Pittsburgh Maulers: 40 Years Revisited
The year was 1984. For Pittsburgh pro sports teams, it was a dark period. The Steelers became mediocre, the Penguins were a rebuilding club, who had just drafted Mario Lemieux, and the Pirates were in a bad way, not just with the on field product, but also what loomed ahead a year later, with the drug scandal, and talks of possible relocation.
Then came the opportunity to present a fourth pro team, in the form of the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League. The franchise was ran by Edward DeBartolo Sr, who also owned the Penguins from 1977 until 1991.
For their inaugural season in the USFL, the Maulers named Joe Pendry the head coach. Pendry, 36 at the time, had served as the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Stars under Jim Mora.
Midway through the season, Pendry had quit as head coach. Ellis Rainsberger had taken over as the interim replacement. Pendry found himself serving on several NFL coaching staffs, in different capacities.
Notable players
Glenn Carano
The team’s starting quarterback was former Dallas Cowboy Glenn Carano. At one point, he was the Cowboys’ third string QB behind Roger Staubach and Danny White.
Unfortunately, Carano’s lone season with the Maulers wasn’t anything to write home about, as he compiled 2,368 yards passing, while throwing more interceptions (19) than touchdowns (13).
Mike Rozier
Following a Heisman winning season at Nebraska in 1983, Mike Rozier was the first overall selection by Pittsburgh in the ‘84 USFL Draft.
The numbers were decent for Rozier in the Maulers’ backfield. He put up 1,051 all-purpose yards, with 792 of those coming on the ground.
Rozier would go onto have a productive, NFL career, which included a pair of Pro Bowl seasons with the Houston Oilers in 1987 and 1988.
Jackie Flowers
Jackie Flowers with a ninth round choice of the Dallas Cowboys in 1980 NFL Draft.
While playing for the Chicago Blitz, Pittsburgh acquired Flowers in March of 1984.
Flowers recorded 46 catches for 881 yards, and had a team-leading eight touchdown receptions.
Johnnie Dirden
For Johnnie Dirden, it was a short NFL career, one that saw him with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1981.
The Maulers added Dirden to their WR depth in ‘84. He had only 12 receptions for 149 yards.
Dirden became the only player to have played for the Steelers and Maulers.
Jerry Holmes
Coming out of West Virginia, Jerry Holmes had established himself as a solid, cornerback, in four seasons with the New York Jets from 1980-83.
In September of 1983, Holmes signed a contract with the Maulers, which reportedly was going to pay him triple than the Jets had.
During Holmes’ only season in Pittsburgh, he had two interceptions - tied for the team lead.
Sam Clancy
While Mike Rozier was certainly the Maulers’ most notable player, on the offensive side of the ball, Sam Clancy was without a doubt their most impactful on defense.
Clancy, the former Pitt Panthers basketball standout, and member of the U.S. Pan American Games in 1979, turned his attention to the gridiron - beginning his pro football career with the Seattle Seahawks from 1982-83.
As the leader of the Maulers’ defense, Clancy became a dominant, force, for the USFL in 1984. He registered 16 sacks, which were tied for second most in the league.
Despite some noteworthy talent the Maulers had, they never could get it going, as they finished with a putrid, 3-15 record. The offense in particular was simply woeful, averaging just 13.9 points per game.
After just one season, the Pittsburgh Maulers folded, this after the USFL had announced they would be switching from a spring schedule to a fall schedule. As you might imagine, owner Edward DeBartolo Sr. was against the idea, as he didn’t want to go head-to-head with the Steelers. In addition, games at Three Rivers Stadium would have been difficult to work around, not just for Steelers’ games, but also Pirates’ games in September.
The Maulers may be a footnote, in the annals of Pittsburgh sports history, but it’s a nostalgic footnote, nonetheless.