Steelers: How I Became A Citizen of Steeler Nation

I wasn’t born in Pittsburgh, or anywhere in Pennsylvania, nor have I ever been around that area, nor do I have relatives that are Steeler fans. I didn’t grow up on the Black & Gold. I was born and raised in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.

I grew up a Vikings fan and I’ll still watch their games from time to time. My hope for this is that you understand how I went from being a curious fan to being fully consumed by Steel.

If you know me personally, or just follow me on most social media outlets, you know I how passionate of a person I am. I make it clearly known what I like and what I don’t like. Football is one of things that I’m very passionate about, especially Steelers football. But first, let me start from the beginning.

I became curious about the Pittsburgh Steelers just a little after they lost to the Packers at Super Bowl 45. I only knew a little about them at this point. I knew Ben Roethlisberger was a pretty good quarterback and I knew their defense always had a reputation of being dominant.

I saw a franchise that was committed to winning and had a culture of winning. I saw a franchise that had a lot of success drafting well, a rich history, and a commitment to consistency. But I’ll be honest; the six Lombardi’s did play a small part in my curiosity of the Steelers.

Since I was a new Steelers fan, it felt like an eternity before the start of the 2011-2012 season. I probably watched the Ravens at Steelers divisional playoff game (from the 2010-2011 season) about 20 times. It never got boring to me. It felt new to me every time I watched it.

So I was ready for the Steelers to play the Ravens in week 1 of the 2011-2012 season. In that game the Ravens beat the Steelers 35-7. After that loss, I was upset, but I began to feel like the Steelers were becoming “my” team. I grew up around my grandpa yelling at the TV when he was watching sports.

He would yell at everything from the referee making a bad call to the announcer saying something stupid. I tend to do those exact same things, though I like to think I’ve calmed down in this area. It’s only sports, right? Anyways as the season went on, I would stress out over close games and loses. I would be ecstatic over dominating wins and clutch moments.

When I’m wearing Steelers gear, and I tell people I’m from Minnesota, they often have a confused look on their face. That confused look always gets followed up by this question, “So, why the Steelers?” I usually answer their question with, “It’s a long story. I have a unique connection to the Steelers.”

Well, this unique connection was formed around a very dark season in my life. During my initial curiosity of this team, I didn’t have a lot to be happy about. Most days it felt like my joy was sucked from me, along with my energy. So me learning about this franchise and watching Steelers games really helped me gain some of that joy back.

It was an escape for me in many ways. I could forget about all of the problems going on for 3 hours on a Sunday afternoon. The Steelers organization helped me without realizing it. That’s why I’m a very avid Steelers fan. I will live, and die with this team.

Aug 16, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor (24) lines up against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

The Steelers 2011-2012 season ended very unexpectedly. They lost to Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card game that year. I thought the Steelers defense was going to eat Tebow alive, but that didn’t happen. The Broncos won the game in OT with the first play from the line of scrimmage.

The Broncos were lined up in a running formation, but they went play action and Tebow threw it to Demaryius Thomas. He gave a few stiff arms to CB Ike Taylor, and he was gone. I couldn’t believe what I just witnessed. I was disappointed; I wanted to see the Steelers hoisting their 7th Lombardi. Although the Steelers lost that game, the Black & Gold in me never depleted.

The Steelers went 8-8 in the next two seasons, while giving up a combined 684 points. Since absorbing that awful playoff defeat to the Broncos, the Steelers had to take another blow; watching the Ravens win the Super Bowl. There’s nothing worse than seeing your bitter rival hoisting the Lombardi.

The Steelers started 0-4 the next season, losing to all beatable teams. Although they started so poorly, they nearly made the playoffs, which I think speaks volumes to what kind of coaching staff the Steelers have.

The 2014-2015 went a little better for the Steelers. They finished the season 11-5, won the AFC North, Le’Veon Bell had a breakout year, Antonio Brown looked like the top receiver in the league, and Ben Roethlisberger had two back-to-back games where he threw 6 touchdowns, and passed for over 500 yards. He finished the season with 4952 passing yards (career high), 32 touchdowns and only 9 interceptions (career best).

As I said before, I am a very passionate person. I like to post what I’m passionate about, and the Steelers are one of the things that I’m passionate about. In my first full season as a Steelers fan, they lost to Tim Tebow in the first-round of the playoffs. Tebow passed at will against a defense with a history of dominance.

Tebow completed 19 of his 47 pass attempts; he passed for 452 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions. The Steelers finished 8-8 in the next two seasons and failed to make the playoffs. The following season went better but the Steelers laid an egg against the Ravens in the first-round of the playoffs.

Did I mention that game was in Pittsburgh? The entire game was a train wreck for the Steelers, and just when things couldn’t get any worse, Ravens LB Terrell Suggs picks off Big Ben with his legs… you read that right. Ben’s pass was tipped, and as Suggs was falling down, the ball fell in between his legs.

The Steelers lost the game 30-17. I walked away from that game still a fan, but I was already looking forward to the next season of Steelers football. Most days, you’ll see me wearing a piece of Steelers gear. I talk about this team more than people want to hear.

So, that’s why I get a little offended when someone calls me a “bandwagon fan”. I think some people underestimate me; I know more than I lead on. Now, let me be clear, I don’t know everything about this team, but I’m getting closer.

Over 4 years ago, I was a guy curious about one of the best franchises in the NFL. Now, I am a full-blown citizen of Steeler Nation. When I watch the Steelers play, I feel like they’re “my” team. I’m so consumed by them now that I feel like I was born in the “Burgh”.

Every time I see a fellow Steelers fan, I have to stop and say, “Hi!” Steeler Nation is so broad and wide, more than any other fan base I’ve ever seen. I’m so happy that Minnesota has such a large population of Steeler fans. Some days, I’ll see more people wearing Steelers gear than Vikings gear.

I questioned it for a while, but then I figured out that Steeler fans are extremely passionate, and are everywhere.

That is my story. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Here we go, Steelers! Here we go!

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