Chuck Noll & Pittsburgh's Steel Curtain

“Pressure is something you feel when you don’t know what you’re doing.” – Chuck Noll

At 6’1” and 185 pounds, Chuck Noll wasn’t especially big or fast, nor did he play for a big-time college football program, instead playing in relative obscurity for the University of Dayton. Drafted in the 20th round in 1953 by the Cleveland Browns with the 239th overall pick, Noll managed to parlay his marginal skills into a seven-year NFL career during which his team won two league championships.

After his playing days were over, Noll served as an assistant coach with the LA/San Diego Chargers and the Baltimore Colts before landing the head coaching job with the lackluster Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969. The Steelers posted a franchise-worst 1-13 record that year, which gave them the first pick in the 1970 NFL draft. Noll wisely chose Louisiana Tech quarterback Terry Bradshaw, a future Hall of Famer who became a mainstay of the team for the next decade.

Following his dismal rookie season, Noll famously told his team, "The reason you've been losing is you're not any good. You're not fast enough, you're not strong enough, you're not quick enough, you're not smart enough. I'm going to have to get rid of most of you." True to his words, Noll cut all but 14 players on the roster, rebuilding the team almost from scratch.

With a core group of defensive greats like “Mean” Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, and Mel Blount, Pittsburgh’s “Steel Curtain” was soon dominating the league. Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, and John Stallworth led the air attack while Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier paced the ground game. Together, these supremely gifted athletes won four Super Bowls (IX, X, XIII, and XIV) in six years, guaranteeing Noll a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in 1993.

Yes, it’s true that Chuck Noll knew what he was doing as a coach, which may be why he was virtually immune to pressure in big-game situations. However, it sure didn’t hurt having so many all-time greats on his side of the ball.

In the same way, the best way for us to face life’s pressures isn’t by focusing on our own limited strength, but by leaning on the unlimited power of our Head Coach in heaven and following His “playcalling” to the tee.

Meanwhile, here are some final words of wisdom from Os Hillman about how God uses life’s pressures to make us more like Jesus…

“The famed Steinway piano must have its soundboard bent to excruciating limits and must remain in a room by itself for months as the bending forces it into the shape that will yield its remarkable sound. God never breaks the instruments He shapes and prepares. He loves you through the bending process. Allow Him to shape you into His instrument that plays beautiful music for His kingdom.”

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (BSB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President