The Purple People Eaters vs. The Steel Curtain

The Vikings clashed against the Steelers in a classic Super Bowl 50 years ago on January 12, 1975

Jan 14, 2025

NOTE from The Sports Time Traveler™

At the time of this writing in 2025, both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings have been knocked out of the NFL playoffs in the wild card round in extremely disappointing performances.

But there was a time when Pittsburgh and Minnesota were the 2 best teams in the NFL and certainly had the 2 best defenses. Defenses that were so spectacular that they had audacious nicknames.

The Minnesota Vikings defense were known as, “the purple people eaters.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense was gaining a reputation as, “the steel curtain.”

50 years ago last weekend the Steelers played the Vikings in Super Bowl 9.

It was a classic.

Here’s my report.

NEW ORLEANS - January 13, 1975

Yesterday I experienced Super Bowl IX for the 2nd time.

The first time I saw this game was when I watched it live on NBC at 3pm ET on January 12, 1975.

I was 11 years old, and I was rooting for the Vikings, while my friend Matt was rooting for Pittsburgh.

A sentimentalist even at that young age, I wanted to see the Vikings win because they were the only team to have lost 2 Super Bowls, while the Steelers were playing in the big show for just the first time.

But what I didn’t know back then, was that it was the Steelers for whom I should have been sentimental about.

The Steelers are an ancient NFL franchise playing in the league since 1933. Here in 1975, they’ve had just one owner in their entire 51 year history - Art Rooney. And in their first 47 seasons, through 1971, they had just 7 winning seasons.

They never won a playoff game until 1972, when a rookie running back, Franco Harris ignited a previously dormant offense, and helped the team improve from a record of 6 - 8 in 1971 to 11 - 3 in 1972.

And even then it took a literal miracle to get the Steeler’s first ever playoff W. That was the “Immaculate Reception” by Franco Harris - one of the most storied plays in NFL history.

To learn more about that game see the article I wrote 2 years ago at this link:

The Immaculate Reception Game

Now on to yesterday’s Super Bowl game.

You can experience the game similar to how I did by watching it on this YouTube video. Click on the link below to see the video:

Super Bowl IX - Vikings vs. Steelers - January 12, 1975

Here’s my commentary on the highlights with the time stamps from the video:

50:00 - At precisely the 50 minute mark on the tape, with 7:34 remaining in the 2nd quarter, you can see the first points of the game scored on a Pittsburgh safety as the Vikings fumbled the snap, and QB Fran Tarkenton landed on the ball in the end zone to help prevent a Steelers’ TD.

1:01:25 - On 3rd and 8 from the Vikings’ 48, Fran Tarkenton throws a pass across the middle to Chuck Foreman. The ball bounces off Foreman’s arms, goes up above him and he grabs it on the way down for a gain of 17 to the Steelers’ 35, with 2:52 to play in the half.

It’s a sensational catch!

1:04:35 - Just 4 plays later on 1st down from the Steelers’ 25, there is a similar play. Tarkenton passes over the middle down to the 5 yard line to WR John Gilliam. Just as Gilliam grabs it, he is popped by the Steelers’ Glen Edwards. And then, just like the earlier play, the ball itself pops up in the air. But this time it is intercepted by the Steelers’ Mel Blount, thus ending the Vikings hopes for a halftime lead.

The score remained an odd 2 - 0 in favor of Pittsburgh at halftime, resembling a score you might see if the Twins were playing the Pirates.

STEELERS 2 - VIKINGS 0 - HALFTIME

1:09:15 - The 2nd half started miserably for Minnesota. Steelers’ kicker, Roy Gerela, who had missed a 37 yard FG attempt in the 1st half, now botches the opening kickoff.

The squibber only goes 37 yards.

But the Vikings can’t handle it and they fumble the ball!

The Steelers recover on the Vikings’ 30!

It’s a steal for the Steelers.

And the Steelers take full advantage, scoring the game’s first offensive points behind Franco Harris who gains 30 yards in 3 plays to score a touchdown.

1:10:00 - Watch Harris’ 24 yard burst on 1st down that set up the touchdown by Harris 2 plays later.

STEELERS 9 - VIKINGS 0 - 13:46 remaining in the 3rd quarter

1:31:20 - With 3:05 to go in the 3rd quarter, and the Vikings driving in Steelers’ territory, Tarkenton rolls to his left and then tries to throw under pressure. The throw is blocked by Dwight White, who is playing the game with a severe case of Pleurisy. White had spent the prior week in the hospital, losing 18 pounds. It’s an incredible play, even if White had been at 100%.

