This was the first of six consecutive AFC Central division titles for the Steelers, and the first of four Super Bowl championships in the same time period.
The Steelers also made history by playing in the NFL's first-ever regular season overtime game, the league having introduced a 15-minute sudden-death period to break ties.
As of 2014, the 1974 Steelers are the only team in NFL history to select four Hall of Fame players in one single draft.
After the first two regular season games, the Steelers had scored a total of 65 points and were 1–0–1, but then lost to the Oakland Raiders at home.
The offense was struggling, but the Steelers had won those tough games behind the still-maturing Steel Curtain defense.
A win over the Patriots would clinch the AFC Central division title for the Steelers and put them in the playoffs for the third straight year.
Sports Illustrated's Dan Jenkins wrote that Pittsburgh was "the only team to reach the playoffs without a quarterback".
After many exchanges of punts, the Steelers finally scored a safety on a bobbled handoff by Viking quarterback Fran Tarkenton.
After the MVP performance by running back Franco Harris (34 carries for a then-Super Bowl-record 158 yards and a touchdown), the Steelers came away with a 16–6 victory.
Running backs (RB) Wide receivers (WR) Tight ends (TE) Defensive linemen (DL) Defensive backs (DB) Special teams [3] [4] [5] Reserve at Three Rivers Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania In week 1, the Steelers started #17 Joe Gilliam as he completed 17 of his 31 passes for 257 yards, 2 TDs, and an interception.
Gilliam became the first African-American quarterback in league history to play in a game as the designated opening-day starter.
at Mile High Stadium • Denver, Colorado In week 2, the Steelers were carried to a 35–35 OT tie with #32 Franco Harris' running game and #17 Joe Gilliam's 348 passing yards.
In week 1, the Steelers started #17 Joe Gilliam as he completed 17 of his 31 passes for 257 yards, 2 TDs, and an interception.
Gilliam became the first African-American quarterback in league history to play in a game as the designated opening-day starter.
In week 2, the Steelers were carried to a 35–35 OT tie with #32 Franco Harris' running game and #17 Joe Gilliam's 348 passing yards.
Damp and dark weather hung over the stadium and Terry Bradshaw's relief of Gilliam with a little under 2 minutes left in the game drew cheers from remaining fans.
Runningbacks #32 Franco Harris and #20 Rocky Bleier combined for over 200 yards rushing as the Steelers rolled to a 24–17 win.
Cleveland quarterback Brian Sipe collided with Billy Lefear on the handoff and the ball squirted loose.
Earlier in the game, Greene intercepted Sipe and rumbled down to the 14, setting up a Roy Gerela field goal.
#32 Franco Harris ran for 156 yards and the defense forced 6 turnovers (overcoming 7 of their own) as the Steelers rallied to defeat the Browns and remain in first place in the AFC Central.
at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum • Oakland, California AFC Divisional: vs. Buffalo Bills at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania In this Divisional Round playoff game, the Steelers were described as the only team in the playoffs without a quarterback and were expected to lose at home to Buffalo.
After three weeks of solid performance by everyone, the Steelers were ready to rematch the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship Game.
Steelers stoic head coach Chuck Noll galvanized the team's spirit by making an unexpected comment.
Franco Harris ran for the final touchdown and sealed the first Super Bowl appearance in Steelers' history.
Despite the trip to the hospital, #78 Dwight White played and scored the first points in the defensive battle on the first safety in Super Bowl history.
The Vikings ran 20 times for 17 yards and #10 QB Fran Tarkenton completed just 11 of his 27 passes and threw three interceptions (1 to #75 Joe Greene though he didn't run very far).
#32 Franco Harris ran farther than anyone ever had in the Super Bowl to that point, setting a record with 158 yards rushing.
The Steelers became champions for the first time in their 42-year history when #12 Terry Bradshaw threw a strike to #87 Larry Brown for a TD.