Black and Gold Dynasty: The Championship History of the Pittsburgh Steelers

The 1974-75 Pittsburgh Steelers captured the franchise's first championship by defeating the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX, and in the process set the stage for one of the most remarkable dynasties in professional sports. Their history prior to that season, dating back over four decades, had been largely unsuccessful, with only a handful of winning seasons and fewer playoff appearances to their credit. Bolstered by a crop of future Hall of Fame players in the likes of Greene, Bradshaw, Harris, Swann, Stallworth, Lambert, Ham, and Blount and led by coach Chuck Noll, who would also claim a spot in Canton, Ohio after his storied career ended with four Super Bowl victories, the Steelers exhibited a turnaround through the early 1970's but were still in search of a first title to legitimize their success. The 1974-75 squad changed all of that, winning with both skill and tenacity and establishing a culture of Steelers pride that now spans multiple generations and touches fans everywhere from western Pennsylvania to the far reaches of the globe. That Steelers team was the foundation for all of the franchise's great accomplishments over the following years; the first champion in what would become a lasting legacy of success for the black and gold and a way of life for their fans. This book is the first in a series that details the Steelers' rise to becoming a true Black and Gold Dynasty.