Steelers Fun Facts

Remember the Steagles? The Pittsburgh Steelers have actually gone through three name changes during their history. The team actually began as the Pittsburgh Pirates, before owner Art Rooney changed their name to the Steelers in 1940. In 1943, they became the "Steagles" when they were merged with the Philadelphia Eagles as football rosters became depleted during World War II. The next year (1944) saw them similiarly merged with the Cardinals, and they became the oh-so-exciting "Card-Pitt" team.

Pittsburgh used to have cheerleaders? True. One of the NFL's first cheerleading teams, the Steelerettes, cheered for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1961-1970 (too bad they didn't stick around for one more decade).

The Steelers steelmark logo was originally only applied to one side of the helmet (the right side) because the Steelers were uncertain how it would look on their solid gold helmets. Even when they later switched their helmet color to solid black, they decided to permanently retain the logo on just the one side due to the team's new success and the interest generated by the logo's uniqueness.

The Duquesne Incline, which has been scaling the side of Mount Washington since May 7, 1877, is just one example of Pittsburgh pride in the Steelers. On game day, a sign is added to each of the two cars - the left one reads 'DEEE' and the right one reads 'FENSE.' When the cars pass each other at the halfway point, they read 'DEEE FENSE.' The lighted signs can actually be seen from Heinz Field!

No player numbers have ever been retired by the Pittsburgh Steelers (making them one of only a handful of NFL teams to follow this practice), but certain numbers are mysteriously not handed out to new players each season: #12 (Terry Bradshaw), #31 (Donnie Shell), #32 (Franco Harris), #47 (Mel Blount), #52 (Mike Webster), #58 (Jack Lambert), #59 (Jack Ham), #70 (Ernie Stautner) and #75 (Joe Greene).

The much loved official Myron Cope Terrible Towel was created to appease department store owners upset because their yellow and black handtowels were being sold at a rate disproportionate to the matching bath towels.