Although considered a turning point in the team's history, the results were not immediate; after winning the season opener against the Detroit Lions, the Steelers lost every game afterwards to finish 1–13.
The Steelers became the first team in NFL history since the 1936 Philadelphia Eagles to win its season opener and lose every remaining game.
This feat would later be matched by the 2001 Carolina Panthers and the 2020 Jacksonville Jaguars, both teams won their season openers but went on to lose their remaining games.
In the 1969 offseason, the Steelers hired former defensive coordinator Chuck Noll from the Baltimore Colts days after his loss to the New York Jets in Super Bowl III.
"So Coach Noll's first meeting, I'll never forget the speech he gave," said Russell, who became a highly successful businessman after retiring from football in 1976.
[2] Although the Pittsburgh Steelers missed out on Heisman Trophy winner O. J. Simpson, Chuck Noll used the 1st Round pick wisely by drafting North Texas State Defensive tackle, Joe Greene.
The front page of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette the next morning had a headline posted Who's Joe Greene?, owing to his relative obscurity despite being named a consensus All-American selection his senior year.
Greene and Greenwood formed the core of the famed Steel Curtain defensive line and played their entire career as teammates, with both retiring at the end of the 1981 season.
Among the more notable undrafted free agents on the training camp roster was defensive lineman Ed O'Neill from Youngstown State.
Although he didn't make the team, O'Neill would go on to fame as an actor, most notably as Al Bundy on the TV series Married... with Children, which locally aired on WPGH-TV.
However, after losing three straight times, first at Philadelphia 41–27, then at home against the Cardinals 27–14, and at New York against the Giants 10–7, team morale plummeted.
With less than 7 minutes left to go in the 3rd Quarter, Steelers Quarterback Terry Hanratty was intercepted by Erich Barnes and then in the 4th by Walt Sumner.
at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Scoring Drives: The Steelers defense forced 5 turnovers and held the vaunted Packers running game to less than 100 yards.
[citation needed] at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Scoring Drives: Warren Bankston gained 96 yards while Roy Jefferson, going into the game as the NFL's leading receiver, was bottled up all day in double coverage.
[19] at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota Scoring Drives: For the third straight week, the Steelers were embarrassed and never in the game.
Joe Greene, the Steelers rookie (and future Hall of Famer) was thrown out of the game after losing his temper.
[21] at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Scoring Drives: The Steelers bounced back with an impressive effort against the powerhouse Cowboys at home.
Shiner hit Roy Jefferson on a long pass to the Dallas 20 yard line but the game ended.
[25] The Steelers did not return to New Orleans until 1974, when they defeated the Saints in the regular season, then ousted the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX seven weeks later.