Bill Cowher selected for induction into NC State Ring of Honor
Posted August 11, 2023 1:41 p.m. EDT
Raleigh, N.C. — NC State will recognize former linebacker and Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Cowher to its Ring of Honor this fall, Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan and head coach Dave Doeren announced Friday.
Cowher will be honored in ceremonies before the Sept. 29 game against Louisville.
"What a tremendous honor it is to be inducted to the Ring of Honor in Carter-Finley Stadium," Cowher said in a news release. "It is a legendary list of past honorees. I came to NC State as a boy from Crafton, PA, and left four years later a man.
“Thanks to the tutelage and guidance of so many - Lou Holtz, Bo Rein, & Chuck Amato, to name a few. This is a very SPECIAL recognition. Go Pack!"
The Crafton, Pennsylvania, native starred at linebacker for the Wolfpack from 1975-78 under Holtz and Rein.
"Bill Cowher has left an indelible mark on the game of football and is certainly beloved by Wolfpack Nation," Corrigan said. "It is an absolute privilege to recognize his remarkable contributions and celebrate his outstanding career."
Cowher still ranks seventh in school history in career tackles (371), while his 195 stops in 1978 still stands as a single-season record. He recorded two 24-tackle games (against South Carolina in 1977 and Clemson in 1978), tallies that still rank second in the record books.
"Throughout his career, Bill Cowher has epitomized what Wolfpack football is all about," Dave Doeren said. "He is a true mentor, leader, and icon in the coaching profession, and we are so proud to be able to honor him in Carter-Finley Stadium alongside other NC State legends."
As an undrafted player, Cowher played five seasons in the NFL as a linebacker and in a special teams role for the Philadelphia Eagles (1979, 1983-1984) and the Cleveland Browns (1980-1982).
At the age of 28, he began his coaching career under Marty Schottenheimer with the Browns, serving as special teams coach (1985-86) and secondary coach (1987-88) before following Schottenheimer to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he took on the role of defensive coordinator.
In January 1992, Cowher was named head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He compiled a 149-90-1 record while coaching the Steelers from 1992-2006. In the postseason, he had a 12-9 record as a head coach.
Cowher was known for his intense demeanor as a coach, often scowling and spitting on the sidelines.
During Cowher’s tenure with the Steelers, the team won eight division titles, made the playoffs 10 times, advanced to six AFC Championship games and made two Super Bowl appearances.
On Feb. 5, 2006, Cowher led the Steelers to victory in Super Bowl XL.
Cowher resigned as head coach of the Steelers in January 2007. Later that year, he began as a CBS studio analyst on "The NFL Today."
Cowher was on set in January 2020 when he found out he would be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is the only former NC State player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
