The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Minnesota Vikings 16-6 in Super Bowl IX. This game was scheduled to be the first ever Super Bowl played indoors at the brand new Superdome in New Orleans. However, construction on the new stadium was unfinished. So the game instead was played outdoors at Tulane Stadium, which was covered with water following an early morning thundershower. The Vikings loss made them the first team to lose consecutive Super Bowls, and the first to lose three games all-time. The victory marked the first championship in the 42-year history of the Steelers. Led by their "Steel Curtain" defense, Pittsburgh limited Minnesota to just 17 yards rushing and only 5 first downs for the entire game. Pittsburgh running back Franco Harris set a new Super Bowl record with 158 yards rushing, and scored the Steelers first touchdown. Harris was named the game's MVP. The game also featured the first safety in Super Bowl history, as Dwight White tackled Fran Tarkenton in the end zone, giving Pittsburgh a 2-0 halftime advantage.

When Chuck Noll took over as head coach of the Steelers in 1969, he utilized the NFL Draft to rebuild the team. In 1969 he drafted Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood. In 1970, he selected Terry Bradshaw and Mel Blount. In 1971, four players from the draft made impacts, including Jack Ham. In 1972, he added Franco Harris. And in the 1974 championship season, he incorporated four key rookies: Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Mike Webster, and Jack Lambert. The Steelers went 10-3-1 to win the AFC Central, then defeated both Buffalo and Oakland in the playoffs.

The Vikings continued to dominate the NFC Central Division, finishing with a 10-4 record. Led by rookie rushing sensation Chuck Foreman, Minnesota easily outpaced both the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams in the post-season to reach the Super Bowl. However, the Vikes became the first team with Super Bowl experience to lose to a first-time participant in the game.

When the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins squared off against the Oakland Raiders, who had the league's best record, many experts felt the winner would be the next champion. The emotionally-charged game featured six lead changes. With just 24 seconds left, the Raiders took the lead for good on a touchdown pass from Ken Stabler to Clarence Davis in which Davis caught the ball amongst three Dolphin defenders. The play has come to be known as the Sea of Hands, and ended Miami's reign as AFC champion. The Raiders celebrated as though they had already won the championship, but they lost to Pittsburgh the next week.