1974 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Offseason

NFL Draft

In the 1974 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Steelers are the only team in NFL history to select four Pro Football Hall of Fame players in the same draft (Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, and Mike Webster).

• Round 1: Lynn Swann, USC
• Round 2: Jack Lambert, Kent State
• Round 4: John Stallworth, Alabama A&M
• Round 4: Jimmy Allen, UCLA
• Round 5: Mike Webster, Wisconsin
• Round 6: Jim Wolf, Prairie View A&M
• Round 6: Rick Druschel, North Carolina State
• Round 7: Allen Sitterle, North Carolina State
• Round 8: Mark Gefert, Purdue
• Round 9: Tommy Reamon, Missouri
• Round 9: Charlie Davis, TCU
• Round 10: Jim Kregel, Ohio State
• Round 10: Dave Atkinson, BYU
• Round 11: Dickey Morton, Arkansas
• Round 12: Hugh Lickiss, Simpson
• Round 13: Frank Kolch, Eastern Michigan
• Round 14: Bruce Henley, Rice
• Round 15: Larry Hunt, Iowa State
• Round 16: Octavus Morgan, Illinois
• Round 17: Larry Moore, Angelo State

Preseason

Schedule

Game summaries

Regular season

Schedule

Game summaries

Week 1 (Sunday September 15, 1974): Baltimore Colts

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather: Scattered clouds, 63 degrees
• Game attendance: 48,890
• Referee: Gordon McCarter
• TV announcers:

Game summary

• Top Passer: Joe Gilliam (PIT): 257 Yds
• Top Rusher: Franco Harris (PIT): 49 Yds
• Top Receiver: Lynn Swann (PIT): 94 Yds

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 31 3–0
• Pittsburgh – Swann 54 pass from Gilliam (kick failed)9–0
• Pittsburgh – Lewis 4 pass from Gilliam (Gerela kick)16–0
• Pittsburgh – Harris 4 run (Gerela kick)23–0
• Pittsburgh – Fuqua 4 run (Gerela kick)30–0

Week 2 (Sunday September 22, 1974): Denver Broncos

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 50,858
• Referee: Tommy Bell
• TV announcers:

Game summary

• Top Passer: Joe Gilliam (PIT) 348Yds
• Top Rusher: Otis Armstrong (DEN) 131Yds
• Top Receiver: Otis Armstrong (DEN) 86Yds

Scoring Drives:

• Denver – Armstrong 45 pass from Johnson (Turner kick)0–7
• Pittsburgh – Davis 61 pass from Gilliam (Gerela kick)7–7
• Denver – Moses 7 pass from Johnson (Turner kick)7–14
• Denver – Keyworth 1 run (Turner kick)7–21
• Pittsburgh – Gilliam 1 run (Gerela kick)14–21
• Pittsburgh – Davis 1 run (Gerela kick)21–21
• Denver – Odoms 3 pass from Ramsey (Turner kick)21–28
• Pittsburgh – Davis 1 run (Gerela kick)28–28
• Pittsburgh – Fuqua 1 run (Gerela kick)35–28
• Denver – Armstrong 23 pass from Ramsey (Turner kick)35–35

Week 3 (Sunday September 29, 1974): Oakland Raiders

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather: Overcast, 61 degrees
• Game attendance: 48,304
• Referee: Pat Haggerty
• TV announcers:

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Oakland – Stabler 1 run (Blanda kick)0–7
• Oakland – Branch 19 pass from Stabler (Blanda kick)0–14
• Oakland – FG Blanda 35 0–17

Week 4 (Sunday October 6, 1974): Houston Oilers

at the Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 30,049
• Referee: Bob Frederic
• TV announcers:

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Houston – B. Johnson 47 run (Butler kick)0–7
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 37 3–7
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 27 6–7
• Pittsburgh – Pearson 9 run (Gerela kick)13–7

Week 5 (Sunday October 13, 1974): Kansas City Chiefs

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 65,517
• Referee: Bernie Ulman
• TV announcers:

