From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
1972 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Pittsburgh Steelers 40th US football season
Pittsburgh Steelers 40th US football season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| year | 1972 |
| record | 11–3 |
| division_place | 1st AFC Central |
| coach | Chuck Noll |
| owner | Art Rooney |
| stadium | Three Rivers Stadium |
| playoffs | **Won [Divisional Playoffs](1972-73-nfl-playoffs)** |
| (vs. [Raiders](1972-oakland-raiders-season)) 13–7 | |
| Lost [AFC Championship](1972-73-nfl-playoffs) | |
| (vs. [Dolphins](1972-miami-dolphins-season)) 17–21 | |
| pro bowlers | {{Collapsible list |
| framestyle | border:none; padding:0; |
| title | 6 |
| 1 | LB Henry Davis |
| 2 | PK Roy Gerela |
| 3 | DT Joe Greene |
| 4 | RB Franco Harris |
| 5 | LB Andy Russell |
| 6 | DE Dwight White |
| AP All-pros | {{Collapsible list |
| framestyle | border:none; padding:0; |
| title | 4 |
| 1 | Joe Greene *(1st team)* |
| 2 | Roy Gerela *(2nd team)* |
| 3 | Franco Harris *(2nd team)* |
| 4 | Andy Russell *(2nd team)* |
| MVP | Franco Harris |
| shortnavlink | Steelers seasons |
(vs. Raiders) 13–7 Lost AFC Championship (vs. Dolphins) 17–21 | AP All-pros = {{Collapsible list
Pittsburgh finished with an 11–3 record in , their first winning season in 9 years (1963), and won their first-ever AFC Central Division title. It was the Steelers' third-ever postseason appearance, first in ten seasons (the Playoff Bowl for third place in the league), and only its second playoff game since 1947. This season is famous for the Immaculate Reception, where the Steelers beat the Oakland Raiders 13–7 in the playoffs on a last second touchdown by rookie running back Franco Harris. But the momentum would not be enough to beat the Dolphins in the AFC Championship despite a strong season.
The rebuilding of the franchise that began in 1969 with the hiring of head coach Chuck Noll finally came to fruition in his fourth year. After winning only once in that first season, the Steelers then showed steady improvement. They broke through in 1972 and made the playoffs for the first time since 1947; their three losses were by a combined eleven points. The division title was the first in team history, as was the appearance in the AFC Championship game which they lost to the undefeated Miami Dolphins 21–17. It was the first of eight consecutive playoff appearances for the Steelers that led to four Super Bowl championships.
Offseason
NFL draft
Personnel
Staff / Coaches
- President – Arthur J. Rooney
- Vice president – John R. McGinley
- Vice president – Daniel M. Rooney
- Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
- Public relations director – Ed Kiely
- Traveling secretary – James A. Boston
- Controller – Robert P. Quinn
- Publicity director – Joe Gordon
- Ticket manager – Joseph H. Carr
- Director of player personnel – Dick Haley
- Assistant director of player personnel – Bill Nunn
- Director of professional scouting – V. Timothy Rooney
- Head coach – Chuck Noll
- Offensive line – Bob Fry
- Offensive backfield – Dick Hoak
- Quarterbacks – Babe Parilli
- Receivers – Lionel Taylor
- Defensive coordinator – Bud Carson
- Defensive line – George Perles
- Defensive assistant – Woody Widenhofer
- Strength – Louis Riecke
- Flexibility – Paul Uram
- Team physician, orthopedic – Dr. John Best
- Team Physician, M.D. – Dr. David S. Huber
- Team dentist – Dr. Robert Gray
- Trainer – Ralph Berlin
- Assistant trainer – Robert Milie
- Equipment manager – Anthony Parisi
- Field manager – Jack Hart
Roster
:Source:
Depth chart
Regular season
Schedule
| Pittsburgh Steelers | year=1972 | border=2}}" | Week | Pittsburgh Steelers | year=1972 | border=2}}" | Date | Pittsburgh Steelers | year=1972 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Pittsburgh Steelers | year=1972 | border=2}}" | Result | Pittsburgh Steelers | year=1972 | border=2}}" | Record | Pittsburgh Steelers | year=1972 | border=2}}" | Venue | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 17 | [Oakland Raiders](1972-oakland-raiders-season) | **W** 34–28 | 1–0 | Three Rivers Stadium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 24 | at **[Cincinnati Bengals](1972-cincinnati-bengals-season)** | **L** 10–15 | 1–1 | Riverfront Stadium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 1 | at [St. Louis Cardinals](1972-st-louis-cardinals-nfl-season) | **W** 25–19 | 2–1 | Busch Memorial Stadium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 8 | at [Dallas Cowboys](1972-dallas-cowboys-season) | **L** 13–17 | 2–2 | Texas Stadium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 15 | **[Houston Oilers](1972-houston-oilers-season)** | **W** 24–7 | 3–2 | Three Rivers Stadium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 22 | [New England Patriots](1972-new-england-patriots-season) | **W** 33–3 | 4–2 | Three Rivers Stadium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 29 | at [Buffalo Bills](1972-buffalo-bills-season) | **W** 38–21 | 5–2 | War Memorial Stadium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 5 | [Cincinnati Bengals](1972-cincinnati-bengals) | **W** 40–17 | 6–2 | Three Rivers Stadium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 12 | [Kansas City Chiefs](1972-kansas-city-chiefs-season) | **W** 16–7 | 7–2 | Three Rivers Stadium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 19 | at **[Cleveland Browns](1972-cleveland-browns-season)** | **L** 24–26 | 7–3 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 26 | [Minnesota Vikings](1972-minnesota-vikings-season) | **W** 23–10 | 8–3 | Three Rivers Stadium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 3 | **[Cleveland Browns](1972-cleveland-browns-season)** | **W** 30–0 | 9–3 | Three Rivers Stadium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 10 | at **[Houston Oilers](1972-houston-oilers-season)** | **W** 9–3 | 10–3 | Astrodome | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 17 | at [San Diego Chargers](1972-san-diego-chargers-season) | **W** 24–2 | 11–3 | San Diego Stadium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Note:** Intra-division opponents are in **bold** text. |
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Oakland Raiders
The Steelers were able to start off against the Raiders at home scoring 17 unanswered points (2TDs/PATs and a FG) and eventually ended up defeating the team by 6 for a 34–28 victory and a 1–0 start.
