Pittsburgh Steelers Logo History: Every Change by Year
Posted by JerseyZenith on Oct 26th 2026
- First logo: Team founded using the city coat of arms as its logo.
- 7 logo changes are listed by year.
- Photos show uniforms and equipment; standalone logo artwork is not reproduced.
- Sources are Wikipedia and team pages; secondary sources are marked.
This guide covers the Pittsburgh Steelers logo history, year by year, in words and tables. It does not cover the colors, which have their own guide.
Pittsburgh Steelers logo history by year
The table traces the main logo changes from the first mark to the current one. Dates come from the sources below; where sources disagree we say so.
| Year | Change | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1933 | Team founded using the city coat of arms as its logo | The team was called the Pirates until 1939 |
| Early years | Other logos include a football over a smoggy skyline and a worker punting a football from a steel beam | Undated; the beam logo is rumored to have inspired Steely McBeam |
| Early years | Logo placed on one side of the helmet only | Art Rooney had equipment manager Jack Hart test it on the gold helmets |
| November 1962 | Current logo introduced, based on the Steelmark flag | Suggested by Robert Sexton of Republic Steel's Pittsburgh office |
| 1963 | Team gets permission to add "ers" to "Steel" | Script logo starts using stencil type |
| 1997 | Steelers logo added to the left side of the jersey | Changed with rounded uniform numbers |
| 2007 | Gold throwback helmets use the current "Steelers" logo | Retired after 2011 |
The current Steelers logo
The current Steelers logo is the Steelmark with the word Steelers in a circle, surrounded by three hypocycloids, first used in November 1962.
We describe the logo in words and use photographs of uniforms and equipment; standalone logo artwork is not reproduced.
Why the Steelers logo changed
The Steelmark came from the steel industry, and its colors were later said to represent coal, iron ore and scrap steel. The Steelers asked to add 'ers' to the original word in 1963. The team made the hypocycloids thicker and changed the orange one to red, in part to protect the logo.
Steelers logo, helmet and jersey today
In the Nike era the logo appears on the right side of the gold helmet only, and the 1933 gold throwback is a nod to the first season. Shop Steelers throwback jerseys, the legends jerseys and the Steelers uniform history.
A logo is only part of the uniform. For colors see the Steelers colors guide and for the year-by-year schedule see the Steelers 2026 uniforms guide.
Primary, alternate and commemorative Steelers logos
The Steelers logo is unusual because it started life as someone else's logo. The Steelmark belonged to the steel industry, and the team asked to add 'ers' in 1963. The 1933 throwback is a reminder that the team's very first mark was the city coat of arms.
| Era | Look | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| 1933 | City of Pittsburgh coat of arms | The 1933 gold throwback |
| 1962–present | Steelmark with Steel in three hypocycloids; Steelers since 1963 | Helmet, right side only |
| 1980s | Alternate script logo with stencil type | Rare; archive and fan gear |
How we built this Steelers logo timeline
We collected the dates from the sources listed at the bottom, using the team's own pages where they exist and Wikipedia where they do not. Wikipedia is a secondary source, so we flag the entries where it is the only source and where two sources disagree. We left out anything we could not confirm, such as the Broncos' 1960 logo. Standalone logo artwork is not reproduced.
If you spot a date that looks wrong, check the team's own history page first. A logo can change on the helmet in one season and on the jersey in another, so the year here is the first public use, not always the first game.
What a Steelers logo change means when you buy a jersey
Jerseys follow the logo of their era. A current Nike jersey carries the current mark, a throwback carries an older one, and the product page shows which. If you want an older logo on your jersey, look at the throwback jerseys and compare them with the standard home and away styles in the Pittsburgh Steelers jerseys range.
Shop the Steelers look
Nike jerseys carry the logo on the helmet and the chest in different ways, and a throwback or retro style often shows an older mark. Compare Game and Limited in our tier guide, or browse all throwback jerseys for retro and vintage options.
Other ways to search for the Steelers logo history
Searches such as logo pittsburgh steelers, logo of the steelers, steelers logo meaning, logo of pittsburgh steelers, pgh steelers logo, cool steelers logo and cool steelers logos lead to the same logo history, so this page covers each of them.
Photos show uniforms and equipment; standalone logo artwork is not reproduced.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Steelers logo mean?
It comes from the Steelmark of the steel industry, with the word Steelers in a circle and three hypocycloids.
What does the Steelers logo represent?
The steel industry and its raw materials: coal, iron ore and scrap steel.
Why do the Steelers have the logo on one side?
Art Rooney had the logo tested on one side of the helmet and its popularity led the team to keep it.
What is the Pittsburgh Steelers logo?
The Steelmark with the word Steelers inside a circle.
How to draw the Steelers logo?
We do not provide logo artwork, because it is a team trademark.
What is the steelers logo?
The current Steelers logo is the Steelmark with the word Steelers in a circle, first used in 1962.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Logos and uniforms of the Pittsburgh Steelers (secondary source)
- JerseyZenith catalog (seo/catalog/products.json), counted October 26, 2026