This game kicked off just after 1pm ET. A little more than two hours earlier--at 10:56am ET--in Ellsworth, Maine, someone else entered planet earth. That someone is ME, some 6 weeks earlier than the anticipated due date. Of course, I didn't get to see this game as a then two-hour old boy. In fact, being born a premature one, I had a partially collapsed lung and was hospitalized for nearly three weeks. Then, in mid-December, my family and I moved to the Bay Area as my father began a new job at the US Post Office. Thanks for this upload on the same day I was born.
Thanks for posting. Finding a bunch of these old games that I was too young to remember. My first memory is the NFC Championship game this season. I was too busy running around outside on Sundays, until that Sunday. I grew up in the Bay Area and that Sunday there was no one outside. But I’m watching every game I can find from 81.
Jedi I can relate I was only 8 years old when this game was played and I had just became a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and yeah I was busy running around outside growing up in Newark NJ to remember this changing of the guard... I couldn't see myself being a jet or a giants fan at that time... Til this day I'm a die hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan!!!
Thanks a million for uploading this game! What a historically important game: the team of the 1970's vs the eventual team of the '80s. The 'changing of the guard' with Dallas, give me a break! This was the REAL changing of the guard! Imagine being a 49ers rookie (like Ronnie Lott) proving yourself against a team that had won 4 Super Bowls over the span of 6 years, had quite a few Hall of Famers on both sides of the ball, and then actually BEAT them in their home stadium. For the Niners, no doubt this would have been the game of their lives.
People always cite the Dallas game as "a changing of the guard", and it most certainly was, but that sentiment is even more applicable to this game. Dallas wasn't the team of the 70's, it was Pittsburgh, and here they were on the tail end of 4 Super Bowls, new decade, aging roster, up against what would become their historical bookend, duplicating their Super Bowl success in the new decade. The 80's absolutely ruled.
Yeah But Dallas was still gooed thru 1985. They were very good in 1981. The Steelers were essentially suddenly old starting in 1980. And Dallas was the runner up of the 70,s always an excellent team.
@@ricktheitalianrebel6687 Actually, the Dallas dynasty ended with the retirement of Roger Staubach. Danny White was good but couldn't carry his team to the SB.
It was believed, rightly or wrongly, that the Cowboys were still the best organization in the NFC in 1981. That's why the 49ers and their Fans all circled the Date that the 49ers would play the Cowboys for NFC Supremacy in 1981.
@@donquixote... They are definitely a standout football team. I read about the Steelers' defensive and offensive linemen were mostly on steroids. That also implied that the steelers were the NFL pioneer PED franchise.
Yeah the Steelers were on the decline by this point but they were still a veteran team that was tough to beat at home and they still had the aura of those Super Bowl teams and big names.
Thanks for showing this recording. I lived is the Bay Area in the 80's and recorded the First 49er Superbowl game on VHS as well as the Dallas playoff game, that got them into the SB. (It was the one with the famous Dwight Clark leaping catch. "THE Catch".) Years later I met him and we talked about it. He commented on how everybody he met always asked him about that catch. I was thrilled to watch and tape ALL 5 Superbowls they won. I now have them all on DVD too. Watching an old game that I didn't record is fun for me and brings back good memories. Thanks again.
the game prior to this one had the 49ers beating the Rams in their first meeting of the season and it got the attention of sports illustrated who gave them the cover and did a big story about the game. The story ended with naming upcoming teams the 49ers woulld play and made sure to mention that Steelers were next week. The article ended with something like the niners are going to find out how good they really are. Well I guess they found out.
Wow looking back on this, its pretty crazy to see basically the team of the 70s vs the team of the 80s. Both qbs with 4 rings by the time they retired, i respect them both although i am a Raiders fan and those damn 70s steelers kept the Raiders out of a couple super bowls in the 70s, and i always wished SBXVIII had been Raiders vs 49ers instead of Redskins but oh well at least the Raiders beat the skins.
The difference is the following: Bradshaw was a loud-mouth and Noll stacked his team with steroid supplements. Montana was all mental toughness and talents while Walsh was strategic planning and excecutions.
Just like in the three other Super Bowls they won in the 80's. People always mention Montana but D wins Championships. 49ers D was always in top 5 during those wins. That's one of the reasons why The Chargers never made it.
AVC IV All because the 49ers didn’t have a running game (and secondary) for two years...when they did have a running game in 1997 they got hit with a bunch of injuries and the team more or less declined from there.
Was hard to see as a Steeler fan, but the Niners did it right by choosing an innovative coach with an eye for great veteran players like Hacksaw Reynolds, Freddie Solomon, Lenvil Elliott, Wendell Tyler, Russ Francis, Lawrence Pillers, and ex-Chargers Gary "Hands" Johnson and Louie Kelcher. After San Francisco's early '70s disappointments and the horrible 2-14 season, watching longtime Niners fans rewarded with a stellar, consistent team was enjoyable.
This was the year Bill Walsh's "west coast" offense took off. Walsh was the OC in Cincinnati in the mid 70's. The Bengals retained his offensive philosophy after he left the team in 76. His offense is based on timing with quarterback/receivers/running backs for the passing game. Prior to 1978 defenders could keep contact with receivers 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
0:34 A stunning reminder of the physical specimen Franco Harris was. Even with all the Immaculate Reception glory, he is still probably underrated as a dominant running back in his time.
I remember watching this game in Pittsburgh when I was 15. I remember being upset the way the Steelers played in this game but yet I was impressed and shocked at how good the 49ers defense was. And this was the game when I first heard of Joe Montana. I have been a die hard 49ers fan ever since.
Not a bad game. Probably the closest two dynasty teams will come to facing one another. Steelers dynasty ending, and the 49ers just starting. The funny thing is, this was not a shining performance for either team.
