The 1989 Pittsburgh Steelers inspired like no other non-Super Bowl Steelers team. The pundits never gave this group a chance, while true fans always knew in their gut that this team had something special. True to form the 1989 Steelers flirted with oblivion and teased championship greatness – all in one season. Steel Curtain Rising […]
The first weekend of January 1990 saw the Pittsburgh Steelers in a place that no one expected them to be – playing in Mile High Stadium for the right to contest the AFC Championship. No one, it is, except for themselves. Steelers director of pro personnel Tom Donahoe, perhaps revealing himself to be at least […]
Noll and His Nemisis On evening of December 31st 1989 Chuck Noll’s Pittsburgh Steelers played Jerry Glanville’s Houston Oilers for the AFC Wild Card, in the Houston Astrodome. The only thing missing was the steel cage. Chuck Noll was a model of serenity. Jerry Glanville was flamboyant for the sake of flamboyance. Noll represented everything […]
Prelude Saturday December 23rd, 1989. With a temperature near zero three Wheaton High school wresters head home from the Lackey Tournament in Southern Maryland. Jim, an Eire transplant, is destined to place fourth in the states. Tom, an immigrant from Vietnam, is destined to win Montgomery County’s coveted Richard Monisera Award for most career points […]
In the late 1980’s “Dave the Predictor” of the “Harris in the Morning” show on Washington’s WCXR offered “Office Pool Picks” every Friday morning. With the internet years away and the Steelers getting little national coverage, I listened intently to the picks, hoping to gleam a shred of insight into the Steelers fortunes for the […]
The Steelers returned from Mile High Stadium licking their wounds after dropping at 34-7 decision. Week 10 brought the Chicago Bears to Three Rivers Stadium, and at least the potential for hope. After all, returning to Three Rivers Stadium had inspired rallies in week 3 against the Vikings and then later in week 8 against […]
Before Mike Tomlin’s Steelers first game against Eric Mangini in Cleveland, Steel Curtain Rising looks back at the 20th Anniversary of the second match up between Chuck Noll’s 1989 Steelers and Bud Carson’s Browns…. Division rivalries are not what they used to be. Certainly the bitterness between Baltimore and Pittsburgh runs deep. But the intensity […]
“Either we just played the two best teams in football, or it is going to be a long season.” – Chuck Noll, reflecting on his team’s 92-10 start to the 1989 season. The third week of the Steelers 1989 season brought the Minnesota Vikings to Three Rivers Stadium. I can still [almost] quote from memory […]
20 years ago today the Steelers traveled to Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium for the second game of the 1989 season, reeling from the 51-0 shutout inflicted on them by the Cleveland Browns the week before. Although the Bengals were defending AFC Champions, the Steelers had won in Cincinnati as recently as 1987, and harbored aspirations of […]
“Playoffs 1989” – Bubby Brister, scribbling on a St. Vincents college black board, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, July 1989 “Potentially, we have a good team,” – Chuck Noll, opening press conference, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, July 1989 What could animate a quarterback and coach coming off a 5-11 season to commence training camp with such daring declarations? One could […]