The Pittsburgh Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. Founded in 1933, the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC; seven franchises in the National Football Conference (NFC) have longer tenures in the NFL. The team struggled to be competitive in its early history, posting winning records in just 8 of its first 39 seasons. Since the AFL–NFL merger in 1970, however, it has appeared in eight Super Bowls and one of only two teams, along with the New England Patriots, to have won the Super Bowl six times. The six championships place the Steelers fourth in the league in terms of total championships (including those prior to the first Super Bowl), trailing only the Green Bay Packers (13 championships), the Chicago Bears (9) and the New York Giants (8).[1] The club's 16 AFC Championship Game appearances are the most all-time and behind only the 49ers (17) for total conference championship game appearances. In addition, they have hosted the second-most conference championship games (11) than any franchise in either conference, and are tied for second with the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos with eight Super Bowl appearances; the Patriots currently hold the record of eleven appearances, as of 2021.
From to the franchise became the first NFL franchise to win four Super Bowl titles in six seasons, a feat which is yet to be matched. In 2005, the Steelers became the first #6 seed to advance to a conference championship game, and go on to win the Super Bowl, since the playoff field was expanded to 12 teams in . The Steelers are 6–2 in the Super Bowl, winning Super Bowls IX, X, XIII, XIV, XL and XLIII while losing Super Bowls XXX and XLV.
As of the 2022 season, the Steelers franchise is tied for third with the Giants all-time in playoff appearances, with 33. The Steelers have the most playoff appearances among active AFC franchises, as well as the most since the official start of the NFL-AFL merger in 1970. The Cowboys (35) and Packers (35) are the only teams to have more playoff appearances. Coincidentally, these are also the only two teams to beat Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl.
| NFL champions (1920–1969) | Super Bowl champions (1966–present) | Conference champions | Division champions | Wild Card berth | One-game playoff berth |
| Season | Team | League | Conference | Division | Regular season | Postseason results | Awards | Head coaches | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | ||||||||||||
| Pittsburgh Pirates | ||||||||||||
| NFL | East | 5th | 3 | 6 | 2 | .364 | Forrest Douds | |||||
| NFL | East | 5th | 2 | 10 | 0 | .167 | Luby DiMeolo | |||||
| NFL | East | 3rd | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | Joe Bach | |||||
| NFL | East | 2nd | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | ||||||
| NFL | East | 3rd | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Johnny Blood | |||||
| NFL | East | 5th | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | ||||||
| NFL | East | 4th | 1 | 9 | 1 | .136 | Johnny Blood (0–3) Walt Kiesling (1–6–1) | |||||
| Pittsburgh Steelers | ||||||||||||
| NFL | East | 4th | 2 | 7 | 2 | .273 | Walt Kiesling | |||||
| NFL | East | 5th | 1 | 9 | 1 | .136 | Walt Kiesling (1–2–1) Aldo Donelli (0–5) Bert Bell (0–2) | |||||
| NFL | East | 2nd | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Walt Kiesling | |||||
| Steagles[2] | ||||||||||||
| NFL | East | 3rd | 5 | 4 | 1 | .550 | Greasy Neale &<br> Walt Kiesling | |||||
| Card-Pitt[3] | ||||||||||||
| NFL | East | 5th | 0 | 10 | 0 | .000 | Phil Handler &<br> Walt Kiesling | |||||
| Pittsburgh Steelers | ||||||||||||
| NFL | East | 5th | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | Jim Leonard | |||||
| NFL | East | 3rd | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | Bill Dudley (MVP) | Jock Sutherland | ||||
| NFL | East | 2nd | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Lost Divisional Playoff (Eagles) 0–21 | |||||
| NFL | East | 3rd | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | John Michelosen | |||||
| NFL | East | 2nd | 6 | 5 | 1 | .542 | ||||||
| NFL | American | 3rd | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | ||||||
| NFL | American | 4th | 4 | 7 | 1 | .375 | ||||||
| NFL | American | 4th | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | Joe Bach | |||||
| NFL | Eastern | 4th | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | ||||||
| NFL | Eastern | 4th | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | Walt Kiesling | |||||
