1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season

1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season
1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Owner	Art Rooney
General manager	Dick Haley
Head coach	Chuck Noll
Home field	Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record	12–4
Division place	1st AFC Central
Playoff finish	Won 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 MVP	John Stallworth
	← 1978; Steelers seasons; 1980 →;

The 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 47th season in the National Football League (NFL). 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 team to win a Super Bowl featuring players that had never played for another team; 40 original draft picks and six free agents out of college. 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

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College
1979 Pittsburgh Steelers draft
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
5	137	Dwaine Board	Defensive end	North Carolina A&T
6	157	Bill Murrell	Tight end	Winston-Salem State
6	161	Dwayne Woodruff	Defensive back	Louisville
6	165	Matt Bahr	Kicker	Penn State
7	192	Bruce Kimball	Offensive guard	UMass
8	220	Tom Graves	Linebacker	Michigan State
9	248	Rick Kirk	Defensive end	Denison
10	275	Tod Thompson	Tight end	BYU
11	303	Charlie Moore	Center	Wichita State
12	322	Ed Smith	Linebacker	Vanderbilt
12	330	Mike Almond	Wide receiver	Northwest Louisiana
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 Offensive line – Rollie Dotsch Offensive backfield – Dick Hoak Receivers – Tom Moore			Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Woody Widenhofer Defensive backfield – Dick Walker 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 12 Terry Bradshaw 15 Mike Kruczek 18 Cliff Stoudt Running backs 33 Anthony Anderson KR 20 Rocky Bleier 32 Franco Harris 27 Greg Hawthorne 39 Rick Moser 38 Sidney Thornton Wide receivers 83 Theo Bell PR 86 Jim Smith 82 John Stallworth 88 Lynn Swann Tight ends 89 Bennie Cunningham 84 Randy Grossman		Offensive linemen 79 Larry Brown T 77 Steve Courson G 57 Sam Davis G 63 Thom Dornbrook C/G 55 Jon Kolb T 72 Gerry Mullins G/T 66 Ted Petersen T/C 52 Mike Webster C 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 56 Robin Cole OLB 50 Tom Graves OLB 59 Jack Ham OLB 58 Jack Lambert MLB 51 Loren Toews OLB 54 Zack Valentine OLB 53 Dennis Winston MLB Defensive backs 30 Larry Anderson DB/KR 47 Mel Blount CB 29 Ron Johnson CB 31 Donnie Shell SS 24 J. T. Thomas FS 23 Mike Wagner FS 49 Dwayne Woodruff DB Special teams 63 Thom Dornbrook LS/P 52 Mike Webster LS/PK 9 Matt Bahr K 5 Craig Colquitt P/H		Reserve lists 69 Fred Anderson DE (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 45 Russell Davis RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 26 Larry Douglas WR (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 62 Willie Fry DE/DT (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 74 Ray Pinney T (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 85 Calvin Sweeney WR (PUPTooltip Physically unable to perform) Practice squad^[2]^[3]^[4] Rookies in italics 46 active, 6 inactive, 0 practice squad

Preseason

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Kickoff	TV	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	August 4	at Buffalo Bills	6:00 p.m. EDT	WIIC	W 15–7	1–0	Rich Stadium	34,370
2	August 11	New York Giants	6:00 p.m. EDT	WIIC	W 10–3	2–0	Three Rivers Stadium	46,624
3	August 17	at New York Jets	8:00 p.m. EDT	WIIC	W 27–14	3–0	Giants Stadium	46,159
4	August 25	at Dallas Cowboys	9:00 p.m. EDT	NBC	L 14–16	3–1	Texas Stadium	64.543

Notes:

^a All times are EASTERN time.

