NFL: Each team’s greatest head coach in franchise history

Pittsburgh Steelers: Chuck Noll (1969-91)

The greatest coach the Pittsburgh Steelers ever had was Chuck Noll, who was on their sidelines in four different decades. He started his career in 1969 and coached until 1991.

During that span, Noll won 193 games, which are still the most in team history. That’s even more impressive when you consider the Steelers have had Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin since 1992. Each has well over 100 wins as the Pittsburgh head coach.

Not only did Noll win, but he also changed the entire culture in Pittsburgh. A team not known for winning suddenly became the gold standard. His famous line was “pressure is something you feel when you don’t know what you’re doing” and he used that to get his players to work hard at their craft so they could excel when it mattered most.

A winner of four Super Bowls, Noll is the reason we all think of the Steelers as we do today. His culture change is highlighted by Joshua Hayes of Bleacher Report who understands what he brought to this club.

"“In any case, the reality of Noll’s impact on the Rooney’s laughingstock club cannot be understated.  Truth be told, the Steelers’ rise to the top of the NFL ranks began with a culture change, having the apathy of decades of losing stripped from them and becoming infused with the notion that anything short of the top priority- the Vince Lombardi Trophy- would eventually not be good enough.” — Hayes, Bleacher Report"

The Steelers now have six Super Bowls, which ties them with the Patriots for most all time. Noll got that ball rolling and walks away with this title as the best head coach in Steelers franchise history.