Steelers Reveal 50th Anniversary Terrible Towel
Earlier this year, Steelers President Art Rooney II told fans that the team would be commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the team’s iconic Terrible Towel. “We’ll have a little celebration during the season for the 50th year of the Terrible Towel.” The Steelers are releasing their limited edition 50th Anniversary Terrible Towel on July 1 at 10 a.m. EST. Fans should act fast, as only 5,000 will be sold. The new Terrible Towel has a stitched “Est. December 27, 1975” badge. Each towel will be numbered and will include a collector’s guide that details the history of the Terrible Towel.
Steelers broadcaster Myron Cope invented the Terrible Towel on December 27, 1975, to get fans excited for a playoff game against the Baltimore Colts. Cope encouraged fans to bring yellow dish towels to the game and wave them to show their support for the Steelers. When fans were waving the towels, the team seemed to play significantly better. The Steelers defeated the Colts 28-10, continued to advance through the playoffs, and made their way to the Super Bowl. The Steelers introduced their first official Terrible Towel for Super Bowl X in January of 1976. The towels were gold with the words “Myron Cope's Terrible Towel” printed in black. The Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 21-17. It marked the Steelers' second consecutive Super Bowl win. Many people credited the Terrible Towel with bringing the team luck.
Since its inception, there have been various other instances where the Terrible Towel seemed to help the Steelers win games. On January 15, 2005, VisitPittsburgh sponsored the “World's Largest Terrible Towel Wave” at Acrisure Stadium, which was then named Heinz Field. It reached millions of fans. The team came back from what seemed to be a definite loss against the New York Jets and won the playoff game during overtime, 20-17. The Steelers released the special edition Terrible Towels for Super Bowl XL in 2006 and Super Bowl XLIII in 2009, winning both games. Throughout their history, the Steelers have won six Super Bowl Championships.
There’s also a lore surrounding the Terrible Towel. Many people believe that teams that disrespect it will be cursed. The most recent example of this was during the 2023 AFC Wild Card Round matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the Steelers. The Bills easily won 31-17. A Buffalo fan celebrated their win by using the Terrible Towel as a tissue. One week later, the Bills were eliminated from the playoffs, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24.
The Terrible Towel has become an iconic symbol for the Steelers. It’s a staple in the homes of players and fans. Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, Dermontti Dawson, and Alan Faneca are just a few of the many former Steelers stars who have proudly waved the Terrible Towel. Over the years, various musicians have waved Terrible Towels on stage at their concerts in Pittsburgh. Members of the United States Armed Forces display their Terrible Towels at their military bases. The Terrible Towel has also traveled to various other locations around the world, including the Great Wall of China, the Vatican, and Mount Everest. Astronaut Colonel Mike Fincke, who was born in Pittsburgh, waved his Terrible Towel from the International Space Station. The Terrible Towel has been good to the Steelers, and the team will be celebrating its history this season.
