1974 Steelers: The Dynasty Begins

2017 February -

1974 Steelers: The Dynasty Begins

1974 Topps football cards, Super Bowl IX

Few would have thought in the early 70s that the Pittsburgh Steelers would become the “Team Of The Decade.”  By 1974, the team really jelled, but not without some quarterback controversy.  Terry Bradshaw had been the starter since 1971 but he was not very good. He didn’t have to be because the Steelers were an outstanding running team with an absolutely stifling defense.  Nonetheless, the quarterback is positioned to be the defacto team leader, something that was lacking during the first half of the 1974 season.

Hopes were high after playoff appearances in 1972 & 1973 and because the 1974 season began with a perfect pre season record, Coach Noll started Joe Gilliam, who had out performed Bradshaw and Hanratty.  Gilliam soon found that the regular season was not as easy as pre season and he was yanked after game six and Bradshaw was reinstated.  The Steelers never looked back and the dynasty began to build.

This RetroCards set features many key Steelers: Lynn Swann, Rocky Bleier, John Kolb, Jack Lambert, Ernie Holmes, Mel Blount, John Gilliam, Jim Clack, Larry Brown, Mel Holmes, Sam Davis, Steve Furness, J.T. Thomas, Frank Lewis, Jim Allan, Ed Bradley, Chuck Noll, and a QB card featuring Gilliam, Terry Bradshaw, and Terry Hanratty.  Coming Soon.