Pittsburgh Sports Memories

REWIND: Hines Ward: The Man Nobody Believed In

On this episode we will look back on the career of Hines Ward. He was a third round draft pick who the Steelers tried to replace multiple times and who was sometimes described as a dirty player, but he developed into one of the best wide receivers of his era. Known for his toughness, zealous blocking, and clutch plays that brought championships back to the city, Ward is one of the most beloved Steelers ever.

REWIND is a series of our favorite Pittsburgh Sports Memories episodes that we will be dropping in between new episodes

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April 20th, 2026 4:00am

Sid Bream's Remarkable Journey

Few athletes in Pittsburgh sports history inspire the mix of admiration and heartbreak that Sid Bream does - loved by Pirates fans, yet forever tied to one of the city’s most painful moments. In this episode, we interview Bream about his time with the Pirates, how he responded to being unceremoniously forced out of Pittsburgh, and how that iconic moment in 1992 changed both his life and our lives forever. It’s a remarkable story of resilience, perspective, and above all, faith.

Sid Bream's Website: SidBream.com
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April 13th, 2026 4:00am

REWIND: Better Lucky Than Good!

Hall of Fame pitcher Lefty Gomez famously said that he would rather be lucky than good. Pittsburgh sports history is packed with great teams and talented players, but our teams were also the beneficiary of some good fortune along the way. In this episode, we’ll remember the luckiest breaks ever in Pittsburgh sports.

REWIND is a series of our favorite Pittsburgh Sports Memories episodes that we will be dropping in between new episodes

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April 6th, 2026 4:00am

BONUS EPISODE: Pgh Sports Current Events - April 2026

We take a break from sports history to talk about what is currently going on in the Pittsburgh sports scene. Did the Steelers win free agency? What is the ceiling for the Penguins and Pirates this season? Is it time for the NFL to retire the Rooney Rule? We cover all of that and more in this special bonus episode of the podcast.

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April 2nd, 2026 4:00am

Are You Ready For Some Football?

During the 1980s, 1990s, and even into the 2000s, America asked itself one question every Monday night in the fall: Are you ready for some football? For years, the answer was a resounding "yes", reflected in the NFL consistently ranking as the highest-rated program of the week whenever it aired. In this episode, we examine the rise and fall of the Steelers' remarkable streak of home Monday night victories, and how that run coincided with both the peak and the gradual decline of the Monday Night Football broadcast itself.

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March 30th, 2026 4:00am

REWIND: Things to Do in Denver When You've Been Shot: The Joey Porter Story

In this episode, we dive into the story of one of the most unique players ever to wear a Steelers uniform - Joey Porter. Known for his fiery personality and fearless play, Porter was as entertaining off the field as he was dominant on it. His charisma and intensity made him a master at getting into the heads of opponents, often changing the tone of entire games. Beyond the trash talk and swagger, his impact was undeniable, and it helped push the Steelers to championship glory.

REWIND is a series of our favorite Pittsburgh Sports Memories episodes that we will be dropping in between new episodes

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March 23rd, 2026 4:00am

When Everyone Was Winning

It’s been a decade since Pittsburgh last saw all three of its pro teams truly in the championship hunt at the same time. In this episode, we look back at the 2015–16 sports season when the Pirates, Steelers, and Penguins each made a championship run behind standout players, big moments, and unforgettable games.

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March 16th, 2026 4:00am

REWIND: Forgotten Sports Years: 2007

In this episode we will take a look back at 2007 – a year that didn’t see any Pittsburgh sports championships but did see an arena drama for the Penguins, a new coach for the Steelers, a massive controversy for the Pirates, and an epic upset for Pitt football. Also throw in a creepy new mascot, an MVP award, and the muddiest football game of the century, and you’ve got a memorable year in Pittsburgh sports.

REWIND is a series of our favorite Pittsburgh Sports Memories episodes that we will be dropping in between new episodes

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March 9th, 2026 4:00am

BONUS EPISODE: Pgh Sports Current Events - March 2026

We take a break from sports history to talk about what is currently going on in the Pittsburgh sports scene. What do the dismal NFLPA rankings say about Steelers ownership? What would Sidney Crosby's presence have changed about the gold medal game? What would it take for Pitt to fire Jeff Capel? We cover all of that and more in this special bonus episode of the podcast.

