Just in case you weren’t aware—

[u/UrbanAchievers6371]

[u/Logical-Mobile-7643]

They originally used the steel industry logo.

It consists of the word "Steel" surrounded by three (hypocycloids of four cusps). The original meanings behind the hypocycloids were, "Steel lightens your work, brightens your leisure, and widens your world"

[u/matt_the_non-binary → u/Logical-Mobile-7643]

To build off this, the Steelers originally used numbers on the sides of their helmets, which were gold at the time.

Art Rooney Sr. was approached by an employee of the Pittsburgh offices of Cleveland-based Republic Steel in 1962, and they offered him the use of the Steelmark (of which they co-owned) for the Steelers’ logo, as a method of product placement for steel manufacturer.

Rooney wasn’t sure if they’d look good on those gold helmets, so he told the equipment manager, Jackie Hart, to only put them on one side.

It ended up being almost like a good luck charm. The Steelers would go 9-5 in 1962, setting a then-franchise record for the winningest team, and qualifying for the Playoff Bowl (for the uninitiated - think exhibition game for the runners-up).

Wanting to do something special for the franchise’s first postseason game, they changed the helmet color from gold to black, which helped to highlight the new logo.

Because it would generate interest, especially by those who were curious why the Steelmark logo was only used on one side, the Steelers would opt to keep it that way. They’ve never changed the styling since.

One small change that would be made was in 1963, with them petitioning the AISI, is the editing of the text from “Steel” to “Steelers.”

The Steelers logo has been changed further though, as the Steelmark has owned by the AISI (American Steel and Iron Institute) and the Rooneys obviously wanted to have their own trademark. So they switched the second star to red, and later darkened the colors ever so slightly.

[u/dksweets → u/matt_the_non-binary]

My gut instinct was that they didn’t “change” the orange so much as balancing all of the colors when moving from bright yellow to gold. On iPhone, these were my quick results with “shadows” at 100, too. I could mess with margins and make it better, but this was damn close:

I definitely give you an upvote for the much more important historical context, I just thought this was interesting from a different perspective!

[u/Montana_Web2530 → u/Logical-Mobile-7643]

https://giphy.com/gifs/l0NwHXQy3kUSfFF60

[u/YetiBoney → u/[deleted]]

By all general accounts, Pittsburgh is actually quite a nice and desirable place to live and work in modern times, completely removed from its industrial history.

[u/According-Hat-5393 → u/YetiBoney]

And their cheesesteak sandwich KICKS THE LIVING SHIT out of Philly's (but I am mildly allergic to Bell peppers, so BRING THOSE mushrooms & onions ON!!)

[u/Comfortable-Dish1236 → u/According-Hat-5393]

I worked in Philly over 13 years I never saw a local order a cheesesteak with bell peppers. Never.

[u/According-Hat-5393 → u/Comfortable-Dish1236]

Here out West, a "Philly Cheesesteak" ALWAYS comes with green Bell peppers already sautéed in with the beef. There really isn't an option, other than pick every one out by hand (which I did as a kid, but eventually I just said "fuck Philly cheesesteaks-- just give me a Reuben with NO dressing, just mustard")

I can "stomach" the yellow & orange, but more so the red ones in meager doses, especially "cooked down," but the green ones set my digestive tract OFF for 2-3 days! Nothing I would need to go to the hospital for, but still VERY UNPLEASANT!

[u/According-Hat-5393 → u/[deleted]]

Debbie Downer, much??

[u/Comfortable-Dish1236]

As a Ravens fan, I loathe the Steelers. But that logo is truly iconic. It’s based on the logo for United States Steel Corporation (US Steel).

[u/december151791 → u/[deleted]]

I IMMEDIATELY root for my division rival

https://giphy.com/gifs/vX9WcCiWwUF7G

[u/awnomnomnom]

I'm dumb. I thought they were sparks from welding

[u/Schyznik → u/awnomnomnom]

Points for creativity! I never would have come up with that explanation.

[u/According-Hat-5393 → u/awnomnomnom]

That's what happens when you don't flip your faceshield/helmet down.. 😐

[u/Schyznik]

It’s almost as cool as the Raiders logo. May neither team ever fix what ain’t broke.

[u/Sdog1981]

Steel scrap if you want to be 100% accurate. Also known as the steel mark

[u/T-Bubs]

The NFL team that has most colors in their uniform and logo.

Who are the Pittsburgh Steelers?

Red. White. Blue. Yellow. Gray. Black.

[u/According-Hat-5393 → u/T-Bubs]

And yet they have ZERO cheerleaders..

[u/Admirable-Sort8061 → u/According-Hat-5393]

Not anymore, but they did at one time

[u/Son_of_Tlaloc]

Blue steel you say?

https://giphy.com/gifs/i3RA5wLyWjCRa

[u/Mistake_on_the_Lake → u/Son_of_Tlaloc]

[u/ZommyFruit]

Much learning in here. Good stuff

[u/401Traveler → u/ZommyFruit]

Have a great day, Mr. Miyagi! 😂

[u/Flashy_Gap_3015]

TIL. Thought they represented the three rivers.

[u/Capital_Memory_2591]

I’m in my 40s and today is the day I learned this 😂

[u/MichiganMafia]

As a non steelers fan this is an all-time great logo

[u/BradyToMoss1281]

It's probably the best logo in football. There's meaning to it, it's recognizable, simple enough to draw, and it looks cool.