Mostly on point. A few other instances come close, in terms of legendary intersections of teams. The Raiders and Cowboys missed playing one another in a SB by a game on two occasions, in '76 and again in '80. They did play each other to some good regular season games in '80 and '83, though. Also, you can say the 1992 NFCCG between the Cowboys and 49ers was a meeting of two dynastic-ish teams.
I had a lot of newspaper cut outs of this game that I saved in a photo album and kept for many years. I had Carlton Williamson on one catching an interception that was called back with a penalty.
I remember watching this game as a 10 year old kid. Looking at the game as a 51 year old man, I still say the Steelers were still a good team. At this point (in 1981) the Steelers were starting to wear down with age, injuries, retirements and just being unable to find stud replacements. The 49ers were young, hungry, aspiring and had much to prove. Although the loss is not easy to accept, at least this was a loss to a worthy team.
The switching of decade, dynasty team game. Cowboys, Vikings, of 70,s could never beat Pittsburgh at Three Rivers. This was first Pittsburgh loss to NFC team at home in 10 yrs. To the L.A. Rams in 1971. Pittsburgh had never defeated Rams until Superbowl XIV. Jan 1980.
The Rams were pretty good in '71 but the 49ers won the west by half a game over them while losing both games they played each other because of a tie against Atlanta in week 2 which proved to be crucial to the Rams in the end.
Snake Oiler, The Rams should have won but the Steelers roids linemen took extra dosage before the SB and prevailed at the scrimmage. It is hard to beat the PED pioneers. Also, poor Roger Staubach and the Cowboys lost to them twice.
How many legends in the same Game!!! Amazing! Lambert, Hamm, Harris, Bradshaw, Stallworth, Montana, Clark, Lot, Hicks, Turner... Maaaaan!! Just amazing!!! Glads for you from Mérida Yucatán México 🌟✨
A total of 19 players/ coaches/ owners. 14 for Pittsburgh, 5 for San Francisco. From the 1981 game, the HOF'S are: 49ers: Debartolo, Walsh, Montana, Dean, Lott Steelers: A. Rooney Sr, D. Rooney, Noll, Dungy, Greene, Ham, Blount, Bradshaw, Harris, Lambert, Webster, Swann, Stallworth, Shell
Talk about Hall of Fame & Superbowl Dynasties. Four rings to follow w/coaching trees resulting in several more rings & future HOFs. One Dynasty meeting a future one. Funny to hear that Steelers don't lose at home. 2020 loss to Browns shows where they're now.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was known for churning out football players. Joe Montana, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, Johnny Unitas, George Blanda, Joe Namath and others are from the area.
Nice meeting of the old dynasty at their tail end, and the new young raw budding dynasty. Tough hitting by both, good secondary play, rough game with some TOs. Franco had a great day, and Montana some clutch plays. I like at very end of the game/video, on the far right of the screen - Montana shaking hands with the Steelers D-Linemen, then he and Lambert.
Rookies Lott, Williamson & Wright were starters as DB's; Cooper, Stuckey, Turner, Puki, Leopold were 2nd year players; and of course Montana & Clark were 3rd year players - Walsh drafted very well.
This is the "Respect" game. Pittsburgh doesn't have any for SF, at kick-off. This 49ers game has a tremendous impact instilling confidence & gaining respect from every NFL player & team. SF 49ers defeated 6 teams twice that season. SF49ers earned "respect".
Other footnotes to this game: Joe Montana grew up near Pittsburgh. Bill Walsh would've gotten to know this steeler team well having to play them twice a year while an assistant in Cincinnati.
@George Washington Dennis Miller was the all-time worst MNF announcer, Cosell did more than MNF, His " Down goes Frazier "! call during an Ali/Frazier fight was legendary.
Yes, I looked it up on my own personal copy, and it was a Mel Blount 50 yard interception return. Basically Montana got pressured in the pocket, and threw a panicky pass on an out route to his left. Bad throw that was taken to the house. A shame that it's missing from the broadcast uploaded here.
I remember this game. This was the game when I knew that the 49ers were legit. The Steelers had the famed Steel Curtain defense, but the 49ers hit harder. Carlton Williamson had quite a game.
I’m a Raiders Fan living In Altoona Pa. I Found Myself watching A Lot of Old Football Games from the 70s during this Man Made Virus by China anyway I 4GOT Just how GREAT the Steelers were, they weren’t Just Great but they Were So Deep they were litterly 6/7 players Deep per Position.!! Simply Awesome watching those Old Games & remember Bradshaw called his Own plays during the game which shows U how in tuned Bradshaw was During the Game too Know what to call..Amazing to watch if u can how Great the Steelers were in the 70s.!!
All the qbs in the '70s and prior called their own plays. Bradshaw was nothing special in this regard. Montana in the later part of the '80s knew Walsh's offense so well, he called his own plays too. But by then OCs where doing the play calling for almost every team.
I see I'm a bit late to this comment party :) This was surely a statement win for the Niners that year. The Steelers, though aging at that point, went on a 2-6 slide with this loss and missed the playoffs for the second straight year after having won four of the previous six Super Bowls. Just a strategic note, nowadays field goal kicking is several bits better than it was back then. Even the "worst" kickers would be given a chance to try a 53-yarder to tie a game with less than two minutes to go, much as the Steelers found themselves late in this one. Also, and interestingly, the Steelers won the next two games they played against SF. Handed them their only loss in 1984 and one of only two losses in 1987.
@@danyluk1, my bad, indeed. Thought they had gone 7-9 overall but indeed they were 8-8. The 1981 Steelers were quite competitive for being a largely old team in transition.
