One of the most iconic NFL teams of all time, the six-time Super Bowl winners have a long and decorated history in the sport. You're probably well aware of the Pittsburgh Steelers logo, but today we will explore its origins and how it came to take pride in place on their jersey.
As the Steelers are such regular features in the biggest sporting event in America – the Super Bowl – they have fans worldwide. For example, in 2013, they played a game against the Minnesota Vikings in London, England.
Hordes of fans turned out for the chance to see their team in action. For many spectators, it was the first time they had witnessed an NFL game live.
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History of the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the NFL's most successful and iconic teams. As founding members of the league, they are one of the oldest sports franchises in America.
They are part of a select group of teams that carry the tradition and a high level of consistent quality throughout their history. Founded nearly 100 years ago, as we discussed in our introduction, they have won six Super Bowls.
This puts them level on the most Super Bowl wins of all time, alongside the New England Patriots, who also have six titles to their name.
In addition, they have won eight AFC Championships, and a staggering 24 of their ex-players have ended up in the Hall of Fame.
The Steelers have featured some of the greatest players to play in the NFL, such as Terry Bradshaw, Joe Greene, and Franco Harris. The team has also been home to legendary coaches such as Bill Cowher throughout its history.
The history of their logo and team colors
Like many franchises in the NFL, the Steelers logo has a backstory and purpose. A logo for any sports team or franchise is crucial.
It allows the team to brand themselves properly, and an iconic logo can lead to serious marketing potential – look at teams such as the New York Yankees in the MLB (Major League Baseball).
Their logo has become so well-known globally that people who do not even follow the sport that closely often wear it on caps and shirts.
We must recognize the importance of logos in sports. A memorable logo becomes the focal point of a team and the centerpiece of the brand.
This includes advertising outside stadiums and becoming the spearhead and driving force behind merchandising. Most NFL teams have a logo steeped in tradition, and the Steelers are no different.
The placement of the logo is unique, and the Steelers are the only team in the division with the logo solely on the right-hand side of their helmets.
The black and yellow colors that they don during games are the colors that are synonymous with other sports teams across Pittsburgh and the greater Pennsylvania region. In addition, the city flag also contains black and gold colors that are synonymous with the city as a whole.
Origins of the logo
Pittsburgh has been home to some of the biggest steel production companies in the United States. At one point, it employed thousands of people in the region. In the early 1960s, when the franchise initially designed the logo, the steel industry was the major employer in the city.
The idea behind the initial design of the iconic logo with the red, yellow, and blue asteroids came from the quote:
"Steel lightens your work, brightens your leisure, and widens your world."
It was an all-encompassing slogan that was a big hit and adopted by the Steelers, who were proud of their city's heritage. Later, the colors took on a new meaning for the specific components used in the production of steel:
- Red for iron ore.
- Yellow for coal.
- Blue for scrap steel.
Like other teams in the NFL, the Steelers have taken their name from a traditional industry that provided prosperity in the city. Although the city and the steel industry no longer require large numbers of manual workers, the name is a nostalgic reminder of times gone by.
For those who remember the steel-producing powerhouse that it used to be, the Steelers are an iconic reminder of a significant period in the city's history.
Wrap Up
A team as legendary and traditional as the Pittsburgh Steelers must retain reminders of its origins and what the city used to be - it is essential for the fans and its residents.
Although it has now morphed into a city with thousands of employees across broader industries, steel will always be closely associated with the city.
This is mainly due to the Pittsburgh Steelers and their legacy. For sports fans across America and other NFL fans worldwide, the team represents quality and tradition in equal measure.
As they are one of the oldest franchises in the league and their logo has stood the test of time, it shows how important it is to have a logo that incorporates the old while moving with the times.
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