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Kickoff	TV	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance	Recap
1	September 3	at New England Patriots	9:00 p.m. EDT	ABC	W 16–13 (OT)	1–0	Schaefer Stadium	60,978	Recap
2	September 9	Houston Oilers	1:00 p.m. EDT	NBC	W 38–7	2–0	Three Rivers Stadium	49,792	Recap
3	September 16	at St. Louis Cardinals	4:00 p.m. EDT	NBC	W 24–21	3–0	Busch Memorial Stadium	50,416	Recap
4	September 23	Baltimore Colts	1:00 p.m. EDT	NBC	W 17–13	4–0	Three Rivers Stadium	49,483	Recap
5	September 30	at Philadelphia Eagles	1:00 p.m. EDT	NBC	L 14–17	4–1	Veterans Stadium	70,352	Recap
6	October 7	at Cleveland Browns	4:00 p.m. EDT	NBC	W 51–35	5–1	Cleveland Municipal Stadium	81,260	Recap
7	October 14	at Cincinnati Bengals	1:00 p.m. EDT	NBC	L 10–34	5–2	Riverfront Stadium	52,381	Recap
8	October 22	Denver Broncos	9:00 p.m. EDT	ABC	W 42–7	6–2	Three Rivers Stadium	49,699	Recap
9	October 28	Dallas Cowboys	1:00 p.m. EST	CBS	W 14–3	7–2	Three Rivers Stadium	50,199	Recap
10	November 4	Washington Redskins	1:00 p.m. EST	CBS	W 38–7	8–2	Three Rivers Stadium	49,462	Recap
11	November 11	at Kansas City Chiefs	1:00 p.m. EST	NBC	W 30–3	9–2	Arrowhead Stadium	70,132	Recap
12	November 18	at San Diego Chargers	4:00 p.m. EST	NBC	L 7–35	9–3	San Diego Stadium	52,426	Recap
13	November 25	Cleveland Browns	1:00 p.m. EST	NBC	W 33–30 (OT)	10–3	Three Rivers Stadium	48,773	Recap
14	December 2	Cincinnati Bengals	1:00 p.m. EST	NBC	W 37–17	11–3	Three Rivers Stadium	46,521	Recap
15	December 10	at Houston Oilers	9:00 p.m. EST	ABC	L 17–20	11–4	Astrodome	55,293	Recap
16	December 16	Buffalo Bills	1:00 p.m. EST	NBC	W 28–0	12–4	Three Rivers Stadium	48,002	Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Notes:

^a All times are EASTERN time. (UTC–4 and UTC–5 starting October 28)

Game summaries

Week 1: at New England Patriots

Period	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Steelers	0	6	0	7	3	16
Patriots	7	6	0	0	0	13

at Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

Date: Monday, September 3
Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
Game weather: 78 °F (26 °C), wind 13 mph (21 km/h)
Game attendance: 60,978
Referee: Jim Tunney
TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford (play by play), Don Meredith & Howard Cosell (color commentators)
Box Score

Game information

Week 2: vs. Houston Oilers

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Oilers	0	0	0	7	7
Steelers	7	3	14	14	38

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Date: Sunday, September 9
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C), (Partly Cloudy) wind 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
Game attendance: 49,792
Referee: Pat Haggerty
TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)
Box Score

Game information

Week 3: at St. Louis Cardinals

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	7	0	0	17	24
Cardinals	9	6	6	0	21

at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri

Date: Sunday, September 16
Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C), wind 5 mph (8.0 km/h)
Game attendance: 50,416
Referee: Jerry Markbreit
TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)
Box Score

Game information

Week 4: vs. Baltimore Colts

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Colts	10	0	3	0	13
Steelers	7	3	0	7	17

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Date: Sunday, September 23
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C), (Sunny) wind 10 mph (16 km/h)
Game attendance: 49,483
Referee: Gordon McCarter
TV announcers (NBC): Sam Nover (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
Box Score

Game information

Week 5: at Philadelphia Eagles

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	7	0	7	14
Eagles	0	7	10	0	17

at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia

Date: Sunday, September 30
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C), wind 12 mph (19 km/h)
Game attendance: 70,352
Referee: Cal Lepore
TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones (play by play), Len Dawson (color commentator)
Box Score

Game information

Week 6: at Cleveland Browns

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	21	9	7	14	51
Browns	0	14	7	14	35

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Date: Sunday, October 7
Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C), wind 17 mph (27 km/h)
Game attendance: 81,260
Referee: Jim Tunney
TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui (play by play), John Brodie (color commentator)
Box Score

Game information

Week 7: at Cincinnati Bengals

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	3	0	0	7	10
Bengals	7	20	0	7	34

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati

Date: Sunday, October 14
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
Game weather: 40 °F (4 °C), wind 7 mph (11 km/h)
Game attendance: 52,381
Referee: Ben Dreith
TV announcers (NBC): Sam Nover (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
Box Score

Game information

Week 8: vs. Denver Broncos

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	7	0	0	0	7
Steelers	7	21	0	14	42

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Date: Monday, October 22
Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C), (Clear) wind 9 mph (14 km/h)
Game attendance: 49,699
Referee: Pat Haggerty
TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford (play by play), Don Meredith & Howard Cosell (color commentators)
Box Score