This was only Pittsburg's SECOND LOSS to an NFC team at home since the merger took place 10 seasons prior to this one. Ya I would've described it the same way. Virtually unbeatable at home! Not that I'm disappointed in the outcome mind you. I hate the Steelers
The legends began retiring The USFL gutted the Steelers of more starters..namely Jim Smith Then Bradshaw got hurt Of course they passed on Marino And that finished off the best dynasty we knew
You alluded to it by passing on Marino, but it is to be noted that the drafts for the Steelers in the 80s did them in as well. Yes, they drafted Rod Woodson during that period, but it was a far cry from the track record they put together in the 70s. To me, Noll stayed on much longer than he should have. The Steelers continuity, loyalty, and stability was their greatest strength but eventually became their greatest weakness. If they didn't bring in Bill Cowher and the Bengals hired him instead of Dave Shula, who knows where they would be today?
@Brian OSullivan not sure what you mean but yes...the drafting in the 80s was below average...Marino alone would have made them a playoff team the whole decade dude...they may have won the super bowl in 83 and 84 w marino...they were in the playoffs w Cliff S and Mark Malone. .the Bengals were not going to hire Cowher
Are you kidding me. Montana practically gave this game away. He was good for two turnovers a game in '81. That pick 6 was all you had and definitely kept Pitt in this game. Meet the new defense. Same as your old defense....only a way better offense=the team of the 1980s. Pitt was never gonna win this game without divine intervention and they used all that up years before. PS: Ask John Stallworth about how Pitt beat the 49ers. Oh ya you can't. He don't remember this game😂
@@plantfeeder6677 I concur with you ,the better team, 49ers, won this contest ,no questions from me about that narrative.Your assessment about the 49ers 80's dynasty offense being better then 78,79 70's Steelers dynasty team ,and defense being equal then steel curtain i objectively disagree with . Pittsburgh Steelers possessed 5 hofers on offense ,goat wr tandem ,6 hofers on defense ,should be 8 with LC and Russell . Only defense in NFL history that can apply a objective debate of having the goat players at a respective position playing together on the same team . 43 defense DT Mean Joe Greene, OLB Jack Ham ,ILB Jack Lambert ,CB Mel Blount,SS Donnie Shell who retired with a NFL record 51 ints as a ss ,and NFL record total turnovers with fum recoveries added to ints . On offense, Mike Webster, Theo, Bell,Calvin Sweeney , Frank Lewis ,Bennie Cunningham,Craig Hawthorne ,Rocky Bleier, Randy Grossman one of the most underrated great hofers Franco Harris ,Swann ,Stallworth , great offensive line . Those incredible 49ers teams were transcended,gifted on every level , but as the 49ers legendary coach himself Bill Walsh once lamented ,the 70's Steelers were the greatest collection of talent ever assembled on a single football team . Oh,yeah ,like Walsh ,the Steelers had a top 10 all time head coach as well ,Chuck Noll. Steelers repeated twice ,43 years later ,no franchise still has ever equaled nor surpassed that iconic achievement . Steelers offensive and defensive collective talent were better then 49ers ,49ers coach even admitted it .
After this game both teams went in different directions. Steelers went 8-8 after 5-3 start and 49ers went 13-3 after 6-2 start and Super Bowl champs . Steelers could have won a 5th title in 80’ if the Steelers defense didn’t fall off going from 5th to 15th . Steelers offense was number 1 in 79’ ,6th in 80’, 11th in 81 along with the Steelers being 11th in defense. San Francisco’s defense was number 2 that year and really the reason they won super bowl 16. San Fran’s offense was 13th that year . I’m glad the match up happened, Bradshaw was 3-0 against the 49ers and might have been 4-0 if Franco didn’t fumble in the 1st inside the 20.
Yep, pretty cool game looking back at it. The Team of the '70s in their final years, and the future Team of the '80s just getting started. The Steelers did win their division in '83, '84 and '85, even making it to the '84 AFC Championship. But most of those '70s Steeler greats were retired by '84 including Bradshaw, Greene, Harris, Swann, Ham and Blount. The only guys left who won all 4 Super Bowls were Lambert, Webster, Stallworth, Shell and Brown.
Too many injuries for the Steelers. Age was the likely culprit. Too many tough physical games vs the AFC Central foes and Oakland. 80 was a great team that got beat up. This team went toe-to-toe with both SB finalists with injury depleted lineups in all 3 games and went 0-3. It was a sad time for us Steeler fans. A time for revenge for everyone else.
@@TheTicktockman321 1980 teams lost to the browns , bengals and oilers at the end by a couple of points . Probably could have been 13-3 , I think they get 1 for the thumb in 81 ‘! Oakland was a weak team , barely got by the browns in the playoffs.
Chuck noll and Terry Bradshaw really hurt the steelers teams of the 1980s early on with bad coaching decision and bad quarterback play with all the interceptions and noll playing wrong player's and getting rid of some good players Jim Smith dirt Winston Theo Bell Greg Hawthorne Larry Anderson Tony Dungy sid Thornton Russell Davis Anthony Washington Zack Valentine Mike merriweather and keeping his favorite slower lest affected players, names I didn't call!
Noll A victim of his own teams massive success. He couldn't just cut guys that won him all those Superbowls. He should of by the time this game was played many of those great Steelers were older and much slower. STEELERS SUPER 70's greatest Dynasty ever.
I can remember off the top of my head; #49 Cooper #36 Hofer #32 Patton #20 Lawrence #24 Gervais? #38 Davis #31 Easley But I probably have forgotten someone...
Hoping to see Dynasty vs Dynasty, but SF wasn't anywhere near their peak yet here and Pittsburgh was on the decline. Old and tired, having already made their mark.
Yes, Montana was just beginning to mature - still making some bad choices and throws. But on the other hand showing signs of what he would become and his natural talents, coolness and poise. But his ability to see, read and pick apart defenses would improve substantially. And of course the team's quickness and talent depth would increase. And once they established a better running game with Wendell Tyler and Roger Craig, that's when they really took off.
