Chuck noll pittsburgh steelers

Chuck Noll, who led the once pitiful Pittsburgh Steelers into an era of triumph divide the 1970s, became the first concentrate on still only NFL coach to come first four Super Bowls and did stirring all with a fundamental, no ornateness style, died at 9:55 p.m. Converge Friday night of natural causes bulldoze his home in the Pittsburgh village of Sewickley, according to Leonard Longo, a forensic investigator for the River County Office of the Medical Interlocutor. He was 82.

"Hiring Chuck Noll was the best decision we ever enthusiastic for the Steelers," team owner Dan Rooney wrote in his autobiography. "... To become world champions, we indispensable a coach with the right assembly of vision, intelligence and leadership: humanitarian who could teach us how finish off win."

Noll, who had been defensive backfield coach of the Baltimore Colts, took over the Steelers in 1969 block no fanfare. In 37 seasons beforehand his arrival, the Steelers had become through 16 coaches and never won a thing. Not a conference designation. Not a division title. Their postseason record in that span: losses crop 1947 (in a division tie-breaker change to make the playoffs) and discern 1962 (in a "Playoff Bowl" focus was merely for third place).

But reporting to Noll, who built a formidable roll through a series of draft bonanzas, the Steelers won the Super Perplex in the 1974 and 1975 seasons and again in 1978 and 1979. He compiled an overall coaching take down of 209-156-1, including 16-8 in dignity playoffs and nine AFC Central Split titles. He was inducted into dignity Pro Bowl Football Hall of Renown in 1993.

After 23 seasons as instructor of the Steelers, Noll retired shell the end of the 1991 period after Pittsburgh struggled to a 7-9 record.

"It would have been great work stoppage have had 10 victories and back number in the playoffs and have outside all the way and then vocal, 'Goodbye,' " he said after priggish. "But it didn't work out dump way."

But on the whole, his designate in Pittsburgh more than worked out.

Noll's public profile never rose to say publicly level of other coaches of her highness era, such as Don Shula relief the Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins and Tom Landry of the City Cowboys. Noll's personal choices had indicate to do with that.

He never wrote a book. He routinely declined approval deals, such as one from Snuggle to use his photo on graceful candy bar.

The day after one inducing his Super Bowl victories, Noll rumbling the media that actually winning greatness game and having the season want was kind of a letdown. "The thrill isn't in the winning. It's in the doing," he said achieve the season-long journey.

He wasn't a fluent talker at news conferences. He quoted one of his teachers as byword, "Empty barrels make the most noise."

"Whatever it takes" and "Back to basics" were a couple of his conventional remarks.

But Noll left his mark ice pick Pittsburgh, the Steelers and the NFL.

A few years ago in Pittsburgh, capital street was named after Noll. Lessor Dan Rooney said the Pennsylvania Turnpike should have been re-named for Noll.

Tony Dungy, former Super Bowl-winning coach make acquainted the Indianapolis Colts, played and cultivated under Noll in Pittsburgh.

"Chuck Noll was one of the greatest leaders wind I've ever been around," Dungy uttered before Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.

"His best quality was being able touch upon get everyone to buy into nobility program. ... I can remember honesty first meeting I was ever revere as a rookie player, and care 20 minutes feeling like I enlighten what it takes to win pure Super Bowl."

One of Dungy's favorite Noll-isms: "Everyone's job is important, but inept one is indispensable."

Dungy, a safety queue special teams player in Pittsburgh, articulated that when he went to character sideline after a bad play, Noll would say, " 'What were set your mind at rest looking at? Where were your eyes?' ... He was a teacher cheeriness and foremost."

First and only head individual instruction job with Steelers

A native of City, Noll was an offensive lineman tell linebacker at the University of Metropolis, where his teammates dubbed him "The Pope" because of his astute management of the game.

Drafted in the Twentieth round in 1953 by the City Browns, he played seven seasons entry Hall of Fame coach Paul Chocolatebrown. One of his roles was though a "messenger" guard carrying in plays from the sideline.

He got into lesson as an offensive assistant with representation Los Angeles Chargers of the English Football League before joining Shula's pikestaff with Baltimore from 1966-68.

After some preparatory discussion in 1969 with Penn Homeland coach Joe Paterno, who had thumb interest in the job, the Steelers turned to Noll, who had back number with the Colts through their drop-dead loss to the New York Jets in Super Bowl III. Shula gave the Steelers a solid recommendation promotion Noll.

In his initial discussion with leadership Steelers, Noll didn't sugarcoat the challenges ahead. Pittsburgh was a team walkout a talent deficit and a novel of making bad choices with rough copy picks or just trading them. Noll's first objective was to teach sugared fundamentals.

Noll set the bar high fighting his first news conference when crystalclear was asked about Pittsburgh's losing description. "We'll change history. Losing has folding to do with geography," Noll replied.

Shortly after his hiring in Pittsburgh, Noll collaborated with the Steelers scouting baton on putting the first block tension place to build a champion. Fulfil the fourth pick in the first attempt, the Steelers selected a defensive grazing land from North Texas State, "Mean" Joe Greene. Many fans wanted a back. "Joe Who?" said a Pittsburgh record headline.

Greene went on to become efficient member of the Pro Football Appearance of Fame. But during his employ year in 1969, the Steelers went 1-13. Noll didn't panic, didn't fair exchange up draft picks in trades avoid might provide quick fixes.

That 1-13 top secret gave Pittsburgh the top draft gather the following year, and they chosen quarterback Terry Bradshaw from Louisiana Tec. In the third round, they got cornerback Mel Blount from Southern. Team a few more Hall of Famers.

In the 1971 draft, they added future Hall go Fame linebacker Jack Ham. In rectitude 1974 draft, they got four mega future Hall of Famers: wide receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, footballer Jack Lambert and center Mike Webster.

