The Steelers have a long history of memorable moments throughout the years, and during the 2025 season we are going to highlight those moments against each week's opponent.
This week, we feature the games against the Detroit Lions.
Steelers 16, Detroit Lions 13
September 21, 1969
Pitt Stadium
When Chuck Noll was hired by the Steelers in 1969, there was hope for a struggling franchise to be able to turn things around.
"He will do a great job for the Steelers," said Hall of Fame Coach Don Shula, who Noll worked for with the Baltimore Colts as a defensive coach prior to him being hired by the Steelers. "He's a fine young man."
In his welcome press conference, Noll committed to getting right to work to help a team that hadn't had success since they were founded in 1933 and were coming off a 2-11-1 season.
"I'll be looking at films and studying Steeler personnel until late tonight," said Noll on that January day in 1969. "I want to be able to bolster weak spots on the roster."
The Steelers opened Noll's first season against the Detroit Lions at Pitt Stadium on Sept. 21. And things got off on the right foot, bringing optimism for all as the Steelers defeated the Lions, 16-13, in front of more than 51,000 fans.
Quarterback Dick Shiner would get the start that day over Terry Hanratty, who was the Steelers second-round pick in the 1969 NFL Draft. Rookie third round pick Warren Bankston started at fullback, while Earl Gros played halfback due to injuries to Dick Hoak and Don McCall.
The game wasn't a perfect one, but it was the first in Noll's career.
While optimism was in the air, things would go downhill after opening day as the team lost the remainder of their games, finishing the season 1-13.
Steelers 23, Detroit Lions 20
September 3, 1995
Three Rivers Stadium
It was a back-and-forth game that literally came down to the wire for the Steelers.
Kicker Norm Johnson would hit a 31-yard field goal with time expiring to give the Steelers a 23-20 win to start the season off, 1-0.
"It's always nice to get off on the right foot," said Johnson, who was signed in the offseason and replaced long-time kicker Gary Anderson. "What was great about this was the offense drove down the field. It was one of the first times I've had an opportunity to kick a short one at the end of the game."
Running back Bam Morris carried the ball 17 times for 50 yards, and made the yards count. He scored two touchdowns, one from five yards and another from one yard out.
While there was good news for the team, there was also bad news. Cornerback Rod Woodson suffered an ACL injury, missing the remainder of the regular season. Woodson did fight his way back to play in Super Bowl XXX. Quarterback Neil O'Donnell was also injured in the game, replaced by Mike Tomczak.
"It doesn't look good," said Coach Bill Cowher after the game. "Looks like Rod might be out for the year, and we'll lose Neil for two or three weeks. That's the hand we're dealt, and we're going to deal with it. Like I told our football team, this is not baseball, where there's nine starters. This is not basketball where there's five or hockey where I'm not sure what the number is.
"This is football and there are 22 starters and there are 23 guys every Sunday that are backups. This team will rally around it and we're going to find a way to get this thing done."
Steelers 47, Detroit Lions 14
December 23, 2001
Heinz Field (Now Acrisure Stadium)
The Steelers came out of the gate strong and never slowed down as they rolled over the Detroit Lions, 47-14.
Running back Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala led the ground attack with 26 carries for 126 yards, getting the start with running back Jerome Bettis out with a hip and groin injury.
"He played great," said Bettis of Fuamatu-Ma'afala. "He did a great job. He was confident. He had a lot of poise. For a running back, and a young guy, it is always patience that you have to worry about. Sometimes, it is hard to develop patience when the game is so fast. He showed a lot of patience and did a great job."
Quarterback Kordell Stewart completed 17 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns and a passer rating of 131.2. Stewart also ran for a touchdown.
"We did a lot of good things," said Stewart. "We converted when we needed to. We got points on the board, and the defense did an awesome job of giving us field position, and we finally converted touchdowns as opposed to field goals. When you do that, it's a good thing. We played the way that we're supposed to play, and I'm enthused about that."
While the offense was explosive, it was the defense that got the Steelers on the scoreboard first.
Linebacker Joey Porter sacked Lions quarterback Mike McMahon, forcing a fumble that fellow linebacker Jason Gildon picked up and took 27 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
"We wanted to go out there and start fast and give them (the offense) as many touches as possible," said Gildon. "That is the way we approached it."
The Lions came back and scored on their next drive to tie the game, but it was all Steelers after that.
Everyone seemed to get in on the act as far as scoring. Tight end Matt Cushing had a two-yard touchdown reception, Stewart ran for a two-yard score, and receiver Hines Ward caught a five-yard touchdown pass.
Receiver Plaxico Burress added a 19-yard touchdown reception from Stewart, and before the day was over, quarterback Tommy Maddox came in and scored on a five-yard run.
"It was a very good win," said Coach Bill Cowher. "I felt that we came out very focused. Detroit made some plays in the first half. A lot of it was the quarterback who made some plays. I thought offensively we did the things that we've been doing week in and week out. We ran the ball efficiently. We converted some third downs, particularly on that first drive. The quarterback has been playing like he has been playing, and I thought the kicking game was good.
"It was a very good win."
Steelers 35, Detroit Lions 21
January 1, 2006
Heinz Field (Now Acrisure Stadium)
The Steelers and Lions battled through the entire game, with the game being tied multiple times before the Steelers closed the door late in the third quarter.
Running back Willie Parker started the game and had 26 carries for 135 yards. But it would be future Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis who would carry the ball 10 times for 41 yards and score three touchdowns who would have a huge impact in his final game played in Pittsburgh.
"What Jerome gives you, down in the red zone is how we're using him," said Coach Bill Cowher. "Even at the end of the game you can see what he can give you, that extra two yards, three yards. On a fourth-and-one and you have a guy like Jerome Bettis, it's an easy call to make really. Down around the goal line, he's got a great feel for that. As long as that ball was on the one or inside the one, it was really an easy decision for me to make. Having that kind of guy speaks volumes. As a coach there is a comfort level that you have, having that guy on the team.
"I have so much appreciation for him and he's always been there. I think he's going to be one of those guys where the day comes that he's not there, there's going to be a void there because it seems like he's always been there every week. We've been through a lot together and I have tremendous appreciation, more than I can even express, for what he stands for as a football player but more so for what he stands for as a person. For every yard that he's gained on the field this guy, in my mind, has exceeded that off the field, the kind of individual he is, the way he gives back and what he stands for. I've never been around too many guys like that."
Fans were chanting 'one more year' to Bettis as the game came to a close, but it would be the last one the home crowd would see, although he did lead the charge for a Super Bowl XL run.
"Just a lot of emotion, in the sense that if it is the end of the line, then it's been incredible," said Bettis. "The fans today were amazing. It was a great feeling.
"That was fun. I'm just very thankful for the fans to have that much feeling. It just
means a lot, and I'm very thankful.
"That was an amazing feeling. I've never seen or heard of anything like that — for the entire stadium to chant 'one more year!" that was special. It gives you something to reflect on, think about. That they feel that who I am, and the role that I'm playing, are still important."