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March 5th, 2026 4:00am

Athletes Who Killed Pittsburgh

Being a fan can be a truly exhilarating experience. The highs of a championship win can lift not only a fan base, but an entire city, into a great mood. Conversely, the lows can be just as emotionally traumatic. In this episode, we explore some of the players who helped cause that pain. Throughout Pittsburgh sports history, there have been certain players responsible for more than their share of losses — whether through total domination or by saving their best performances for the biggest moments. These are the players we always remember for dealing our hometown teams their most painful defeats.

REWIND is a series of our favorite Pittsburgh Sports Memories episodes that we will be dropping in between new episodes

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March 2nd, 2026 4:00am

REWIND: Hero, Bum, or Meh

What is the difference between a sports figure being revered or reviled? In this episode we will look at the mixed legacies of a handful of coaches, athletes and owners of the major sports in Pittsburgh. In doing so, we will try to determine their true lasting impact on us fans.

REWIND is a series of our favorite Pittsburgh Sports Memories episodes that we will be dropping in between new episodes

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February 23rd, 2026 4:00am

The Biggest Rivalry of the 1970's

The Steelers and Raiders were two of the defining teams of the decade, opposites in almost every way. Pittsburgh was a homegrown powerhouse built through the draft, while Oakland thrived by embracing outcasts and unconventional talent. The Steelers were new to winning; the Raiders had already captured an AFL championship. Both embodied the brutal style of the era - gritty defenses, punishing hits, and a brand of football so violent it forced rule changes. The rivalry, and the intensity that fueled it, may never be matched again in the history of the NFL.

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February 16th, 2026 4:00am

REWIND: The Most Thankless Job in Pittsburgh

In our latest episode, we will delve into the history of the most hated role in Pittsburgh sports: Steelers offensive coordinator. Only a handful of men have ever had the distinction of holding this job. Some found success while others struggled, but they all had one thing in common: at least some portion of the fan base wanted them fired! Join us for an entertaining look back at the OC’s you loved to hate.

REWIND is a series of our favorite Pittsburgh Sports Memories episodes that we will be dropping in between new episodes

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February 9th, 2026 4:00am

BONUS EPISODE: Pgh Sports Current Events - February 2026

We take a break from sports history to talk about what is currently going on in the Pittsburgh sports scene. Is Mike McCarthy the right hire for the Pittsburgh Steelers? Should the Penguins pivot and load up for a playoff run? How does Bill Belichick's Hall of Fame snub impact Ben Roethlisberger's chances to get in next year? We cover all of that and more in this special bonus episode of the podcast.

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February 5th, 2026 4:00am

Echoes of September 15th

September 15, 2019 marked a turning point in Steelers history. What happened that afternoon didn't just shape the rest of that season, it set off ripples that continue to influence the franchise to this day. The Steelers are now facing a decade-long playoff win drought, lack a franchise quarterback, and are beginning a reset under a new head coach — and it can all be traced back to one moment.

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February 2nd, 2026 4:00am

REWIND: A Tale of Two Seasons

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of being favored to win the Big East championship, it was the age probably finishing fifth in the ACC Coastal. In this episode, we compare two different seasons of Pitt football: the 2010 and the 2018 seasons. We will look at the expectations and subsequent outcomes of these seasons. The consequences of these pivotal seasons changed the course and trajectory of the program in two opposite directions.

REWIND is a series of our favorite Pittsburgh Sports Memories episodes that we will be dropping in between new episodes

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January 26th, 2026 4:00am

Steelers-Giants: Surprising Connections

No two NFL franchises share a connection as unique as the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants. Linked by family ownership, shared players, and championship success, their stories have frequently run side by side and occasionally crossed paths. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the unique history that binds these two franchises.

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January 19th, 2026 4:00am

BONUS EPISODE: Pgh Sports Current Events - January 15, 2026

We take a break from sports history to talk about what is currently going on in the Pittsburgh sports scene. After a better-than-expected season, how did the Steelers end up at square one again? Will Aaron Rodgers come back next year? Who will replace Mike Tomlin? We cover all of that and more in this special bonus episode of the podcast.

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January 15th, 2026 4:00am

REWIND: Rants and Meltdowns

We’ve all had our moments when we are upset and say or do things that we regret later. Sports figures are no different, and throughout the history of Pittsburgh sports, many players and coaches have lost their cool - sometimes via breakdowns of epic proportions. In this episode, we will revisit some of the more memorable instances of this phenomenon.

REWIND is a series of our favorite Pittsburgh Sports Memories episodes that we will be dropping in between new episodes

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January 12th, 2026 4:00am

BONUS EPISODE: Pgh Sports Current Events - January 8, 2026

We take a break from sports history to talk about what is currently going on in the Pittsburgh sports scene. Was this edition of Steelers-Ravens the greatest game in the history of Acrisure Stadium? Can the Steelers beat the red hot Texans in the playoffs? Did the Ravens and Browns make the right call in firing their coaches? We cover all of that and more in this special bonus episode of the podcast.