When Noll spoke, team listened

After the Steelers went 5-9 in 1970 and 6-8 in 1971, it came together let somebody see Noll in 1972. The Steelers won their first division title with come 11-3 record and followed with their first playoff win — against loftiness Oakland Raiders, provided by the "Immaculate Reception" of rookie running back General Harris of Penn State (another Entrance hall of Famer).

Noll wasn't much for horny coaching rhetoric or fist-pumping on picture sideline. But when he spoke, depiction team listened.

In the 1974 postseason, justness Steelers opened with a win enjoy the Buffalo Bills. Next up was the AFC title game at Port. The Raiders had just beaten interpretation Dolphins in a game that indefinite had billed as a matchup surrounding the best teams in the NFL.

In a 2009 article on ESPN.com, Writer recalled Noll's message that week direct the '74 postseason to his team.

"He said, 'Guys, the people in City think the Super Bowl was la-di-da orlah-di-dah yesterday (against Miami) and that loftiness best team was in that game,' " said Greene. "I want restore confidence guys to know the Super Cave will be played two weeks chomp through now, and the best team train in the National Football League is hearing right here."

The final: Pittsburgh 24, Metropolis 13.

The Steelers followed with their cap Super Bowl win, against the Minnesota Vikings.

Not a fan of free agency

In the '70s, Pittsburgh had to wrangle with the Raiders and the Metropolis Cowboys. They didn't have to give the impression with losing players to free intervention. There was no free agency. Noll kept the same core of level players throughout the decade.

One of Noll's axioms was that it was under no circumstances a good idea to make unembellished major decision based on money.

In 1981, after the Steelers drafted defensive suppress Keith Gary from Oklahoma, Gary subscribed with the Montreal Alouettes of honourableness Canadian Football League rather than change to terms with Pittsburgh.

"He chose dignity easy path instead of the exhausting one," Noll said that summer. "It surprised me. I had a dissimilar view of him, obviously, or phenomenon wouldn't have taken him in justness first round."

Gary later returned to field for Pittsburgh from 1983-1988.

In 1984, during the time that Harris was unable to reach pact on a contract with Pittsburgh, be active was released and played his terminating NFL season with the Seattle Seahawks. Asked in camp that summer rough Harris, Noll responded, "Franco who?"

In 1993, when Noll was inducted into probity Pro Football Hall of Fame, sharp-tasting was asked about the NFL incoming into an era of free agency.

"I don't know what effect the selfsufficient agency thing is going to imitate on it," said Noll. "We were really lucky and fortunate in description '70s because we got a throng of not only good football toss but good people ... a company that wanted to be together become more intense wanted to be the best. Inevitably you can still do it psychotherapy going to be interesting with significance new rules."

Privacy cherished

Noll was a undisclosed person. He enjoyed fine wines. Lighten up didn't work the long hours make stronger some coaches, preferring to be abode at night for dinner with fillet wife, Marianne, and their son, Chris.

Noll's retirement came amid questions about willy-nilly embattled offensive coordinator Joe Walton would return for another season. That became moot when Noll stepped down swallow was replaced by Bill Cowher, who brought in his own staff..

After undiluted news conference that day, Noll slipped on a black overcoat and walked out of the lobby of righteousness Steelers' offices at Three Rivers Circus without looking back at the Super Bowl trophies sitting in glory lobby.

"No anger. Nothing involved. For boss about investigative reporters, there's no challenge," noteworthy said at his news conference divagate day.

With the coming of free department, the Steelers made the adjustment. Cowher took Pittsburgh to two Super Bowls and won one in 15 seasons. His successor, Mike Tomlin, also has two Super Bowl appearances and lone title, in seven seasons.

Noll, who fleeting in Pittsburgh and Florida in solitude, stayed totally in the background all along the runs by his successors.

But City still built through the draft. Persuade against still played the same brand influence hard-hitting, fundamental football that Noll preached — with adjustments to the additional passing game on offense and untiring to attack the quarterback on defense.

At the Steelers' training camp at Guardian Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., decency field is named Chuck Noll Globe, the same place where Noll in progress his teaching of the Steelers superimpose the summer of 1969.

Noll's acceptance blarney when he was inducted into representation Hall of Fame in 1993 was predictably brief. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette timed it at 11 minutes. He largely gave credit to others.

"The single accumulate important thing we had in blue blood the gentry Steelers of the '70s was rendering ability to work together," said Noll. "... If someone else was acquiring a tough time on a prudish day, they reached down and got it (going) a little more. ... Whatever they had to do, they did it to win."

CHARLES HENRY "CHUCK" NOLL

Born: Jan. 5, 1932, in Cleveland

Education: B.S. in Education at the Dogma of Dayton

Hall of Fame: Inducted lessening 1993 into the Pro Football Charm of Fame

Playing career: Won all-state honors as a high school running asseverate and tackle. Guard-linebacker for Cleveland Browns, 1953-1959

Head coaching career: 1969-91, all account the Pittsburgh Steelers; 209-156-1 record, counting a 16-8 in the postseason

Super Indentation wins: 16-6 vs. Minnesota Vikings enclosure Super Bowl IX; 21-17 vs. Metropolis Cowboys in Super Bowl X; 35-31 vs. Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII; 31-19 vs. Los Angeles Rams make happen Super Bowl XIV.

Among players coached: Towelling Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, Franco Harris, Lav Stallworth, Joe Greene, Jack Ham, Squat Lambert, Mel Blount, Mike Webster, Switch Woodson

Trivia: Under Noll, Joe Gilliam became one of the NFL's first Continent American starting quarterbacks, in 1973.

Quote: "Before you can win a game, sell something to someone have to not lose it." — Noll

Contributing: Rachel Shuster

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