Super Bowl X: The Steelers Shine in a Lone Star Classic
Super Bowl X, played on January 18, 1976, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, was a classic battle between two NFL powerhouses: the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys. In a game brimming with drama, dazzling plays, and hard-nosed defense, the Steelers emerged victorious with a 21-17 win, cementing their place as the dominant team of the 1970s. Super Bowl X wasn’t just football; it was theater, featuring larger-than-life performances and moments that would live on in NFL lore.
The Steelers entered the game as defending champions, having claimed their first Super Bowl victory the previous year. Led by head coach Chuck Noll and an enviable roster featuring quarterback Terry Bradshaw, running back Franco Harris, and the vaunted Steel Curtain defense, Pittsburgh had the pedigree of a champion. Meanwhile, the Cowboys, coached by the legendary Tom Landry, were no slouches. With quarterback Roger Staubach at the helm and the iconic Doomsday Defense, Dallas was eager to reclaim their status as the NFL’s best.
From the opening kickoff, it was clear this was going to be a heavyweight fight. The first quarter saw both defenses flex their muscles, with neither team able to score. The Steelers’ Steel Curtain and the Cowboys’ Doomsday Defense traded blows like prizefighters feeling each other out, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
The game’s first points came in the second quarter when Dallas struck with a trick play that had the crowd buzzing. Staubach handed the ball off to running back Robert Newhouse, who executed a perfect halfback option pass to Drew Pearson for a 29-yard touchdown. It was a play as audacious as it was brilliant, giving the Cowboys a 7-0 lead and momentarily silencing the Steelers faithful.
But Pittsburgh responded in kind. Bradshaw, known for his cannon-like arm and flair for the dramatic, found tight end Randy Grossman for a short touchdown pass, tying the game. The Steelers added a field goal before halftime, taking a slim 10-7 lead into the locker room.
The second half began with a bang—literally. On the opening kickoff of the third quarter, Pittsburgh’s Reggie Harrison delivered a punishing hit on Dallas’ kick returner, forcing a fumble that the Steelers recovered deep in Cowboys territory. However, the Cowboys’ defense held firm, limiting Pittsburgh to a field goal. The Steelers extended their lead to 13-7, but Dallas wasn’t about to roll over.
Staubach, ever the cool customer, orchestrated a methodical drive capped by a short touchdown pass to tight end Jean Fugett. With the extra point, the Cowboys reclaimed the lead, 14-13. The pendulum of momentum had swung once again, setting the stage for a thrilling fourth quarter.
Enter Lynn Swann. The Steelers’ receiver delivered a performance for the ages, highlighted by a series of jaw-dropping catches that defied logic and physics. One play, in particular, left fans and commentators in awe: a 53-yard reception where Swann leaped, contorted his body in midair, and secured the ball as he fell to the ground. NFL Films narrator John Facenda would later call it “a catch that belongs in the Louvre.”
Swann’s heroics culminated in the game’s most pivotal moment. With less than three minutes remaining, Bradshaw launched a 64-yard bomb to Swann, who beat double coverage and sprinted into the end zone. The touchdown put Pittsburgh ahead 21-17, a lead they would not relinquish.
The Cowboys had one last chance to mount a comeback, but the Steel Curtain slammed the door shut. Safety Glen Edwards intercepted Staubach’s desperation pass in the end zone as time expired, sealing the victory for Pittsburgh. It was a fitting end to a game defined by clutch performances and unrelenting defense.
After the game, Lynn Swann, who finished with four catches for 161 yards and a touchdown, was named Super Bowl MVP. Reflecting on his performance, Swann said, “I just did my job, but when you’re on a team like this, doing your job feels like poetry.”
Super Bowl X remains one of the most celebrated games in NFL history. It was a showcase of talent, strategy, and sheer will. The Steelers’ victory solidified their reputation as the team of the decade, while the Cowboys proved they were worthy adversaries.
In the end, Super Bowl X was more than a game; it was a spectacle. It had drama, unforgettable plays, and the kind of intensity that only the NFL’s biggest stage can deliver. For Pittsburgh, it was another step in their march toward dynasty status. For Dallas, it was a reminder that even in defeat, greatness can shine. And for football fans, it was a reminder of why they love the game.