Remembering Cowher's Debut

With Mike Tomlin's first regular season game as Steelers' head coach now less than a week away it seems appropriate to recall Bill Cowher's head coaching debut, which took place on September 6, 1992 at the Astrodome versus the Houston Oilers. Cowher's charges got off to a very slow start, falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter, allowing a fumble recovery for touchdown and a Warren Moon touchdown pass. But the momentum changed when the Steelers successfully executed a fake punt and RB Barry Foster subsequently scored on a one-yard run. (At his farewell press conference earlier this year Cowher admitted that he tried to call off the fake punt but failed to do so). The Steelers went on to shut out the high powered Houston offense in the second half and vanquished the heavily favored Oilers, 29-24. Cowher went on to win two more games (at home against the New York Jets and at San Diego) before losing at Green Bay in his fourth game.

For what its worth, Chuck Noll also emerged victorious in his debut, beating the Detroit Lions 16-13 way back in 1969.