White’s play epitomized coach Chuck Noll’s mantra for the day, “whatever it takes,” as was reported in the Pittsburgh Press today.

After White’s block of the pass, the ball again goes up in the air and is grabbed by Mean Joe Greene for an interception.

As the 3rd quarter ends, the Steelers’ defense is the big story. In addition to key takeaways they have shut down the Vikings’ rushing game. Minnesota has just 19 rushing yards on 18 carries through the first 3 quarters.

STEELERS 9 - VIKINGS 0 - End of 3rd quarter

1:42:30 - After the Vikings have driven down to the Pittsburgh 5 yard line on a dubious 45 yard pass interference call, Chuck Foreman fumbles and Mean Joe Green recovers for the Steelers.

It’s an enormous play, as the Vikings were on the cusp of a touchdown.

1:45:30 - Just 4 plays later the Steelers are forced to punt deep in their own territory. The Vikings rush breaks through the line and the punt is blocked by Minnesota’s Matt Blair and recovered in the end zone by Terry Brown for a Vikings TD!

So Minnesota gets the touchdown after all!

The extra point is missed, but the Vikings are now solidly in the contest with plenty of time left.

STEELERS 9 - VIKINGS 6 - 10:28 to play in the Super Bowl

1:49:25 - Now comes the play of the game. The Steelers have the ball on their own 42 with 8:46 to play. Bradshaw passes 30 yards to Larry Brown. Brown catches it and runs several yards laterally before he is brought down.

But Brown fumbles as he comes down!

The Vikings recover!

Wait!

The referees reverse the call. They say that Brown was down prior to the fumble.

There is no instant replay review in NFL rules here in 1975.

1:50:20 - But instant replay is shown on TV for the fans watching at home on their 12 inch screens.

NOTE from The Sports Time Traveler from 2025 - In 1975 in real life, I was watching the game on a 12 inch Sony Trinitron in our living room where he had a brown shag rug.

Now back to 1975.

On the 2nd replay shown on TV, it appears fairly clear that the ball pops out of Brown’s hands before he is down.

The Vikings are victims of a doubtful call.

Now with the ball still in their possession at the Vikings’ 28, the Steelers march on to score the game sealing touchdown several minutes later behind the rushing of RB Franco Harris and FB Rocky Bleier.

STEELERS 16 - VIKINGS 6 - 3:30 to play in the Super Bowl

Any Minnesota last hopes are extinguished seconds later when Tarkenton is intercepted for the 3rd time on the first play after the kickoff.

The Steel Curtain has been incredible. They’ve held the Vikings to just 119 yards of offense and only 17 yards rushing.

Franco Harris has been the key to game. He has rushed for a new Super Bowl record 158 yards on 34 carries. He was supported by Vietnam hero, fullback Rocky Bleier, who rushed for another 65 yards.

The Steelers have won their first Super Bowl and their first NFL Title in franchise history.

STEELERS 16 - VIKINGS 6 - FINAL SCORE

POST GAME INTERVIEWS

Following the game, Minnesota head coach Bud Grant had harsh words for the officials. In a special to the New York Times, he discussed the fumble call that was reversed in Pittsburgh’s favor in the 4th quarter, “From our vantage point, Brown had not reached the ground when the ball came loose… that’s the way the game went - it was a succession of errors by all three teams… there was no question that he was not down. The official who called it was across the field.”

It was an obvious dig to the referees as the “third team.”

Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw beamed in the locker room about the Super Bowl victory, “Winning this game for Mr. Rooney was the big thing.”

After 51 years, Art Rooney finally had a championship.

In the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette today, columnist Al Abrams wrote, “It was worth waiting for. Believe me it was.”

It was a glorious day for Pittsburgh fans and Abrams ensured readers in Pittsburgh could soak up all that glory when he wrote, “I would like to tell you about a team that rates with the best pro champions of all times. This isn’t my opinion alone. The majority of the press box experts were awed by the way the Steelers manhandled the Vikings… anchored by Joe Greene, the defensive line shredded Minnesota’s offense.”

Perhaps after 51 years of waiting, this Steelers team will do more than win just one Super Bowl for Pittsburgh.

The Sports Time Traveler will be eager to find out when I travel back in time again next year to Super Bowl 10 at the Orange Bowl in 1976.

Thanks for reading.

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The Sports Time Traveler™