Pittsburgh Steelers 41st US football season
1973 Pittsburgh Steelers season |
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Owner | Art Rooney |
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Head coach | Chuck Noll |
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Home field | Three Rivers Stadium |
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Results |
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Record | 10–4 |
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Division place | 2nd AFC Central |
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Playoff finish | Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Raiders) 14–33 |
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Pro Bowlers | - DT Joe Greene
- DE L. C. Greenwood
- LB Jack Ham
- RB Franco Harris
- LB Andy Russell
- WR Ronnie Shanklin
- G Bruce Van Dyke
- DE Dwight White
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AP All-Pros | - Joe Greene (1st team)
- Roy Gerela (2nd team)
- Jack Ham (2nd team)
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Team MVP | Ron Shanklin |
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The 1973 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 41st season in the National Football League. The team finished second in the AFC Central division, but qualified for the postseason for the second consecutive season. The Steelers got off to a terrific start winning eight of their first nine games. However, a costly three game losing streak would put their playoff hopes in jeopardy. The Steelers would recover to win their last two games, but had to settle for a Wild Card berth with a 10–4 record. The Steelers would lose in the playoffs to the Oakland Raiders 33–14 in Oakland.
The 1973 Steelers' pass defense is arguably the greatest in the history of the NFL. Their defensive passer rating—the quarterback passer rating of all opposing quarterbacks throughout the season—was 33.1, an NFL record for the Super Bowl era.
According to Cold Hard Football Facts:[1]
Pittsburgh's pass-defense numbers that year were stunning. Opposing passers compiled the following stat-line:
- 164 of 359 (45.7%) for 1,923 yards, 5.36 [yards-per-attempt], 11 [touchdowns] and 37 [interceptions]
The figure that leaps screaming off the sheet is the amazing 37 picks in 14 games. The 2009 Jets, by comparison, allowed a puny 8 TDs in 16 games, but hauled in just 17 picks.
Pittsburgh's all-time best pass defense was an equal-opportunity unit: Mike Wagner led the team with 8 INT, but 10 other guys recorded at least one pick. Amazing. Eleven defenders boasted at least one INT for Pittsburgh that season. The entire starting secondary recorded 24 picks alone, and Hall of Fame cornerback Mel Blount was last on the list: Wagner (8), safety Glen Edwards (6), cornerback John Rowser (6) and Blount (4).
The campaign was chronicled in Roy Blount Jr.'s 1974 book About Three Bricks Shy of a Load. The source of its title was Craig Hanneman whose endearing description of himself and his teammates after the regular season away victory over the Oakland Raiders was "We’re all about three bricks shy of a load."[2]
Offseason
NFL Draft
Team | Rd | Pick | Name | Pos | College |
PIT | 1 | 24 | J.T. Thomas | DB | Florida St. |
PIT | 2 | 50 | Ken Phares | DB | Mississippi St. |
PIT | 3 | 76 | Roger Bernhardt | G | Kansas |
PIT | 4 | 102 | Gail Clark | LB | Michigan St. |
PIT | 5 | 106 | Dave Reavis | T | Arkansas |
PIT | 5 | 128 | Larry Clark | LB | Northern Illinois |
PIT | 6 | 140 | Ron Bell | RB | Illinois St. |
PIT | 6 | 154 | Glenn Scolnik | WR | Indiana |
PIT | 7 | 180 | Nate Dorsey | WR | Miss Valley St. |
PIT | 8 | 192 | Loren Toews | LB | California |
PIT | 8 | 206 | Bill Janssen | T | Nebraska |
PIT | 9 | 232 | Bracey Bonham | G | North Carolina Central |
PIT | 10 | 258 | Don Wunderly | DT | Arkansas |
PIT | 11 | 284 | Bob White | DB | Arizona |
PIT | 12 | 310 | Willie Lee | RB | Indiana St. |
PIT | 13 | 336 | Rick Fergerson | WR | Kansas St. |
PIT | 14 | 362 | Roger Cowan | DE | Stanford |
PIT | 15 | 388 | Charles Cross | DB | Iowa |
PIT | 16 | 414 | Glen Nardi | DT | Navy |
PIT | 17 | 440 | Mike Shannon | DT | Oregon St. |
Personnel
Staff
1973 Pittsburgh Steelers staff | Front office - 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 coaches Offensive coaches | | | Defensive coaches
Strength and conditioning - 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
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Roster
1973 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster |
| Quarterbacks Running backs Wide receivers Tight ends | | Offensive linemen Defensive linemen | | Linebackers - 38 Ed Bradley MLB
- 53 Henry Davis MLB
- 59 Jack Ham OLB
- 34 Andy Russell OLB