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Kansas City – FG Stenerud 31 0–3
• Pittsburgh – Bleier 2 run (Gerela kick) 7–3
• Kansas City – Pearson 13 pass from Livingston (Stenerud kick)7–10
• Pittsburgh – Pearson 3 run (Gerela kick)14–10
• Pittsburgh – Edwards 49 interception return (Gerela kick)21–10
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 32 24–10
• Kansas City – Taylor 10 pass from Livingston (Stenerud kick)24–17
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 45 27–17
• Pittsburgh – Lewis 31 pass from Gilliam (Gerela kick) 34–17
• Kansas City – Wright 13 pass from Livingston (Stenerud kick)34–24

Week 6 (Sunday October 20, 1974): Cleveland Browns

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather: Mostly cloudy, 41 degrees
• Game attendance: 48,100
• Referee: Ben Dreith
• TV announcers:

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Pearson 6 run (Gerela kick)7–0
• Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run (Gerela kick)14–0
• Cleveland – Phipps 18 run (Cockroft kick)14–7
• Cleveland – Morin 9 pass from Phipps (kick blocked)14–13
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 31 17–13
• Cleveland – FG Cockroft 21 17–16
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 26 20–16

Week 7 (Monday October 28, 1974): Atlanta Falcons

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather: Smoke, 58 degrees
• Game attendance: 48,094
• Referee: Jim Tunney
• TV announcers:

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Bleier 10 run (Gerela kick)7–0
• Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 1 run (Gerela kick)14–0
• Atlanta – Dodd 9 pass from Lee (Mike-Mayer kick)14–7
• Atlanta – Burrow 24 pass from Lee (Mike-Mayer kick)14–14
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 33 17–14
• Pittsburgh – Harris 7 run (Gerela kick)24–14
• Atlanta – FG Mike-Mayer 32 24–17

Week 8 (Sunday November 3, 1974): Philadelphia Eagles

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather: Light rain showers, fog, 62 degrees
• Game attendance: 47,996
• Referee: Tommy Bell
• TV announcers:

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Lewis 8 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)7–0
• Pittsburgh – Harris 5 run (Gerela kick)14–0
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 35 17–0
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 28 20–0
• Pittsburgh – Blount 52 interception return (Gerela kick)27–0

Week 9 (Sunday November 10, 1974): Cincinnati Bengals

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 57,532
• Referee: Norm Schachter
• TV announcers:

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Cincinnati – Williams 2 run (Muhlmann kick)0–7
• Cincinnati – FG Muhlmann 30 0–10
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 24 3–10
• Cincinnati – Williams 1 run (Muhlmann kick)3–17
• Pittsburgh – Pearson 1 run (Gerela kick)10–17

Week 10 (Sunday November 17, 1974): Cleveland Browns

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 77,195
• Referee: Fred Silva
• TV announcers:

Game summary

This was the Pittsburgh Steelers' first win in Cleveland since 1964.

Scoring Drives:

• Cleveland – FG Cockroft 44 0–3
• Pittsburgh – Shanklin 28 pass from Hanratty (Gerela kick)7–3
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 32 10–3
• Cleveland – FG Cockroft 35 10–6
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 32 13–6
• Cleveland – Green 36 interception return (Cockroft kick)13–13
• Cleveland – FG Cockroft 18 13–16
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 23 16–16
• Pittsburgh – Thomas 14 fumble recovery return (Gerela kick) 23–16
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 22 26–16

Week 11 (Monday November 25, 1974 Week 11 ): New Orleans Saints

at Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 69,010
• Referee: Ben Dreith
• TV announcers:

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Lewis 31 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) 7–0
• Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 18 run (Gerela kick)14–0
• Pittsburgh – Swann 64 punt return (Gerela kick)21–0
• New Orleans – Seal 10 pass from Scott (McClard kick)21–7
• Pittsburgh – Brown 1 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)28–7

Week 12 (Sunday December 1, 1974): Houston Oilers

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather: Overcast, 37 degrees
• Game attendance: 41,195
• Referee: Dick Jorgensen
• TV announcers:

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 44 3–0
• Houston – Willis 6 pass from Pastorini (Butler kick) 7–3
• Pittsburgh – Harris 31 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)10–7
• Houston – FG Butler 42 10–10
• Houston – FG Butler 34 10–13

