In my interview with 70’s Steelers offensive line and defensive line coach Dan Radakovich, he went into great length to discuss Chuck Noll‘s innovative nature. “Noll was worse than me!” he said. “He loved new ideas. Problem was, he wanted to take the new ideas and make a whole new offense out of them every time. I just wanted to make adjustments – he wanted to make everything a big deal.”

This, coming from a man affectionately labeled “Mad Rad” for his tendency to experiment and come up with new ideas. He went on to say:

“…he and Paterno were some of the most open coaches so far as new ideas go – they were the best coaches to work for.”

This ingenuity is something often overlooked when people explore the success of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Especially so considering the team’s rough and tumble blue collar image. But it may have been the most critical factor of the team’s dominance.

Take for example the scouting practices. Many know the story – it’s critical to understanding how the team developed into a 70’s dynasty. Bill Nunn was reporter and harsh critic of the team. So Art Rooney called him into his office…and offered him a job after Nunn discussed the missed opportunities/talent that existed in the smaller Southern Black colleges. Nunn was hired by Mr. Rooney to scout those colleges and the team became one of only a few at that time to do so. The talent brought in from those efforts is legendary.

Strength and conditioning

Under Noll, the team brought in Olympic weight lifter Lou Riecke to teach the team how to lift free weights. He discussed with us how Only a few teams had used free weights then and less had a weight lifting coach showing them how to use them. Likewise with conditioning – where Noll brought in Paul Uram to be the team’s conditioning coach at a time when few had one on staff. Uram told us about his strong gymnastics background that he used as a means of training players.

(On a side note, this also helps to partially diminish the steroid theorists who blame the strength of those 70’s players on steroids, when most overlook the fact the team was one of only a few to aggressively make weight-lifting a regular part of player workout regimen.)

On-field schemes

Try the relatively new trap-block Noll brought to the team, and it’s eventual use of the 3-4, on to the team’s novel use of Kordell “Slash” Stewart, and even to today and Tomlin’s aggressive use of the two-point conversion.

Hypnosis

Yes – you heard me. Hypnosis. The team in the 70’s used hypnosis to help develop players – including Terry Bradshaw. In fact it still does so today.

Concussions

Even the concussion test the NFL uses – that was created by the Steelers organization after Noll challenged Steelers Doctor Joseph Maroon to prove a player had a concussion and couldn’t play.

Why the Steelers?

So, ok. Then the question to follow is…why? Why has the team been on the forefront of so much ingenuity compared to other teams?

My belief: security.

The Rooney family allows coaches time. Time to develop their systems and players. Coaches understand they won’t be fired for one bad season or decision. This gives them the freedom to experiment and attempt the new. To develop new strategies instead of going with the “what’s been done before” because they don’t have the time or freedom to develop new ideas without that fear of failure and subsequent job loss. As in any workplace, after all, empowerment and freedom are the engines for new ideas and success. Football is no different.

Overall, this ingenuity that fueled the success of the team over the years has been overshadowed by the team’s blue collar image – in part because they are often two distinct notions that are hard to combine. Many envision blue collar as stoic and less creative.  But the team’s success over the years occurred because of their ability to be both – to buck trends and be creative while maintaining the discipline and grittiness of blue collar play.