Ya John Stallworth doesn't even remember this game. The 49ers beat the Steelers in total Raiders fashion. The only way Pittsburg is even in this game is because of that new qb of the 49ers throwing interceptions😂😂 Called both dynastys before they ever won their first SBs. Trouble was I was pulling for Hanrattey(Pitt)and DeBerg(SF)to do it. So I'm lousy at picking qbs. But not football teams😊
Week 9 Television Assignments CBS Doubleheader 1pm 49ers/Steelers Vin Scully, Hank Stram Falcons/Saints Gary Bender, Fred Dryer Bears/Buccaneers Frank Glieber, Johnny Morris 4pm Cowboys/Eagles Pat Summerall, John Madden Cardinals/Redskins Lindsey Nelson, George Allen Lions/Rams Tom Brookshier, Roger Staubach NBC Single Game 1pm Browns/Bills Don Criqui, John Brodie Jets/Giants Marv Albert, Len Dawson Oilers/Bengals Bob Costas, Bob Trumpy Colts/Dolphins Jay Randolph, Jim Turner 2pm Seahawks/Packers Sam Nover, Dave Rowe 4pm Chiefs/Chargers Phil Stone, Gene Washington Patriots/Raiders Merle Harmon, George Kunz ABC Monday Night Football 9pm Vikings/Broncos Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Fran Tarkenton
This game kicked off just after 1pm ET. A little more than two hours earlier--at 10:56am ET--in Ellsworth, Maine, someone else entered planet earth. That someone is ME, some 6 weeks earlier than the anticipated due date. Of course, I didn't get to see this game as a then two-hour old boy. In fact, being born a premature one, I had a partially collapsed lung and was hospitalized for nearly three weeks. Then, in mid-December, my family and I moved to the Bay Area as my father began a new job at the US Post Office.
Thanks for this upload on the same day I was born.
The team of the 70's vs the team of the 80's. One dynasty was ending and another was beginning.
Thanks for posting. Finding a bunch of these old games that I was too young to remember. My first memory is the NFC Championship game this season. I was too busy running around outside on Sundays, until that Sunday. I grew up in the Bay Area and that Sunday there was no one outside. But I’m watching every game I can find from 81.
Jedi I can relate I was only 8 years old when this game was played and I had just became a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and yeah I was busy running around outside growing up in Newark NJ to remember this changing of the guard... I couldn't see myself being a jet or a giants fan at that time... Til this day I'm a die hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan!!!
Thanks a million for uploading this game! What a historically important game: the team of the 1970's vs the eventual team of the '80s. The 'changing of the guard' with Dallas, give me a break! This was the REAL changing of the guard! Imagine being a 49ers rookie (like Ronnie Lott) proving yourself against a team that had won 4 Super Bowls over the span of 6 years, had quite a few Hall of Famers on both sides of the ball, and then actually BEAT them in their home stadium. For the Niners, no doubt this would have been the game of their lives.
So very true
People always cite the Dallas game as "a changing of the guard", and it most certainly was, but that sentiment is even more applicable to this game. Dallas wasn't the team of the 70's, it was Pittsburgh, and here they were on the tail end of 4 Super Bowls, new decade, aging roster, up against what would become their historical bookend, duplicating their Super Bowl success in the new decade. The 80's absolutely ruled.
Yeah But Dallas was still gooed thru 1985. They were very good in 1981. The Steelers were essentially suddenly old starting in 1980. And Dallas was the runner up of the 70,s always an excellent team.
@@ricktheitalianrebel6687
Actually, the Dallas dynasty ended with the retirement of Roger Staubach. Danny White was good but couldn't carry his team to the SB.
It was believed, rightly or wrongly, that the Cowboys were still the best organization in the NFC in 1981. That's why the 49ers and their Fans all circled the Date that the 49ers would play the Cowboys for NFC Supremacy in 1981.
Well, not quite did they duplicate the Steelers SB success. Yes, both won four, but the Steelers are still the only team to go back to back, TWICE...!
@@donquixote...
They are definitely a standout football team. I read about the Steelers' defensive and offensive linemen were mostly on steroids. That also implied that the steelers were the NFL pioneer PED franchise.
Defining moment for both teams… One dynasty was ending, One dynasty was beginning. I remember this game well.
Bill Walsh called this game “One of the most important (victories) in 49ers history.”
WOW really.
uh, thanks for the spoiler...😑
Bill Walsh was a genius. The Niners have many records that still stand today. (Including those of Jerry Rice.)
Yeah the Steelers were on the decline by this point but they were still a veteran team that was tough to beat at home and they still had the aura of those Super Bowl teams and big names.
@@bradleybrown8399 Sorry 'bout that. Still worth watching.
Thanks for showing this recording. I lived is the Bay Area in the 80's and recorded the First 49er Superbowl game on VHS as well as the Dallas playoff game, that got them into the SB. (It was the one with the famous Dwight Clark leaping catch. "THE Catch".) Years later I met him and we talked about it. He commented on how everybody he met always asked him about that catch. I was thrilled to watch and tape ALL 5 Superbowls they won. I now have them all on DVD too. Watching an old game that I didn't record is fun for me and brings back good memories. Thanks again.
the game prior to this one had the 49ers beating the Rams in their first meeting of the season and it got the attention of sports illustrated who gave them the cover and did a big story about the game. The story ended with naming upcoming teams the 49ers woulld play and made sure to mention that Steelers were next week. The article ended with something like the niners are going to find out how good they really are. Well I guess they found out.
Wow looking back on this, its pretty crazy to see basically the team of the 70s vs the team of the 80s. Both qbs with 4 rings by the time they retired, i respect them both although i am a Raiders fan and those damn 70s steelers kept the Raiders out of a couple super bowls in the 70s, and i always wished SBXVIII had been Raiders vs 49ers instead of Redskins but oh well at least the Raiders beat the skins.
