A field guide to thrifted sport
Secondhand Archive
Vol. 60s–70s · Pittsburgh Steelers · #12 Bradshaw

Vintage 1960s–70s Steelers

jerseys.

The 1970s Steelers won four Super Bowls in six seasons (IX, X, XIII and XIV), and their uniform from 1968 is essentially the one they wear today: black or white jerseys with Northwestern-style sleeve stripes, block numbers, and TV numbers set at the top of the shoulder. Player names were added to the backs in 1970. The 60s were stranger: two different white jerseys from 1962 to 1965, then the stripe-free "Batman" jerseys with a gold shoulder diamond in 1966–67.

The names fans wore were Terry Bradshaw (#12), Franco Harris (#32), Lynn Swann (#88), John Stallworth (#82), Joe Greene (#75) and Jack Lambert (#58). Retro-style jerseys have been sold since the NFL's 1991 Throwbacks Collection, so check every detail before trusting the era.

NO. · · 1960S–70S STEELERS JERSEYS, BY THE NUMBERS
Years
1960–79
Listed on eBay
79
Typical ask
$40+

Jump to which one to buy ↓

1970s Pittsburgh Steelers black durene jersey number 32 with wide gold-white knit sleeve stripesSteelers · 60s–70s
Representative photo — AI-generated from real seller photos. Individual listings vary. How we make these
NO. 01 · BUYING GUIDE

Which one to buy

From Oct 3, 2026 listings

79 Steelers jerseys are listed as 1970s, most asking $40–85 delivered, and many are Rawlings replicas of Franco Harris #32, Terry Bradshaw #12 and Lynn Swann #88 that sold for years, which is why so many titles say '70s 80s'. Sand-Knit, including Medalist Sand-Knit and its Pro Action line, and durene jerseys are the collectible pieces from the Steel Curtain years. Ask for a tag photo, pit-to-pit and close-ups of the numbers, which crack and peel when screen-printed. The one red flag is a Sand-Knit Pro Action John Stallworth at about $156, nearly double the band top, from a 99.2% seller. Budget buyers should take the $18 Rawlings Franco Harris, first-time buyers the $67 Rawlings Bradshaw in Large, and collectors the $80 Medalist Sand-Knit Bradshaw.

Listed now
79
Damaged / for parts
0
Typical ask
$40–$85
Full range
$11–$150

Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 3, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ; eBay shows your exact total before you buy.

NO. 02 · MARKET SNAPSHOT

Live on eBay right now

8 of 79 listed

Snapshot captured — listings may have ended.

Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 3, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ; eBay shows your exact total before you buy.

Prices and availability change daily. The full, current search on eBay shows every matching listing, including new ones since Oct 3, 2026.

See all current listings on eBay →
LOW · $40
TYPICAL · $63
HIGH · $85

typical asks, Oct 3, 2026

price check

a fair price for a fair shirt

NO. 03 · WHAT TO LOOK FOR
  • Names on the back: Steelers jerseys gained player names in 1970, under a league mandate that followed the AFL-NFL merger. A 60s-style jersey with a name on the back is suspect.
  • TV numbers at the top of the shoulder: from 1968 the Steelers placed TV numbers at the apex of the shoulder, between sleeve and shoulder. They moved fully onto the shoulder only in 1997.
  • Block numbers, no chest logo: the rounded number font and the left-chest Steelers logo both arrived in 1997. Either one rules out a 70s jersey.
  • Name colors: on white jerseys, names were gold without black trim in 1970–71 and gold with black trim after that.
  • No collar shield: the small NFL shield at the collar dates from 1991 and was not on 70s jerseys.
  • 1966–67 "Batman" design: a gold diamond over the shoulders and no sleeve stripes, worn only two seasons. The team began selling customized versions in 2008, so check the labels on any you find.
  • Make sure the maker, the era and the design agree. A label from a company that did not make that team's gear in that period, or a design detail from a later season, means the jersey is newer or not what it claims to be.
NO. 04 · REPRODUCTIONS & BOOTLEGS
  • Retro-style jerseys are older than you might think: the NFL launched a Throwbacks Collection at retail in 1991, with jerseys licensed to Tiedman & Company Sportswear. A throwback design is not proof the jersey dates to the era it copies.
  • Mitchell & Ness has made football throwbacks since 2000. They copy classic designs closely but carry the Mitchell & Ness name on the labels, so check every tag before trusting the design.
  • The Steelers wore a 1962-style throwback, with gold helmets, from 2007 to 2011. Jerseys in that style from those seasons are Reebok pieces with the "NFL Equipment" collar shield.
  • Because the 1968 design never changed, a modern jersey with a 70s player's name can pass for vintage in photos. Ask for photos of every label and the collar.
  • Mitchell & Ness sells its NFL Legacy and Authentic throwbacks in numeric sizes (36 S, 40 M, 44 L, 48 XL, 52 2XL, 56 3XL), so a numeric size on its own does not prove a jersey is old.

Full reproductions guide →

NO. 05 · SIZING

Fit varies widely across five decades of jerseys, and modern throwbacks often use numeric sizes (Mitchell & Ness: 40 M, 44 L, 48 XL), so the tag tells you little about fit. Ask for pit-to-pit (armpit to armpit, laid flat) and back length from collar to hem, and compare them with a jersey you own. Tagged sizes vary by maker and era, and many listings are mis-sized.

Vintage sizing guide →

the 60s–70s steelers
12
worn by · Bradshaw
the

Steel Curtain

era, 1972–1979

The Immaculate Reception, then four Super Bowls in six seasons. Bradshaw, Swann, Mean Joe Greene.

NO. 06 · IN THE DESIGN ARCHIVE

Looking for one specific design? The archive files every Steelers design we found on eBay, one page each, with all its past examples.

Pittsburgh Steelers · 56 designs →Super Bowl IX (1975) →

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NO. 08 · FIELD NOTES

How do I know a Steelers jersey is really from the 1970s?

Check that the details fit: block numbers, no chest logo, TV numbers at the top of the shoulder, and no NFL shield at the collar. Then read every label. A Mitchell & Ness, Reebok or Nike tag, or any tag that wasn't around in the 70s, means it is a throwback.

Whose jerseys are these?

The Steel Curtain era: Terry Bradshaw (#12, 1970–83), Franco Harris (#32, 1972–83), Lynn Swann (#88, 1974–82), John Stallworth (#82, 1974–87), Joe Greene (#75, 1969–81) and Jack Lambert (#58, 1974–84).

What did 60s Steelers jerseys look like?

From 1962 to 1965 the team wore two white jerseys, one with a gold diamond on the sleeves holding the TV numbers and one with gold sleeves. In 1966–67 came the "Batman" design with a gold diamond over the shoulders. The current design arrived in 1968.

How do I tell an original from a Mitchell & Ness?

Read the labels: Mitchell & Ness has made football throwbacks since 2000 and uses its own tags and numeric sizes. A retro jersey can also come from the NFL's 1991 Throwbacks Collection, so a vintage-looking tag is not enough on its own. Check every detail against the year.

Read the full buying guide →