1972 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Pittsburgh Steelers 40th US football season August 2023 March 2026 Pittsburgh Steelers 1972 11–3 1st AFC Central Chuck Noll Art Rooney Three Rivers Stadium Won Divisional Playoffs(vs. Raiders) 13–7Lost AFC Championship(vs. Dolphins) 17–21 border:none; padding:0; 6 LB Henry Davis PK Roy Gerela DT Joe Greene RB Franco Harris LB Andy Russell DE Dwight White border:none; padding:0; 4 Joe Greene (1st team) Roy Gerela (2nd team) Franco Harris (2nd team) Andy Russell (2nd team) Franco Harris Steelers seasonsThe 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 1 13 Franco Harris RB Penn State yes yes yes 2 38 Gordon Gravelle OT BYU yes 3 63 John McMakin TE Clemson yes 4 80 Lorenzo Brinkley DB Missouri 4 88 Ed Bradley LB Wake Forest yes 5 113 Steve Furness DE Rhode Island yes 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 yes 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 Football Database – 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers Draft. Retrieved 2014-Feb-10. Personnel Staff / Coaches 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers #08214A white #EEC607 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 coach – Chuck Noll Offensive line – Bob Fry Offensive backfield – Dick Hoak Quarterbacks – Babe Parilli Receivers – Lionel Taylor Defensive coordinator – Bud Carson Defensive line – George Perles Defensive assistant – Woody Widenhofer 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 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide Roster 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers 40 7 5 12 Terry Bradshaw  5 Terry Hanratty 20 Rocky Bleier 35 Steve Davis running back 33 John Fuqua 32 Franco Harris y 26 Preston Pearson 43 Frank Lewis American football 25 Ronnie Shanklin 31 Al Young wide receiver 87 Larry Brown tight end, born 1949 89 John McMakin y 50 Jim Clack G/C 71 Gordon Gravelle T 77 Melvin Holmes G 55 Jon Kolb T 56 Ray Mansfield C 72 Gerry Mullins T/G 64 Steve Furness DT 75 Joe Greene DT 68 L. C. Greenwood DE 67 Craig Hanneman DE 63 Ernie Holmes DT 60 Ben McGee DT 78 Dwight White DE 38 Ed Bradley linebacker y OLB 53 Henry Davis American football MLB 59 Jack Ham OLB 34 Andy Russell American football OLB 61 Brian Stenger MLB 90 George Webster American football OLB 51 Chuck Winfrey OLB 49 Ralph Anderson defensive back SS 47 Mel Blount CB 29 John Dockery CB 27 Glen Edwards safety FS 48 John Rowser CB 23 Mike Wagner FS 10 Roy Gerela K 39 Bobby Walden P 85 Bob Adams American football TE IR 46 Warren Bankston RB IR 69 Ron Curl y T IR 17 Joe Gilliam QB IR -- Stahle Vincent y no RB IR 74 John Brown offensive tackle T 44 Lee Calland CB -- Milt Davis y no LB 57 Sam Davis American football G 41 Dennis Meyer y S 83 Barry Pearson y WR 66 Bruce Van Dyke G Source:https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ma4pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TlMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4282%2C2011037 Pittsburgh Press Steelers numbers October 22, 1972 D9 Depth chart Pro-Set 4-3 Yes No Yes 12 Terry Bradshaw 5 Terry Hanratty 17 Joe Gilliam 33 John Fuqua 20 Rocky Bleier 35 Steve Davis 32 Franco Harris 26 Preston Pearson 46 Warren Bankston 43 Frank Lewis 31 Al Young 25 Ron Shanklin 88 Dave L. Smith 89 John McMakin 87 Larry Brown 85 Bob Adams IR 55 Jon Kolb 71 Gordon Gravelle 57 Sam Davis 56 Ray Mansfield 50 Jim Clack 66 Bruce Van Dyke 77 Mel Holmes 72 Gerry Mullins 74 John Brown IR 34 Andy Russell 36 Chuck Winfrey 61 Brian Stenger ROLB 53 Henry Davis 38 Ed Bradley 59 Jack Ham 90 George Webster LOLB 49 Ralph Anderson 27 Glen Edwards 23 Mike Wagner 37 Chuck Beatty 48 John Rowser 29 John Dockery 