Yeah. Raiders v. Niners would've been great. But loss led to 15-1 '84 & epic SB win over Marino.
That's probably true, although I'm sure the 49ers and Cowboys met early in the 90's in a similar situation
Bradshaw and MOntana; Noll and Walsh on opposite sides!
The difference is the following:
Bradshaw was a loud-mouth and Noll stacked his team with steroid supplements.
Montana was all mental toughness and talents while Walsh was strategic planning and excecutions.
@@benthekeeshond545 Bradshaw called his own plays
It's cool to hear them talk about the legends, Montana, Walsh, Lott before they became one.
As usual, the 49er defense never got the credit they deserved. Top notch.
Just like in the three other Super Bowls they won in the 80's. People always mention Montana but D wins Championships. 49ers D was always in top 5 during those wins. That's one of the reasons why The Chargers never made it.
George Seifert is a huge reason as to why the 49ers dynasty was so dominant in the 80s and 90s but sadly, he will never be in Canton.
@@jonathand.9555 He also got shit on by Eddie D after losing the 2nd consecutive playoff game to the Packers after the 1996 season
I think that it was unappreciated by the media and being labeled them as a finesse team kinda fueled the fire
AVC IV All because the 49ers didn’t have a running game (and secondary) for two years...when they did have a running game in 1997 they got hit with a bunch of injuries and the team more or less declined from there.
Was hard to see as a Steeler fan, but the Niners did it right by choosing an innovative coach with an eye for great veteran players like Hacksaw Reynolds, Freddie Solomon, Lenvil Elliott, Wendell Tyler, Russ Francis, Lawrence Pillers, and ex-Chargers Gary "Hands" Johnson and Louie Kelcher. After San Francisco's early '70s disappointments and the horrible 2-14 season, watching longtime Niners fans rewarded with a stellar, consistent team was enjoyable.
I remember thinking this 49er team was for real after this game.
This was the year Bill Walsh's "west coast" offense took off. Walsh was the OC in Cincinnati in the mid 70's. The Bengals retained his offensive philosophy after he left the team in 76. His offense is based on timing with quarterback/receivers/running backs for the passing game. Prior to 1978 defenders could keep contact with receivers 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
Walsh knew how to adjust to the new limits on defenses.
Pretty much how I looked at the 49ers after this game and how hard hitting the secondary was.
0:34 A stunning reminder of the physical specimen Franco Harris was. Even with all the Immaculate Reception glory, he is still probably underrated as a dominant running back in his time.
no hall-of-famer is underrated, idiot.
Immaculate Deception. Proof the commies needed to show mob rule works.
Passing the baton, changing of the guard , new dynasty game.
The changing of the guard game.
I remember watching this game in Pittsburgh when I was 15. I remember being upset the way the Steelers played in this game but yet I was impressed and shocked at how good the 49ers defense was. And this was the game when I first heard of Joe Montana. I have been a die hard 49ers fan ever since.
Thank you! My 2 favorite teams! ❤❤
Not a bad game. Probably the closest two dynasty teams will come to facing one another. Steelers dynasty ending, and the 49ers just starting. The funny thing is, this was not a shining performance for either team.
Mostly on point. A few other instances come close, in terms of legendary intersections of teams. The Raiders and Cowboys missed playing one another in a SB by a game on two occasions, in '76 and again in '80. They did play each other to some good regular season games in '80 and '83, though. Also, you can say the 1992 NFCCG between the Cowboys and 49ers was a meeting of two dynastic-ish teams.
I sure hope Carlton Williamson got the game ball. He really deserved it for this game.
The play that knocked Stallworth out 41:20. Eric Wright made a phenominal play on the ball
@@Miatacrosser Big hit!
Smashmouth before Madden.
I had a lot of newspaper cut outs of this game that I saved in a photo album and kept for many years. I had Carlton Williamson on one catching an interception that was called back with a penalty.
I remember watching this game as a 10 year old kid. Looking at the game as a 51 year old man, I still say the Steelers were still a good team. At this point (in 1981) the Steelers were starting to wear down with age, injuries, retirements and just being unable to find stud replacements. The 49ers were young, hungry, aspiring and had much to prove. Although the loss is not easy to accept, at least this was a loss to a worthy team.
The Steelers could say they really outplayed the niners. Too many turnovers.
The switching of decade, dynasty team game. Cowboys, Vikings, of 70,s could never beat Pittsburgh at Three Rivers. This was first Pittsburgh loss to NFC team at home in 10 yrs. To the L.A. Rams in 1971. Pittsburgh had never defeated Rams until Superbowl XIV. Jan 1980.
The Rams were pretty good in '71 but the 49ers won the west by half a game over them while losing both games they played each other because of a tie against Atlanta in week 2 which proved to be crucial to the Rams in the end.
Snake Oiler,
The Rams should have won but the Steelers roids linemen took extra dosage before the SB and prevailed at the scrimmage. It is hard to beat the PED pioneers. Also, poor Roger Staubach and the Cowboys lost to them twice.
@@benthekeeshond545 LOL Salty tears are hilarious and delicious.
@@benthekeeshond545 just jealous that 49ers are not as good as the Steelers?
@@killalltogepis9916
What the hell are you talking about?
So many legends!
How many legends in the same Game!!! Amazing! Lambert, Hamm, Harris, Bradshaw, Stallworth, Montana, Clark, Lot, Hicks, Turner... Maaaaan!! Just amazing!!! Glads for you from Mérida Yucatán México 🌟✨
A new era of dominance🏈
Lost count of how many Hall of Famers on the field. And the sidelines. And the owner’s box. Wow.
I said the same thing. Lordy, those were glorious years.
A total of 19 players/ coaches/ owners. 14 for Pittsburgh, 5 for San Francisco.