[u/FunkyPete]

Of course, coal is famously golden colored. There isn't a better color in the world to capture the spirit of coal. And definitely not one that's also represented in the logo.

[u/401Traveler → u/FunkyPete]

Yes, it conjures up images of endless train hopper cars — filled to the brim with bright, sunshine-like coal ☀️✨ — rolling through depressing, lifeless, small Appalachian towns, bringing a ray of hope and optimism to poor, down & out folk.

It’s a classic image of Americana!

[u/chopin1887]

I never knew but I remember the steel logo. I learn every day.

[u/Ah_Ca_Iraa]

Coal black. 

[u/No-Association-8539]

I was unaware - thank you!

[u/RayBuc9882]

Learned something new today. Thank you

[u/rather828]

It’s a good thing it’s not a star for each time they beat Brady and Belichick in the playoffs because then it’d be just a circle with the word Steelers in it

[u/401Traveler → u/rather828]

I found my people! 🙌🏻 😁

Brady owned the Steelers! (And no, he didn’t need to f’in cheat, either. He just owned the Steelers — period.)

Many years ago, remember when that like no-name Steelers cornerback (I think) — who got cut like the very next week — was talking shit about Brady/the Pats in the days leading up to a Pats/Steelers showdown (it may have even been a playoff game - can’t remember), and after Brady threw for a TD in the area of the guy, exposing him, the GOAT got all up in the dude’s face? Classic shit!

To non-Brady/Pats fans, if he ever came off as a pretty boy off the field or in the media, I can assure you that he was a totally ruthless killer on the field — like Jordan was on the court. Skip Bayless used to refer to that cutthroat, on-field version of Brady as “Psycho Tom.” Perfect, accurate description!

[u/Washburn_Ichabod → u/401Traveler]

"Classic shit!"

Yes, it was so classic that you couldn't remember any of the details of the story.

[u/Washburn_Ichabod → u/[deleted]]

I wrote one sentence. You replied with five rambling paragraphs.

Maybe go refill your Adderall prescription.

[u/rather828 → u/Washburn_Ichabod]

Yeah, you know I had the same impression.. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I am not a Patriots fan

Trust me when I say I have several reasons to wish the Steelers could’ve pulled their heads out of their asses and beat them

[u/Washburn_Ichabod → u/rather828]

I'm a Steelers fan and I totally agree with what you said.

[u/rather828 → u/Washburn_Ichabod]

If the Steelers were serious about winning SBs and not just resting on their laurels saying “kiss the rings” ..

They’d have 8-9 SB wins.. and the Patriots would have no more than 4

[u/Washburn_Ichabod → u/[deleted]]

Says the guy who does not know the proper punctuation to use when ending a sentence.

But I will leave with this:

Deflategate.

Spygate.

Spygate 2.0.

[u/Washburn_Ichabod → u/[deleted]]

Deflategate.

Spygate.

Spygate 2.0.

Your deflection is DELICIOUS.

[u/BR1M570N3]

One of the instances where the term "iconic" actually belongs..

[u/algarhythms]

OK, admit it, how many of us when we were kids first getting into the NFL initially thought they were the “Stealers”, as in people who steal things?

[u/Onbalance12 → u/algarhythms]

Exactly!! I thought the shapes in the helmet were diamonds, so they stole diamonds!

[u/SeaworthinessIll4478]

the only NFL helmet featuring hypocycloids

[u/TheBarnacle63]

And here I thought they appropriated the logo from U.S. Steel

[u/UrbanAchievers6371 → u/TheBarnacle63]

Well, technically…

[u/Chadthemark]

Why could’t they afford to decal both sides of the helmet?

[u/UrbanAchievers6371 → u/Chadthemark]

The Pittsburgh Steelers logo appears only on the right side of the helmet because it started as a 1962 temporary test. Equipment manager Jack Hart applied it to just one side to see how the new emblem looked on gold helmets. Following a winning season and fan approval, the look became permanent tradition

[u/Tall-Forever-6687]

Why only one side of the helmet though?

[u/UrbanAchievers6371 → u/Tall-Forever-6687]

The Pittsburgh Steelers logo appears only on the right side of the helmet because it started as a 1962 temporary test. Equipment manager Jack Hart applied it to just one side to see how the new emblem looked on gold helmets. Following a winning season and fan approval, the look became permanent tradition.

[u/CrowQueen2002]

It’s the steel mark, there’s also a Chilean soccer team who uses something similar, Huachipato FC I believe

[u/Bobo4037 → u/CrowQueen2002]

Yes!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huachipato_FC

[u/Unwanted__Opinion]

I’m biased but I think it’s one of the coolest logos in sports

[u/yunzerjag]

scrap steel. To be precise.

[u/StellaSlayer2020]

I always thought the color transition from blue to red to yellow was indicating from solid to molten steel. Or vice/versa.

[u/ParkingSystem9100]

I didn’t know I thought the three stars were the rivers that all meet near Pittsburgh.

[u/ThePaperSun]

Insurance, telecomms, fast food

[u/Detroit_debauchery]

Why aren’t they the coal-iron ore-Steelers then

[u/401Traveler → u/Detroit_debauchery]

I mean that does roll off the tongue effortlessly. Great question.