As with every sports team in the NFL, NBA, NHL, or even MLB, there are several moments in every team's history in which fans ask what would have happened if one play or draft had happened slightly differently. Well, the Steelers have several such what-if moments.
The Steelers have a plethora of such questions that fans have asked many times over the years. While there are many such questions, the trick is narrowing it down to the top ten. Some are obvious, and some are ones you may not have thought of. Then there are two that will require their own article.
So, without further ado, let's examine the ten most significant 'what if 'moments for the Steelers. We'll uncover how these moments could have changed their destiny and, in the process, reshaped pro football history forever.
10) What if Jack Ham never gets flagged for holding in the 1982 wild card game against the Chargers?
1982 as you recall, was a strike-shortened season. When the strike ended the NFL could play a shortened nine-game season. The NFL came up with special rules. The top teams were seeded 1-8 regardless of division meaning the high seed might not automatically host the lowest seed. The benefit was that a team with as few as four wins could make the playoffs.
In the game itself, the Steelers enjoyed a 28-17 lead over the Chargers. However, Ham's holding penalty wiped a Mel Blount interception, allowing the Chargers to score a crucial touchdown midway through the 4th quarter to pull within four points. Then, as we all know, they beat the Steelers by scoring a touchdown on their final possession.
What if the interception had stood? The Chargers would have lost the game, altering the course of the playoffs. The Steelers, under the unique 1982 rules, would have faced the Dolphins in the 2nd round, a team they were comparably stronger than. This was a season before the Dolphins drafted Dan Marino, and their quarterback was David Woodly. It’s plausible that the Steelers could have emerged victorious in week two, setting up a different playoff scenario.
A win over the Dolphins would have set up yet another AFC championship game against the Raiders. The Steelers would have had to win in Oakland, and the Raiders would have had a young Marcus Allen. While it’s plausible that the Steelers could win, as the Dolphins did just that with a much weaker team, they were not the same team as in 1979. However, if they did, they would have faced a strong Washington team led by Joe Theismann, John Riggens, and Art Monk, who destroyed the Dolphins in the Super Bowl.
In retrospect, the Steelers' defeat against the Chargers in 1982 could be viewed as a fortunate outcome. While the prospect of their advancement would have been exhilarating, the harsh truth is that they might have faced a more strenuous competition against Washington in the Super Bowl. Nonetheless, the 1982 season, with its distinctive playoff rules, raises the speculative question of what might have unfolded if the Steelers had advanced in the playoffs. Interestingly, it would not have changed much of the Steeler's history for the rest of the 80s. It would have been that slight closure of getting one for the thumb before the Big Ben era of Steelers football began.
9) What if the Steelers drafted O.J. Simpson in 1969?
No one could imagine the Steelers without 'Mean' Joe Greene, let alone the steel curtain. However, one missed field goal in 1968 could have kept Joe Green from coming to Pittsburgh, and perhaps he never played in the NFL. This is a disheartening thought, but it came close to happening. All because the Steelers kicked one field goal in 1968.
Midway through the 1968 season, the Eagles came to Pittsburgh. Both teams were 0-6. Both teams were in the running to draft O.J. Simpson in 1969; losing for the Steelers seemed commonplace until something unusual occurred. They beat the Eagles 6-3.
With that victory, they lost out on the O.J. Simpson sweepstakes. Without Beating the Eagles and tying the Falcons, how might that have altered Steeler's history? Pittsburgh was in shock when Noll drafted Greene, a player no one had ever heard of, the headlines said it all "Joe Who?". In 1969 as a city they may have wanted Simpson, not knowing they instead would soon have a dynasty that would erase all the years of watching the Steelers lose.
Dan Rooney had once said they would have drafted Simpson and signed him. However, that was before the Steelers fired Coach Bill Austin and hired Chuck Noll. Would Chuck Noll have drafted Simpson? Possibly, but he knew who we wanted perhaps before the Steelers hired him. However, there is a legitimate possibility Joe Greene would have been available in the 2nd round. If they had drafted Simpson, Noll might have been able to draft both and still build his dynasty.
Nevertheless, he would never have drafted Franco in 1972, meaning no immaculate reception. Thus, no Italian Army. But how many more yards could O.J. have had with Rocky as his lead blocker?
8) What if Tim Tebow time never happened?
The Steelers' worst heartbreak could very well be the 2011 wild card game against Denver. Coming off their Superbowl loss to the Packers in 2010, the Steelers had another strong season, finishing 12-4, one game behind the Patriots. With Pittsburgh falling behind to the Broncos, Big Ben again worked his magic, leading the Steelers to another comeback to tie the game and force overtime.