Week 2: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 3: at St. Louis Cardinals
Week 4: at Dallas Cowboys
Week 5: vs. Houston Oilers
Week 6: vs. New England Patriots
Week 7: at Buffalo Bills
Week 8: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 9: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Scoring drives:
- Kansas City – Kearney 65 interception return (Stenerud kick) – Chiefs 7–0
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 25 – Chiefs 7–3
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 10 – Chiefs 7–6
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 49 – Steelers 9–7
- Pittsburgh – Harris 7 run (Gerela kick) – Steelers 16–7
Week 10: Cleveland Browns
Scoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 39 – Steelers 3–0
- Cleveland – FG Cockroft 26 – Tie 3–3
- Cleveland – Phipps 1 run (Cockroft kick) – Browns 10–3
- Cleveland – FG Cockroft 38 – Browns 13–3
- Cleveland – Pitts 17 pass from Phipps (Cockroft kick) – Browns 20–3
- Pittsburgh – Mullins 3 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Browns 20–10
- Cleveland – FG Cockroft 12 – Browns 23–10
- Pittsburgh – Fuqua 1 run (Gerela kick) – Browns 23–17
- Pittsburgh – Harris 75 run (Gerela kick)- Steelers 24–23
- Cleveland – FG Cockroft 26 – Browns 26–24
Week 11: vs. Minnesota Vikings
;Vikings
- Fran Tarkenton 24/43, 235 Yds, TD, INT
- Oscar Reed 16 Rush, 56 Yds
- Ed Marinaro 9 Rec, 62 Yds ;Steelers
- Terry Bradshaw 7/19, 93 Yds, TD, INT
- Franco Harris 17 Rush, 128 Yds, TD
- Ron Shanklin 2 Rec, 52 Yds
Week 12: vs. Cleveland Browns
Franco Harris breaks Jim Brown's record for consecutive 100 yd games.
Scoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 19 – Steelers 3–0
- Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run (Gerela kick) – Steelers 10–0
- Pittsburgh – Harris 11 run (Gerela kick) – Steelers 17–0
- Pittsburgh – McMakin 78 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Steelers 24–0
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 44 – Steelers 27–0
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 37 – Steelers 30–0
Week 13: at Houston Oilers
Scoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 24 – Steelers 3–0
- Houston – FG Butler 34 – Tie 3–3
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 39 – Steelers 6–3
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 13 – Steelers 9–3 Steelers clinch their 1st playoff berth.
Week 14: San Diego Chargers
The Pittsburgh Steelers clinched their first AFC Central Division title. The day before the game Frank Sinatra is inducted into Franco's Italian Army.
Scoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – Harris 7 yd run (Gerela kick) Steelers 7-0
- San Diego – Safety, Costa tackled Bradshaw in end zone – Steelers 7-2
- Pittsburgh – Fuqua 2 run (Gerela kick) – Steelers 14–2
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 24 – Steelers 17–2
- Pittsburgh – Shanklin 17 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Steelers 24–2
Standings
Postseason
Game summaries
AFC Divisional: vs. Oakland Raiders
Main article: The Immaculate Reception
AFC Championship: vs. Miami Dolphins
- PIT – Mullins recovered fumble in end zone (Gerela kick) PIT 7–0
- MIA – Csonka 9 pass from Morrall (Yepremian kick) 7–7
- PIT – FG Gerela 14 11:00 3rd PIT 10–7
- MIA – Kiick 2 run (Yepremian kick) MIA 14–10
- MIA – Kiick 3 run (Yepremian kick) MIA 21–10
- PIT – Young 12 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) MIA 21–17
References
References
- [http://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/draft/1972 Football Database – 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers Draft]. Retrieved 2014-Feb-10.
- "1972 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide".
- (October 22, 1972). "Steelers numbers". Pittsburgh Press.
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers season — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report