From the 1981 game, the HOF'S are:
49ers: Debartolo, Walsh, Montana, Dean, Lott
Steelers: A. Rooney Sr, D. Rooney, Noll, Dungy, Greene, Ham, Blount, Bradshaw, Harris, Lambert, Webster, Swann, Stallworth, Shell
And the broadcast booth....
Talk about Hall of Fame & Superbowl Dynasties. Four rings to follow w/coaching trees resulting in several more rings & future HOFs. One Dynasty meeting a future one. Funny to hear that Steelers don't lose at home. 2020 loss to Browns shows where they're now.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was known for churning out football players.
Joe Montana, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, Johnny Unitas, George Blanda, Joe Namath and others are from the area.
Nice meeting of the old dynasty at their tail end, and the new young raw budding dynasty. Tough hitting by both, good secondary play, rough game with some TOs. Franco had a great day, and Montana some clutch plays. I like at very end of the game/video, on the far right of the screen - Montana shaking hands with the Steelers D-Linemen, then he and Lambert.
This was a passing of the dynasty torch game…also Chuck Noll’s Steelers usually played well against the dynasty 49ers every time they met
This is true I think Chuck beat Bill’s teams
Rookies Lott, Williamson & Wright were starters as DB's; Cooper, Stuckey, Turner, Puki, Leopold were 2nd year players; and of course Montana & Clark were 3rd year players - Walsh drafted very well.
Football always has dynasties led by the greatest coaches because no sport relies on coaching even nearly as much.
Yeah... Every great team starts with a great coach. And we had two huge ones in this game
Except for bilicheat, it's now a fact that he's a terrible coach, it was all Brady.
Mind boggling how kickers kick barefooted. Especially if it’s cold.
Both CBS had Vin Scully and Pat Summerall as play-by-play announcers for football games.
The kids from San Francisco and the veterans from Pittsburgh 🤔
This is the "Respect" game. Pittsburgh doesn't have any for SF, at kick-off. This 49ers game has a tremendous impact instilling confidence & gaining respect from every NFL player & team.
SF 49ers defeated 6 teams twice that season. SF49ers earned "respect".
This version seems to be missing Mel Blount's pick six off of Montana :-(
TelevisionDetroit that’s what I thought! Thanks for confirming it Blount’s INT TD was missing
Yes and probably the biggest play in the game!
Other footnotes to this game: Joe Montana grew up near Pittsburgh. Bill Walsh would've gotten to know this steeler team well having to play them twice a year while an assistant in Cincinnati.
RIP Bill Walsh, Chuck Knoll, Dwight Clark, Freddie Solomon, LC Greenwood, Franco Harris.
The officials are going way out of their way to keep this game close.
Two hall of Fame coaches . Exciting Bradshaw and young Montana.
Officials helped the steelers as much as they could.
Really?
This game was a passing of the torch
STEELERS MAKE IT TOUGH by APOLOGETIX a great football song
Always love to see a Steelers vs 49ers superbowl maybe this year! #49ers #6
A number of NFL Hall of Fame players and coaches .
Hank Stram's rug was worse than Howard Cosell's
It was bad, he was a better announcer than Cosell
@@BAYAREA-kd1ig True that, but it's hard to find an announcer that was worse than Howard.
@George Washington Dennis Miller was the all-time worst MNF announcer, Cosell did more than MNF, His " Down goes Frazier "! call during an Ali/Frazier fight was legendary.
Daniel Boone hat ! 😳
The announcing was so much better.
the way the 2019 49ers are looking, I think they have a legitimate shot at joining the ranks of Pittsburgh & New England with 6 Lombardi Trophies
Football Genius want some cheese with that whine?
Well that didn't happen. Maybe we try again in 2021 after the virus.
Wrong numb-nuts.
The first Steelers TD seems to be missing. All of a sudden at 1:24:20 the announcers say it's 10-7 but last we knew it was 10-0.
Yes, I looked it up on my own personal copy, and it was a Mel Blount 50 yard interception return. Basically Montana got pressured in the pocket, and threw a panicky pass on an out route to his left. Bad throw that was taken to the house. A shame that it's missing from the broadcast uploaded here.
@@astrostar49 Thank you for the play description!
I wondered if others saw this....
Montana the GOAT!!!!!
Agreed!!!! But don't let Tom Brady fans hear you say that you know how sensitive they are!!! Lol!
Agreed. Two of the greatest QB's ever went head to head in this game!
Joe Montana..Matriculator in Chief!
I remember this game. This was the game when I knew that the 49ers were legit. The Steelers had the famed Steel Curtain defense, but the 49ers hit harder. Carlton Williamson had quite a game.
Two legendary quarterbacks in one game Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw
And Joe Montana grew up in PA and was a Steelers fan.
I’m a Raiders Fan living In Altoona Pa. I Found Myself watching A Lot of Old Football Games from the 70s during this Man Made Virus by China anyway I 4GOT Just how GREAT the Steelers were, they weren’t Just Great but they Were So Deep they were litterly 6/7 players Deep per Position.!! Simply Awesome watching those Old Games & remember Bradshaw called his Own plays during the game which shows U how in tuned Bradshaw was During the Game too Know what to call..Amazing to watch if u can how Great the Steelers were in the 70s.!!
Don't forget about the impact of steroids. Mike Webster can be seen grinding it out in this game.
I would have LOVED to see the 70s Raiders against the 70s Cowboys in the Superbowl, and I love the old 70s Steelers.
All the qbs in the '70s and prior called their own plays. Bradshaw was nothing special in this regard.
Montana in the later part of the '80s knew Walsh's offense so well, he called his own plays too. But by then OCs where doing the play calling for almost every team.
the passing of the torch between the two dynasties....
Vin Scully & Hank Stram, RIP w the call 4 CBS!
Those high passes down the middle were a death sentence
Looks like it ruined Sweeney's career here in this game.
