Phila-Pitt Steagles Dark Green t-shirt

In 1943, the Pittsburgh Steelers found themselves in a bind. Most of their players were away at war, and as summer practice dawned, they only had 6 players under contract. So Art Rooney contacted Bert Bell and pitched that they combine the two Pennsylvania teams. Bell went along, and the team officially known as the “Phil-Pitt Combined” was formed. But that name didn’t exactly roll off the tongue, so when Pittsburgh Press writer Chet Smith used the term “Steagles” in a column, the name stuck. 

The team was co-coached by Steelers coach Walt Kiesling and Eagles coach Greasy Neale. The primary problem with this arrangement was that the two men hated each other. Somehow, the team overcame the strange situation and the fact their coaches didn’t get along to go 5-4-1. The next year, the Steelers were shorthanded again, but the Eagles didn’t want to try the experiment again, so the Steelers joined forces with the Chicago Cardinals. The team was known as Card-Pitt, and it didn’t take writers long to change that to “Carpets”, as everybody else walked all over them on their way to an 0-11 season. 

65% polyester, 35% cotton, Next Level shirt. 

Part of the Shibe Originals collection – designs by Philly artists and exclusively available at Shibe Vintage Sports.