Elon Musk was cheering on the Steelers during Sunday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys at Acrisure Stadium, following football tradition and waving the terrible towel.
Key Takeaways
- The Terrible Towel was invented by the late Myron Cope, a Pittsburgh Steelers broadcaster who wanted a means to energize his team’s fans.
- “It’s a symbol of unity and spirit,” the saying goes, and people have been doing so ever since.
As the Sunday Night Football game between the Steelers and the Cowboys began, the home team had one major fan in the stands: Elon Musk, the world’s richest person and the owner of X, SpaceX, and Tesla.
The game was delayed for an hour and a half due to bad weather in the vicinity, including heavy lightning and light rain. Still, the game began with almost no empty seats and a raucous crowd of Steelers fans, including Elon Musk.
As storm clouds gathered over Pittsburgh, delaying the Cowboys-Steelers game, an equally electrifying mood developed inside.
Elon not only cheered and attended the game, but he also carried on the Steelers’ “Terrible Towel” tradition, which attracted even more attention and increased the excitement in the stadium.
The conservative political action committee that Musk created, America on X, first posted the video, which he then republished with the remark, “Go Steelers!!“
Terrible Towels out in Pittsburgh for the Steelers pic.twitter.com/HH5luaUKLW
— America (@america) October 7, 2024
Musk was standing shoulder to shoulder with Steelers supporters, channeling decades of gridiron excellence with every wave of that iconic cloth.
The “Terrible Towel”—What Is It, & Its History
The Terrible Towel was invented by the late Myron Cope, a Pittsburgh Steelers broadcaster who wanted to energize his team’s fans during a 1975 playoff football game against the Baltimore Colts.
Cope asked supporters to wave their yellow dish towels for the entire game. That day, the stands were packed, and when the towels were waving, the Steelers always seemed to make amazing plays.
After the Steelers advanced through the playoffs, they unveiled a new symbol of team pride for Super Bowl X in January 1976: gold towels emblazoned with the words “Myron Cope’s Terrible Towel” in black.
In their 21–17 victory over the Cowboys, many credited the towel with contributing to the win.
In 1996, Myron Cope donated “Myron Cope’s Official Terrible Towel” to the Allegheny Valley School in Pittsburgh.
The school provides essential care for over 900 children, adults, and senior citizens with intellectual disabilities and physical challenges.
Since then, the towel has raised nearly $1.1 million for the school, becoming both a beloved sports tradition and a force for good.
The Terrible Towel’s legacy grew stronger with time. In 2005, VisitPittsburgh sponsored the “World’s Largest Terrible Towel Wave,” which rallied millions of Steelers fans worldwide.
The towel was still waving when the Steelers claimed victory in Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville.
Special edition Terrible Towels were later produced for the team’s appearances in Super Bowl XL (2006) and Super Bowl XLIII (2009).
By 2011, when the Steelers made their third Super Bowl appearance in six years, the Terrible Towel symbolized the team’s success.
It remained a centerpiece during the Immaculate Reception celebration in 2022, a tribute to the Steelers’ enduring legacy.
Created by Cope and trademarked by the Steelers, the Terrible Towel has become more than a game-day accessory. It’s a powerful symbol of unity and team spirit, waved proudly by fans to this day.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- The Towel has undergone numerous redesigns and has even started its line of accessories.
- In addition to Elon Musk, rapper Snoop Dogg participated in the Steelers’ tradition of waving the terrible towel during Sunday night’s match.
- Since it was first introduced, many rival teams, mascots, and athletes have disrespected or vandalized the Terrible Towel.
