1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season saw the Steelers successfully defend their Super Bowl Championship from the previous year as they achieved a 12–4 record and 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. Finally defeating the Los Angeles Rams 31-19 in Super Bowl XIV.
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 the New York Mets won the 1986 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.
Personnel
Staff
1979 Pittsburgh Steelers staff |
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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
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
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 |
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Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
Practice squad
[2]
[3]
[4]
Rookies in italics
46 Active, 6 Inactive, 0 Practice squad
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Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
Game information |
- First Quarter
- NE – Russ Francis 4-yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick) NE 7-0
- Second Quarter
- PIT – Sidney Thornton 2-yard run (kick failed) NE 7-6
- NE – John Smith 31-yard field goal NE 10-6
- NE – John Smith 32-yard field goal NE 13-6
- Fourth Quarter
- PIT – Sidney Thornton 21-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick) 13-13 tie
- Overtime
- PIT – Matt Bahr 41-yard field goal PIT 16-13
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- Passing
- PIT: Terry Bradshaw 15/26, 221 yards, TD
- NE: Steve Grogan 11/33, 123 yards, TD, 2 INT
- Rushing
- PIT: Franco Harris 26 att, 74 yards
- NE: Sam Cunningham 17 att, 62 yards
- Receiving
- PIT: John Stallworth 5 rec, 95 yards
- NE: Russ Francis 5 rec, 53 yards, TD
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Week 2: vs. Houston Oilers
Game information |
- First Quarter
- PIT – Sidney Thornton 1-yard run (Matt Bahr kick)
- Second Quarter
- PIT – Matt Bahr 45-yard field goal
- Third Quarter
- PIT – Sidney Thornton 16-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick)
- PIT – Greg Hawthorne 8-yard run (Matt Bahr kick)
- Fourth Quarter
- PIT – Jim Smith 18-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick)
- PIT – Dirt Winston 41-yard interception return (Matt Bahr kick)
- HOU – Guido Merkins 9-yard pass from Gifford Nielsen (Toni Fritsch kick)
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- Passing
- HOU: Gifford Nielsen 4/11, 41 yards, TD, 2 INT
- PIT: Terry Bradshaw 12/29, 198 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
- Rushing
- HOU: Earl Campbell 16 att, 38 yards
- PIT: Franco Harris 14 att, 42 yards
- Receiving
- HOU: Billy Johnson 2 rec, 32 yards
- PIT: Lynn Swann 5 rec, 95 yards
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Week 3: at St. Louis Cardinals
Game information |
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- STL – Theotis Brown 1-yard run (kick failed)
- Third Quarter
- STL – Mike Wood 24-yard field goal
- STL – Mike Wood 27-yard field goal
- Fourth Quarter
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- Passing
- PIT – Terry Bradshaw 14/31, 206 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
- STL – Jim Hart 12/24, 132 yards
- Rushing
- PIT – Rocky Bleier 13 att, 73 yards, TD
- STL – Theotis Brown 14 att, 69 yards, TD
- Receiving
- PIT – John Stallworth 6 rec, 80 yards, TD
- STL – Mel Gray 1 rec, 48 yards
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Week 4: vs. Baltimore Colts
Game information |
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- BAL – Steve Mike-Mayer 24-yard field goal
- Fourth Quarter
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- Passing
- BAL – Greg Landry 17/34, 195 yards, TD, 2 INT
- PIT – Terry Bradshaw 19/29, 249 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
- Rushing
- BAL – Joe Washington 21 att, 65 yards
- PIT – Sidney Thornton 13 att, 129 yards
- Receiving
- BAL – Roger Carr 4 rec, 68 yards, TD
- PIT – John Stallworth 4 rec, 83 yards, TD
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Week 5: at Philadelphia Eagles
Game information |
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- PHI – Tony Franklin 48-yard field goal
- PHI – Wilbert Montgomery 1-yard run (Tony Franklin kick)
- Fourth Quarter
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- Passing
- PIT – Terry Bradshaw 12/26, 176 yards, TD, 2 INT
- PHI – Ron Jaworski 11/20, 158 yards, 2 INT
- Rushing
- PIT – Sidney Thornton 16 att, 88 yards, TD
- PHI – Wilbert Montgomery 28 att, 98 yards, TD
- Receiving
- PIT – John Stallworth 5 rec, 102 yards, TD
- PHI – Keith Krepfle 4 rec, 95 yards
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Week 6: at Cleveland Browns
