Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a National Football League team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers, along with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Cincinnati Reds, joined the NFL as 1933 expansion teams.

Franchise history

The Early Years: Decades of Futility

The Pittsburgh NFL team, originally known as the Pirates, first took to the field on September 20, 1933, losing 23-2 to the New York Giants. Through the 1930s the Pirates never finished higher than second place in their division, or with a record better than .500 (1936). Pittsburgh did make history in 1938 by signing Byron White, a future justice on the U.S. Supreme Court to what was at the time the biggest contract in NFL history, but he only played one year with the Pirates before signing with the Detroit Lions.

Related Topics:
September 20 - 1933 - New York Giants - 1936 - 1938 - Byron White - U.S. Supreme Court - Detroit Lions

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In 1941 the team was renamed the Steelers after the city's prominence as a steel-making center. The Steelers maintained a long history of futility for the next three decades.

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In 1942 the Steelers posted their first winning season in franchise history, going 7-4 (good for second place in the Eastern Division) behind Bill Dudley's league-leading 696 yards rushing.

Related Topics:
1942 - Bill Dudley

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During World War II, the Steelers experienced player shortages. They twice merged with other NFL franchises in order to field a team. During the 1943 season, they merged with the Philadelphia Eagles forming the "Phil-Pitt Eagles" and were known as the "Steagles". This team went 5-4-1. In 1944 they merged with the Chicago Cardinals and were know as "Card-Pitt" and informally known as the "Car-Pitts" or "Carpets". They went winless through the season. The Steelers went solo again for the 1945 season and went 2-8. Dudley was back from the war by the 1946 season and became league MVP. The rest of team did no better as the Steelers stumbled down the stretch and finished 5-5-1.

Related Topics:
World War II - 1943 - Philadelphia Eagles - Steagles - 1944 - Chicago Cardinals - 1945 - 1946

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The Steelers made the playoffs for the first time in 1947, tying for first place in the division at 8-4 with the Philadelphia Eagles. This forced a tie-breaking playoff game at Forbes Field, which the Steelers lost 21-0. Quarterback Johnny Clement actually finished second in the league in rushing yardage with 670.

Related Topics:
1947 - Philadelphia Eagles - Forbes Field - Johnny Clement

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That would be Pittsburgh's last playoff game for 25 years. In the 1948 offseason, coach Jock Sutherland died. The team struggled through the season (one quarterback, Ray Evans, threw 17 interceptions to only five touchdowns) and finished 4-8. The team once again faded down the stretch in 1949 after a strong start, ending with a 6-5-1 record. That was followed up in 1950 with a 6-6 season, and consecutive losing seasons in 1951 (4-7-1) and 1952 (5-7).

Related Topics:
1948 - Jock Sutherland - Ray Evans - 1949 - 1950 - 1951 - 1952

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After a 6-6 season in 1953 and 5-7 season in 1954, the Steelers drafted Johnny Unitas in 1955. He did not survive training camp before being cut, but later resurfaced as a Super Bowl hero - with the Baltimore Colts. Pittsburgh suffered through yet two more losing seasons before a 6-6 campaign in 1957 in the first season for coach Buddy Parker.

Related Topics:
1953 - 1954 - Johnny Unitas - 1955 - Super Bowl - Baltimore Colts - 1957 - Buddy Parker

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Early in the 1958 season the Steelers traded for quarterback Bobby Layne, who led the Detroit Lions to two NFL championships. The results were immediate, with the Steelers posting a winning record (7-4-1) for the first time in nine years - though it was still two games out of a playoff spot. The Steelers finished above .500 again with a 6-5-1 record in 1959. After a 5-6-1 season in 1960, Rudy Bukich took over the starting QB job during the 1961 season, but fared no better. Pittsburgh finished 6-8.

Related Topics:
1958 - Bobby Layne - Detroit Lions - 1959 - 1960 - Rudy Bukich - 1961

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The Steelers introduced the famous "hypocycloid" logo, based on that of U.S. Steel, in time for the 1962 season. Bobby Layne returned to the full-time starting quarterback position, and running back John Henry Johnson had the best season of his career with 1,141 yards (second in the NFL). Pittsburgh shored up on defense too, picking up Clendon Thompson from the Los Angeles Rams, who led the team with seven interceptions. Hall of Famer Ernie Stautner anchored the defensive line. The Steelers had their best season yet, finishing 9-5. This was good for second place in the division, and a spot in the Playoff Bowl, which matched up the #2 teams in the NFL's two divisions. The Steelers lost that game, 17-10, to the Detroit Lions.

Related Topics:
U.S. Steel - 1962 - John Henry Johnson - Clendon Thompson - Los Angeles Rams - Ernie Stautner - Playoff Bowl - Detroit Lions

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Ed Brown became quarterback in time for the 1963 season after Layne retired. Pittsburgh finished 7-4-1, but in a hotly contested Eastern Division, that only allowed the Steelers a 4th-place showing. Ernie Stautner retired after the season.