Week 13 (Sunday December 8, 1974): New England Patriots

at Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 52,107
• Referee: Jim Tunney
• TV announcers:

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• New England – Herron 17 pass from Plunkett (Smith kick)0–7
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 40 3–7
• Pittsburgh – Harris 2 run (kick blocked) 9–7
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 27 12–7
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 20 15–7
• New England – FG Smith 20 15–10
• Pittsburgh – Swann 7 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) 22–10
• Pittsburgh – Safety, Greenwood tackled Plunkett in end zone 24–10
• New England – Herron 5 run (Smith kick)24–17

Week 14 (Saturday December 14, 1974): Cincinnati Bengals

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather: Drizzle, 38 degrees
• Game attendance: 42,878
• Referee: Bernie Ulman
• TV announcers:

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Stallworth 5 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)7–0
• Pittsburgh – Mullins 7 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)14–0
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 26 17–0
• Cincinnati – FG Muhlmann 32 17–3
• Pittsburgh – Harris on 1 run (Gerela kick)24–3
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 42 27–3

Standings

Postseason

Schedule

Game summaries

AFC Divisional Playoff (Sunday December 22, 1974): vs. Buffalo Bills

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 12:30 pm EST
• Game weather: Light snow showers, 34 degrees
• Game attendance: 48,321
• Referee: Norm Schachter
• TV announcers: (NBC)

Game summary

O. J. Simpson was held to 49 yds. rushing.It was the only playoff game of O.J.'s career

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 21 PIT 3–0
• Buffalo – Seymour 22 pass from Ferguson (Leypoldt kick) BUF 7–3
• Pittsburgh – Bleier 27 pass from Bradshaw (kick blocked) PIT 9–7
• Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run (Gerela kick) PIT 16–7
• Pittsburgh – Harris 4 run (kick blocked) PIT 22–7
• Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run (Gerela kick) PIT 29–7
• Buffalo – Simpson 3 pass from Ferguson (Leypoldt kick) PIT 29–14
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 22 PIT 32–14

AFC Championship (Sunday December 29, 1974): at Oakland Raiders

at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

• Game time: 4:00 pm EST
• Game weather: Partly cloudy, 53 degrees
• Game attendance: 53,515
• Referee: Jim Tunney
• TV announcers: (NBC) Curt Gowdy (play by play), Al DeRogatis & Don Meredith (color commentators)

Game Summary

The Oakland Raiders were held to 29 yds. rushing by the new "stunt 4–3" defense . Franco Harris ran for 111 yds rushing and two touchdowns and Rocky Blier ran for 98 yds.

Scoring Drives:

• Oakland – FG Blanda 40 OAK 3–0
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 23 3–3
• Oakland – Branch 38 pass from Stabler (Blanda kick) OAK 10–3
• Pittsburgh – Harris 8 run (Gerela kick) 10–10
• Pittsburgh – Swann 6 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) PIT 17–10
• Oakland – FG Blanda 24 PIT 17–13
• Pittsburgh – Harris 21 run (Gerela kick) PIT 24–13

Super Bowl IX (Sunday January 12, 1975): vs. Minnesota Vikings

at Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana

• Game time: 3:00 pm EST
• Game weather: Overcast, 46 degrees
• Game attendance: 80,997
• Referee: Bernie Ulman
• TV announcers: (NBC) Curt Gowdy (play by play), Al DeRogatis & Don Meredith (color commentators)

Game summary

Minnesota was held to 17 yds rushing and threw three interceptions. Franco Harris was named MVP running for 158 yds and a touchdown. This was the first of four Super Bowl championships for the Steelers and their core players of that era from 1974 – 1980.

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Safety: Dwight White downed Fran Tarkenton in end zone 2–0 PIT
• Pittsburgh – TD: Franco Harris 9 yard run (Roy Gerela kick) 9–0 PIT
• Minnesota – TD: Terry Brown recovered blocked punt in end zone (kick failed) 9–6 PIT
• Pittsburgh – TD: Larry Brown 4 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick) 16–6 PIT

Awards, Honors and Records

• Joe Greene, National Football League Defensive Player of the Year Award
• Franco Harris, Super Bowl Most Valuable Player

References