47 Mel Blount 44 Lee Calland 78 Dwight White 67 Craig Hanneman 60 Ben McGee 63 Ernie Holmes 75 Joe Greene 64 Steve Furness 68 L. C. Greenwood 10 Roy Gerela 39 Bobby Walden 26 Preston Pearson 27 Glen Edwards 55 Jon Kolb 39 Bobby Walden 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers roster 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers roster 95 85 No Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue 1 September 17 Oakland Raiders W 34–28 1–0 Three Rivers Stadium 2 September 24 at Cincinnati Bengals L 10–15 1–1 Riverfront Stadium 3 October 1 at St. Louis Cardinals W 25–19 2–1 Busch Memorial Stadium 4 October 8 at Dallas Cowboys L 13–17 2–2 Texas Stadium 5 October 15 Houston Oilers W 24–7 3–2 Three Rivers Stadium 6 October 22 New England Patriots W 33–3 4–2 Three Rivers Stadium 7 October 29 at Buffalo Bills W 38–21 5–2 War Memorial Stadium 8 November 5 Cincinnati Bengals W 40–17 6–2 Three Rivers Stadium 9 November 12 Kansas City Chiefs W 16–7 7–2 Three Rivers Stadium 10 November 19 at Cleveland Browns L 24–26 7–3 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 11 November 26 Minnesota Vikings W 23–10 8–3 Three Rivers Stadium 12 December 3 Cleveland Browns W 30–0 9–3 Three Rivers Stadium 13 December 10 at Houston Oilers W 9–3 10–3 Astrodome 14 December 17 at San Diego Chargers W 24–2 11–3 San Diego Stadium Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Game summaries Week 1: vs. Oakland Raiders 1972 Oakland Raiders season Raiders 0 7 0 21 Steelers 14 3 10 7 Sunday, September 17 Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh 1:00 p.m. local 51,141 72 F, wind 13 mph Pat Haggerty References: yes 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 yes 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 1972 Cincinnati Bengals season Steelers 0 10 0 0 Bengals 3 0 6 6 Sunday, September 24 Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati 1:00 p.m. local 54,292 69 F, wind 9 mph Dick Jorgensen References: yes 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 yes Week 3: at St. Louis Cardinals 1972 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season Steelers 3 12 0 10 Cardinals 0 6 6 7 Sunday, October 1 Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri 1:00 p.m. local 49,140 58 F, wind 10 mph Fred Wyant References: yes 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 yes Week 4: at Dallas Cowboys 1972 Dallas Cowboys season Steelers 6 7 0 0 Cowboys 3 7 7 0 Sunday, October 8 Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas 1:00 p.m. local 65,682 68 F, wind 8 mph Ben Dreith References: yes 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 yes Week 5: vs. Houston Oilers 1972 Houston Oilers season Oilers 7 0 0 0 Steelers 0 10 7 7 Sunday, October 15 Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh 4:00 p.m. local 42,929 47 F, wind 14 mph Bernie Ulman References: yes 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 yes Week 6: vs. New England Patriots 1972 New England Patriots season Patriots 0 0 3 0 Steelers 10 7 13 3 Sunday, October 22 Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh 1:00 p.m. local 46,081 52 F, wind 9 mph Norm Schachter References: yes 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 yes Week 7: at Buffalo Bills 1972 Buffalo Bills season Steelers 0 17 7 14 Bills 0 0 7 14 Sunday, October 29 War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York 1:00 p.m. local 45,882 47 F, wind 10 mph Tommy Bell References: yes 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 yes Week 8: vs. Cincinnati Bengals Bengals 0 0 14 3 Steelers 10 16 7 7 Sunday, November 5 Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh 1:00 p.m. local 