- 51 Loren Toews OLB
- 90 George Webster OLB
Defensive backs Special teams | | Reserve lists Practice squad [3] [4] [5] [6] Rookies in italics 46 active, 1 inactive, 1 practice squad |
Regular season
Game summaries
Week 1
Detroit Lions (0–0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (0–0)
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Lions | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Steelers | 0 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 24 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
- Date: September 16
- Game time: 4:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C); wind 11 mph (18 km/h)
- Game attendance: 48,913
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Scoring summary |
Quarter | Time | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Plays | Yards | TOP | DET | PIT | 2 | | | | | Steelers | 11-yard field goal by Roy Gerela | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | | | Steelers | Bradshaw 1-yard touchdown run, Gerela kick good | 0 | 10 | 3 | | | | | Lions | Jessie 84-yard touchdown reception from Landry, Mann kick good | 7 | 10 | 3 | | | | | Lions | 40-yard field goal by Mann | 10 | 10 | 4 | | | | | Steelers | McMakin 24-yard touchdown reception from Bradshaw, Gerela kick good | 10 | 17 | 4 | | | | | Steelers | Shanklin 6-yard touchdown reception from Bradshaw, Gerela kick good | 10 | 24 | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 10 | 24 | |
Week 2
Cleveland Browns (1–0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (1–0)
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Browns | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
Steelers | 10 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 33 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: September 23
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C); wind 14 mph (23 km/h)
- Game attendance: 49,396
- Referee: Tommy Bell
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Scoring summary |
Quarter | Time | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Plays | Yards | TOP | CLE | PIT | 1 | | | | | Steelers | 12-yard field goal by Gerela | 0 | 3 | 1 | | | | | Browns | 43-yard field goal by Cockroft | 3 | 3 | 1 | | | | | Steelers | Fuqua 4-yard touchdown run, Gerela kick good | 3 | 10 | 2 | | | | | Steelers | 40-yard field goal by Gerela | 3 | 13 | 2 | | | | | Steelers | 26-yard field goal by Gerela | 3 | 16 | 3 | | | | | Steelers | 44-yard field goal by Gerela | 3 | 19 | 4 | | | | | Steelers | Lewis 8-yard touchdown reception from Bradshaw, Gerela kick good | 3 | 26 | 4 | | | | | Browns | 28-yard field goal by Cockroft | 6 | 26 | 4 | | | | | Steelers | Lewis 53-yard touchdown reception from Hanratty, Gerela kick good | 6 | 33 | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 6 | 33 | |
Week 3
Pittsburgh Steelers (2–0) at Houston Oilers (0–2)
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Steelers | 3 | 3 | 13 | 17 | 36 |
Oilers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Astrodome, Houston, Texas
- Date: September 30
- Game time: 2:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Indoors (dome)
- Game attendance: 39,331
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Scoring summary |
Quarter | Time | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Plays | Yards | TOP | PIT | HOU | 1 | | | | | Steelers | 20-yard field goal by Gerela | 3 | 0 | 2 | | | | | Oilers | Alston 7-yard touchdown reception from Pastorini, Butler kick good | 3 | 7 | 2 | | | | | Steelers | 47-yard field goal by Gerela | 6 | 7 | 3 | | | | | Steelers | Bradshaw 1-yard touchdown run, Gerela kick no good | 12 | 7 | 3 | | | | | Steelers | Interception returned 45 yards for touchdown by Russell, Gerela kick good | 19 | 7 | 4 | | | | | Steelers | Shanklin 26-yard touchdown reception from Bradshaw, Gerela kick good | 26 | 7 | 4 | | | | | Steelers | 26-yard field goal by Gerela | 29 | 7 | 4 | | | | | Steelers | Interception returned 86 yards for touchdown by Edwards, Gerela kick good | 36 | 7 | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 36 | 7 | |
Week 4
San Diego Chargers (1–2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (3–0)
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Chargers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 21 |
Steelers | 17 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 38 |
at Three Rivers Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: October 7
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C) • Wind 7 mph (11 km/h)
- Game attendance: 48,795
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- Pro-Football-Reference
Johnny Unitas playing for San Diego is knocked out of the game after completing only 3 of 15 passes for 24 yards and three interceptions.
