The Pittsburgh Steelers helmet "Steelmark" logo was introduced during the 1962 NFL season replacing what was the players number on both sides of a plain gold helmet. As the search for a new logo was in place Cleveland Republic Steel suggested to the Steelers to use the Steelmark as the teams new logo and Steeler officials went with the idea.
The only alteration of the Steelmark logo was replacing the Steel lettering with the Steelers lettering which needed approval from the American Iron and Steel Institute. The 3 diamond shaped colors (hypocycloids) represent the componets in making steel, yellow represents coal, orange for ore, and blue for steel scrap. The reason for the logo being only on the right side of the helmet was meant to be just temporary until the Steelers were sure they liked the new logo on the gold helmet.
During the 1962 season, and first with the new logo, the Steelers went 9-5 and made the Playoff Bowl, which back then was very rare. Steeler officials wanted to do something special for the playoffs and decided to change the color of the helmets from gold to black. Fans loved the new logo on the black helmet and from that game on the Steelers never switched back to the gold helmet.
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