The Uniforms of the Pittsburgh Steelers!
Titled “The Team That Defines Its City” and licensed by the National Football League, we present the uniforms history of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
1933 & 1934 Any story about the Steelers has to begin with Art Rooney.
Arthur J. Rooney (aka ‘The Chief”) was an adept card player, ‘horseplayer, and savvy sports promoter. He purchased an NFL franchise in 1933 – for $2,500, and converted his semi-pro team, known as the “Majestics” (for the Majestic Radios Athletic Club), into the Pirates - naming the team the same as its baseball counterparts! It wasn’t until 1940 that Rooney changed the name to the “Steelers” – suggested by the team’s ticket manager’s wife – to reflect ties to the city’s steel industry. The Steelers are steeped in tradition, and in fact are the 6th oldest team in the NFL today.
If you look closely at the 1933 jersey, you’ll see quite a complicated “crest”, which is actually the ‘Arms of the City of Pittsburgh’. We had quite a time researching this, and as far as we know, there are no actual 1933 jerseys still in existence, and the few photos that exist don’t show the crest in too fine a detail.
1943 World War II is in full force. To help maintain high morale throughout the country, the NFL, like Major League Baseball, decides to carry on at the advice of none other than President of the United States. Briefly summarized, he said that the games of baseball and football were too important to the people. Carrying on with the games would boost the morale of the entire Country, and get their minds off of the war effort for a short time.
1954 The evolution to the ‘modern’ and recognizable look of NFL jerseys and helmets can be seen in this ’54 uniform. The jersey has the more ‘traditional’ horizontal striping on the sleeves, while the helmet is no longer leather but instead it’s a hard plastic shell. Note the lack of a face mask on the helmet, somewhat remarkable given the fact that players in the 50’s were increasingly large. The question of whether or not to use a face mask was up to the individual player, and I can think of at least one, Bobby Layne, who didn’t wear a face mask as late as the 1960 season.
1960 The 1960 Steelers were led by 34 year old veteran Bobby Layne, one of the brighter lights to don a Steelers jersey in this era. Layne was a slightly pudgy, lovable but tough quarterback who had been through the wars with the Bears, the New York Bulldogs and for 8 years the Detroit Lions.
From 1957 to 1963 the Steelers were led by quarterback Bobby Layne, defensive tackle Ernie Stautner and running back John Henry Johnson, and they considered themselves legitimate division contenders. But the "dynasty years," which coincided with the team's move to the AFC at the time of AFL-NFL merger, were still a decade away.
1963 What a unique, artistic and elegant-looking jersey! Notice the yellow/gold diamonds (and overlaid numbers) on the upper sleeve. The Hall of Fame has a version of this jersey, and it’s interesting to see that the yellow diamond has virtually faded away over the course of time, to the point that you don’t even notice it unless you’re looking for it! Note also the small black collar and sleeve cuffs.
1967 Much like the 1963 jersey, the 1967 black HOME jersey is very simple in design, but it works. Featuring a yellow/gold, diamond shaped ‘yoke’ on the shoulders and neck of this year’s sweater, this jersey is one of our favorites.
Note: This is the first time we have shown the Steelers now famous Steel logo. This traditional 3-point Steelers logo – a marking that has graced the right side of Steelers helmets to this day!
1975 Here we go again!
Hard on the heels of their 1974 success, the 1975 Steelers pick right up where they left off, going 12-2 in the regular season, then knocking off the Colts 28-10 followed by the ever present Raiders 16-10. Then, in one of the better Super Bowl games, the Steelers hold off the late charging Cowboys 21-17 in front of 80,017 fans in Super Bowl X at the Orange Bowl in Miami. This time around, Lynn Swann carried home the game MVP hardware.
After a two-year hiatus, the 1978 Steelers do it again.
And even though we don’t show the jersey, we’d better tell the story of the 1979 Steelers, who complete the decade by winning their 4th Super Bowl in four tries – 1974, 1975, 1978 and 1979 – all this after a grand total of just 8 winning seasons and just one playoff appearance in the 39 years from 1933 to 1971.
1988 This jersey holds a special place in the hearts of all Steelers fans. The AJR patch on the left shoulder honors the passing of Pittsburgh owner and icon Art “The Chief” Rooney. Rooney will fondly be remembered for being a smooth and unbelievably lucky gambler who invested $2,500 into an NFL franchise, and nearly 40 years later, turned it into a dynasty. A staple in the football community, it is not uncommon to mention Rooney in the same breath as Chicago Bear legend – George Halas. To this day, the Rooney family still helms the Steelers football club in the person of President Daniel M. Rooney.
2000 Note the rounder, less ‘varsity-esque’ fashion of this jersey’s numbers – a transformation that took place back in ’97. This rounded numbering style is most often associated with the Chicago Bears, who have used it for almost 50 years. Other teams have used it from time to time, including the 1960 Raiders.
But in the 2000s the Steelers were back in business. Super Bowl XL and XLIII Champions … making an unprecedented six trophies for the SUPER STEELERS!!!