I see I'm a bit late to this comment party :) This was surely a statement win for the Niners that year. The Steelers, though aging at that point, went on a 2-6 slide with this loss and missed the playoffs for the second straight year after having won four of the previous six Super Bowls. Just a strategic note, nowadays field goal kicking is several bits better than it was back then. Even the "worst" kickers would be given a chance to try a 53-yarder to tie a game with less than two minutes to go, much as the Steelers found themselves late in this one. Also, and interestingly, the Steelers won the next two games they played against SF. Handed them their only loss in 1984 and one of only two losses in 1987.
Not 2-6.... 3-5
@@danyluk1, my bad, indeed. Thought they had gone 7-9 overall but indeed they were 8-8. The 1981 Steelers were quite competitive for being a largely old team in transition.
RipBillWalsh🏈49ers4Life!!!! RipCandlestickPark
"virtually impossible to beat at home" ha not if on the opposite team played Joe Montana
This was only Pittsburg's SECOND LOSS to an NFC team at home since the merger took place 10 seasons prior to this one.
Ya I would've described it the same way. Virtually unbeatable at home! Not that I'm disappointed in the outcome mind you. I hate the Steelers
Missing is future HOF Mel Blount's interception off of future HOF Joe Montana he returned for a touchdown
Freak plays and injuries cost both these dynasties a three peat.
The legends began retiring
The USFL gutted the Steelers of more starters..namely Jim Smith
Then Bradshaw got hurt
Of course they passed on Marino
And that finished off the best dynasty we knew
We?....you mean YOU!
My Dynasty was just getting started and was to last almost 3 times as long(81-94) as the Steelers(74-79)
@@plantfeeder6677 steelers dynasty better..most people agree..you had losing seasons in "your" era kid lol
You alluded to it by passing on Marino, but it is to be noted that the drafts for the Steelers in the 80s did them in as well. Yes, they drafted Rod Woodson during that period, but it was a far cry from the track record they put together in the 70s. To me, Noll stayed on much longer than he should have. The Steelers continuity, loyalty, and stability was their greatest strength but eventually became their greatest weakness. If they didn't bring in Bill Cowher and the Bengals hired him instead of Dave Shula, who knows where they would be today?
@Brian OSullivan not sure what you mean but yes...the drafting in the 80s was below average...Marino alone would have made them a playoff team the whole decade dude...they may have won the super bowl in 83 and 84 w marino...they were in the playoffs w Cliff S and Mark Malone. .the Bengals were not going to hire Cowher
I remember watching this game at a Reno casino sports book and thinking the 49ers are for real !!!
The 6 turnovers by the Steelers in this game absolutely killed them.
They should have won.
Are you kidding me. Montana practically gave this game away. He was good for two turnovers a game in '81. That pick 6 was all you had and definitely kept Pitt in this game.
Meet the new defense. Same as your old defense....only a way better offense=the team of the 1980s. Pitt was never gonna win this game without divine intervention and they used all that up years before.
PS: Ask John Stallworth about how Pitt beat the 49ers. Oh ya you can't. He don't remember this game😂
@@plantfeeder6677 I concur with you ,the better team, 49ers, won this contest ,no questions from me about that narrative.Your assessment about the 49ers 80's dynasty offense being better then 78,79 70's Steelers dynasty team ,and defense being equal then steel curtain i objectively disagree with . Pittsburgh Steelers possessed 5 hofers on offense ,goat wr tandem ,6 hofers on defense ,should be 8 with LC and Russell . Only defense in NFL history that can apply a objective debate of having the goat players at a respective position playing together on the same team . 43 defense DT Mean Joe Greene, OLB Jack Ham ,ILB Jack Lambert ,CB Mel Blount,SS Donnie Shell who retired with a NFL record 51 ints as a ss ,and NFL record total turnovers with fum recoveries added to ints . On offense, Mike Webster, Theo, Bell,Calvin Sweeney , Frank Lewis ,Bennie Cunningham,Craig Hawthorne ,Rocky Bleier, Randy Grossman one of the most underrated great hofers Franco Harris ,Swann ,Stallworth , great offensive line . Those incredible 49ers teams were transcended,gifted on every level , but as the 49ers legendary coach himself Bill Walsh once lamented ,the 70's Steelers were the greatest collection of talent ever assembled on a single football team . Oh,yeah ,like Walsh ,the Steelers had a top 10 all time head coach as well ,Chuck Noll. Steelers repeated twice ,43 years later ,no franchise still has ever equaled nor surpassed that iconic achievement . Steelers offensive and defensive collective talent were better then 49ers ,49ers coach even admitted it .
This game must have meant a lot to Montana being from PA - the Steelers were his idols
This was a good game. However, what's with those cars parked in the corner of the field?
End of one dynasty vs the beginning of another.
Yep! Very cool to be able to look back and see that in this game.
Never heard him say so but Joe's game..was it modelled on Bradshaw??
Team of the 70's vs the Team of the 80's
After this game both teams went in different directions. Steelers went 8-8 after 5-3 start and 49ers went 13-3 after 6-2 start and Super Bowl champs . Steelers could have won a 5th title in 80’ if the Steelers defense didn’t fall off going from 5th to 15th . Steelers offense was number 1 in 79’ ,6th in 80’, 11th in 81 along with the Steelers being 11th in defense. San Francisco’s defense was number 2 that year and really the reason they won super bowl 16. San Fran’s offense was 13th that year . I’m glad the match up happened, Bradshaw was 3-0 against the 49ers and might have been 4-0 if Franco didn’t fumble in the 1st inside the 20.
Yep, pretty cool game looking back at it. The Team of the '70s in their final years, and the future Team of the '80s just getting started. The Steelers did win their division in '83, '84 and '85, even making it to the '84 AFC Championship. But most of those '70s Steeler greats were retired by '84 including Bradshaw, Greene, Harris, Swann, Ham and Blount. The only guys left who won all 4 Super Bowls were Lambert, Webster, Stallworth, Shell and Brown.