50,350 44 F, wind 10 mph Fred Silva References: yes 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 yes Week 9: vs. Kansas City Chiefs Chiefs 0 7 0 0 Steelers 0 0 3 13 Sunday, November 12 Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. local 54,476 Jim Tunney References: 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 Steelers 3 7 7 7 Browns 10 10 3 3 Sunday, November 19 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1:00 p.m. local 83,009 37 F, wind 8 mph Dick Jorgensen References: 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 1972 Minnesota Vikings season Pittsburgh Steelers 1972 2; text-align:center collapsed Minnesota Vikings (6–4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7–3) Sunday, November 26 1:00 p.m. EDT Vikings 3 0 0 7 Steelers 7 0 3 13 Three Rivers Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 50,348 38 F C • Wind 18 mph km/h knot CBS Jack Drees, George Connor, and Andy Musser Pro-Football-Reference.com Vikings Fran Tarkenton24/43, 235 Yds, TD, INT Oscar Reed16 Rush, 56 Yds Ed Marinaro9 Rec, 62 Yds Steelers Terry Bradshaw7/19, 93 Yds, TD, INT Franco Harris17 Rush, 128 Yds, TD Ron Shanklin2 Rec, 52 Yds MIN PIT collapsed 1 Vikings FG 24 Fred Cox 3 0 1 Steelers RushTD Franco Harris 12 good Roy Gerela run/pass good/failed/incomplete 3 7 3 Steelers FG 17 Roy Gerela 3 10 4 Vikings RecTD Stu Voigt Fran Tarkenton 5 good Fred Cox run/pass good/failed/incomplete 10 10 4 Steelers RushTD Terry Bradshaw 1 no good (blocked) Roy Gerela run/pass good/failed/incomplete 10 16 4 Steelers RecTD Frank Lewis Terry Bradshaw 17 good Roy Gerela run/pass good/failed/incomplete 10 23 10 23 Week 12: vs. Cleveland Browns Browns 0 0 0 0 Steelers 3 7 7 13 Sunday, December 3 Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. local 50,350 44 F, wind 14 mph Tommy Bell References: 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 Steelers 3 0 6 0 Oilers 0 3 0 0 Sunday, December 10 Houston Astrodome 1:00 p.m. local 36,528 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 Steelers 7 7 3 7 Chargers 2 0 0 0 Sunday, December 17 San Diego Stadium 1:00 p.m. local 60 F, wind 6 mph Pat Haggerty References: 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 The Immaculate Reception 1972 Oakland Raiders season Raiders 0 0 0 7 Steelers 0 0 3 10 Saturday, December 23 Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh 1:00 p.m. EST 50,327 42°F, wind 6 mph Fred Swearingen Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis NBC yes 3 PIT Roy Gerela 18-yard field goal PIT 3–0 4 PIT Roy Gerela 29-yard field goal PIT 6–0 4 OAK Ken Stabler 30-yard run (George Blanda kick) OAK 7–6 4 PIT Franco Harris 60-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Gerela kick) PIT 13–7 yes AFC Championship: vs. Miami Dolphins 1972 Miami Dolphins season Dolphins 0 7 7 7 Steelers 7 0 3 7 Sunday, December 31 Three Rivers Stadium 12 p.m. EST 50,845 Partly cloudy, 58°F (wind 16 mph) Ben Dreith Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis NBC PIT – Mullins recovered fumble in end zone (Gerela kick) PIT 7–0 MIA – Csonka 9 pass from Morrall (Yepremian kick) 7–7 PIT – FG Gerela 14 11:00 3rd PIT 10–7 MIA – Kiick 2 run (Yepremian kick) MIA 14–10 MIA – Kiick 3 run (Yepremian kick) MIA 21–10 PIT – Young 12 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) MIA 21–17 References 30em 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 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers season at Profootballreference.com 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers season statistics at jt-sw.com Category:Pittsburgh Steelers seasons Pittsburgh Steelers Category:AFC Central championship seasons Pittsburgh Steel