The Pittsburgh Steelers take a great deal of pride in the fact that since 1969, the team has only had three head coaches. Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin have six Super Bowl trophies between them, and the stability of the franchise during that stretch is rare in the NFL. While Cowher is mostly known for his signature jaw and emotion on the sideline, on Friday, the former head coach of the Steelers took a more relaxed role as the guest of honor at the annual Mel Blount Youth Home All-Star Celebrity Roast.
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Pittsburgh Steelers' former head coach, Bill Cowher reacts to a call during an NFL game.
The charity event was held at the Wyndham Grand in Pittsburgh, centered around Cowher. The Super Bowl-winning coach was a more than willing participant. Despite his intense persona on the field, Cowher is known to have a funny side, and Friday's event was the perfect mix of memories and humor. Cowher's desire to get ahead of the other team no matter what was a central theme among a few of the guests. Joanne Klimovich Harrop of TribLive covered the night, and Cowher's own daughters spoke about the advice he would give them when Cowher attended their college games.
"First up were two of Cowher’s three daughters, Meagan and Lauren. They talked about the competitiveness of their dad and his attendance at their basketball games. He told us, 'You’ve got five personal fouls,' Lauren said. 'You might as well use them.'"
That mindset wasn't just regarding his daughter's athletics. Brett Keisel joked about a time when Cowher's will to win came out during the former defensive end's time with the Steelers. During his time as head coach, Cowher never hid his dislike of the referees, and Keisel experienced that firsthand.
"Former Steelers defensive end, Brett Keisel recalled a special teams play where a player from the opposing team made him mad. Keisel grabbed the player. Cowher pulled Keisel from the field. He said, 'What are you doing?' Keisel said. 'I explained it to him. And he told me,' 'Next time you do something like that, make sure the referee isn’t looking. You always have to know where the referee is.'”
Blount, the former hard-hitting defensive back for the Steelers, started the event in 1998, and Friday was his 76th birthday. The 900 guests who were present to roast and honor Cowher were a far cry from what Blount expected when the event was first held. He actually told his wife, TiAnda, that he didn't expect anybody to show up for the first one in 1998, and then 1,500 people watched Blount be the first person roasted.
Considering how much both Blount and Cowher gave to the city of Pittsburgh during their time both on the field and on the sidelines, it is truly wonderful to see that impact continue, even after their time in the NFL is over. Both men are in the Hall of Fame for very good reason, and moments like Friday night's event shine a spotlight on all the positive things that they have done for the game.
Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo
Steelers' former head coach, Bill Cowher (left) with late team Owner Dan Rooney (right).
Steelers Are A Sense Of Pride For Cowher
Cowher coached the Steelers from 1992 to 2006, but even after he retired from coaching, his love for the city of Pittsburgh has not diminished. Friday's charity event was held on Pittsburgh's 412 Day, as it fell on April 12th, and Cowher used that when he spoke to the guests about what Pittsburgh meant to him.
“Pittsburgh 412 Day — well, I still have a 412 number. So some things haven’t changed. When I look at Pittsburgh, I may have jaded glasses because I grew up here. But coming back, it’s about community. It’s not about fanfare. The people here are real and they have core values. They prepare and they work hard, which is what makes you successful in life.”
Regardless of what phone number he has, Cowher will always be a favorite among the fans in Pittsburgh. Whether it is commiserating in the more painful losses during Cowher's career, or celebrating Super Bowl XL, he has given Steelers fans many memories over the years.
Jason Cohn / Reuters / Newscom
Pittsburgh Steelers' former head coach, Bill Cowher congratulates Troy Polamalu after making a play.
At the end of the day, it wasn't the wins or losses that endeared Cowher to the city; it was the manner in which he achieved it all. He never shied away from emotion and was always happy to tell the referees what he thought. For all those reasons and more, it's little wonder why Cowher was in the spotlight on Friday.
What is your favorite Bill Cowher memory? Comment below!
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