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January 8th, 2026 4:00am

21 Short Stories About Pittsburgh Sports History

The short story is a truly American invention, refined by legendary authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, Washington Irving, John Steinbeck, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and even Stephen King. In honor of these authors—and in light of the American public’s notoriously short attention span—we will explore the many varied short stories of Pittsburgh sports, from triumphant to tragic to obscure. So gather up your Adderall and Ritalin and indulge your inner ADHD as we recall the many short stories found throughout the history of Pittsburgh sports.

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January 5th, 2026 4:00am

BONUS EPISODE: Pgh Sports Current Events - January 1, 2026

We take a break from sports history to talk about what is currently going on in the Pittsburgh sports scene. Are Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh both at a similar crossroads this week? Have the Pirates actually turned a corner? Does Pitt's loss in the Military Bowl matter? We cover all of that and more in this special bonus episode of the podcast.

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January 1st, 2026 4:00am

REWIND: The Obscure Championship

The 1925 World Series is one of the most overlooked chapters in Pirates history. In this episode, we revisit the dramatic Game 7 victory and spotlight the key players and often controversial moments that led the Pirates to a championship.

REWIND is a series of our favorite Pittsburgh Sports Memories episodes that we will be dropping in between new episodes

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December 29th, 2025 4:00am

BONUS EPISODE: Pgh Sports Current Events - December 25, 2025

We take a break from sports history to talk about what is currently going on in the Pittsburgh sports scene. Was Steelers-Lions the craziest game of the decade? Did the refs do a good job or a bad job last week? Why did DK Metcalf decide to even engage with that guy? We cover all of that and more in this special bonus episode of the podcast.

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December 25th, 2025 4:00am

The First Time

In this episode, we dive into some of the most fascinating “firsts” in Pittsburgh sports history. Who caught Ben Roethlisberger’s first career touchdown pass? Who was the Penguins’ very first draft pick? Which Pirates players homered in their first major league at-bat? We’ll answer those questions and more, and we will share some unforgettable — and often forgotten — stories along the way, featuring names that range from Honus Wagner to Mario Lemieux to Taylor Swift!

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December 22nd, 2025 4:00am

BONUS EPISODE: Pgh Sports Current Events - December 18, 2025

We take a break from sports history to talk about what is currently going on in the Pittsburgh sports scene. Is Kenneth Gainwell the 2025 Steelers MVP? Why can't the Penguins hold a lead? Will Pittsburgh celebrate a second unheralded championship this fall? We cover all of that and more in this special bonus episode of the podcast.

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December 18th, 2025 4:00am

REWIND: The Last Stand of Coach Harris

In this episode, we dive deep into Pitt's wild 2004 football season - a year that would become a turning point for the program. From behind-the-scenes tensions to dramatic on-field moments, we follow Head Coach Walt Harris through the highs, the lows, and the events that led to his controversial dismissal. We also examine how this pivotal season set the stage for a four-year struggle to reclaim relevance.

REWIND is a series of our favorite Pittsburgh Sports Memories episodes that we will be dropping in between new episodes

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December 15th, 2025 4:00am

BONUS EPISODE: Pgh Sports Current Events - December 11, 2025

We take a break from sports history to talk about what is currently going on in the Pittsburgh sports scene. Are the Steelers back on top of the division for good? Why did we not get a Pitt-Penn State bowl game? How much did the some controversial replay decisions help both the Penguins and Steelers this week? We cover all of that and more in this special bonus episode of the podcast.

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December 11th, 2025 4:00am

The Biggest Collapse in Pittsburgh Sports History

For much of their early history, the Penguins were a struggling franchise that often fought just to reach the playoffs and just as often fell short. Nothing captures that era better than the 1975 playoff series against the New York Islanders, when a young Penguins team built what seemed like an insurmountable lead, only to watch it disappear in one of the most memorable collapses in NHL history.

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December 8th, 2025 4:00am

BONUS EPISODE: Pgh Sports Current Events - December 4, 2025

We take a break from sports history to talk about what is currently going on in the Pittsburgh sports scene. What do the Steelers do with Mike Tomlin at this point? Why does the person choosing the music at Acrisure Stadium think that the fans are idiots? Did Pitt have a successful season despite its disappointing loss at the end? We cover all of that and more in this special bonus episode of the podcast.

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