The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the most successful and popular teams in the NFL. They have won six Super Bowls, more than any other team except New England Patriots. But this is the story of 1933 when the Steelers were not called the Steelers yet. They were the Pittsburgh Pirates, named after the baseball team. As a newly established franchise in the NFL, their journey began with some challenges. But do you know how they scored their first touchdown ever? It was not an easy feat, and it involved a player who was soon cut from the team.

The Pirates’ inaugural game against the New York Giants ended in disappointment, with a score of 23-2 in favor of the Giants. It was a tough blow for the Pirates, who failed to score a single touchdown throughout the game. That is, until the next historic game.

How Butch Kottler scored the first touchdown?

After the first loss, Steelers’ second game was against the Chicago Cardinals, another struggling team. The game was played at Forbes Field, the home of the Pirates. It was a rainy day, and not many fans showed up to watch. Only about 5,000 to 6,000 people were in the stands, according to Vintage Newspaper which uncovers Pittsburgh Steelers’ historic first touchdown from the year 1933.

The game was not going well for the Pirates either. They were trailing 13-0 in the third quarter, and their offense was ineffective. Their defense, however, was about to make history.

The Cardinals had the ball near their own goal line, and they attempted a pass. That’s when Butch Kottler, a defensive back for the Pirates, made his move. He jumped in front of the receiver and caught the ball. He then ran all the way to the other end of the field, scoring a touchdown. It was a 99-yard interception return, one of the longest non-return touchdowns ever.

Kottler’s play sparked a comeback for the Pirates. They scored another touchdown later in the game and won by a point, 14-13. It was their first victory in team history and a well-earned one at that. As it marked the rise of a marvelous team in the NFL, the same was not true for Butch Kottler.

Kottler got cut two weeks after that

According to the ‘Steelers Depot’ report, Butch Kottler’s name should have been etched in Steelers’ lore, but sadly it was not. He was cut from the team two weeks later, along with several other players. This was due to old NFL rules that required teams to reduce their rosters as the season progressed.

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Kottler never played in the NFL again, but he left behind a legacy. He scored the first touchdown in Steelers’ history, and he did it in spectacular fashion. He also gave hope to a new team that would go on to become one of the best in football.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on Kottler’s feat and praised his team’s performance. They wrote that the Pirates were “…ready for the best of them.” And they were right. The Steelers would eventually prove themselves as one of the best of them.

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