain defense had seven sacks and forced four turnovers en route to a 33–3 win. Linebacker Jack Ham contributed to the scoring with a 32-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Pittsburgh jumped out to a 17–0 halftime lead over the Buffalo Bills in week seven and went on to win 38–21. Franco Harris ran for 138 yards and scored two touchdowns while carrying the ball only 15 times. Harris also had a 17-yard touchdown reception.

Despite intercepting four passes, the Steeler’s defense didn’t play as well as it usually does. Bills receiver Bob Chandler caught seven passes for 94 yards and scored two touchdowns. Running back OJ Simpson gained 189 yards rushing on 22 carries and scored two touchdowns, including one for 94 yards.

The Steelers faced the 5–2 Bengals in week eight and cruised to a 40–17 victory. Their defense didn’t play poorly, but they had difficulty stopping Bengals running back Doug Dressler, who ran for 89 yards on only 16 carries and caught six passes for 80 yards. The Steeler’s offense improved as their powerful running game gained 230 yards on 30 carries. ‘Frenchy’ Fuqua gained 80 yards and scored a touchdown on 13 carries.

Franco Harris gained 101 yards and scored a touchdown on 15 carries. Terry Bradshaw played well, completing 10 of 20 pass attempts for 190 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions. Receiver Frank Lewis had an outstanding game, scoring on 28 and 34-yard touchdown receptions. He also had a 41-yard run on an end-around play.

A week nine game against the KC Chiefs didn’t get off to a good start as Bradshaw threw an interception that defensive back Jim Kearny returned 65 yards for a touchdown. Just when it seemed like Bradshaw was coming into his own, he had a terrible game, completing only 8 of 20 passes for 92 yards with zero touchdowns and three interceptions.

Franco Harris, who hadn’t done much earlier in the season, was now in full-throttle, rushing for over 100 yards for the third week in a row. The Steel Curtain defense was back on track, allowing the Chiefs only 183 total yards and sacking quarterback Len Dawson five times. It was the team’s fifth in a row, and Steelers fans were in a frenzy.


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Time For A Let Down?

The Steelers were due for a letdown, and it came against the Browns in Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Franco Harris ran for over 100 yards for the fourth week in a row and had a beautiful 75-yard touchdown run.

Receiver Ron Shanklin had a good game with five receptions for 108 yards, but the Steeler’s defense couldn’t stop the Browns’ running attack. Future Hall of Famer Leroy Kelly gained 107 yards on 21 carries, and Bo Scott ran for 84 yards on 14 carries. The final score was Cleveland 26, Pittsburgh 24.

In week eleven, the Steelers ran for over 200 yards on the ‘Purple People Eaters’ defense. Franco Harris ran for 128 yards on 17 carries, and Pittsburgh cruised to a 23–10 win. Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton passed for 235 yards, but it took 44 attempts. The Steelers defense gave up only 95 yards rushing.

Week twelve was a rematch with the Browns. Both teams came into this game with an 8–3 record, tied for first place in the AFC Central Division.

The Steelers took a 10–0 lead in a first half dominated by defense, but an 11-yard touchdown run by Franco Harris in the third quarter broke the game open. In the fourth quarter, Bradshaw connected with tight end John McMakin for a 78-yard touchdown reception. Pittsburgh went on to win in convincing fashion, 30–0! Bradshaw played well, connecting on 9 of 17 passes for 162 yards with one touchdown.

arris ran for over 100 yards for the sixth week in a row. The Steel Curtain defense gave up only 126 yards and sacked quarterback Mike Phipps four times.

Perhaps the Steelers were too satisfied with their big win over Cleveland, or maybe they didn’t take the 1–11 Houston Oilers seriously. Whatever the reason, their offense looked lethargic. They gained only 193 yards, and Franco carried the ball 21 times for only 61 yards. The Steeler’s defense played well, allowing only 159 yards and holding Houston to a field goal. The final score was Pittsburgh 9, Houston 3.

