Pittsburgh Steelers 40th US football season
1972 Pittsburgh Steelers season |
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Owner | Art Rooney |
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Head coach | Chuck Noll |
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Home field | Three Rivers Stadium |
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Results |
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Record | 11–3 |
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Division place | 1st AFC Central |
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Playoff finish | Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Raiders) 13–7 Lost AFC Championship (vs. Dolphins) 17–21 |
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Pro Bowlers | - LB Henry Davis
- PK Roy Gerela
- DT Joe Greene
- RB Franco Harris
- LB Andy Russell
- DE Dwight White
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AP All-Pros | - Joe Greene (1st team)
- Roy Gerela (2nd team)
- Franco Harris (2nd team)
- Andy Russell (2nd team)
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Team MVP | Franco Harris |
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The 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 40th in the National Football League.
Pittsburgh finished with an 11–3 record in 1972, their first winning season in 9 years (1963), and won their first-ever AFC Central Division title. It was the Steelers' third-ever postseason appearance, first in ten seasons (the Playoff Bowl for third place in the league), and only its second playoff game since 1947. This season is famous for the Immaculate Reception, where the Steelers beat the Oakland Raiders 13–7 in the playoffs on a last second touchdown by rookie running back Franco Harris. But the momentum would not be enough to beat the Dolphins in the AFC Championship despite a strong season.
The rebuilding of the franchise that began in 1969 with the hiring of head coach Chuck Noll finally came to fruition in his fourth year. After winning only once in that first season, the Steelers then showed steady improvement. They broke through in 1972 and made the playoffs for the first time since 1947; their three losses were by a combined eleven points. The division title was the first in team history, as was the appearance in the AFC Championship game which they lost to the undefeated Miami Dolphins 21–17. It was the first of eight consecutive playoff appearances for the Steelers that led to four Super Bowl championships.
Offseason
NFL draft
[1]
Roster
1972 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster |
| Quarterbacks Running backs Wide receivers Tight ends | | Offensive linemen Defensive linemen | | Linebackers Defensive backs Special teams - Head coach
- Assistant coaches
| | Rookies in italics |
- Source:[2]
Depth chart
Defense 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers roster | FS | 49 Ralph Anderson | 27 Glen Edwards | ⋅ | | | | | | | | | Offense 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers roster | WR | 43 Frank Lewis | 31 Al Young | ⋅ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Staff
•Lionel Taylor - Receiver Coach
•Charlie Sumner - Linebacker Coach
• - Quarterback Coach
•Dick Hoak – Defensive backfield coach
•Bud Carson – Defensive backfield coach
•Bob Fry – Offensive line coach
•Lou Riecke - Strength Coach
•George Perles – Defensive line coach
Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Oakland Raiders
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Raiders | 0 | 7 | 0 | 21 | 28 | • Steelers | 14 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 34 | - Date: Sunday, September 17
- Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. local
- Game attendance: 51,141
- Game weather: 72 F, wind 13 mph
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | | PIT | Henry Davis 5-yard blocked punt return (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 7–0 | | 1 | | PIT | Terry Bradshaw 20-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 14–0 | | 2 | | PIT | Roy Gerela 48-yard field goal | PIT 17–0 | | 2 | | OAK | Raymond Chester 26-yard pass from George Blanda (George Blanda kick) | PIT 17–7 | | 3 | | PIT | Roy Gerela 8-yard field goal | PIT 20–7 | | 3 | | PIT | Terry Bradshaw 2-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 27–7 | | 4 | | OAK | Mike Siani 24-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick) | PIT 27–14 | | 4 | | PIT | Ron Shanklin 57-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 34–14 | | 4 | | OAK | Don Highsmith 1-yard run (George Blanda kick) | PIT 34–21 | | 4 | | OAK | Mike Siani 70-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick) | PIT 34–28 | |
The Steelers were able to start off against the Raiders at home scoring 17 unanswered points (2TDs/PATs and a FG) and eventually ended up defeating the team by 6 for a 34–28 victory and a 1–0 start.
