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
| 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers draft
|
| Round
|
Pick
|
Player
|
Position
|
College
|
Notes
|
| 1
|
13
|
Franco Harris * †
|
RB
|
Penn State
|
|
| 2
|
38
|
Gordon Gravelle
|
OT
|
BYU
|
|
| 3
|
63
|
John McMakin
|
TE
|
Clemson
|
|
| 4
|
80
|
Lorenzo Brinkley
|
DB
|
Missouri
|
|
| 4
|
88
|
Ed Bradley
|
LB
|
Wake Forest
|
|
| 5
|
113
|
Steve Furness
|
DE
|
Rhode Island
|
|
| 6
|
143
|
Dennis Meyer
|
DB
|
Arkansas State
|
|
| 7
|
159
|
Joe Colquitt
|
DE
|
Kansas State
|
|
| 7
|
168
|
Robert Kelly
|
DB
|
Jackson State
|
|
| 8
|
193
|
Stahle Vincent
|
RB
|
Rice
|
|
| 9
|
217
|
Don Kelley
|
DB
|
Clemson
|
|
| 10
|
243
|
Bob Brown
|
DT
|
Tampa
|
|
| 11
|
273
|
Joe Gilliam
|
QB
|
Tennessee State
|
|
| 12
|
298
|
Ron Curl
|
OT
|
Michigan State
|
|
| 13
|
323
|
Ernie Messmer
|
OT
|
Villanova
|
|
| 14
|
348
|
Tommy Durrance
|
RB
|
Florida
|
|
| 15
|
368
|
John Hulecki
|
OG
|
UMass
|
|
| 15
|
373
|
Charles Harrington
|
OG
|
Wichita State
|
|
| 16
|
403
|
Nate Hawkins
|
WR
|
UNLV
|
|
| 17
|
428
|
Ron Linehan
|
LB
|
Idaho
|
|
| Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career
|
[1]
Personnel
Staff / Coaches
1972 Pittsburgh Steelers staff
|
|
Front office
- President – Arthur J. Rooney
- Vice president – John R. McGinley
- Vice president – Daniel M. Rooney
- Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
- Public relations director – Ed Kiely
- Traveling secretary – James A. Boston
- Controller – Robert P. Quinn
- Publicity director – Joe Gordon
- Ticket manager – Joseph H. Carr
- Director of player personnel – Dick Haley
- Assistant director of player personnel – Bill Nunn
- Director of professional scouting – V. Timothy Rooney
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
|
|
Defensive coaches
- Defensive coordinator – Bud Carson
- Defensive line – George Perles
- Defensive assistant – Woody Widenhofer
Strength and conditioning
- Strength – Louis Riecke
- Flexibility – Paul Uram
- Team physician, orthopedic – Dr. John Best
- Team Physician, M.D. – Dr. David S. Huber
- Team dentist – Dr. Robert Gray
- Trainer – Ralph Berlin
- Assistant trainer – Robert Milie
- Equipment manager – Anthony Parisi
- Field manager – Jack Hart
[2]
|
Roster
- Source:[3]
Depth chart
Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Oakland Raiders
| Team |
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
Scoring summary |
| 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
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers |
0 |
10 | 0 | 0 |
10 |
| • Bengals |
3 |
0 | 6 | 6 |
15 |
- Date: Sunday, September 24
- Location: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. local
- Game attendance: 54,292
- Game weather: 69 F, wind 9 mph
- Referee: Dick Jorgensen
Scoring summary |
| 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
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Steelers |
3 |
12 | 0 | 10 |
25 |
| Cardinals |
0 |
6 | 6 | 7 |
19 |
Scoring summary |
| 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
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers |
6 |
7 | 0 | 0 |
13 |
| • Cowboys |
3 |
7 | 7 | 0 |
17 |
- Date: Sunday, October 8
- Location: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. local
- Game attendance: 65,682
- Game weather: 68 F, wind 8 mph
- Referee: Ben Dreith
Scoring summary |
| 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
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Oilers |
7 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
7 |
| • Steelers |
0 |
10 | 7 | 7 |
24 |
- Date: Sunday, October 15
- Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh
- Game start: 4:00 p.m. local
- Game attendance: 42,929
- Game weather: 47 F, wind 14 mph
- Referee: Bernie Ulman
Scoring summary |
| 1 | | HOU | Ward Walsh recovered blocked punt in end zone (Skip Butler kick) | HOU 7–0 |
|
| 2 | | PIT | Roy Gerela 28-yard field goal | HOU 7–3 |
|
| 2 | | PIT | Franco Harris 1-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 10–7 |
|
| 3 | | PIT | Frank Lewis 11-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 17–7 |
|
| 4 | | PIT | Terry Bradshaw 8-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) | PIT 24–7 |
Week 6: vs. New England Patriots
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Patriots |
0 |
0 | 3 | 0 |
3 |
| • Steelers |
10 |
7 | 13 | 3 |
33 |
- Date: Sunday, October 22
- Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. local
- Game attendance: 46,081
- Game weather: 52 F, wind 9 mph
- Referee: Norm Schachter
Scoring summary |
| 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
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Steelers |
0 |
17 | 7 | 14 |
38 |
| Bills |
0 |
0 | 7 | 14 |
21 |
Scoring summary |