Just when it might look like the Steelers could punk the Broncos again in Denver, Tim Tebow time happened. One play into overtime, Tim Tebow launched an 80-yard TD pass, breaking the hearts of everyone in Steelers Nation.
What might have happened if that one pass had never happened? Well, more than likely, the Steelers beat Denver, which would have forced another showdown between Big Ben and Tom Brady. All throughout Roethlisberger's career, Tom Brady has had his number in the playoffs. It would be nice to think that just once, Ben Roethlisberger could have beaten Tom Brady in Foxborough. If that had happened, the Steelers would have faced and perhaps destroyed the Ravens the following week in the AFC Championship game.
If the Steelers had beaten the Patriots once in the playoffs, they would have been on an emotional high and could have easily beaten the Ravens. They would have faced the Giants in the Superbowl, which it's reasonable to assume they could have won, considering they won in 2008. It would have been retribution for the Superbowl loss to the Packers.
It would have been the Cherry on top for Ben Roethlisberger's career and given Mike Tomlin his 2nd Superbowl win. Thus, fans might not be clamoring as much about his lack of post-season success since the Superbowl loss in the 2010s. Plus, the Steelers would have Seven Lombardi trophies, staying one ahead of the Patriots
7) What if the Steeers had kept Johnny Unitas or Len Dawson?
There is an old saying, "Don't ask questions you don't want to know the answer to." This question is one of those, in the sense that it would have changed the history of the NFL and the Steelers—not in a good way, either, especially for those of us who grew up in Pittsburgh in the '70s.
Many Fans forget that the Steelers once had Earl Morral, Johnny Unitas, Len Dawson, and Jack Kemp. Yet they cut or traded all of them, and for what? For nothing, and it was a bad habit of the Steelers before the Chuck Noll era. They were trading away stars for old washed-up over-the-hall stars, e.g., Bobby Layne. Still, had they kept Unitas, Dawson, or even Morral, everything we remember about the NFL in the '70s would be totally different.
If the Steelers had kept Unitas, it's doubtful they would have become a dynasty. Any quarterback needs some talent around him to be successful. The thing here is that keeping Unitas would have prevented the Steelers from being the dumpster fire they typically were before 1970. Keeping Unitas would have prevented him from going to the Colts, and he would have never become Mr. Baltimore, which alone wouldn't have been any significant loss to Baltimore.
The Nightmare here is that the Steelers might have enough success to keep Bill Austin from being fired. This means Chuck Noll could become the head coach of the Colts when Shula goes to Miami. Worse yet, he could have gone to Cleveland, and perhaps the Browns would become the dynasty the Steelers were not.
Keeping Len Dawson, all of the above happens, except the Chiefs never go to the Superbowl, let alone win Superbowl IV. It would take the Chiefs until 2019 to make their first appearance in the big game. The Raiders then become the ultimate AFC powerhouse.
If they had kept Morrall, the Steelers could easily have remained a dumpster fire, not that Morral was that sensational; however, the Dolphins would not go unbeaten in 1972.
6) What If Ryan Shazier was never injured?
Of all the what-if questions, this one impacts Mike Tomlin the most: What If Ryan Shazier never gets injured? Most Steelers fans were devastated when he was carted off the field on a stretcher, hoping for the best and fearing the worst. Shazier never played football again, suffering partial paralysis.
It was a devastating blow to the Steelers, as Shazier was their most dynamic linebacker in years. Up to his injury, in four seasons, he had 299 tackles, seven sacks, seven interceptions, seven forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. Who knows what his stats would be like today playing alongside T.J. Watt? They would be impressive. Perhaps he would be another candidate for the Hall of Fame. However, it was not his destiny.
What would have changed if he had not suffered an injury? Mainly, the 2019 draft. Mike Tomlin would not have needed to trade up for Devin Bush and would have kept their 20th, 52nd pick in 2019 and the 2020 3rd-round selection. Staying at the 20th pick, they might have otherwise taken Josh Jacobs, Marquise Brown, or perhaps Deebo Samuels. If they had taken Jacobs, they wouldn't have drafted Benny Snell. With the 52nd pick, they could have gotten D.K. Metcalf, or who knows, maybe they draft Maxx Crosby.
The Steelers would be much stronger defensively today and would not have had the offensive struggles they had through 2023. Indeed, the post-season failures wouldn't be an albatross around Mike Tomlin's neck.
5) What if Jesse James' catch was a touchdown?
When Ben Roethlisberger had a 2-8 record against Tom Brady, one could make a top-10 list of what-ifs based on playing the Patriots alone. For example, what if the Patriots had never cheated? Then perhaps the Steelers would have won four Super Bowls, including the 2004 and 2017 eras, instead of the Patriots.
