Pictures can capture a moment in time, a moment many of us remember and some many never have seen.
So, we decided to share some of those moments in time through 'Picture Perfect' where we will bring to life historical Steelers photos.
Throughout the remainder of the offseason, Steelers.com will be featuring photos that tell the story of the Steelers through the years.
In today's feature, we highlight Hall of Fame Coach Chuck Noll's first game with the Steelers.
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When Chuck Noll was hired by the Steelers in 1969, there was hope for a struggling franchise to be able to turn things around.
"He will do a great job for the Steelers," said Hall of Fame Coach Don Shula, who Noll worked for with the Baltimore Colts as a defensive coach prior to him being hired by the Steelers. "He's a fine young man."
In his welcome press conference, Noll committed to getting right to work to help a team that hadn't had success since they were founded in 1933 and were coming off a 2-11-1 season.
"I'll be looking at films and studying Steeler personnel until late tonight," said Noll on that January day in 1969. "I want to be able to bolster weak spots on the roster."
The Steelers opened Noll's first season against the Detroit Lions at Pitt Stadium on Sept. 21. And things got off on the right foot, bringing optimism for all as the Steelers defeated the Lions, 16-13, in front of more than 51,000 fans.
Quarterback Dick Shiner would get the start that day over Terry Hanratty, who was the Steelers second-round pick in the 1969 NFL Draft. Rookie third round pick Warren Bankston started at fullback, while Earl Gros played halfback due to injuries to Dick Hoak and Don McCall.
The game got off to a rough start when Bankston fumbled in Steelers territory, and the Lions were able to convert it into a 23-yard field goal to get on the board first.
The Steelers would be the benefactor of a Lions turnover, when defensive tackle Chuck Hinton recovered a fumble at the Lions 27-yard line. The Steelers weren't able to get much going on offense, though, and it was Gene Mingo who would tie the game with a 27-yard field goal.
The Steelers offense got moving in the second quarter, with a 58-yard drive that took them to the Lions 11-yard line. Once again, though, they had to count on Mingo who connected on an 18-yard field goal to give the Steelers a 6-3 lead.
Turnovers plagued both teams, until the Steelers were able to build their lead to 9-3 with a third Mingo field goal, this one from 40 yards out, a lead the Steelers would take into halftime.
In the second half the Lions closed the gap to 9-6, and after another Steelers turnover, they were the first to get into the end zone, taking a 13-9 lead over the black and gold.
The Steelers offense responded. Shriner hit tight end John Hilton for a 23-yard gain on third down and receiver Roy Jefferson took it 12 yards on an end around and pulled in a seven-yard reception. Jefferson added a key 23-yard reception to the Lions six-yard line.
Bankston, who had two fumbles in the game, gave the Steelers exactly what they needed when he took it six yards, breaking three tackles, for a touchdown that would put the Steelers on top, 16-13. The defense held on a fourth-and-one to close out the game, giving Noll his first career win.
While optimism was in the air, things would go downhill after opening day as the team lost the remainder of their games, finishing the season 1-13.
But for Noll, it was the beginning of a Hall of Fame career as he went on to record a 209-156-1 career record, including four Super Bowl championships in the 1970s.
During Noll's Hall of Fame enshrinement, Steelers President Dan Rooney Sr., who hired him, was his presenter and shared a message that is a portion of is still emblazoned on the walls of the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
"There are times though seldom when something happens, when everything comes together, and a group of young men become a special team," said Rooney. "Where their accomplishments give them a time in history for the way they reach success not only winning and being the best, doing so with unselfish determination to be the best team, making the goal together and that happened in Pittsburgh. It was a glorious time.
"A team begins with leadership. In 1969, a 35-year young coach arrived with commitment and the ideals to be the best. He assembled players with similar ideas but had to convince them and the entire community to believe the goal was possible. Not an easy achievement. The start was rocky, but he never deviated and stuck to the basics. Small victories came and they began to believe possibly they could be the best."