Related Topics:
Ed Brown - 1963

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The next few years were total disasters for the Steelers. Another 1000-yard season for John Henry Johnson was the only bright spot in a lackluster 1964 season that ended in a 5-9 record. Another retirement stung the team, this one of coach Buddy Parker. The wheels totally fell off in 1965, when the team finished at a league-worst 2-12. Over the next four years, the Steelers never finished higher than 5-8-1 (1966), with the team using eight quarterbacks between 1965 and 1969.

Related Topics:
1964 - Buddy Parker - 1965 - 1966 - 1969

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The 1970s: A Dynasty

Their luck changed with the hiring of coach Chuck Noll, University of Dayton graduate, in early 1969, though he too only won a single game in his inaugural season (their worst since 1941).

Related Topics:
Chuck Noll - 1969 - 1941

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Noll's most remarkable talent was in his draft selections taking Hall of Famers "Mean" Joe Greene (class of '87) in 1969, Terry Bradshaw ('89) and Mel Blount ('89) in 1970, Jack Ham ('88) in 1971, Franco Harris ('90) in 1972, and finally the best single draft class ever in NFL History the Steelers pulled the incredible feat of selecting four Hall of Famers in one draft year, 1974, Mike Webster, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth and Jack Lambert. This group of players formed the base of one of the greatest teams in NFL history.

Related Topics:
"Mean" Joe Greene - 1969 - Terry Bradshaw - Mel Blount - 1970 - Jack Ham - 1971 - Franco Harris - 1972 - Mike Webster - Lynn Swann - John Stallworth - Jack Lambert

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1970 was a turning point year for the Steelers. The team — along with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Colts) — joined all the former American Football League (AFL) teams in the new American Football Conference (AFC), following the AFL-NFL merger that year. A new field, Three Rivers Stadium, opened. Terry Bradshaw, picked first overall in the draft, started at quarterback. Even the colorful Myron Cope, thought by many as a Pittsburgh institution, entered the broadcast booth for a 35-year career as radio broadcaster in 1970. The initial results, though an improvement over the late 1960s, were the same: a 5-9 record in 1970 and 6-8 in 1971.

Related Topics:
1970 - Cleveland Browns - Baltimore Colts - American Football League - American Football Conference - Three Rivers Stadium - Terry Bradshaw - Myron Cope - 1960s - 1971

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1972, however, was the breakthrough, and the genesis of an NFL dynasty. Rookie Franco Harris joined the team and ran for 1055 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. Pittsburgh finished 11-3, first place in the AFC Central, and made the playoffs for the first time since 1947.

Related Topics:
1972 - Franco Harris - 1947

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Their first playoff game, against the Oakland Raiders at Three Rivers Stadium, was one of the most historic ever, and featured arguably the most well-known play in league history - the Immaculate Reception. On 4th down from the Pittsburgh 40-yeard line with 22 seconds left, Bradshaw threw a long pass intended for John Fuqua. Raiders defensive back Jack Tatum knocked it away, but it landed right in the hands of Franco Harris, who took it into the end zone for the winning touchdown. The Steelers won 13-7, but lost the AFC Championship to the "perfect" Miami Dolphins 21-17. It was a disappointing finish, but it set up a run of eight straight playoff appearances.

Related Topics:
Oakland Raiders - Immaculate Reception - John Fuqua - Jack Tatum - Franco Harris - Miami Dolphins

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After an 8-1 start in 1973, a losing streak late in the season cost the Steelers home-field during the playoffs, losing a tiebreaker to the Cincinnati Bengals for first place in the division at 10-3. The Steelers travelled to Oakland for the first round of the playoffs and lost 33-14.

Related Topics:
1973 - Cincinnati Bengals

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As described above, the Steelers selected four Hall of Famers, including the nucleus of the "Steel Curtain" defense, in the 1974 draft. This allowed the team to reach the top for the first time. After an early quarterback controversy where John Gillam temporarily took Bradshaw's starting job, the Steelers finished 10-3-1 and walked away with the division title, with Mean Joe Greene winning Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Related Topics:
1974 - John Gillam - Mean Joe Greene

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After dispatching with the Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders with relative ease in the AFC playoffs, the Steelers met the Minnesota Vikings in New Orleans for Super Bowl IX. The game was a defensive struggle: the only scoring in the first half was a safety scored by the Steelers when Minnesota quarterback Fran Tarkenton was sacked in the end zone. The Steelers scored another touchdown off a blocked punt and clinched it with a late Larry Brown touchdown. After over 40 years of futility, the Pittsburgh Steelers had won their first Super Bowl, 16-6.

