clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Chuck Noll Way Named Near Heinz Field Friday

Steeler Nation is wrapped up in the drama of the 2011 NFL season, but on Friday morning, the Pittsburgh Steelers organization and the city of Pittsburgh took time out to honor the legendary Chuck Noll. Responsible for turning the organization around from frequent losers to a four-time Super Bowl champion dynasty in the 1970s, Noll was honored with his own street, Chuck Noll Way, near Heinz Field.

↵
↵

Steelers chairman emeritus Dan Rooney, president Art Rooney II and former players Andy Russell and Mel Blount joined Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato in ceremonies to mark the naming of the street after Mr. Noll, the only coach to win four Super Bowls.

↵

Art Rooney called Mr. Noll "a very special person in Steeler history" ...

↵

"Probably if it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be sitting around talking about having six Super Bowl trophies, that's for sure."

↵
↵
Conspicuously absent from the ceremony was Noll himself. The 79-year old, who lives in Florida, has been unable to travel to such events very often in recent years, most likely from the chronic back pain that he's been living with for years. Noll, of course, was never much one for adulation or praise either, so it's a possibility he would have just preferred to shy away from the spotlight Friday morning. Regardless, it was a nice moment and a well-deserved honor for the most decorated coach in Steelers franchise history.

Photographs by dizfunk used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.