STEAGLES: THE ONE-SEASON TEAM THAT UNITED PENNSYLVANIA

The Steagles were a one-season NFL team formed in 1943 when the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers merged to create a single roster. The team was officially known as the “Phil-Pitt Combine,” but fans and newspapers coined the nickname “Steagles,” which became permanent in sports history.

The merger happened during World War II when both franchises lost most of their players to military service.

By 1943, both teams were struggling to survive. The Steelers had only six players under contract and the Eagles sixteen. With hundreds of NFL players drafted into the armed forces and the 1943 draft offering little relief, Pittsburgh owner Art Rooney proposed a merger with the Eagles.

Philadelphia’s owner, Alexis Thompson, agreed, partly because Rooney had helped him relocate the Eagles two years earlier. The NFL approved the merger by a narrow 5–4 vote.

Yes. Several team owners feared that combining rosters would create an unfair advantage. To prevent that, the NFL required the team to operate mostly as the Eagles, using their green and white uniforms and Philadelphia as the home base. The compromise gave the Steelers two home games in Pittsburgh and four in Philadelphia. This was also the first season the NFL required all players to wear helmets.

You can find my Steagles helmet concept on this design.

The team was co-coached by Philadelphia’s Greasy Neale and Pittsburgh’s Walt Kiesling. Neither man wanted to serve under the other, and they often clashed. Their relationship was tense, with arguments spilling onto the practice field.

Neale ran the offense using the T-formation, while Kiesling handled the defense. Despite the friction, the team finished with a winning record, showing how cooperation under pressure could still produce results.

Every Steagles player held a full-time war job, often in defense plants or critical industries. Playing football was a side activity done for morale and love of the game. Many players were classified as 3-A (with dependents), 2-A or 2-B (working in war industries), or 4-F (medically unfit for military service).

Some were partially blind or deaf, yet still contributed. For example, Tony Bova, the team’s top receiver, was blind in one eye, and guard Eddie Michaels was nearly deaf. Ted Doyle worked at Westinghouse, unknowingly contributing to the Manhattan Project.

The team split its games between Shibe Park in Philadelphia and Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, giving fans from both cities a rare chance to cheer together.

I designed Shibe Park and Forbes Field into a flag design with the stadiums ghosted on separate sides. You can find the Steagles Flag here.

The name “Steagles” came from a June 23, 1943 column by Chet Smith of the Pittsburgh Press. It combined “Steelers” and “Eagles” in a way that captured both cities’ pride. Though never officially registered by the NFL, it quickly became the popular name used nationwide.

They started strong, winning their first two games against the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants. They finished 5–4–1, the first winning season in Philadelphia’s franchise history and only the second for Pittsburgh.

Star player Jack Hinkle rushed for 571 yards, finishing just one yard shy of the NFL rushing title. Despite the challenges, the team remained competitive and earned respect across the league.

In 1944, the Eagles and Steelers separated. Philadelphia went on to win back-to-back NFL championships in 1948 and 1949 under Greasy Neale.

Pittsburgh, still short of players, merged with the Chicago Cardinals for one year to form “Card-Pitt,” a team that went winless and was mockingly nicknamed “Carpet” because everyone walked all over them.

The Steagles symbolize perseverance and unity during American wartime. They proved that rival teams could come together under extreme circumstances and succeed.

Their story has been featured in books, documentaries, and even inspired the 1971 film The Steagle. In 2003, the Steelers celebrated the team’s 60th anniversary by honoring surviving members during a special halftime ceremony at Heinz Field, complete with 1940s-style broadcasts and replica jerseys.

Steagles apparel resonates with fans of both the Eagles and Steelers, as well as anyone who loves football history. The team’s single season represents resilience, Pennsylvania pride, and one of the most unique moments in NFL history.

This item is a fan-made historical tribute to the 1943 Steagles. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers, or the Philadelphia Eagles.