Related Topics:
Buffalo Bills - Oakland Raiders - Minnesota Vikings - New Orleans - Super Bowl IX - Safety - Fran Tarkenton - Larry Brown

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The team had an even better 1975 season. Pittsburgh ran off an 11-game winning streak and only gave up twenty points in two games. Mel Blount was named AFC Defensive Player of the Year. Franco Harris' 1246 rushing yards placed second only behind O.J. Simpson, and Lynn Swann caught 11 touchdown passes. The Steelers finished 12-2, best in the AFC. In the playoffs, Pittsburgh defeated the Baltimore Colts 28-10 in the first round, and survived a late scare from the Oakland Raiders (and a concussion by Swann) to win 16-10 in the AFC Championship.

Related Topics:
1975 - Mel Blount - O.J. Simpson - Lynn Swann - Baltimore Colts - Oakland Raiders

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The Steelers made their second straight Super Bowl, this one against the Dallas Cowboys in Miami. Down 10-7 in the fourth quarter, Roy Gerela kicked two field goals and Bradshaw threw a 64-yard touchdown pass to Swann to put Pittsburgh in the lead for good. After the Cowboys came back with a touchdown of their own, Roger Staubach threw a last-minute interception that sealed a 21-17 win for the Steelers.

Related Topics:
Super Bowl - Dallas Cowboys - Miami - Roy Gerela - Roger Staubach

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The two-time defending champions got off to a rough start in 1976, losing four of their first five games. The team regrouped and won their last nine regular season games, five of which were shutouts. For the third consecutive year, a Steelers player (this time Jack Lambert) won the AFC Defensive Player of the Year award. Pittsburgh finished 10-4 and blew out the Colts 40-14 in the divisional playoffs. In the AFC Championship, an injury-plagued Steeler team lost 24-7 to their perennial playoff nemeses and eventual Super Bowl champions, the Raiders.

Related Topics:
1976 - Jack Lambert

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Pittsburgh's 1977 campaign was a relative disappointment. Bradshaw threw more interceptions than touchdowns, fullback Rocky Bleier only had half as productive a season as he did in 1976, and the famed Steel Curtain defense gave up nearly twice as many points. The team still won the division at 9-5, but lost 34-21 to the Denver Broncos in the divisional playoff.

Related Topics:
1977 - Rocky Bleier - Denver Broncos

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The Steelers rebounded in 1978. Bradshaw had a career-high 56.2% pass completion rate and 28 touchdowns, while Lynn Swann had his highest receiving yardage, while also scoring a career-high 11 touchdowns. Pittsburgh posted a 14-2 regular season record, best in the NFL. In the playoffs, the Steelers blew away the Denver Broncos and Houston Oilers by a combined score of 67-15 en route to Super Bowl XIII.

Related Topics:
1978 - Denver Broncos - Houston Oilers - Super Bowl XIII

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That game, a rematch with the Cowboys, is considered by some to be one of the greatest Super Bowls of all time. Bradshaw threw four touchdowns, but the Cowboys never were out of it, thanks in part to a fumble recovery for a touchdown by Mike Hegman. After Swann and Harris scored touchdowns 19 seconds apart in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys countered with scores of their own by Billy Joe Dupree and Butch Johnson to pull within four points with 22 seconds left. The Steelers recovered the onside kick and pulled off a 35-31 win.

Related Topics:
Mike Hegman - Billy Joe Dupree - Butch Johnson

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The 1979 season was the last season of the dynasty. Bradshaw threw for over 3700 yards and 26 touchdowns and John Stallworth had 1183 yards receiving. The Steelers finished 12-4, once again tops in the AFC Central. In the playoffs they defeated the Dolphins 34-14 and the Oilers 27-13, to meet the Los Angeles Rams in their fourth Super Bowl.

Related Topics:
1979 - John Stallworth - Los Angeles Rams - Super Bowl

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The Rams played the Steelers tough for three quarters. Bradshaw threw three interceptions, but also had two long touchdown passes in the second half (one to Swann and one to Stallworth). The Rams couldn't counter and Pittsburgh won 31-19.

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The 1980s: End of an Era

This marked the end of the dynasty. The Steelers suffered a rash of injuries in the 1980 season and missed the playoffs with a 9-7 record. 1981 was no better, with an 8-8 showing.

Related Topics:
1980 - 1981

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The Steelers were hit with the retirements of all their key players from the Super Bowl years. Mean Joe Greene retired after the 1981 season, Lynn Swann and Jack Ham after 1982, Terry Bradshaw and Mel Blount after 1983, and Jack Lambert after 1984.