| NFL | Eastern | 6th | 4 | 8 | 0 | .346 | ||||||
| NFL | Eastern | 4th | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | ||||||
| NFL | Eastern | 3rd | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | Buddy Parker | |||||
| NFL | Eastern | 3rd | 7 | 4 | 1 | .625 | ||||||
| NFL | Eastern | 4th | 6 | 5 | 1 | .542 | ||||||
| NFL | Eastern | 5th | 5 | 6 | 1 | .458 | ||||||
| NFL | Eastern | 5th | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | ||||||
| NFL | Eastern | 2nd | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | ||||||
| NFL | Eastern | 4th | 7 | 4 | 3 | .607 | ||||||
| NFL | Eastern | 6th | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | ||||||
| NFL | Eastern | 7th | 2 | 12 | 0 | .143 | Mike Nixon | |||||
| NFL | Eastern | 6th | 5 | 8 | 1 | .393 | Bill Austin | |||||
| NFL | Eastern | Century | 4th | 4 | 9 | 1 | .321 | |||||
| NFL | Eastern | Century | 4th | 2 | 11 | 1 | .179 | |||||
| NFL | Eastern | Century | 4th | 1 | 13 | 0 | .071 | Joe Greene (DROY) | Chuck Noll | |||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 3rd | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 2nd | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 1st | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Raiders) 13–7 Lost AFC Championship (Dolphins) 17–21 | Chuck Noll (AFC COY) Franco Harris (OROY, AFC OROY) Joe Greene (DPOY) | |||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 2nd | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Raiders) 14–33 | ||||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 1st | 10 | 3 | 1 | .750 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Bills) 32–14 Won AFC Championship (at Raiders) 24–13 Won Super Bowl IX (1) (vs. Vikings) 16–6 | Jack Lambert (DROY) Joe Greene (DPOY) Franco Harris (SB MVP) | |||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 1st | 12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Colts) 28–10 Won AFC Championship (Raiders) 16–10 Won Super Bowl X (2) (vs. Cowboys) 21–17 | Mel Blount (DPOY) Lynn Swann (SB MVP) | |||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 1st | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | Won Divisional Playoffs (at Colts) 40–14 Lost AFC Championship (at Raiders) 7–24 | Jack Lambert (DPOY, AFC DPOY) | |||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 1st | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Broncos) 21–34 | ||||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 1st | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Broncos) 33–10 Won AFC Championship (Oilers) 34–5 Won Super Bowl XIII (3) (vs. Cowboys) 35–31 | Terry Bradshaw (MVP, SB MVP, BBA) | |||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 1st | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Dolphins) 34–14 Won AFC Championship (Oilers) 27–13 Won Super Bowl XIV (4) (vs. Rams) 31–19 | Jack Lambert (AFC DPOY) Terry Bradshaw (SB MVP) | |||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 3rd | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 2nd | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 4th | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | Lost First Round Playoffs (Chargers) 28–31 | ||||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 1st | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Raiders) 10–38 | ||||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 1st | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | Won Divisional Playoffs (at Broncos) 24–17 Lost AFC Championship (at Dolphins) 28–45 | Louis Lipps (OROY) John Stallworth (CBPOY) | |||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 3rd | 8 | 7 | 0 | .533 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 3rd | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Oilers) 26–23 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Broncos) 23–24 | Chuck Noll (MFC COY) | |||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 3rd | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 2nd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 1st | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Bills) 3–24 | Bill Cowher (NFL COY) Barry Foster (AFC OPOY) | Bill Cowher | ||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 2nd | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Chiefs) 24–27 | Rod Woodson (DPOY) | |||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 1st | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Browns) 29–9 Lost AFC Championship (Chargers) 13–17 | Greg Lloyd (AFC DPOY) | |||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 1st | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Bills) 40–21 Won AFC Championship (Colts) 20–16 Lost Super Bowl XXX (vs. Cowboys) 17–27 | ||||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 1st | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Colts) 42–14 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Patriots) 3–28 | Jerome Bettis (CBPOY) | |||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 1st | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Patriots) 7–6 Lost AFC Championship (Broncos) 21–24 | ||||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 3rd | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | Central | 1st | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Ravens) 27–10 Lost AFC Championship (Patriots) 17–24 | Kendrell Bell (DROY) | |||
| NFL | AFC | North | 1st | 10 | 5 | 1 | .656 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Browns) 36–33 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Titans) 31–34 | Tommy Maddox (CBPOY) | |||
| NFL | AFC | North | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | North | 1st | 15 | 1 | 0 | .938 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Jets) 20–17 Lost AFC Championship (Patriots) 27–41 | Bill Cowher (TSN COY) Ben Roethlisberger (OROY) | |||
| NFL | AFC | North | 2nd | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Bengals) 31–17 Won Divisional Playoffs (at Colts) 21–18 Won AFC Championship (at Broncos) 34–17 Won Super Bowl XL (5) (vs. Seahawks) 21–10 | Hines Ward (SB MVP) | |||
| NFL | AFC | North | 3rd | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | North | 1st | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Jaguars) 29–31 | Mike Tomlin | |||
| NFL | AFC | North | 1st | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Chargers) 35–24 Won AFC Championship (Ravens) 23–14 Won Super Bowl XLIII (6) (vs. Cardinals) 27–23 | James Harrison (DPOY)[4] Santonio Holmes (SB MVP) Mike Tomlin (Motorola NFL COY)[5] | |||
| NFL | AFC | North | 3rd | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | North | 1st | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Ravens) 31–24 Won AFC Championship (Jets) 24–19 Lost Super Bowl XLV (vs. Packers) 25–31 | Troy Polamalu (DPOY) | |||
| NFL | AFC | North | 2nd | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Broncos) 23–29 | ||||
| NFL | AFC | North | 3rd | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | North | 2nd | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | North | 1st | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Ravens) 17–30 | ||||
| NFL | AFC | North | 2nd | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Bengals) 18–16 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Broncos) 16–23 | ||||
| NFL | AFC | North | 1st | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Dolphins) 30–12 Won Divisional Playoffs (at Chiefs) 18–16 Lost AFC Championship (at Patriots) 17–36 | ||||
| NFL | AFC | North | 1st | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Jaguars) 42–45 | ||||
| NFL | AFC | North | 2nd | 9 | 6 | 1 | .594 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | North | 2nd | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | North | 1st | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Browns) 37–48 | ||||
| NFL | AFC | North | 2nd | 9 | 7 | 1 | .559 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Chiefs) 21–42 | T. J. Watt (DPOY) | |||
| NFL | AFC | North | 3rd | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 | |||||
| NFL | AFC | North | 3rd | 10 | 7 | 0 | .588 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Bills) 17–31 | Cameron Heyward (WP MOY) | |||
| Totals 6 Super Bowl Championships 8 AFC Conference Championships 24 Division titles | Regular season: | 671 | 578 | 22 | –, regular season only | |||||||
| Playoff: | 36 | 28 | — | –, playoffs only | ||||||||
| Overall: | 707 | 606 | 22 | –, regular season and playoff games | ||||||||
Notes:
The Finish, Wins, Losses, Ties and Pct columns include only regular season results. Postseason results are shown only within the "Playoffs" column. Regular and postseason records are combined only at the bottom of the table.
Tied for this position with at least one other team
For the purposes of calculating winning percentage ties count as ½ win and ½ loss
The Playoff Bowl (a.k.a. Bert Bell Benefit Bowl) is regarded as an unofficial post-season exhibition for third place
Ranked by conference rather than division (strike shortened season).
Web site: Pittsburgh Steelers Franchise Encyclopedia. Pro Football Reference. April 8, 2010.