A look back at the Steelers' long and ugly history in Chicago

Since 1936, there have been as many Allied victories in Europe as there have been Steelers victories in Chicago.

One.

In 1995, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Bears, 37-34, in overtime at Soldier Field, as Crafton’s Bill Cowher beat Baldwin’s Dave Wannstedt.

Aside from that result, the franchise is 0-12 in every other visit to the Windy City.

From 1936-49, the Steelers dropped four games there by a combined score of 137-28. Pittsburgh scored exactly one touchdown in each game. That was it.

The Steelers then endured a 30-21 outcome in 1949 and a 27-21 decision in 1959.

In the Super Bowl era, excluding that victory in the AFC Championship season of 1995, the Steelers are 0-6 against the Monsters of the Midway on their home turf.

So when Mike Tomlin’s team heads there this Sunday, that’s the kind of history they’ll be facing. Here’s a brief — but all too painful — recap of the Steelers’ most recent trips to the Second City.

Nov. 9, 1969: The Steelers got a healthy dose of Gale Sayers en route to a 38-7 beatdown. The Hall of Fame running back went off for 112 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Brian Piccolo had a rushing touchdown as well. Bobby Douglass only needed 123 passing yards to lead the win.

The Steelers were limited to 86 total yards of offense by Dick Butkus and the Chicago defense.

Dick Shiner and Terry Hanratty were sacked four times each. Earl Gros had the lone Steelers touchdown. The Steelers finished 1-13 in Chuck Noll’s first year as head coach.

Sept. 19, 1971: The Bears moved into Soldier Field full-time in 1971 and opened the season against the visiting Steelers.

Second-year quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw four interceptions, including one to Butkus.

Ross Brupbacher also had a pick, plus he returned a fumble 30 yards for a score.

The Steelers lost 17-15, despite posting 223 rushing yards. John “Frenchy” Fuqua had 114, and Warren Bankston had 89.

Both teams finished 6-8.

Nov. 30, 1986: After a 15-year absence, the Steelers returned to Chicago to endure more futility. They fell 13-10 to the defending Super Bowl champions.

Future Steelers quarterback Mike Tomczak was at the helm. He only went 19 of 30 with two interceptions, but Walter Payton’s 138 yards from scrimmage made up for that.

The Steelers’ lone touchdown came on an aborted field goal throw from holder Harry Newsome to Preston Gothard.

Chicago put up 406 total yards, but just 10 points in regulation. Kevin Butler broke a 10-10 tie in overtime with a game-ending field goal. The Bears improved to 11-2. The Steelers dropped to 4-9.

Dec. 13, 1992: The Steelers went 11-5 in Cowher’s rookie year as the head coach, but one of those losses in 1992 was in Chicago. The 5-11 Bears blew out the Steelers, 30-6, in Week 14 of that season.

Bubby Brister was sacked five times and threw two interceptions. Jim Harbaugh only threw for 90 yards, but it was enough as Bears running back Neal Anderson scored twice.

The Bears held onto the ball for 37 minutes, 59 seconds. Butler kicked three field goals as Chicago honored legendary linebacker Mike Singletary during his last home game.

Greg Lloyd and Rod Woodson had two sacks apiece in defeat.

Sept. 20, 2009: Between two Super Bowl trips, the 2009 season was a bust for the Steelers. The organization missed the playoffs at 9-7. Four of those defeats were courtesy of opponents who finished below .500

One of those losses was a 17-14 stumble at Soldier Field. The Steelers blew a 14-7 fourth-quarter lead. Penn State’s Robbie Gould kicked a game-winning field goal with 15 seconds left.

Jeff Reed missed two field goals of 38 and 45 yards. Jay Cutler was 27 of 38 for two touchdowns and no picks, and was sacked only twice.

Johnny Knox had four first downs, a touchdown, nine receptions and 70 yards on the day.

Sept. 24, 2017: The Steelers’ most recent trip to Chicago saw them at the center of the league-wide National Anthem debate when former Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva stood by himself for the song while the rest of the team stayed in the tunnel.

A Steelers team that finished 13-3 ended up losing 23-17 in overtime to a Bears squad that finished 5-11. Jordan Howard had 140 rushing yards, including a game-ending 19-yard touchdown run.

Antonio Brown had 110 receiving yards in the loss. Le’Veon Bell had 98 yards from scrimmage and a score. Chris Boswell had a field goal blocked at the end of the first half.