In the final game of the regular season, the Steelers’ offense didn’t look much better than the week before, gaining only 246 yards. But the defense played great, allowing only 172 yards, no points, and forced seven turnovers. Ralph Anderson, Jack Ham, Mel Blount, and Mike Wagner each intercepted a pass. The Final score was Pittsburgh 24, San Diego 2.

Chuck Noll was voted AFC Coach of the Year, Franco Harris won the Rookie of the Year, and Joe Greene was Defensive Player of the Year. Harris made the Pro Bowl with defensive end Dwight White, linebackers Andy Russell and Henry Davis, kicker Roy Gerela, and defensive tackle Joe Greene, who also made All-Pro.

1972 NFL Playoffs

The 11–3 Steelers would play the 10–3–1 Raiders in the AFC Divisional Playoffs, only the second playoff appearance in the team’s history. The game was played on Dec. 23, 1972, at Three Rivers Stadium. To say the fans in attendance were excited would be an understatement.

It will forever be remembered as the ‘Immaculate Reception’ game, but it was a classic for those who appreciate a hard-hitting defensive battle. Neither team’s offense could get anything going through the air or on the ground, as these two heavyweight defenses wouldn’t give an inch.

After three full quarters of play, the Steelers led 3–0. They increased their lead to 6–0 in the fourth quarter before the Steel Curtain finally buckled. The Oakland offense drove from their 20-yard line to the Steelers 30-yard line before Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler ran 30 yards for what seemed to be the winning touchdown. But on a fourth down with only 22 seconds left in the game, Bradshaw threw a desperation pass that bounced off defensive back Jack Tatum.

Just as the ball was about to fall harmlessly to the ground, it was scooped up by Franco Harris, who ran it into the end zone for a 60-yard touchdown. The Raiders argued that the ball bounced off running back Frenchy Fuqua, which would have nullified the play. But the referees ruled in favor of Pittsburgh, who won 13–7 and would now play the undefeated Miami Dolphins in the AFC Championship game.

Pittsburgh took an early 7–0 lead, but Bradshaw went down with an injury and was replaced by Terry Hanratty. Still trailing 7–0 in the second quarter, the Dolphins faced a fourth down and set up to punt. But instead of punting, Larry Sieple took off running for 37 yards. A couple of plays later, fullback Larry Csonka caught a 9-yard pass for a touchdown.

In another tough defensive battle, the teams entered halftime tied at seven, but a third-quarter field goal by Roy Gerela gave the Steelers a 10–7 lead. At this point, Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese entered the game to replace Earl Morrall. Griese had not played since week five due to injury. Griese connected with receiver Paul Warfield on his first pass for a 52-yard gain. Miami ended the 11-play 80-yard drive with a touchdown and a 14–10 lead.

The Dolphins added another touchdown in the fourth quarter to increase their lead to 21–10. At this point, Bradshaw reentered the game and led the Steelers to a touchdown to cut the Dolphins lead to four. But the Steeler’s final two possessions ended with interceptions, and their dream of going to the Super Bowl was over.

It had been a magical season that no Steelers fan could have imagined would be this good. Pittsburgh had another great season in 1973, finishing with a 10–4 record before losing to the Raiders in the playoffs 33–14. Roy Blount Jr. wrote a book about the 1973 Steelers titled ‘About Three Bricks Shy of a Load.’ Blount was correct in his assessment, and in 1974, the Steelers drafted not three but four future Hall of Fame players. The Steelers went on to win four Super Bowls in the next six years.

Mark Morthier is the host of Yesterday’s Sports, a podcast dedicated to reliving memorable sports moments from his childhood days and beyond. He grew up in New Jersey just across from New York City, so many of his episodes revolve around the great sport’s teams of the 70s for the New York area.

He is also an author of No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training (Second Edition): A Guide for People with Limited Time and Running Wild: (Growing Up in the 1970s)