Scoring summary |
Quarter | Time | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Plays | Yards | TOP | SD | PIT | 1 | | | | | Steelers | Shanklin 12-yard touchdown reception from Bradshaw, Gerela kick good | 0 | 7 | 1 | | | | | Steelers | Bradshaw 1-yard touchdown run, Gerela kick good | 0 | 14 | 1 | | | | | Steelers | 38-yard field goal by Gerela | 0 | 17 | 2 | | | | | Steelers | Davis 1-yard touchdown run, Gerela kick good | 0 | 24 | 2 | | | | | Steelers | Blocked punt recovered in end zone for touchdown by Wagner, Gerela kick good | 0 | 31 | 3 | | | | | Steelers | Shanklin 37-yard touchdown reception from Hanratty, Gerela kick good | 0 | 38 | 4 | | | | | Chargers | LeVias 13-yard touchdown reception from Fouts, Wersching kick good | 7 | 38 | 4 | | | | | Chargers | Jones 3-yard touchdown run, Wersching kick good | 14 | 38 | 4 | | | | | Chargers | Holmes 1-yard touchdown run, Wersching kick good | 21 | 38 | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 21 | 38 | |
Week 5
Pittsburgh Steelers (4–0) at Cincinnati Bengals (2–2)
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Steelers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Bengals | 6 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 19 |
at Riverfront Stadium • Cincinnati, Ohio
- Date: October 14
- Game time: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C) • Wind 8 mph (13 km/h)
- Game attendance: 55,819
- Referee: Dick Jorgensen
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Scoring summary |
Quarter | Time | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Plays | Yards | TOP | PIT | CIN | 1 | | | | | Bengals | 20-yard field goal by Muhlmann | 0 | 3 | 1 | | | | | Bengals | 19-yard field goal by Muhlmann | 0 | 6 | 2 | | | | | Bengals | 20-yard field goal by Muhlmann | 0 | 9 | 3 | | | | | Bengals | Clark 3-yard touchdown run, Muhlmann kick good | 0 | 16 | 4 | | | | | Bengals | 41-yard field goal by Muhlmann | 0 | 19 | 4 | | | | | Steelers | Pearson 1-yard touchdown run, Gerela kick good | 7 | 19 | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 7 | 19 | |
Week 6
New York Jets (2–3) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4–1)
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Jets | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Steelers | 0 | 9 | 3 | 14 | 26 |
at Three Rivers Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: October 21
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C) • Wind 9 mph (14 km/h)
- Game attendance: 48,682
- Referee: John McDonough
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Scoring summary |
Quarter | Time | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Plays | Yards | TOP | NYJ | PIT | 1 | | | | | Jets | Riggins 1-yard touchdown run, Howfield kick good | 7 | 0 | 2 | | | | | Steelers | 27-yard field goal by Gerela | 7 | 3 | 2 | | | | | Steelers | 29-yard field goal by Gerela | 7 | 6 | 2 | | | | | Jets | Caster 28-yard touchdown reception from Demory, Howfield kick good | 14 | 6 | 2 | | | | | Steelers | 36-yard field goal by Gerela | 14 | 9 | 3 | | | | | Steelers | 13-yard field goal by Gerela | 14 | 12 | 4 | | | | | Steelers | Shanklin 16-yard touchdown reception from Hanratty, Gerela kick good | 14 | 19 | 4 | | | | | Steelers | Harris 2-yard touchdown run, Gerela kick good | 14 | 26 | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 14 | 26 | |
Week 7 vs Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals (4–2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (5–1)
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bengals | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
Steelers | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 20 |
at Three Rivers Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: October 28
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C) • Wind 12 miles per hour (19 km/h; 10 kn)
- Game attendance: 45,761
- Referee: Norm Schachter
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information |
- Bengals
- Ken Anderson
20/38, 230 Yds, TD, 3 INT - Boobie Clark
15 Rush, 60 Yds 10 Rec, 68 Yds | - Steelers
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Week 8 vs Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins (5–2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (6–1)
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Redskins | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
Steelers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
at Three Rivers Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: Monday, November 5
- Game time: 9:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 40 °F (4 °C) • Wind 13 miles per hour (21 km/h; 11 kn)
- Game attendance: 49,220
- Referee: Tommy Bell
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, and Don Meredith
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Joe Gilliam makes Monday Night Football debut
Week 9 at Raiders
Pittsburgh Steelers (7–1) at Oakland Raiders (5–2–1)
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Steelers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
Raiders | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum • Oakland, California
- Date: November 11
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C) • Wind 16 miles per hour (26 km/h; 14 kn)
- Game attendance: 47,535
- Referee: Bernie Ulman
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 10 vs Broncos
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Broncos | Passing | Charley Johnson | 13/20, 86 Yds, TD |
Rushing | Floyd Little | 27 Rush, 88 Yds, TD |
Receiving | Riley Odoms | 6 Rec, 47 Yds, TD |
Steelers | Passing | Terry Hanratty | 10/19, 217 Yds, TD |
Rushing | Franco Harris | 11 Rush, 53 Yds |
Receiving | John McMakin | 3 Rec, 64 Yds |
Scoring summary |
