A look back at the Pittsburgh Steelers six Super Bowl rings
Recently, it was announced the 2024 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles will be receiving their Super Bowl rings in mid-July before the team reports to training camp to prepare for the 2025 season. When I heard the news, and saw images of the Eagles rings, I thought it would be a good time to go back and look at all six of the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl rings.
They’ve changed quite a bit from their first Super Bowl in 1975, to the latest championship in 2009. Let’s take a look…
Super Bowl IX
Steelers 16, Minnesota Vikings 6
Tulane Stadium
New Orleans, Louisiana
January 12, 1975; Attendance: 80,997
Super Bowl X
Steelers 21, Dallas Cowboys 17
Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
January 18, 1976; Attendance: 80,187
Super Bowl XIII
Steelers 35, Dallas Cowboys 31
Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
January 21, 1979; Attendance: 79,484
Super Bowl XIV
Steelers 31, Los Angeles Rams 19
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
January 20, 1980; Attendance: 103,985
Super Bowl XL
Steelers 21, Seattle Seahawks 10
Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
February 5, 2006; Attendance: 68,206
Super Bowl XLIII
Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
February 1, 2009; Attendance: 70,774
Of all the above rings, which one is your favorite? For me, no ring is better than the 2005 Super Bowl. The “one for the thumb” provided a beautiful ring which wasn’t too gawdy, but also had the look honoring the past Super Bowl titles getting a new member of the family. Outside of the 2005 ring, the team’s third Super Bowl, the 1979 victory, with the individual diamonds in the hypocycloids is also pretty tremendous.
But which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comment section below, and maybe the Steelers will be designing another one of these rings sooner rather than later! A man can dream…
In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for training camp in just a couple weeks.
Super Bowl XL was magical. I was 11 and got a white Big Ben jersey for my birthday that November because I already had a black Ward jersey and wanted one home/away. They made that road playoff run wearing the all whites. I wore that jersey all the time haha. The Bettis storyline was awesome. Cowher getting his ring was awesome. Ben being the youngest qb to ever win a Super Bowl was the start of a great career. Just such a fun team. All of the trick play were fun as well.
I was 7 when we won the last of the big 4 against the Rams. I was old enough to remember watching the game, but soo young to really be a “fan”. I suffered through Mr. Bounce Pass (All Pro Stache Malone), Stoudt, Brister, Tomczak, Miller, etc. All those years in the wilderness were ROUGH. I have similar feelings about 2005. It was the culmination of 25 years of suffering and near misses (Blitzburgh).
That’s awesome! There’s pros and cons to winning as a kid vs adult. I feel blessed to grow up with Ben at qb and getting to see his entire career. I feel like 11 is a good age to win it. I would say the first teams I remember were like 2002ish. The fuamatu touchdown in the snow vs Cleveland is probably my first core memory. Playing Madden with Kordell and Tommy Maddox was how I knew most of the players though, but at 10 I watched all of the time and felt the ups and downs. I still want a Super Bowl in my adult life though. Hoping we’ll get there soon
Ya different ages have different takes. You, I and MattCat all came in at different times. My idea of “bad” (the 80’s) and Matt’s (the 60’s) are VERY different. Now contrast your idea of bad (post Ben era) which light years from our definition of suck. I think that is why some of us are not impatient with 9-8 and going to the playoffs most years. Yes we want more, but also understand that there is MUUUUUCH worse than folks who’ve been watching for just the last 20 years.
It’s all perspective and our perception is our own reality. It makes discussion here lively for sure! Had I been born 5-10 years earlier and had my first experience been the Steel Curtain, I’m sure my perspective would be very different.
Awesome conversation!
’84 and ’89 weren’t bad, though ’84 was Fool’s Gold in the end.
’89 first two games getting division skunked 92-10 by the Browns and Bungles was ROUGH. Us getting into the playoffs and making a mini-run was amazing coaching by a near the end Noll.
’84 was smoke and mirrors.
Nah, 1974 is easily best for me Lived through 2- and 1-win seasons. I hope folks don’t learn what that was like at present, as awful as things look today to many.
Don’t get it twisted, though, some things should still be altered a bit, IMO.
I would go with either XL or XLIII as I was fortunate enough to be able to attend both games. Very different experiences for me but both were great. In Tampa MC Hammer sat in the row in front of me. His wristwatch looked like a diamond encrusted Grandfather Clock.