All the allegations of cheating aside, this entry on the list is the worst officiating call since the infamous tuck rule. Big Ben had mounted another one of his famous come-from-behind drives, which resulted in a touchdown to tight end Jesse James to beat the Patriots—well, almost. James caught the pass, crossed the goal line, and the ground jarred the ball loose. Based on NFL rules, it was an incomplete pass.
The ongoing debate caused the NFL to change the rule for 2018. Hence, had the play happened in 2018, it would have been a touchdown. Too little, too late by then. But what would have happened if it had been a touchdown?
Considering the Steelers and Patriots, both with a 13-3 record, the loss gave the Patriots home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. As a result, the Steelers had to play Jacksonville at home, whom they lost to earlier in the season. For some reason, the Steelers cannot win against Jacksonville at home, something they had problems doing when Jacksonville briefly played in the AFC Central.
If the Steelers had won that game, Jacksonville would have had to travel to New England, which the Patriots would probably have won, forcing them to go back to Pittsburgh. The Steelers would have played the Titans in the divisional game. Considering the Patriots lost the Super Bowl to the Eagles, it was not the best team they had assembled. It would have been Roethlisberger's best chance to upend Tom Brady and get the monkey off his back once and for all.
Could they have beaten the Eagles? Yes, considering they played on a neutral field. It would have been Big Ben's swan song, giving Tomlin a title and getting the monkey off his back as well. Perhaps Roethlisberger retires ahead of 2018, and the Steelers draft Lamar Jackson over Terrell Edmunds.
4) What if the Steelers stop Larry Seiple's fake punt in the 1972 AFC championship game?
One of the most intriguing what-if scenarios in Steelers history revolves around the 1972 ACF champion game. This game, with its potential to significantly reshape the Steelers' trajectory in the 1970s, is not just a single what-if question, but a trio of them rolled into one.
Imagine if Larry Seiple had not executed the fake punt if Terry Bradshaw had never been injured in the first half, and if Dwight White had never jumped offsides in the third quarter. These pivotal moments, if altered, could have easily disrupted Miami's unbeaten season.
The Steelers were leading 7-0 when Don Shula elected to have Larry Seiple run a fake punt right up the middle. It caught the Steelers' defense napping, and he rambled for 30 yards. It led to a Larry Csonka nine-yard touchdown reception. If the Steelers stop it, the final score is Steelers 17, Miami 14.
Terry Bradshaw is injured following the Miami touchdown, forcing Chuck Noll to send in Terry Hanratty. The Steelers' offense then became stagnant, only managing a Roy Gerala field goal in the third quarter. Then, midway through the 4th quarter, back comes the Blonde Bomber. Bradshaw goes 4/4 on four plays 72 yards for a quick touchdown, then on the remaining two possessions, still needing another score, and Miami, knowing the Steelers needed to pass, manages two interceptions. If he had played the entire game, it's doubtful Miami would have had all its success in the second half.
Early on in the third quarter, Dwight White draws an offside penalty, wiping out a beautiful Jack Ham interception. With Hanratty in, perhaps the Steelers' drive stalls. With Bradshaw in, perhaps they get three points or a touchdown. In any event, if the interception stands, it wipes out another Miami touchdown. The Steelers would have then faced a much weaker Washington.
In the larger scope, winning a Superbowl in 1972 changed the dynamics even more for the Steelers dynasty. Winning that Superbowl on the heels of the Immaculate Reception ahead of the Miami game, ruining Miami's perfect season, and being the NFL champs sounds like destiny. Then Perhaps Tom Brady plays his entire career in Bradshaw's shadow as the Steelers have five championships in seven years. If only, right? It came very close to happening.
3) What if Niel O'Donnell does not throw his third interception in Superbowl XXX?
In 1995, the Steelers finally returned to the Superbowl against their archrival, the Dallas Cowboys, after a 17-year hiatus. If not for one glaring mistake by Neil O'Donnell, Bill Cowher could have had his first championship and possibly altered Steelers history in the 2000s.
The game initially did not go well for the Steelers, as Dallas jumped out to a 20-7 lead until early in the fourth quarter, when the Steelers managed Norm Johnson, narrowing the Dallas lead to 20-10. At that moment, Bill Cowher had a flash of genius.
He elected for an onside kick with 11:20 remaining in the game, catching the Cowboys napping and recovering the ball. This led to a Steelers touchdown, making it a Dallas 20-17 lead. It looked like the Steelers could upend Dallas for a third time in the big game. Then tragedy struck. With 4:08 remaining, O'Donnell threw his second interception to Larry Brown, leading to another Dallas touchdown, sealing the victory.
