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Why the Steelers of 2022 resemble the Steelers of the ’80s

By Michelle Kotts

Dec 13, 1986; E. Rutherford, NJ, USA; FILE PHOTO; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mark Malone (16) in action against the New York Jets at Giants Stadium. The Steelers defeated the Jets 45-24. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 1986; E. Rutherford, NJ, USA; FILE PHOTO; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mark Malone (16) in action against the New York Jets at Giants Stadium. The Steelers defeated the Jets 45-24. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports /
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Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Steelers coach Bill Cowher Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) 2006 Jason Bridge
Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Steelers coach Bill Cowher Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) 2006 Jason Bridge /

Steelers 1992-2007

In 1992 Bill Cowher began rebuilding the Steelers. Given how badly the Steelers as a team had decayed throughout the 80s, that was a daunting task at best. Nonetheless, Cowher did just that.

That April, Cowher drafted Leon Searcy and Levon Kirkland. The following year in 1993, he added Andre Hastings and Chad Brown. He then added Jason Gilden in 1994 and Mark Bruener, Kordell Stewart, and Brendan Stai in 1995. Just like that, the Steelers were no pushover.

The Steelers made a Superbowl appearance in 1995, their first since 1979. While they didn’t win, Cowher went back to the drawing board, and ok, yes, it might have taken him almost a decade, but 9 years later found the final piece of his puzzle, allowing him to win a title and that missing piece was Ben Roethlisberger.

Perhaps after finding Roethlisberger, who knows where Pittsburgh could have gone under Cowher. Whether he could have had his own dynasty. He retired and handed the team off to Coach Mike Tomlin. They then one another title in 2008 and had another appearance in 2010.

Cowher rebuilt the Steelers and finally won a title for the Steelers for the first time in 25 years; Coach Cowher moved on. The Steelers found another bright young head coach Mike Tomlin. Initially, he started off great, winning a title of his own, and had a team with a lot of talent. We had hopes that the Steelers, with Ben Rothlisberger at the helm, would win as many titles as Terry Bradshaw and company.

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