Game information

Week 9: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Cowboys	0	3	0	0	3
Steelers	0	7	7	0	14

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Date: Sunday, October 28
Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C), (Partly Cloudy) wind 12 mph (19 km/h)
Game attendance: 50,199
Referee: Dick Jorgensen
TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall (play by play), Tom Brookshier (color commentator)
Box Score

Game information

Week 10: vs. Washington Redskins

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Redskins	0	7	0	0	7
Steelers	7	17	7	7	38

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Date: Sunday, November 4
Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C), (Sunny) wind 7 mph (11 km/h)
Game attendance: 49,462
Referee: Gordon McCarter
TV announcers (CBS): Curt Gowdy (play by play), Hank Stram (color commentator)
Box Score

Game information

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

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	10	10	0	10	30
Chiefs	0	0	3	0	3

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Date: Sunday, November 11
Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 34 °F (1 °C), wind 15 mph (24 km/h)
Game attendance: 70,132
Referee: Fred Wyant
TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui (play by play), John Brodie (color commentator)
Box Score

Game information

Week 12: at San Diego Chargers

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	0	7	0	7
Chargers	7	14	7	7	35

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California

Date: Sunday, November 18
Game time: 4:00 pm EST
Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C), wind 9 mph (14 km/h)
Game attendance: 51,910
Referee: Red Cashion
TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)
Box Score

Game information

Week 13: vs. Cleveland Browns

Period	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Browns	10	10	7	3	0	30
Steelers	3	10	0	17	3	33

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Date: Sunday, November 25
Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C), (Cloudy) wind 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
Game attendance: 48,773
Referee: Ben Dreith
TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones (play by play), Len Dawson (color commentator)
Box Score

Game information

Week 14: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Bengals	0	10	7	0	17
Steelers	10	14	10	3	37

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Date: Sunday, December 2
Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 33 °F (1 °C), (Cloudy) wind 12 mph (19 km/h)
Game attendance: 46,251
Referee: Jim Tunney
TV announcers (NBC): Sam Nover (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
Box Score

Game information

Week 15: at Houston Oilers

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	0	3	14	17
Oilers	0	7	3	10	20

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

Game information

Week 16: vs. Buffalo Bills

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Bills	0	0	0	0	0
Steelers	7	7	7	7	28

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Date: Sunday, December 16
Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C), (Cloudy) wind 13 mph (21 km/h)
Game attendance: 48,002
Referee: Fred Silva
TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui (play by play), John Brodie (color commentator)
Box Score

Game information

Standings

AFC Central
view talk edit	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

Round	Date	Opponent	Kickoff	TV	Result	Record	Game Site	Attendance	Recap
Wild Card	First Round Bye
Divisional	December 30	Miami Dolphins (3)	12:30 p.m. EST	NBC	W 34–14	1–0	Three Rivers Stadium	50,214	Recap
AFC Championship	January 6	Houston Oilers (4)	1:00 p.m. EST	NBC	W 27–13	2–0	Three Rivers Stadium	50,475	Recap
Super Bowl XIV	January 20	Los Angeles Rams (N3)	6:00 p.m. EST	CBS	W 31–19	3–0	Rose Bowl	103,985	Recap

Notes:

^a All times are EASTERN time.

Game summaries

AFC Divisional Playoff: vs. Miami Dolphins

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Dolphins	0	0	7	7	14
Steelers	20	0	7	7	34

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Date: Sunday, December 30
Game time: 12:30 pm EST
Game weather: 28 °F (−2 °C) (Fog)
Game attendance: 50,214
Referee: Cal Lepore
TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui (play by play), John Brodie (color commentator)
Box Score

Game information

AFC Championship: vs. Houston Oilers

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Oilers	7	3	0	3	13
Steelers	3	14	0	10	27

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Date: Sunday, January 6
Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 27 °F (−3 °C), (Light Freezing Rain) wind 18 mph (29 km/h)
Game attendance: 50,475
Referee: Jim Tunney
TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentators)
Box Score

Game information

Super Bowl XIV: vs. Los Angeles Rams

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	7	6	6	0	19
Steelers	3	7	7	14	31

at Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California

Date: Sunday, January 20
Game time: 6:15 pm EST
Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C) (Sunny), wind 17 mph (27 km/h)
Game attendance: 103,985
Referee: Fred Silva
TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall (play by play), Tom Brookshier (color commentator)
Box Score

Game information

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

External links

1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season at Profootballreference.com
1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season statistics at jt-sw.com

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