Fittingly, the Pittsburgh Steelers are two wins away from breaking a record that they currently share with a franchise that they have long been linked to.
The Steelers are closing in on setting a new NFL record for the most consecutive non-losing seasons in NFL history. They currently share the record with the Dallas Cowboys, their opponent in three previous Super Bowls.
Actually, the Steelers beat the Cowboys in two Super Bowls during Dallas’ 20-year run without a losing season. Pittsburgh recorded a 21-17 win in Super Bowl X before winning the rematch three years later.
Most consecutive non-losing seasons in NFL history
| Franchise | Seasons | Years | Championships won |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 21 | 2004-Present | 2 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 21 | 1965-85 | 2 |
| New England Patriots | 19 | 2001-18 | 6 |
| Oakland Raiders | 16 | 1965-80 | 2 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 16 | 1983-98 | 6 |
| Chicago Bears | 15 | 1930-44 | 5 |
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is two wins away from recording his 19th consecutive non-losing season, which would tie him with former Patriots coach Bill Belichick for second all-time.
Most consecutive non-losing seasons for an NFL coach
| Coach | Seasons | Years | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Landry (Cowboys) | 20 | 1965-85 | 2 |
| Bill Belichick (Patriots) | 19 | 2001-18 | 6 |
| Mike Tomlin (Steelers) | 18 | 2007-24 | 1 |
| George Halas (Bears) | 16 | 1933-42; 1946-51 | 4 |
| Marty Schottenheimer (Browns/Chiefs) | 14 | 1984-87 | 0 |
The Steelers’ current streak started in 2004, a franchise-record 15 wins that season after which Ben Roethlisberger won each of his first 13 career starts.
“It legitimized the fact that we can play with the big boys,” former Steelers safety Troy Polamalu once said.
“That year was a very significant year because we realized we were good enough to play with everybody.”
The following season, the Steelers became the first six seed to win the Super Bowl. Their most recent seasons have been competitive, but they’ve not won a playoff game since 2016.
Key figures in the Steelers’ journey include:
- Former head coach Bill Cowher
- Current head coach Mike Tomlin
- Former general manager Kevin Colbert
- Late owner Dan Rooney
- His son, current team president Art Rooney II
- Former defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau
- Ben Roethlisberger, two-time Super Bowl champion
- Troy Polamalu, Hall of Fame safety
The Steelers have expressed aspirations for their first division title since 2020.
