It is no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers were the elite NFL team of the 1970s. They absolutely dominated the league after years of mediocrity. Amassing a whopping four Super Bowl wins in a single decade (1974, 1975, 1978, and 1979), they set the tone for the team's new winning ways.
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Former Steelers Head Coach Chuck Noll and Joe Greene.
Then-Head Coach Chuck Noll was entering his fourth season in 1972, with a dismal record of 12 wins and 30 losses. The fans were absolutely calling for his head. However, owner Art Rooney knew he had a good coach and he wasn't about to give up. The Steelers also had some great players, they were just struggling to pull it all together. It turns out that was the right choice because that would be the season that forever changed the trajectory of football in the Steel City.
After finishing the regular season 11-3, the Steelers made it to the playoffs. This was unfamiliar territory for the team. That first winning postseason match-up against the then-Oakland Raiders was the "Immaculate Reception" game. While they ultimately lost in the AFC Championship, they had successfully turned a corner. The other NFL teams were on notice that the Steelers were no longer a ragtag organization.
One of the men that was responsible for the success the team found was quarterback, Terry Bradshaw. Bradshaw had a bit of a rocky start in Pittsburgh, despite being the first overall pick in the 1970 NFL Draft. While he took a few seasons to adjust to playing in the NFL, Bradshaw became one of the best quarterbacks in history.
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Steelers' John Stallworth Catches Pass From Terry Bradshaw In fourth quarter Of Super Bowl XIV.
During his time in Pittsburgh, Bradshaw took the Steelers to win eight AFC Central championships and four Super Bowl titles. He was the MVP of two of them. He was selected to the Pro Bowl three times and was voted the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1978. Bradshaw has little to regret about his NFL career, just about every award and honor a player can have found its way to him. However, he does say there is one major regret about his time in Pittsburgh and it has nothing to do with an NFL game.
Steelers' Terry Bradshaw Seriously Blew It When He Got A Call From The King Of Rock And Roll
Elvis Presley is widely considered the "King of Rock and Roll," having revolutionized rock music. Presley isn't just known for his musical talents, he became a living embodiment of progress during the 20th century. With his provocative style and dance moves, as well as iconic looks, he made being "cool" desirable. In addition to singing, Presley also acted, starring in numerous films and becoming known as a heartthrob as well.
While Presley is immediately recognizable by almost every human on earth, there is a fact about him that is not as well known, he was a Steelers fan. The story goes that Presley was a Cleveland Browns fan as a child. Presley was born in Mississippi, but moved to Memphis, Tennessee when he was 13. During that time, he was acquainted with a player named Gene Hickerson, who played for a neighboring high school. Hickerson was a country boy like Presley and when he went on to play for the Browns, Presley felt a kind of kinship to him and became a fan.
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Elvis became as famous for his perfectly coiffed hair as he did for his unique sound.
Most fans don't know how much Presley loved football, it wasn't just a passing diversion for him. He would even go so far as to draw up his own plays and watch as many games as he could. He once sponsored a team that wore "EP Enterprise" patches on their jersey to honor him. By the time the '70s rolled around, Presley had found a new player to admire, in Bradshaw, and a new winning team to cheer for - sorry Browns fans, he's ours now.
This is where Bradshaw's big mistake comes in, Presley called Bradshaw and asked him to come to play football with him. He told the story to Fox Sports and said it was smack in the middle of the glorious 1970s and all of the Steelers' successes. Next thing he knows, his phone is ringing in his hotel room in Las Vegas and it is none other than Presley on the line.
"I was skeptical at first," Bradshaw said. "But then there is that specific way he spoke, and it was definitely him. Yep, Elvis. Elvis called me up and wanted me to go play football with him. And man, I still think about it now."
Back in the 1970s, players usually had side jobs. Unlike now, football didn't pay enough to live off of all year round. Bradshaw, despite the rings, was no exception. He worked as a used car salesman and then, once more well known, sold peanut butter with his likeness on it.
"I was in Vegas giving a corporate presentation because that's how I made money in the offseason. Elvis called me, told me he liked the way I played, and invited me to see him, but I had to catch a flight to another city, so I had to turn him down. It would have been the story of a lifetime playing backyard football with Elvis. It showed how much of a fan he was, that he wanted an NFL player to come play with him and his buddies."
Bradshaw said he always regretted not making that pick-up game work out. Presley died suddenly of a cardiac arrest in August 1977, missing those last two amazing 1970s Super Bowl appearances.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw.
Now as the Steelers are ready to usher in a new season, we all need to eat a peanut butter and banana sandwich, slick back our hair, and do a little hip gyration in tribute to the King. Hopefully, he can pull some strings with the football gods and help his beloved Steelers get another ring.
Did you know Elvis was a fan of the Steelers? Are you surprised he loved football so much? What do you think about his unexpected call to Bradshaw asking him to come play some pickup ball? Click to comment below!
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