Game information |
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
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- Passing
- PIT – Terry Bradshaw 12/21, 161 yards, 3 TD
- CLE – Brian Sipe 22/41, 351 yards, 5 TD, 3 INT
- Rushing
- PIT – Franco Harris 19 att, 153 yards, 2 TD
- CLE – Mike Pruitt 15 att, 73 yards
- Receiving
- PIT – John Stallworth 4 rec, 96 yards, TD
- CLE – Ozzie Newsome 6 rec, 97 yards, TD
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Week 7: at Cincinnati Bengals
Game information |
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- CIN – Pete Johnson 1-yard run (kick failed)
- CIN – Howard Kurnick 12-yard fumble return (Chris Bahr kick)
- CIN – Jim LeClair 27-yard fumble return (Chris Bahr kick)
- Fourth Quarter
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- Passing
- PIT – Terry Bradshaw 21/40, 275 yards, TD, 2 INT
- CIN – Ken Anderson 9/20, 120 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
- Rushing
- PIT – Franco Harris 9 att, 45 yards
- CIN – Charles Alexander 19 att, 91 yards
- Receiving
- PIT – John Stallworth 6 rec, 126 yards, TD
- CIN – Archie Griffin 4 rec, 65 yards
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Week 8: vs. Denver Broncos
Game information |
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
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- Passing
- DEN – Craig Morton 16/31, 261 yards, TD, INT
- PIT – Terry Bradshaw 18/24, 267 yards, 2 TD, INT
- Rushing
- DEN – Jon Keyworth 4 att, 29 yards
- PIT – Franco Harris 17 att, 121 yards, 2 TD
- Receiving
- DEN – Haven Moses 5 rec, 133 yards, TD
- PIT – Lynn Swann 2 rec, 76 yards, TD
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Week 9: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Game information |
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
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- Passing
- DAL – Roger Staubach 11/25, 113 yards
- PIT – Terry Bradshaw 11/25, 126 yards
- Rushing
- DAL – Tony Dorsett 19 att, 73 yards
- PIT – Franco Harris 18 att, 102 yards, 2 TD
- Receiving
- DAL – Drew Pearson 5 rec, 89 yards
- PIT – John Stallworth 7 rec, 98 yards
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Week 10: vs. Washington Redskins
Game information |
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
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- Passing
- WAS – Joe Theismann 14/31, 147 yards, INT
- PIT – Terry Bradshaw 15/27, 311 yards, 4 TD, INT
- Rushing
- WAS – John Riggins 13 att, 56 yards, TD
- PIT – Franco Harris 15 att, 62 yards
- Receiving
- WAS – Danny Buggs 3 rec, 37 yards
- PIT – John Stallworth 6 rec, 126 yards, 2 TD
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Week 11: at Kansas City Chiefs
Game information |
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
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- Passing
- PIT – Terry Bradshaw 17/29, 232 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
- KC – Steve Fuller 9/20, 89 yards, INT
- Rushing
- PIT – Franco Harris 20 att, 68 yards
- KC – Mike Williams 6 att, 19 yards
- Receiving
- PIT – John Stallworth 4 rec, 88 yards, TD
- KC – J.T. Smith 3 rec, 47 yards
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Week 12: at San Diego Chargers
Game information |
- First Quarter
- SD – John Jefferson 16-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Mike Wood kick)
- Second Quarter
- SD – Bob Klein 6-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Mike Wood kick)
- SD – Bo Matthews 2-yard run (Mike Wood kick)
- Third Quarter
- PIT – Rocky Bleier 2-yard run (Matt Bahr kick)
- SD – Woodrow Lowe 77-yard interception return (Mike Wood kick)
- Fourth Quarter
- SD – Hank Bauer 2-yard run (Mike Wood kick)
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- Passing
- PIT – Terry Bradshaw 18/36, 153 yards, 5 INT
- SD – Dan Fouts 11/24, 137 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
- Rushing
- PIT – Franco Harris 20 att, 44 yards
- SD – Mike Thomas 13 att, 53 yards
- Receiving
- PIT – John Stallworth 4 rec, 55 yards
- SD – John Jefferson 5 rec, 106 yards, TD
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Week 13: vs. Cleveland Browns
Game information |
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
- Overtime
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- Passing
- CLE – Brian Sipe 23/38, 333 yards, 3 TD, INT
- PIT – Terry Bradshaw 30/44, 364 yards, TD, INT
- Rushing
- CLE – Brian Sipe 3 att, 30 yards
- PIT – Franco Harris 32 att, 151 yards, 2 TD
- Receiving
- CLE – Dave Logan 7 rec, 135 yards, TD
- PIT – Franco Harris 9 rec, 81 yards, TD
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Week 14: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Game information |
