Iconic Retired Steelers Coach Dies At 82
Chuck Noll, the legendary Pittsburg Steelers coach who won four Super Bowls, died Friday night at his home in Pittsburgh. Noll was 82, and according to the medical examiner in Allegheny County, he died of natural causes.
Noll coached the Steelers from 1969 until 1991 and had a 209 -156 – 1 record, which includes the postseason. He was previously an assistant coach of both Don Shula and Sid Gillman. His hiring of being the Steelers’ coach helped create the path for their success.
Four Super Bowl titles were won between 1975 and 1980, making him just as respected as the team that had superstars like Franco Harris and “Mean” Joe Greene.
According to Art Rooney Jr., the oldest boy of Steelers founder Art Rooney Sr., Chuck Noll was the best thing that occurred with the Roooneys since they left Ireland on the boat.
1993, just two years after he retired, Noll was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In recent times, Noll suffered with a number of health problems, splitting his time between Florida and Pittsburgh suburban town Sewickley.
He is still listed in the Steelers’ directory as an administration advisor, even when his health suffered and he was unable to work for the team.
Although he shied away from the public eye after he retired in 1991, his name reverberates throughout Pennsylvania. The St. Vincent College football field is named after Noll – this is where the Steelers hold their training camps since 1966.
Before becoming coach of the Steelers at 34 years of age, he was the Baltimore Colts’ defensive coordinator. The job was initially offered to Joe Paterno, who decided to stick with Penn State.
In his first season, the Steelers were 1-13. However, two draft picks in both 1969 and 1970 proved fruitful for the team. In 1972, the team won the first ever-playoff game against the Oakland Raiders, 13-7. It was two seasons later that saw the Steelers win the first of four Super Bowls. The streak ended in 1976 due to injuries of star players.
When Noll retired in 1991, he focused his attention on interests that did not relate to football.
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