Too many injuries for the Steelers. Age was the likely culprit. Too many tough physical games vs the AFC Central foes and Oakland. 80 was a great team that got beat up. This team went toe-to-toe with both SB finalists with injury depleted lineups in all 3 games and went 0-3. It was a sad time for us Steeler fans. A time for revenge for everyone else.
@@TheTicktockman321 1980 teams lost to the browns , bengals and oilers at the end by a couple of points . Probably could have been 13-3 , I think they get 1 for the thumb in 81 ‘! Oakland was a weak team , barely got by the browns in the playoffs.
My Bengals finally got the Stealers in 81. The steel curtain was gone in 81. But still a great franchise.
My youth! ❤️⭐️I was 18 on this day in 1981 💪✨ Love Hank Stram but that “ Daniel Boone “ hat he has on is a joke 😳
Hank had a bad day commentating...
Do you have Patriots @ 49ers 1980?
I love to see the 1982 MNF PITTSBURGH AT DALLAS
I notice that one of the announcers sounds like glen quagmire.😂
Chuck noll and Terry Bradshaw really hurt the steelers teams of the 1980s early on with bad coaching decision and bad quarterback play with all the interceptions and noll playing wrong player's and getting rid of some good players Jim Smith dirt Winston Theo Bell Greg Hawthorne Larry Anderson Tony Dungy sid Thornton Russell Davis Anthony Washington Zack Valentine Mike merriweather and keeping his favorite slower lest affected players, names I didn't call!
Yeah 4 superbowls that Noll n Bradshaw won. It was all those other scrubs that won all those titles. How silly.
Montana was no walk in the park early on in his career. He just made one more good play than he did bad plays is all he did.
The closest to Dynasty VS Dynasty as it gets between these 2 great franchises. Old Lion vs young Lion for NFL supremacy.
Noll A victim of his own teams massive success. He couldn't just cut guys that won him all those Superbowls. He should of by the time this game was played many of those great Steelers were older and much slower. STEELERS SUPER 70's greatest Dynasty ever.
It was Joe Montana vs Terry Bradshaw
Pittsburgh getting all the calls at home, nothing new here, still goes on today.
One QB already won 4 SBs.
The other is about to start his 4 SB wins.
Is it me or did the Niners have 8,000 different RB's in 1981?
No, they had 8,001.
@@thomasoaxaca9771😂
I can remember off the top of my head;
#49 Cooper
#36 Hofer
#32 Patton
#20 Lawrence
#24 Gervais?
#38 Davis
#31 Easley
But I probably have forgotten someone...
31:12 future starter mark malone was a third stringer qb and special teams player ??? that was random lol never knew that
Hoping to see Dynasty vs Dynasty, but SF wasn't anywhere near their peak yet here and Pittsburgh was on the decline. Old and tired, having already made their mark.
Yes, Montana was just beginning to mature - still making some bad choices and throws. But on the other hand showing signs of what he would become and his natural talents, coolness and poise. But his ability to see, read and pick apart defenses would improve substantially. And of course the team's quickness and talent depth would increase. And once they established a better running game with Wendell Tyler and Roger Craig, that's when they really took off.
Lambert intercepts Montana. Classic clash of Hall of Famers!
1:09 hank stram and his wigs .. I wonder if guys who wear those are thinking 'no one has any idea' lol
Can you get 1982 Pittsburgh at DALLAS
First home opener the cowboys ever lost! It had to be the steelers who else.
@@footballrealist4024 Pittsburgh won that game without Jack Lambert, who injured his knee in practice leading up to the game.
@@footballrealist4024 It was also the Cowboys first home loss of the 1980s.
Where’s the Blount INT TD?
where was Blount 50 yard int return?
My memory is foggy, but wasn't there a big stink about the cars on the field?
Wasn't this Bradshaw's last season as QB?
Ya John Stallworth doesn't even remember this game. The 49ers beat the Steelers in total Raiders fashion. The only way Pittsburg is even in this game is because of that new qb of the 49ers throwing interceptions😂😂
Called both dynastys before they ever won their first SBs.
Trouble was I was pulling for Hanrattey(Pitt)and DeBerg(SF)to do it. So I'm lousy at picking qbs. But not football teams😊
Steelers committed #6 TurnOvers...
Damn the officials tried really hard to help the steelers sad
#FellOnTheirHaircuts!!🐈🍁🍂🍃🌠🏚️📉〽️🔛💈💇🏻♂️✂️‼️
Week 9 Television Assignments
CBS Doubleheader
1pm
49ers/Steelers Vin Scully, Hank Stram
Falcons/Saints Gary Bender, Fred Dryer
Bears/Buccaneers Frank Glieber, Johnny Morris
4pm
Cowboys/Eagles Pat Summerall, John Madden
Cardinals/Redskins Lindsey Nelson, George Allen
Lions/Rams Tom Brookshier, Roger Staubach
NBC Single Game
1pm
Browns/Bills Don Criqui, John Brodie
Jets/Giants Marv Albert, Len Dawson
Oilers/Bengals Bob Costas, Bob Trumpy
Colts/Dolphins Jay Randolph, Jim Turner
2pm
Seahawks/Packers Sam Nover, Dave Rowe
4pm
Chiefs/Chargers Phil Stone, Gene Washington
Patriots/Raiders Merle Harmon, George Kunz
ABC Monday Night Football
9pm
Vikings/Broncos Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Fran Tarkenton
That week, both of CBS’ # 1 and #2 announcing teams were in Pennsylvania.
@33:04 this is how u get 49er'd!
#ANOTHERVINSCULLYGAME!!🗣️ 🎤🎵🎶📺🏈‼️
Sweet