History of the Terrible Towel

While watching the Pittsburgh Steelers play a home game at Heinz Field, it is common to see flashes of gold as fans wave and shake the "Terrible Towel." The towel dates back to the 1970s and one big idea from a local sports announcer.

  1. First Game

    • In 1975, sportscaster Myron Cope told fans to bring gold or yellow dish towels to the game to represent Steelers colors and cheer on the team. After the Steelers won the game against the Baltimore Colts, fans continued bringing along their towels throughout the season.

    Super Bowl X

    • The Steelers continued to have success during the 1975 playoffs and reached the Super Bowl, where the team sold gold towels printed with black letters that read "Myron Cope's Terrible Towel." When the team won against the Dallas Cowboys by 21 to 17, fans and local sportscasters jokingly gave the Towel credit for the victory.

    Proceeds

    • In 1996, Myron Cope named the Allegheny Valley School in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, the beneficiaries of all proceeds from the Terrible Towel. Since that time, the Towel has raised over $2.5 million for the school, which serves mentally and physically disabled adults and senior citizens, according to the Allegheny Valley School website.

    Tribute

    • Myron Cope passed away on Feb 27, 2008, and when the Steelers reached the Super Bowl the following year in January, the team released a commemorative towel to honor the sportscaster.

    The Curse

    • In December 2008, members of the Tennessee Titans, Keith Bulluck and LenDale White, stamped on a Terrible Towel during the playoffs, and from that time, the Titans did not win a single game the next year. After claims that the team was cursed by the Towel, Bulluck and White signed one of the Terrible Towels for the Allegheny Valley School to auction or sell. The Titans went on to win their next game on October 25, 2009.