| 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
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bengals |
0 |
0 | 14 | 3 |
17 |
| • Steelers |
10 |
16 | 7 | 7 |
40 |
- Date: Sunday, November 5
- Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. local
- Game attendance: 50,350
- Game weather: 44 F, wind 10 mph
- Referee: Fred Silva
Scoring summary |
| 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
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs |
0 |
7 | 0 | 0 |
7 |
| • Steelers |
0 |
0 | 3 | 13 |
16 |
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
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers |
3 |
7 | 7 | 7 |
24 |
| • Browns |
10 |
10 | 3 | 3 |
26 |
- Date: Sunday, November 19
- Location: Cleveland Municipal Stadium
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. local
- Game attendance: 83,009
- Game weather: 37 F, wind 8 mph
- Referee: Dick Jorgensen
Scoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 39 – Steelers 3–0
- Cleveland – FG Cockroft 26 – Tie 3–3
- Cleveland – Phipps 1 run (Cockroft kick) – Browns 10–3
- Cleveland – FG Cockroft 38 – Browns 13–3
- Cleveland – Pitts 17 pass from Phipps (Cockroft kick) – Browns 20–3
- Pittsburgh – Mullins 3 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Browns 20–10
- Cleveland – FG Cockroft 12 – Browns 23–10
- Pittsburgh – Fuqua 1 run (Gerela kick) – Browns 23–17
- Pittsburgh – Harris 75 run (Gerela kick)- Steelers 24–23
- Cleveland – FG Cockroft 26 – Browns 26–24
Week 11: vs. Minnesota Vikings
| Scoring summary
|
| Quarter
|
Time
|
Drive
|
Team
|
Scoring information
|
Score
|
| Plays
|
Yards
|
TOP
|
MIN
|
PIT
|
| 1
|
|
|
|
|
Vikings
|
24-yard field goal by Fred Cox
|
3
|
0
|
| 1
|
|
|
|
|
Steelers
|
Franco Harris 12-yard touchdown run, Roy Gerela kick good
|
3
|
7
|
| 3
|
|
|
|
|
Steelers
|
17-yard field goal by Roy Gerela
|
3
|
10
|
| 4
|
|
|
|
|
Vikings
|
Stu Voigt 5-yard touchdown reception from Fran Tarkenton, Fred Cox kick good
|
10
|
10
|
| 4
|
|
|
|
|
Steelers
|
Terry Bradshaw 1-yard touchdown run, Roy Gerela kick no good (blocked)
|
10
|
16
|
| 4
|
|
|
|
|
Steelers
|
Frank Lewis 17-yard touchdown reception from Terry Bradshaw, Roy Gerela kick good
|
10
|
23
|
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
|
10
|
23
|
|
Week 12: vs. Cleveland Browns
| Team |
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
Franco Harris breaks Jim Brown's record for consecutive 100 yd games.
Scoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 19 – Steelers 3–0
- Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run (Gerela kick) – Steelers 10–0
- Pittsburgh – Harris 11 run (Gerela kick) – Steelers 17–0
- Pittsburgh – McMakin 78 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Steelers 24–0
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 44 – Steelers 27–0
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 37 – Steelers 30–0
Week 13: at Houston Oilers
| Team |
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
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
| Team |
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
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:
- Pittsburgh – Harris 7 yd run (Gerela kick) Steelers 7-0
- San Diego – Safety, Costa tackled Bradshaw in end zone – Steelers 7-2
- Pittsburgh – Fuqua 2 run (Gerela kick) – Steelers 14–2
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 24 – Steelers 17–2
- Pittsburgh – Shanklin 17 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Steelers 24–2
Standings
Postseason
Game summaries
AFC Divisional: vs. Oakland Raiders
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Raiders |
0 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
7 |
| • Steelers |
0 |
0 | 3 | 10 |
13 |
- Date: Saturday, December 23
- Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 50,327
- Game weather: 42°F, wind 6 mph
- Referee: Fred Swearingen
- TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis
AFC Championship: vs. Miami Dolphins
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Dolphins |
0 |
7 | 7 | 7 |
21 |
| Steelers |
7 |
0 | 3 | 7 |
17 |
- Date: Sunday, December 31
- Location: Three Rivers Stadium
- Game start: 12 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 50,845
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 58°F (wind 16 mph)
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis
References
Further reading
- Joe Tucker, Steelers Victory After Forty: The Inside Story of the Pittsburgh Steelers and How They Won the AFC Central Championship in 1972. New York: Exposition Press, 1973.
External links
Pittsburgh Steelers seasons |
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Formerly the Pittsburgh Pirates (1933–1939) |
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