The Pittsburgh Maulers were a team that competed in the 1984 season of the United States Football League. Their most prominent player was first pick overall in the 1984 USFL draft, running back Mike Rozier of Nebraska, who won the Heisman Trophy, collegiate football’s most prestigious individual award.

Established
1983

City
Pittsburgh

League History
1983 – 1984 / United States Football League

Team History
1983 – 1984 / Pittsburgh Maulers

Nickname
Maulers – A heavy, long-handled hammer used especially to drive stakes, piles, or wedges.

Original USFL Team
No

Final USFL Team
No

Team’s Final Outlook
DeBartolo was a strong believer in the USFL’s original spring football concept, and he knew the Maulers could not hope to go head-to-head against the Steelers. A move to Cleveland, closer to DeBartolo’s home in Youngstown, was quickly ruled out; even without the daunting task of competing with the Cleveland Browns to consider, it is not likely that Cleveland fans would have accepted a refugee from Pittsburgh. As a result, just a week after the vote to move to the fall, DeBartolo folded the franchise without so much as a press conference.

Championship
USFL Championship  0

Stadium
1983 – 1984 / Three Rivers Stadium

Owner
1983 – 1984 / Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr.

Coaches
1985 / Hank Bullough (never coached)
1984 / Ellis Rainsberger (1 wins – 7 losses)
1983 / Joe Pendry (2 wins – 8 losses)

Accomplishments
Averaged 22,858 fans (60,043 seat stadium)

*Blue is this team’s history