What changes would have occurred in Steelers history if the Steelers had mounted a comeback and won? Neil O'Donnell may stay as quarterback for the Steelers. Kordell 'Slash'' Stewart does not get his day in the spotlight. O'Donnell will likely remain through 1999, and likely Stewart will become the starting quarterback then. The Steelers never sign Mike Tomzack and Tommy Maddox. Worst of all, if Stewart starts later, it is possible that the Steelers will never draft Ben Roethlisberger. Mike Tomlin never has an 18-year streak of nonlosing seasons and no Superbowl title in 2008.
2) What if Franco and Rocky were not injured for the 1976 AFC Championship game?
This one is not hard to answer for all the questions on this list. However, it remains one that still sticks in the craw of Steelers fans. It gave the 1970s Raiders an aura of arrogance, not that they didn't already have one. They have been crying like babies over the Immaculate Reception for over 50 years now.
In 1976, the Steelers started 1-4, a situation that was hard to fathom. However, they didn't let this early setback deter them. After a loss to Cleveland, Jack Lambert's question in the locker room, 'What the heck is going on here?' (probably with more colorful language though), became a turning point. Whatever the issue was, Lambert and the team were determined to fix it. Their efforts led to the most unrivaled defensive streak in NFL history. They had five shoutouts from week 5 through week 14 and didn't allow a touchdown in seven games.
On the flip side, Terry Bradshaw suffered another injury and was out for six games, leaving rookie Mike Kruczek to take the reigns, going 6-0 in Bradshaw's absence. However, Chuck Noll said to run the ball instead of leading a passing attack. By the end of the season, the Steelers amassed 2971 rushing yards. Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier had over 1000 yards apiece. Reggie Harrison had 235, Bradshaw had 219 in an abbreviated season, Kruzek had 106, Jack Deloplaine had 91, and Frenchy Fuqua had 63, all with 31 rushing touchdowns. Kruczek passed the ball with 51 completions for 758 yards and no touchdowns, impressive stats, offensively and defensively.
The result of such a heavy rushing attack is that Franco and Rocky were injured ahead of the AFC Championship, leaving both unable to play. Oakland lost to the Raiders and won its only championship of the decade.
What if Franco and Rocky both played? The Steelers need to pass the ball, but that doesn't happen. They move the ball on the ground, opening up a passing attack when required. The Raiders probably would only score 14 points with the Steelers having more sustained offensive drives. Although the Raiders players maintain their defense against the run, that wouldn't have happened. That's highly optimistic, considering they always managed to lose to the Steelers when they played at full strength.
If the Raiders lose, they never win a championship until 1980, when they drafted Marcus Allen. The Steelers may win a second Superbowl over the Vikings and have five titles in six seasons. When John Madden football debuts in 1988, developers rename Chuck Noll Football instead.
1) What if the Steelers draft Dan Marino in 1983?
After the 1970s ended all the Steelers greats slowly retired. One of them was Terry Bradshaw after his elbow injury in 1982. Knowing the Steelers might need a replacement, Chuck Noll opted to go with Mark Malone when he could have had one of the most dynamic passers of the 80s, Dan Marino.
Granted, in 1983, the Steelers still had Cliff Stoudt, who was a decent quarterback. However, he jumped ship to the USFL, and the Steelers were left with Mark Malone, who frankly was not that good for a number one draft choice.
With Dan Marino on the board in 1983 when the Steelers were on the clock, Noll opted for Gabe Rivera. While he could have been a great defensive end, we will never know. Tragically, his career was cut short when he suffered paralysis from a neck injury in his rookie season. This makes us wonder what would have happened if Noll had taken Marino.
The larger question is why Marino unexpectedly nosedived in the draft and eventually fell to the Dolphins. The alleged reason is a rumor of suspected drug use before the draft. Who leaked it and why has never been determined. It may have influenced Chuck Noll, though he has hinted at it without directly saying it.
In any event, it drastically changes the Steelers' decade in the 1980s. Mark Malone is never the starting quarterback. Marino has John Stallworth and Louis Lipps to throw touchdowns instead of the Marks Brothers. The Steelers may face the 49ers in the 1984 Superbowl, as the Dolphins would not make the playoffs in 1984. Perhaps it nudges Chuck Noll to migrate to using the shotgun formation earlier than he did.
Perhaps Marino does get a championship ring. It's also likely that under Chuck Noll, Marino led the Steelers to more playoff appearances and extended Noll's career well into the '90s. But then the Steelers never hired Bill Cowher, meaning they never hired Mike Tomlin. You guessed it, we never draft Ben Roethlisberger and do not draft Kenny Pickett. It would have reshaped the darkest age of Steelers football since the '60s.