Minnesota Vikings had lost last year to the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VIII but rebounded for a second consecutive appearance in the big game. Their opponents, the Pittsburgh Steelers were coming off of decades of futility to make their first appearance. The Vikings were once again led by the arm and scrambling ability of Fran Tarkenton, although his shoulder caused some concern among the NFC champions. In the Steelers' camp, the concern was over running back Franco Harris, who was suffering from a severe head cold. The strength of the Pittsburgh squad was the defense. In fact, they are considered to be one of the greatest defenses of all time, hence the moniker, "The Steel Curtain". The defense was led by "Mean" Joe Greene, who ironically received his nickname for a hit on Tarkenton years earlier. Pittsburgh Steelers' had won 10 games, lost three and tied one during the 1974 AFC season before they eliminated Buffalo, 32-14, in the playoffs and then did away with Oakland, 24-13, in the conference title game as Terry Bradshaw engineered three fourth-quarter touchdowns.

The Minnesota Vikings, making their third Super Bowl appearance and second in as many years, had won their sixth division title in seven years and then brushed aside St. Louis and Los Angeles en route to New Orleans. Foremost among the Vikings once more was Fran Tarkenton, the scrambler, who had averaged 5.7 yards on 21 carries and tossed 17 touchdown passes behind a line that allowed only 17 sacks. Preparing for the game, in which the Vikings were three-point underdogs, Grant gave his players greater freedom than in previous Super Bowls, both of which wound up in defeats. The French Quarter, with its all-night attractions, was no longer off limits and the players were also permitted to fly their wives to New Orleans for the game. Super Bowl IX was game that matched two of the NFL's greatest ever defenses, Pittsburgh's Steel Curtain against the Purple People Eaters of Minnesota, and two legendary quarterbacks: Terry Bradshaw and Fran Tarkenton, respectively. AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers, in its initial Super Bowl appearance, and NFC champion Minnesota Vikings, making a third bid for its first Super Bowl title. The first quarter was scoreless as both teams struggled to move the ball, but after a Rocky Bleier fumble, the Vikings found themselves on the Pittsburgh 24-yard line. The Steelers came up empty though, when Fred Cox missed a field goal from 39 yards.

The first and only score of the first half came midway through the second period when Dave Osborne fumbled a pitch out from Tarkenton, and fell on it in the end zone. The Steelers went into the locker room with a 2-0 lead. The second half started with a Minnesota fumble of the kickoff on the 30-yard line, and after three runs by Franco Harris that resulted in a touchdown, the score was 9-0. The Vikings first score came after Chuck Foreman had fumbled on the Steelers' five-yard line. But after Pittsburgh failed to make a first down, their punt was blocked by Matt Blair and recovered in the end zone by Terry Brown for a touchdown. The extra-point attempt struck the left upright and bounded away, leaving the score at 9-6. Pittsburgh wasted no time putting the victory away. With ten minutes remaining in the game, Terry Bradshaw led the Steelers on a drive that ate up more than seven minutes before hitting tight end Larry Brown for the final score of the game. The Pittsburgh Steelers won Super Bowl IX, 16-6. Pittsburgh's defense permitted Minnesota Vikings only 119 yards total offense, including a Super Bowl low of 17 rushing yards. The Steelers, meanwhile, gained 333 yards, including Harris's record 158 yards on 34 carries. This was the Steelers' first championship since entering the National Football League (NFL). The NBC telecast was viewed by approximately 78 million people. Franco Harris, Running Back for the Pittsburgh Steelers' was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP).