Pittsburgh Steelers "Steel Curtain" defense crushes the Minnesota Vikings

for their 1st Super Bowl Championship

Super Bowl IX was played on January 12, 1975 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. The AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3-1) defeated the NFC champion Minnesota Vikings (12-5), 16–6, to win their first Super Bowl game.

This game matched two of the NFL's best defenses – Pittsburgh's “Steel Curtain” against the “Purple People Eaters” of Minnesota – and two legendary quarterbacks: Terry Bradshaw and Fran Tarkenton, respectively.

However, the Steelers dominated the game, recording the first safety in Super Bowl history, and limiting the Vikings to Super Bowl lows of nine first downs, 119 yards of total offense, and 17 rushing yards. The Steelers also tied Super Bowl records for the least rushing first downs allowed (2) and the least passing first downs allowed (5). Tarkenton was held to only 11 out of 26 completions for 102 passing yards, no touchdown passes, and tied a Super Bowl record with three interceptions. Furthermore, Pittsburgh became the second Super Bowl team to hold their opponents' offense scoreless; Minnesota's only score came on a blocked punt, and they did not even score on the extra point attempt. The Steelers accomplished all of this with two backups: linebackers Ed Bradley and Loren Toews replaced injured starters Andy Russell and Jack Lambert for most of the second half.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh had 333 yards of total offense. Steelers’ running back Franco Harris, who ran for a Super Bowl record 158 yards (more than the entire Minnesota offense) and a touchdown, was named the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player.

           #75 Hall of Famer “Mean” Joe Green       

“Mean” Joe Greene, the Minister of Defense, the meanest of the mean, a true terror to Offensive Linemen, Quarterbacks & Half Backs throughout the 1970s. Arguably the most dominant defensive lineman of his era and to this day, is still considered by many to be one of the best defensive lineman to ever play the game.  He was the leader and cornerstone of the famous “Steel Curtain” defense and played in 4 Super Bowls, victorious in all 4 of them. Here’s a short recap of his incredible 13 year career, 1969 - 1981.

In college Joe starred as a defensive lineman for the North Texas State University Mean Green (where his nickname came from) from 1966-68. While there, his team racked up an impressive 23-5-1 record. In 1969 he was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 4th pick of the NFL draft.  Joe was initially quite upset with being drafted by the Steelers, as they had a long history and tradition of losing. He had very little patience or tolerance for losing and had never been associated with losing before. It was his intense desire to win that motivated him to play hard and aggressively on every play.  As a natural leader, Joe set the example and standard for the level of commitment and effort it would take to turn the legacy of the Steelers franchise around.  Greene quickly became renowned as a dominant defensive star causing teams to employ double and even triple-team tactics against him.  He was quick, super strong, with a great motor and always played with tremendous intensity.  Some may have even said he had a bit of a mean streak, which he did.  Joe earned the NFL’s Rookie of the Year honors in 1969 in spite of playing for a horrible Steelers team that only won 1 game, ending the season at 1-13.  With Mean Joe Greene anchoring the defense, the losing ways of the old Steelers was about to change. The team quickly improved over the next few years through a series of future Hall of Fame laden drafts. The Steelers catapulted into the national spotlight, becoming the most dominant team of the 70’s and arguably of all time.  Joe, for his contributions to the great success of those 70’s Steelers teams is considered by many to have been the main cog on a team that won 4 Super Bowl Championships in the span of just 6 years.  Arguably, Mean Joe Greene is the most valuable player in the Pittsburgh Steelers history and with so many Hall of Famers to their credit, that’s saying something.

Joe Greene won the NFL defensive player of the year award 2 times, in 1972 & 1974.  He went to 10 pro bowls, was an 11 time All-Pro selection. He was named to both the NFL 1970’s All-decade team and the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time team. In 1976, on what was probably the greatest Defensive team in NFL history, the Steelers allowed just under10 pts a game, 138 in 14 games. They had a 9 game winning streak in which they recorded 5 shutouts & allowed only 28 points (3 pts per game) both of which are records. The Steel Curtain only allowed 2 TD’s to be scored against them in those 9 games.  He finished his career with 181 games played, 78.5 sacks & 16 fumble recoveries.  The sacks total may not look very unimpressive, but one must keep in mind that sacks were not an official stat until 1982.  By todyas standards, Joe would be an undersized defensive tackle but at 6’4 270 pounds back in those days, he was a very imposing figure to line up against, a true giant of the game.  Joe ehded his career, play all 13 years with the Steelers and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1987.

Of course, who can ever forget his most memorable off the field highlight, the famous Coca-Cola commercial which first aired on Sept 1 of 1979. In it, a young boy approaches Joe after a hard fought game, offers him a Coke and is rewarded when Joe thanks him with a smiles and then tosses him his game jersey. The commercial was listed as one of the top ten commercials of all time by TV guide magazine.  Many of us have fond memories of that commercial and the legendary Steelers of the 1970's.  It all started when the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Mean Joe Greene from a small Texas college in 1969. Thanks for the memories Joe. 

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