The Standing Steel Brigade is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan site. We are in no way affiliated with the National Football
League or the Pittsburgh Steelers organization. The opinions expressed on this website are not in any way the opinions
of the NFL or the Pittsburgh Steelers organization.
We are an organized group of Steelers fans that have created a Brigade with recommended attire for properly
routing for the Steelers on gameday. We have created a logo that has a military theme with a Pittsburgh Steelers
general appearance. Our logo and patches are not intended to be distributed as official or licensed Pittsburgh Steelers merchandise. It is the intent of the Brigade to brand our fan group so that we are unique in our uniform when routing
for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Please see this link for the proper gameday uniform. Any deviation from these strict
uniform requirements will cause demarets.
66 CIRCLE OPTION
The Immaculate Reception is the nick name given to one of the most controversial plays in the history of American football. It occurred in the AFC divisional playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders at
Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on December 23, 1972. NFL Films has chosen it as the greatest play
of all time. The play was a turning point for the Steelers, who reversed four decades of futility and won four Super
Bowls in the next seven seasons.
The Pittsburgh Steelers trailed the Oakland Raiders 7-6, facing 4th and 10 on their own 40 yard line with 22 seconds remaining in the game and no time outs. Head coach Chuck Knoll called a pass play, 66 Circle Option, intended for receiver Barry Pearson, a rookie who was playing in his first NFL game. Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw, unable
to find Pearson while avoiding two Raiders defenders, threw the ball to the Raiders' 35-yard line, toward fullback John "Frenchy" Fuqua. Raiders safety Jack Tatum collided with Fuqua just as the ball arrived. Tatum's hit knocked Fuqua to
the ground and sent the ball sailing backward several yards, end over end. Steelers running back Franco Harris, after initially blocking on the play, has run downfield in case Bradshaw needed another eligible receiver. He scooped up the sailing ball just before it hit the ground, and ran the rest of the way downfield to score the touchdown that gave the Steelers a 12-7 lead and the game. It is in this manner we perpetually salute the Steelers each and every Sunday!
