https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dbwi-jets-win-super-bowl-iii.426632/
. . . (we went with the Seahawks joining early,) that team gets Terry Bradshaw - it doesn’t torpedo the Steelers but it makes their dynasty weaker, . . .
. . . Also, without Miami, the Steelers probably start their dynasty in 1972 instead of 74.
Yes, the Pittsburgh Steelers won four superbowls in the 1970s, but the two games against the Dallas Cowboys were relatively close, and in Superbowl XIV against the Los Angeles Rams, the Rams were actually leading 19-17 going into the 4th quarter. The Steelers got a go ahead touchdown. The Rams were then driving, and Steeler linebacker Jack Lambert made a great read and picked off a Vince Ferragamo pass. The Steelers then added an insurance touchdown and ended up winning 31-19.
Point being, the Steeler dynasty could have easily had a lower trajectory.
Or . . . Steeler coach Chuck Noll debated whether to go with Terry Bradshaw or Joe Gillium, Jr., and Joe had a very quick release and arm motion (think Dan Marino!) and at times outplayed Bradshaw. Problem was, Noll was an old-school coach and thought three things can happen when you attempt to pass the ball, two of them bad. Of course, the one good thing, being of course a completion, is good enough to make up for the risk of the other two. In addition, Joe Gillium, Jr., was a black guy, and even though the Steelers and the Steeler ownership was among the less prejudiced, that probably played some role. Plus, Bradshaw was already the established quarterback when Gillium got there.
So maybe a higher trajectory with Joe, or just a different one, perhaps losing one of the Cowboy superbowls or the one to the Rams, and then maybe winning in one of the otherwise off years.
And if so, Joe Gillium, Jr., is remembered as the first African-American guy to quarterback his team to a superbowl victory, about a decade or a decade and a half before Doug Williams of Washington does the same.