Strip District in Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Three Rivers Stadium Goalposts

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 19, 2025

1. Three Rivers Stadium Goalposts Marker

Inscription.

Three Rivers Stadium Goalposts. . , These goalposts stood tall at Three Rivers Stadium, home to the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1970 to 2000. Though the team lost their first regular season contest at Three Rivers to the Houston Oilers on Sept. 20, 1970, fans witnessed some of the greatest moments in Steelers, and NFL, history there., Three Rivers hosted seven AFC championships, four won by the Steelers, and served as the Steelers home field when the team captured four Super Bowls in the 1970s. Hall of Famer Joe Greene once declared it a "very, very good home for the Pittsburgh Steelers.", Imploded in 2001 to make way for Heinz Field, now Acrisure Stadium, and PNC Park, Three Rivers lives on in memory as the birthplace for Pittsburgh's identity as the City of Champions., THROUGH THE UPRIGHTS , Steelers kickers ruled the uprights at Three Rivers. Roy Gerela, pictured at right, cheered on by his fans, "Gerela's Gorillas," handled the kicking honors for the team from 1971 to 1978. A Pro Bowler in 1972 and 1974, he led the AFC in scoring in 1973 and 74 and handled the place kicking for the Steelers first three Super Bowl wins., As a rookie, Matt Bahr won a championship with the Steelers in Super Bowl XIV before signing with the 49ers in 1981. He helped christen the History Center's Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum in 2004, kicking a ball through these uprights from the parking lot across the street. Gary Anderson racked up the points from 1982 to 1994. earning three Pro Bowl appearances, and Norm Johnson handled the place kicking in the mid-1990s., AN IMMACULATE WIN , On December 23, 1972, the Steelers Franco Harris made one of the most memorable game-winning catches in football history. Voted the top play in NFL history in 2019, the catch, known as the Immaculate Reception, gave the Steelers their first playoff win 13-7 over the Oakland Raiders. Rey Gerela's two field goals and his extra point after Franco's miraculous touchdown sealed the win., Goalposts and images courtesy of the Pittsburgh Steelers, To learn more about the region's exciting sports history, visit us. , We're open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

These goalposts stood tall at Three Rivers Stadium, home to the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1970 to 2000. Though the team lost their first regular season contest at Three Rivers to the Houston Oilers on Sept. 20, 1970, fans witnessed some of the greatest moments in Steelers, and NFL, history there.

Three Rivers hosted seven AFC championships, four won by the Steelers, and served as the Steelers home field when the team captured four Super Bowls in the 1970s. Hall of Famer Joe Greene once declared it a "very, very good home for the Pittsburgh Steelers."

Imploded in 2001 to make way for Heinz Field, now Acrisure Stadium, and PNC Park, Three Rivers lives on in memory as the birthplace for Pittsburgh's identity as the City of Champions.

THROUGH THE UPRIGHTS
Steelers kickers ruled the uprights at Three Rivers. Roy Gerela, pictured at right, cheered on by his fans, "Gerela's Gorillas," handled the kicking honors for the team from 1971 to 1978. A Pro Bowler in 1972 and 1974, he led the AFC in scoring in 1973 and 74 and handled the place kicking for the Steelers first three Super Bowl wins.

As a rookie, Matt Bahr won a championship with the Steelers in Super Bowl XIV before signing with the 49ers in 1981. He helped christen the History Center's Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

in 2004, kicking a ball through these uprights from the parking lot across the street. Gary Anderson racked up the points from 1982 to 1994. earning three Pro Bowl appearances, and Norm Johnson handled the place kicking in the mid-1990s.

AN IMMACULATE WIN
On December 23, 1972, the Steelers Franco Harris made one of the most memorable game-winning catches in football history. Voted the top play in NFL history in 2019, the catch, known as the Immaculate Reception, gave the Steelers their first playoff win 13-7 over the Oakland Raiders. Rey Gerela's two field goals and his extra point after Franco's miraculous touchdown sealed the win.

Goalposts and images courtesy of the Pittsburgh Steelers

To learn more about the region's exciting sports history, visit us.
We're open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Erected by Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum at the Heinz History Center.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is December 23, 1972.

Location. 40° 26.787′ N, 79° 59.556′ W. Marker is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in Allegheny County. It is in the Strip District. It is on Smallman Street just east of 12th Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker and goalposts are along the

Three Rivers Stadium Goalposts and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 19, 2025

2. Three Rivers Stadium Goalposts and Marker

sidewalk outside the Heinz History Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in the Ohio River Valley,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lewis and Clark Expedition (about 700 feet away); Pennsylvania Canal (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Empty Pocket Pays (approx. 0.2 miles away); "The Bell Speaks" (approx. ¼ mile away); Allegheny Aqueduct (approx. 0.3 miles away); Gulf Building (approx. 0.3 miles away); Refining Crude Oil (approx. 0.3 miles away); Ninth Street Bridge (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pittsburgh.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Great Strike Ignites the Nation! (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Senator John Heinz History Center. (Submitted on August 29, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 131 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 29, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.