Week 2: at Cincinnati Bengals
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Steelers | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | • Bengals | 3 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 15 | |
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | | CIN | Horst Muhlmann 41-yard field goal | CIN 3–0 | | 2 | | PIT | Terry Bradshaw 12-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 7–3 | | 2 | | PIT | Roy Gerela 17-yard field goal | PIT 10–3 | | 3 | | CIN | Horst Muhlmann 32-yard field goal | PIT 10–6 | | 3 | | CIN | Horst Muhlmann 20-yard field goal | PIT 10–9 | | 4 | | CIN | Horst Muhlmann 32-yard field goal | CIN 12–10 | | 4 | | CIN | Horst Muhlmann 34-yard field goal | CIN 15–10 | |
Week 3: at St. Louis Cardinals
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Steelers | 3 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 25 | Cardinals | 0 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 19 | |
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | | PIT | Roy Gerela 17-yard field goal | PIT 3–0 | | 2 | | PIT | Roy Gerela 20-yard field goal | PIT 6–0 | | 2 | | STL | Jim Bakken 19-yard field goal | PIT 6–3 | | 2 | | PIT | Terry Bradshaw 1-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 13–3 | | 2 | | PIT | Safety, Donny Anderson tackled by Ralph Anderson in end zone | PIT 15–3 | | 2 | | STL | Jim Bakken 44-yard field goal | PIT 15–6 | | 3 | | STL | Donny Anderson 8-yard run (kick failed) | PIT 15–12 | | 3 | | PIT | Roy Gerela 15-yard field goal | PIT 18–12 | | 4 | | STL | Norm Thompson 8-yard blocked punt return (Jim Bakken kick) | STL 19–18 | | 4 | | PIT | Frank Lewis 38-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 25–19 | |
Week 4: at Dallas Cowboys
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Steelers | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 13 | • Cowboys | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 | |
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | | PIT | Roy Gerela 39-yard field goal | PIT 3–0 | | 1 | | DAL | Toni Fritsch 40-yard field goal | Tied 3–3 | | 1 | | PIT | Roy Gerela 39-yard field goal | PIT 6–3 | | 2 | | PIT | Mel Blount 35-yard fumble return (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 13–3 | | 2 | | DAL | Calvin Hill 1-yard run (Toni Fritsch kick) | PIT 13–10 | | 3 | | DAL | Ron Sellers 55-yard pass from Calvin Hill (Toni Fritsch kick) | DAL 17–13 | |
Week 5: vs. Houston Oilers
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Oilers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | • Steelers | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 24 | |
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Week 6: vs. New England Patriots
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Patriots | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | • Steelers | 10 | 7 | 13 | 3 | 33 | |
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | | PIT | Roy Gerela 19-yard field goal | PIT 3–0 | | 1 | | PIT | Jack Ham 32-yard interception return (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 10–0 | | 2 | | PIT | Ron Shanklin 30-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 17–0 | | 3 | | PIT | Roy Gerela 22-yard field goal | PIT 20–0 | | 3 | | NE | Charlie Gogolak 16-yard field goal | PIT 20–3 | | 3 | | PIT | Steve Davis 28-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 27–3 | | 3 | | PIT | Roy Gerela 35-yard field goal | PIT 30–3 | | 4 | | PIT | Roy Gerela 33-yard field goal | PIT 33–3 | |
Week 7: at Buffalo Bills
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Steelers | 0 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 38 | Bills | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 | - Date: Sunday, October 29
- Location: War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. local
- Game attendance: 45,882
- Game weather: 47 F, wind 10 mph
- Referee: Tommy Bell
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Scoring summary |
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| 2 | | PIT | Franco Harris 2-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 7–0 | | 2 | | PIT | Terry Bradshaw 2-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 14–0 | | 2 | | PIT | Roy Gerela 29-yard field goal | PIT 17–0 | | 3 | | BUF | O.J. Simpson 94-yard run (John Leypoldt kick) | PIT 17–7 | | 3 | | PIT | Franco Harris 18-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 24–7 | | 4 | | BUF | Bob Chandler 11-yard pass from Dennis Shaw (John Leypoldt kick) | PIT 24–14 | | 4 | | PIT | Franco Harris 17-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 31–14 | | 4 | | BUF | Bob Chandler 4-yard pass from Dennis Shaw (John Leypoldt kick) | PIT 31–21 | | 4 | | PIT | John Fuqua 4-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 38–21 | |
Week 8: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Bengals | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 17 | • Steelers | 10 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 40 | |
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | | PIT | John Fuqua 7-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 7–0 | | 1 | | PIT | Roy Gerela 15-yard field goal | PIT 10–0 | | 2 | | PIT | Roy Gerela 22-yard field goal | PIT 13–0 | | 2 | | PIT | Frank Lewis 28-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (kick failed) | PIT 19–0 | | 2 | | PIT | Larry Brown 13-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 26–0 | | 3 | | CIN | Virgil Carter 1-yard run (Horst Muhlmann kick) | PIT 26–7 | | 3 | | PIT | Frank Lewis 34-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 33–7 | | 3 | | CIN | Chip Myers 2-yard pass from Virgil Carter (Horst Muhlmann kick) | PIT 33–14 | | 4 | | PIT | Franco Harris 2-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 40–14 | | 4 | | CIN | Horst Muhlmann 37-yard field goal | PIT 40–17 | |
