Only true longtime fans know that Chuck Noll almost didn’t make it past his first season in 1969

While everyone remembers the Steel Curtain and four Super Bowl rings, only true longtime fans know that Chuck Noll almost didn’t make it past his first season in 1969. The team went 1-13 that year, and the pressure was INTENSE. But Noll saw something special in a defensive tackle from North Texas State named Joe Greene - drafted 4th overall when everyone thought he was a reach. Greene became “Mean Joe” and the foundation everything else was built on. The real ones remember how Jack Ham and Jack Lambert were considered “too small” for NFL linebackers. Ham was a 2nd round pick who scouts said was “undersized,” and Lambert was a 2nd rounder too - picked more for his motor than his measurables. And Terry Bradshaw? Dude was getting BOOED by his own fans early on. The Louisiana Tech quarterback threw more picks than TDs his first two seasons. Most casual fans only remember Super Bowl Terry, but longtime fans lived through those growing pains. Franco Harris running behind that legendary offensive line, Mel Blount pioneering the bump-and-run coverage before they changed the rules because of him… That 1970s dynasty wasn’t just talent - it was Noll’s vision and patience when everyone else wanted instant results. Only the day-ones really know how close we came to never seeing greatness. 🖤💛 #NFL #SteelerNation #ChuckNoll