The Green Bay Packers were one of the original members of the NFL joining in 1921, twelve years before the Steelers were founded. The Packers lead the series 23-12 overall and in Pittsburgh edge it 9-8.
In the early days, the Packers owned the Steelers, winning the first twelve contests. After they had joined the league, the Steelers struggled to put together a winning season until 1942. During the same period, the only losing Green Bay season was 1933 when they thumped Pittsburgh 47-0 in their first meeting.
In December 1945, Art Rooney finally signed Dr. John “Jock” Sutherland as his head coach. Rooney had been pursuing Sutherland ever since the coach left Pitt University where he had been extremely successful. His teams were recognized as national champions five times.
Sutherland’s first season with the Steelers saw them improve to 5-5-1. Unlike many previous years, there were no one-sided defeats and they finished third in the Eastern Division. The attendances in Forbes Field reflected the team’s progress setting a new high.
Mr. Rooney’s recruitment of Dr. Sutherland was paying off both on the field and at the ticket office when the team turned in its very first profit after the franchise was granted.
During the off season, Coach Sutherland faced his first challenge when the team lost their star halfback/forward passer/punter/punt returner Bill Dudley, who decided he didn’t want to play for Pittsburgh anymore.
As Coach Sutherland continued to add players to the roster, the rest of the NFL was taking notice of what was happening in Pittsburgh. Packers’ Coach Curly Lambeau considered the Steelers a “pretty hot tip” for the Eastern division crown.
While Coach Sutherland focused on building a team, Art Rooney had to deal with the Dudley saga before finally trading him to Detroit who they would meet in the season opener.
By May, the Sutherland effect saw the Steelers sell 23,000 season tickets for the forthcoming season. Fans were anticipating great things from their team as they entered preseason.
Coach Sutherland opened the Steelers training camp August 3 at Alliance College, Cambridge Springs, with 56 players ready to make their mark. The coach had seven weeks before the season began to find his best players by which date the squad would be reduced to 35. The most important task he faced was replacing Dudley who had contributed so much the previous season.
After a slow start, the Steelers won their first exhibition game 28-0 against the Bethlehem Bulldogs of the American Professional Football League. The opposition didn’t provide a strong test for the Steelers, but the next one against the Green Bay Packers would.
The Steelers had never beaten the Packers, but such was the intense interest generated in Pittsburgh with Coach Sutherland’s team, over 31,000 fans turned out on a Friday evening to watch a non-league game. They were not disappointed. The Steelers’ 24-17 victory in a hard-fought contest confirmed how far the Steelers had developed without Dudley.
Triumphs in their remaining exhibition games of 48-0 over the Norfolk Shamrocks and 35-0 over the Richmond Rebels readied the team for the regular season.
Extra seating had been installed in Forbes Field to increase capacity to close to 40,000. There were not many empty seats for their first game against Detroit with fans hoping they would see their team give Bill Dudley a rough time. That belief initially evaporated when Dudley caught the touchdown pass that opened the scoring. The Steelers fans would have to wait until the final quarter to see their team come from behind to take a 17-10 win.
Two defeats in the next games would have wilted some fans’ enthusiasm before three straight wins would see it grow. They were now perched on top of the Eastern division. The week 7 game against the Packers became an important part of the season. If they could continue winning, it kept them in the mix for their first division title.
Tied on top of the Western division with the Chicago Cardinals, the Packers were favored by a touchdown for the contest.
The (4-2) Steelers at the (4-1) Packers; November 2, 1947
Despite the Steelers holding their own in the initial exchanges and stopping Green Bay’s running game, it was the Packers who took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. A 69-yard touchdown pass from the Packers’ star Jack Jacobs to Clyde Goodnight was followed by a 16-yard field goal.
The Steelers offense had one scoring opportunity in the same period and Joe Clamp’s field goal from 23 yards reduced their deficit. In a bruising battle in the second quarter, the Steelers moved the chains before being held on their opponents one.
As the first half was ending, the Steelers again moved the chains and this time succeeded in finding the end zone. Johnny Clement found Val Jansante with a touchdown pass of 37 yards. The Packers blocked the point after attempt and went into the locker room with a 10-9 lead.
The Packers began the third quarter with a drive of 60 yards before the Steelers brought that advance to a halt. On the subsequent Steelers drive, Clement ran 81 yards for a touchdown that was controversially called back for a clip. Tony Compagno then gave the Steelers their first lead of the day after he returned his interception 55 yards for a touchdown.
Desperate not to lose in front of their home crowd, Jacobs held onto the ball too long while being chased in his end zone. He gave up a safety when tackled by Ralph Calcagni increasing the Steelers advantage to 18-10.
A Packers drive of 80 yards was finished with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Nolan Luhn, and ensured the final five minutes would be a frantic affair. The Steelers stayed strong and held their opponents’ challenge to earn their first regular season win over the Packers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers 18 at the Green Bay Packers 17
The Steelers would end the season 8-4 for their best finish in fifteen years in the league and the first time they had won eight games. They tied the Eastern division with the Eagles and went on to lose the playoff game 21-0. The Eagles lost the Championship game 28-21 to the Chicago Cardinals.
The biggest loss to the Steelers was the following year. While on a scouting trip Dr. Sutherland suffered from a brain tumor and passed away.
Former Steelers owner Bert Bell and now the NFL Commissioner, issued the following statement:
“The National Football League is deeply grieved at the death of the doctor. American football has suffered the loss of one of its outstanding advocates and teachers in the death of Jock Sutherland.
For more than a quarter century as a player and coach he made valuable contributions in the sport he loved.
My sincerest sympathies go to his family, Art Rooney, and the hundreds of his former players who will mourn his passing.”
Art Rooney lamented, “We are deeply grieved by Dr. Sutherland’s death. He put Pittsburgh on the professional football map. The football world lost one of its leading citizens and I lost one of my finest friends.”
It would be a decade before the Steelers would have another winning season and nearly three before they won a division title.