Week 9: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | • Steelers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 16 | - Date: Sunday, November 12
- Location: Three Rivers Stadium
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. local
- Game attendance: 54,476
- Referee: Jim Tunney
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Scoring drives:
- Kansas City – Kearney 65 interception return (Stenerud kick) – Chiefs 7–0
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 25 – Chiefs 7–3
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 10 – Chiefs 7–6
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 49 – Steelers 9–7
- Pittsburgh – Harris 7 run (Gerela kick) – Steelers 16–7
Week 10: Cleveland Browns
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Steelers | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 | • Browns | 10 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 26 | |
Scoring drives:
Week 11: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings (6–4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7–3)
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Vikings | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
Steelers | 7 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 23 |
at Three Rivers Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: Sunday, November 26
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 38 °F (3 °C) • Wind 18 miles per hour (29 km/h; 16 kn)
- Game attendance: 50,348
- TV announcers (CBS): Jack Drees, George Connor, and Andy Musser
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 12: vs. Cleveland Browns
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Browns | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | • Steelers | 3 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 30 | - Date: Sunday, December 3
- Location: Three Rivers Stadium
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. local
- Game attendance: 50,350
- Game weather: 44 F, wind 14 mph
- Referee: Tommy Bell
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Franco Harris breaks Jim Brown's record for consecutive 100 yd games.
Scoring drives:
Week 13: at Houston Oilers
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Steelers | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 | Oilers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | - Date: Sunday, December 10
- Location: Houston Astrodome
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. local
- Game attendance: 36,528
- Referee: John McDonough
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Scoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 24 – Steelers 3–0
- Houston – FG Butler 34 – Tie 3–3
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 39 – Steelers 6–3
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 13 – Steelers 9–3
Steelers clinch their 1st playoff berth.
Week 14: San Diego Chargers
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Steelers | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 24 | Chargers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - Date: Sunday, December 17
- Location: San Diego Stadium
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. local
- Game weather: 60 F, wind 6 mph
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
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The Pittsburgh Steelers clinched their first AFC Central Division title. The day before the game Frank Sinatra is inducted into Franco's Italian Army.
Scoring drives:
Standings
Postseason
Game summaries
AFC Divisional: vs. Oakland Raiders
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Raiders | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | • Steelers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 13 | |
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AFC Championship: vs. Miami Dolphins
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Dolphins | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | Steelers | 7 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 17 | |
References
- ^ Football Database – 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers Draft. Retrieved 2014-Feb-10.
- ^ "Steelers numbers". Pittsburgh Press. October 22, 1972. p. D9.
External links
- 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers season at Profootballreference.com
- 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers season statistics at jt-sw.com
Pittsburgh Steelers seasons |
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Formerly the Pittsburgh Pirates (1933–1939) |
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Pittsburgh Steelers |
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- Founded in 1933
- Formerly the Pittsburgh Pirates (1933–1939)
- Based and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Franchise | |
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Stadiums | |
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Culture | |
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Lore | |
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Rivalries | |
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Media | |
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Division championships (24) | |
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Conference championships (8) | |
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League championships (6) | |
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Retired numbers | |
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Hall of Fame members | |
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Current league affiliations | |
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