Charles Henry Noll 1932-2014
Without the hiring of Chuck Noll in 1969, the Steelers would have stayed the “Same Old Steelers,” and probably remained the same as Cleveland and Cincinnati. Teams that have never won a Super Bowl.
When Chuck Noll became the team’s fifteenth head coach, he put them on the road to success. The Rooneys showed patience after his initial slow start, but they were rewarded with the unforeseen wealth of four Super Bowls in six years.
That was an achievement that could never be imagined and most likely will never be repeated.
The Emperor built his teams around the draft. He took the talent and moulded it into the power house that was a football team. The Steel Curtain broke many opponents’ hearts and the Steelers offense rolled over many an opponent’s optimism.
Chuck Noll brought a football dynasty to Pittsburgh. His first draft pick was Joe Greene and the following year he used his first selection on Terry Bradshaw. The foundations for a resolute defense with an exciting offense were being laid.
The Immaculate Reception playoff game in 1972 put down the marker for the rest of the decade. The Steelers were no longer losers. In four years, Chuck Noll had changed the mentality of the franchise. They were no longer prepared to make up the numbers of the NFL. There were in it to win.
His draft of 1974 was possibly the best draft of any NFL team. The final pieces of his vision were ready to be put in place and the road to the Super Bowl no longer a dream. The wide receivers were now there to complement the ground game with the Steel Curtain strengthened. The jigsaw was complete and the road to the Super Bowl was now open.
Chuck Noll symbolised the City of Champions that Pittsburgh became in the seventies. The city’s steel industry that was the backbone of its economy was in decline, but their football team gave it hope. The team’s success enabled the city to survive the gloom and become the vibrant Pittsburgh we all know and love.
Chuck Noll should not just be remembered for the four Lombardi trophies he brought to Three Rivers Stadium. We should reflect on what he brought to the city; hope, confidence and certainly pride.
Thank you Chuck, the father of Steeler Nation.
For Chuck Noll's first ten years with the Steelers, please click here>>>>
CHUCK NOLL IN THE UK
I met Chuck Noll once. It was in February 1993 when he visited the United Kingdom as part of the NFL's World Partnership Coaching Clinic held at Crystal Palace, London.
Mr. Noll's talk was both enthusiastic and informative. Anyone starting out as a coach in the U.K. would have found a lot of inspiration from his talk. I met him after his presentation and he signed a media guide for me, then another, then another, then another.
When the quizzical look on his face appeared, I did explain I used them as prizes for our club competitions.
