Their Life’s Work: The Brotherhood of the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers, Then and Now

The Pittsburgh Steelers won four Super Bowls between 1974 and 1979, thanks to a talented team that featured 12 Hall of Famers and some household names like Terry Bradshaw, Mean Joe Greene, and Franco Harris. Overdrawing from more than 200 interviews, Washington Post sportswriter Pomerantz (Wilt, When Peachtree Meets Sweet Auburn) seeks to uncover why the ’70s-era Steelers are considered one of, if not the, best NFL teams ever assembled. He finds that their success was built on a mixture of skill, attitude, and camaraderie. When recounting the team’s glory days, like the play that came to be known as the Immaculate Reception, Pomerantz often goes beyond straight-ahead sports writing to achieve intricate storytelling. The book provides much in the way of character studies, with the author delving into the backgrounds and psyches of some of the Steelers’ most important cogs—from colorful owner Art Rooney Sr. and dour head coach Chuck Noll to Vietnam vet/running back Rocky Bleier. By describing the players’ unique on-field and off-field relationships, Pomerantz reveals a brotherhood that transcends wins and losses. B&w images not seen by PW. Agent: David Black, David Black Agency. (Oct.)