Steelers Throwback Thursday: Jersey colab connects Pittsburgh, Iowa

Steel City Underground takes fans back in time to feature events, special moments, and historical times and players in the world of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Steelers Nation. Join us as we revisit these moments in our “Steelers Throwback Thursday” series.

Saturdays generally belong to college football in the fall while Sundays were traditionally owned by the NFL. Every weekend generations of Pittsburgh fans filed into Three Rivers Stadium, Heinz Field, and Acrisure Stadium to see their Steelers play without realizing that one college team in the nation represented them in a unique way, and vice versa. The rarely known fun fan fact is that the Steelers played a major part in helping recreate their history of winning football for one Big 10 team that later became a major hub for Pittsburgh scouts to draw potential players from… and it was all due to a collaboration involving black, gold, and a jersey.

For Iowa Hawkeye fans, slipping into Kinnick Stadium on a crisp fall Saturday feels like stepping into a sea of black and gold pride. The uniforms — sleek black helmets with the fierce Tigerhawk, bold jerseys, and that unmistakable Steelers-inspired vibe – have become synonymous with Iowa football.

It’s not a coincidence that the two teams look alike on the field, at least in how they are dressed. It’s the brilliant (and ballsy) vision of one legendary coach, Hayden Fry, and the agreement he made with Hall of Fame coach Chuck Noll and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Frye, Noll & the Rooney Family

When Fry took over as head coach in late 1978, the Hawkeyes were in rough shape. The program hadn’t had a winning season since 1961 and had cycled through multiple coaches. Fry, a psychology major and master motivator, knew that changing the culture started with changing the look. “We’re going to look like winners,” he famously declared. And who better to emulate than the dominant Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970s – a dynasty fresh off multiple Super Bowl victories with a tough, no-nonsense identity?

Both teams already shared the iconic black-and-gold color scheme, making the match perfect.

Fry reached out to the Steelers organization for permission to copy their uniform design. Steelers head coach Chuck Noll and the Rooney family were happy to oblige. Legend has it that defensive tackle Joe Greene helped connect Fry, and the Steelers soon mailed over reproduction jerseys (rumor points to one modeled after Terry Bradshaw’s).

Fry used them as templates, and in 1979, the Hawkeyes debuted their new look: shiny black helmets, classic black home jerseys with gold accents, and white away uniforms that turned heads across the Big Ten.

The best form of flattery

Iowa posted winning records, climbed the rankings, and made bowl appearances, including the 1982 Rose Bowl. The uniforms became a symbol of resurgence and Iowa grit. Fans loved the bold, professional aesthetic that mirrored an NFL powerhouse.

Even today, decades later, the similarities to the Steelers jerseys remain: striking block numbers (ones that Pittsburgh abandoned but fans would love to see return), stripe patterns, and that unmistakable Steelers DNA, with subtle tweaks like Iowa’s Tigerhawk and slight variations.

The Hawkeyes even wear a variant of the Steelers’ Nike Color Rush jerseys as an alternate.

For Steelers fans, it’s a fun badge of honor; their style influencing college football. For Hawkeye faithful, it’s a reminder of Fry’s genius in building pride and tradition.

The black and gold isn’t just apparel, it’s a mindset.

When those Hawkeyes take the field looking sharp and ready, you can almost hear the echoes of Steel Curtain dominance blended with Midwest heart. Blue-collar grit from mill to mine to field and farm.

The history is pure football romance; proof that sometimes the best ideas come from looking at what’s already winning and making it your own.

Iowa Hawkeyes who are with the Steelers currently:

• Yahya Black (DE/DL, #94): 2nd year, drafted by Steelers.
• Sebastian Castro (S/SAF, #49): 2nd year.
• Gennings Dunker (G/OL, #73): Rookie (2026 draft pick).
• Kaleb Johnson (RB, #20): 2nd year.
• Logan Lee (DT/DL, #91): 3rd year, drafted in 2024.
• Brandon Smith (WR, #87): 1st year with Steelers (signed in 2026 offseason).
• Kaden Wetjen (WR/Returner, #10): Rookie (2026 4th-round draft pick).

Other player connections:

James Daniels (G/OL/C): Played for the Steelers from 2022–2024 (signed as a free agent from the Chicago Bears; started games and contributed to the offensive line before injuries and a move to the Dolphins in 2025). He was a significant addition during that period.

• Larry Station (LB): Drafted in 1986.
• Mike Humpal (LB): 2008 draft pick.
• Brett Greenwood (DB): On roster ~2011.
• Other depth/practice squad contributors over the decades (e.g., various linemen and defensive players with brief stints).