Quarter | Time | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Plays | Yards | TOP | DEN | PIT | 1 | | | | | Broncos | 32-yard field goal by Jim Turner | 3 | 0 | 1 | | | | | Steelers | 15-yard field goal by Roy Gerela | 3 | 3 | 2 | | | | | Steelers | 13-yard field goal by Roy Gerela | 3 | 6 | 2 | | | | | Broncos | 11-yard field goal by Jim Turner | 6 | 6 | 3 | | | | | Broncos | Floyd Little 10-yard touchdown run, Jim Turner kick good | 13 | 6 | 4 | | | | | Steelers | Ron Shanklin 42-yard touchdown reception from Terry Hanratty, Roy Gerela kick good | 13 | 13 | 4 | | | | | Broncos | 46-yard field goal by Jim Turner | 16 | 13 | 4 | | | | | Broncos | Riley Odoms 2-yard touchdown reception from Charley Johnson, Jim Turner kick good | 23 | 13 | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 23 | 13 | |
Week 11
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Steelers | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 16 | • Browns | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 | |
Game summary
Scoring drives:
Week 12 (Monday December 3, 1973): at Miami Dolphins
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Steelers | 0 | 3 | 7 | 16 | 26 | • Dolphins | 20 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 30 | - Date: Monday, December 3
- Location: Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
- Game start: 9:00 p.m.
- Game attendance: 68,901
- Game weather: 75 F, wind 14 mph (23 km/h)
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, and Don Meredith
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Game summary
Scoring drives:
Week 13
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Oilers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | • Steelers | 3 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 33 | |
Game summary
Scoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 49 – Steelers 3–0
- Houston – Alston 11 pass from Pastorini (Butler kick) – Oilers 7–3
- Pittsburgh – B. Pearson 15 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Steelers 10–7
- Pittsburgh – Steve Davis 3 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Steelers 17–7
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 31 – Steelers 20–7
- Pittsburgh – Ham recovered fumble in end zone (Gerela kick) – Steelers 27–7
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 20 – Steelers 30–7
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 42 – Steelers 33–7
Week 14
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Steelers | 7 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 37 | 49ers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | |
Game summary
John Brodie's number 12 was retired prior to game.
Scoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – Rowser 71 interception return (Gerela kick) – Steelers 7–0
- San Francisco – Hall recovered blocked punt in end zone (Gossett kick) – Tie 7–7
- Pittsburgh – P. Pearson 1 run (Gerela kick) – Steelers 14–7
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 27 – Steelers 17–7
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 27 – Steelers 20–7
- Pittsburgh – Lewis 50 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Steelers 27–7
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 35 – Steelers 30–7
- Pittsburgh – Steve Davis 1 run (Gerela kick) – Steelers 37–7
- San Francisco – Atkins 3 run (Gossett kick) – Steelers 37–14
Standings
Postseason
AFC Divisional: @ Oakland Raiders
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Steelers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | • Raiders | 7 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 33 | - Date: Saturday, December 22
- Location: Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
- Game start: 4 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 52,646
- Game weather: 50 F, wind 11 mph (18 km/h)
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson and Kyle Rote
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Scoring Drives
- Oakland – Hubbard 1 run (Blanda kick) – Raiders 7–0
- Oakland – FG Blanda 25 – Raiders 10–0
- Pittsburgh – B. Pearson 4 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Raiders 10–7
- Oakland – FG Blanda 31 – Raiders 13–7
- Oakland – FG Blanda 22 – Raiders 16–7
- Oakland – Brown 54 interception return (Blanda kick) – Raiders 23–7
- Oakland – FG Blanda 10 – Raiders 26–7
- Pittsburgh – Lewis 26 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Raiders 26–14
- Oakland – Hubbard 1 run (Blanda kick) – Raiders 33–14
References
- ^ Cold Hard Football Facts: Shutdown! The greatest pass defenses in history
- ^ Starkey, Joe. "The wildest Steelers season there ever was," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Saturday, December 30, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2020
- ^ a b 1973 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
- ^ 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
- ^ About Three Bricks Shy... and the Load Filled Up.
- ^ "1973 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
External links
- 1973 Pittsburgh Steelers season at Profootballreference.com
- 1973 Pittsburgh Steelers season statistics at jt-sw.com
Pittsburgh Steelers seasons |
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Formerly the Pittsburgh Pirates (1933–1939) |
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Pittsburgh Steelers |
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- Founded in 1933
- Formerly the Pittsburgh Pirates (1933–1939)
- Based and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Culture | |
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Division championships (24) | |
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Conference championships (8) | |
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League championships (6) | |
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