The Birth of a Steelers Legend

The Terrible Towel was born in 1975, when legendary broadcaster Myron Cope encouraged fans to bring yellow dish towels to wave during the playoffs. The Steelers were about to take on the Baltimore Colts, and the team needed a little extra spark. Cope’s wild idea caught fire—and the Terrible Towel became a Pittsburgh staple overnight. The Steelers won, of course, and the towel’s mystique began. 

But it wasn’t just a fad. It became folklore. A symbol of unity. A declaration of war. Waving the towel isn’t optional—it’s an act of loyalty. For years opponents have talked about the energy in the building when the towels start waving as something that gives the Steelers one of the best home field advantages in sports.

A Curse for the Disrespectful

Opposing players have mocked the Terrible Towel at their own risk. Just ask T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who wiped his feet with it in 2005. The Bengals lost to the Steelers in the playoffs weeks later, and Pittsburgh went on to win the Super Bowl.

Or consider LenDale White and Keith Bulluck of the Titans, who stomped on the towel in 2008. Tennessee didn’t win another game that season despite being the number 1 seed in the playoffs, Pittsburgh went on to win their 6th super bowl. Coincidence? Not in Pittsburgh.

The towel isn’t just sacred—it’s protected.

Profits for a Good Cause

Another reason fans wave it with pride: 100% of the profits from officially licensed Terrible Towels go to the Allegheny Valley School, which supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Cope donated the rights to the towel to the school in honor of his son, Danny.

So every towel you wave does more than fire up the crowd—it helps people in need. That’s Pittsburgh through and through.

You Don’t Just Bring It—You Earn It

The Terrible Towel isn’t handed out like freebie T Shirts at the game like when an NBA team wants to do a “white out.” You bring it. You pack it. You wave it because you’ve earned it—through cold-weather games, heartbreak losses, comeback wins, and deep-rooted pride.

It’s not just a fan accessory. It’s a symbol of the standard.

Final Thoughts

Other teams have chants, colors, foam fingers—but nobody has the towel. When the Steelers take the field and the stadium swirls in gold, it’s more than pageantry. It’s tradition. It’s intimidation. It’s Pittsburgh.

So grab your towel, hold it high, and let it fly. Because in this city, we don’t cheer quietly.

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