Today marks the 91st birthday of the iconic Pittsburgh Steelers franchise. While the team didn’t play their first game until September 1933, Art Rooney, affectionately known as “The Chief”, officially purchased the franchise on July 8, 1933.
This anniversary celebrates the founding and establishment of one of the most successful and storied franchises in NFL history. Over the past nine decades, the Steelers have built a legacy as one of the league’s premier organizations, winning 6 Super Bowl championships and cementing their place as a dominant force in professional football.
Fans are encouraged to “break out the cake and candles” to commemorate this significant milestone for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team’s rich history and enduring success make this a special occasion worthy of celebration for all Steelers faithful. Here’s to 91 more years of Steelers football!
the price for an NFL franchise during that time period was $2,500, which equates to around $79,000 today. This was not considered a small sum, given the country was in the midst of the Great Depression and professional football was less popular and respected compared to baseball. The key factor enabling Art Rooney’s purchase of the Pittsburgh Steelers was a change in Pennsylvania’s “Blue Laws” that had previously prohibited Sunday sporting events. This regulatory change allowed the team to play most of their home games on Wednesdays instead.
From 1933 to 1939, the team was called the Pittsburgh Pirates. Like other pro teams of the era, owner Art Rooney tried to capitalize on the popularity of baseball to drum up support for the team. However, the results were mediocre, with low attendance and the team often losing money. Contrary to popular belief, Rooney did not use race track winnings to fund the team. Despite these challenging early years, the “big days” helped the team weather their toughest times.
The Pittsburgh Steelers played their first game on September 20, 1933, losing 23-2 to the New York Giants. However, the game included an unconventional play – a blocked punt by John “Cap” Oehler that rolled through the end zone for a safety, marking the team’s first points.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ first win of the season came the following week, with a 14-13 victory over the Chicago Cardinals. They scored their first touchdown in notable fashion, and Martin “Butch” Kottler returned an interception 99 yards for another score. The Steelers completed a comeback in the fourth quarter, capped by an 11-yard touchdown pass from Bill Tanguay to Paul Moss. Kicker Mose Kelsch, regarded as the NFL’s first true specialist, kicked the game-winning extra point.
Under head coach Forrest “Jap” Douds, the Steelers finished the season with a respectable 3-6-2 record for a first-year team. Notable moments included an upset win over the Boston Redskins and a tie with the talented Brooklyn Dodgers, though the team would be blown out the following week.
the Pittsburgh Steelers were one of only two NFL teams to roster a Black player, OT Ray Kemp, during the 1933 season. This was highly unusual, as no other Black player would participate in the NFL until Kenny Washington joined in 1946. The team would remain racially segregated until 1952.
While the Steelers had a respectable 3-6-2 record in their inaugural season, the article states they were “largely forgotten” due to their “lousy track records,” only making one playoff appearance in their first 38 years. However, the team persevered through this challenging era, eventually turning a corner when Chuck Noll was hired as head coach in 1969.