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
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- Passing
- CIN – Ken Anderson 20/36, 258 yards, 2 TD
- PIT – Terry Bradshaw 17/29, 339 yards, 2 TD, INT
- Rushing
- CIN – Pete Johnson 18 att, 51 yards
- PIT – Franco Harris 20 att, 92 yards, TD
- Receiving
- CIN – Isaac Curtis 5 rec, 119 yards, 2 TD
- PIT – Lynn Swann 5 rec, 192 yards, 2 TD
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Week 15: at Houston Oilers
Game information |
- Second Quarter
- HOU – Ken Burrough 25 pass from Dan Pastorini (Toni Fritsch kick)
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
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- Passing
- PIT – Terry Bradshaw 14/29, 137 yards, TD, 2 INT
- HOU – Dan Pastorini 10/16, 170 yards, TD
- Rushing
- PIT – Franco Harris 12 att, 59 yards
- HOU – Earl Campbell 33 att, 109 yards
- Receiving
- PIT – Bennie Cunningham 2 rec, 67 yards
- HOU – Ken Burrough 3 rec, 48 yards, TD
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Week 16: vs. Buffalo Bills
Game information |
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
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- Passing
- BUF – Joe Ferguson 11/31, 103 yards, 2 INT
- PIT – Terry Bradshaw 14/27, 209 yards, TD, 2 INT
- Rushing
- BUF – Mike Collier 16 att, 49 yards
- PIT – Franco Harris 21 att, 100 yards, 2 TD
- Receiving
- BUF – Jerry Butler 3 rec, 54 yards
- PIT – Lynn Swann 3 rec, 61 yards, TD
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Standings
Postseason
Schedule
Game summaries
AFC Divisional Playoff: vs. Miami Dolphins
Game information |
- First Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
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- Passing
- MIA – Don Strock 8/14, 125 yards, INT
- PIT – Terry Bradshaw 21/31, 230 yards, 2 TD
- Rushing
- MIA – Larry Csonka 10 att, 20 yards, TD
- PIT – Franco Harris 21 att, 83 yards, TD
- Receiving
- MIA – Nat Moore 5 rec, 93 yards
- PIT – John Stallworth 6 rec, 86 yards, TD
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AFC Championship: vs. Houston Oilers
Game information |
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
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- Passing
- HOU – Dan Pastorini 19/28, 203 yards, INT
- PIT – Terry Bradshaw 18/30, 219 yards, 2 TD, INT
- Rushing
- HOU – Earl Campbell 17 att, 15 yards
- PIT – Franco Harris 21 att, 85 yards
- Receiving
- HOU – Tim Wilson 7 rec, 60 yards
- PIT – Lynn Swann 4 rec, 64 yards
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Super Bowl XIV: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Game information |
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
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- Passing
- LA – Vince Ferragamo 15/25, 212 yards, INT
- PIT – Terry Bradshaw 14/21, 309 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
- Rushing
- LA – Wendell Tyler 17 att, 60 yards
- PIT – Franco Harris 20 att, 46 yards, 2 TD
- Receiving
- LA – Billy Waddy 3 rec, 75 yards
- PIT – John Stallworth 3 rec, 121 yards, TD
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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
References
- ↑ 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
- ↑ 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
- ↑ 1980 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
- ↑ "1979 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
- ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com
External links
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- Founded in 1933
- Formerly the Pittsburgh Pirates (1933–1939)
- Based and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Franchise | |
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Stadiums | |
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Culture | |
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Lore | |
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Rivalries | |
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Media | |
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Division championships (21) | |
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Conference championships (8) | |
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League championships (6) | |
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Retired numbers | |
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Hall of Fame members | |
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Current league affiliations | |
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Seasons (83) | |
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Championship seasons in bold |