Related Topics:
Mean Joe Greene - 1981 - Lynn Swann - Jack Ham - 1982 - Terry Bradshaw - Mel Blount - 1983 - Jack Lambert - 1984

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Pittsburgh managed a 6-3 record in 1982 (which was shortened due to a players' strike), but lost a heartbreaker when Kellen Winslow caught two touchdowns in the 4th quarter of their first playoff game, a 31-28 loss to the San Diego Chargers.

Related Topics:
1982 - Kellen Winslow - San Diego Chargers

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Bradshaw was sidelined with injuries for the 1983 season (his last), with Cliff Stoudt picking up the reins behind center. Franco Harris ran for 1007 yards in his last season in Pittsburgh (he wound up with the Seattle Seahawks for his final year), and Keith Willis recorded a career-best 13 sacks. The streaky Steelers lost four of their last five regular season games, but their 10-6 record was still good for a division title. They made another quick first-round playoff exit, a 38-10 embarrassment against the Los Angeles Raiders.

Related Topics:
1983 - Cliff Stoudt - Franco Harris - Seattle Seahawks - Keith Willis - Los Angeles Raiders

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1984 was supposed to be a rebuilding year. Mark Malone and David Woodley split quarterbacking duties, with Frank Pollard taking over at running back and Offensive Rookie of the Year Louis Lipps shining at wide receiver. The Steelers' 9-7 record won them another division title. In the divisional playoff against the Denver Broncos, the Steelers came back in the fourth quarter to win 24-17, but they lost the AFC Championship to Dan Marino and the Dolphins, 45-28.

Related Topics:
1984 - Mark Malone - David Woodley - Frank Pollard - Louis Lipps - Denver Broncos - Dan Marino

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Despite career seasons from Lipps and Pollard, the Steelers' 1985 campaign collapsed in December, with them losing four of their last five to finish at 7-9. In 1986, Malone took over the QB job by himself and Earnest Jackson (who came off back-to-back 1000-yard seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles) was added to the offensive backfield, but the team fared no better, at 6-10. An 8-7 record in 1987 was not enough to save Malone's job in Pittsburgh. Bubby Brister became the Steelers' new starting quarterback.

Related Topics:
1985 - 1986 - Earnest Jackson - Philadelphia Eagles - 1987 - Bubby Brister

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The 1988 season was the worst for the Steelers in twenty years, with a 5-11 record. Their last Hall of Famer from the 1970s, offensive lineman Mike Webster, was cut during the offseason. The 1989 team also got off to a rough start, but won five of their last six to finish 9-7, enough for a wild card playoff spot. In the wild-card playoff game against the Houston Oilers, the Steelers staged a desperate fourth-quarter comeback to win 26-23 in overtime. However, in their divisional game against the Denver Broncos, it was John Elway who staged the last-minute comeback and the Steelers went home with a 24-23 loss. Defensive back Rod Woodson, in his third season, made the first of seven consecutive Pro Bowls.

Related Topics:
1988 - 1970s - Mike Webster - 1989 - Houston Oilers - Denver Broncos - John Elway - Rod Woodson - Pro Bowl

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The 1990 season ended in another sprint down the stretch that led to another 9-7 record for the Steelers, good for a three-way tie for first-place in the division. But they lost out on the playoffs on a tiebreaker.

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The 1990s and 2000s: The Cowher Years

Chuck Noll, the Steelers famed longtime coach, retired at the end of the 1991 season. That season saw rookie quarterback Neil O'Donnell show some flashes of brilliance, but the rest of the team faltered and the Steelers finished 7-9.

Related Topics:
Chuck Noll - 1991 - Neil O'Donnell

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Noll was replaced by Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Bill Cowher, a native of the Pittsburgh suburb of Crafton. Cowher led the Steelers to the playoffs in each of his first six seasons as coach, a feat that had only previously been accomplished by legendary coach Paul Brown of the Cleveland Browns.

Related Topics:
Kansas City Chiefs - Bill Cowher - Crafton - Paul Brown - Cleveland Browns

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Cowher made an immediate impact in the 1992 season, as did third-year running back Barry Foster whose 1690 yards was second in the NFL behind Emmitt Smith. Woodson recorded six sacks, a career high. The Steelers' 11-5 record won them the AFC Central title and a first-round playoff bye. Their hopes, however, came to a crashing end against the surging Buffalo Bills, in a 24-3 loss.

Related Topics:
1992 - Barry Foster - Emmitt Smith - Buffalo Bills

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The Steelers collapsed near the end of the 1993 season, starting 6-3 but finishing 9-7. They clinched the final playoff spot at 9-7, and travelled to Arrowhead Stadium to face the Kansas City Chiefs in the wild card round. Leading 24-17 with two minutes left, the Steelers defense gave up a Joe Montana fourth-down touchdown pass to little-known Tim Barnett to tie the game. In overtime, the Chiefs won on a Nick Lowery field goal, breaking Steelers fans' hearts yet again.

Related Topics:
1993 - Arrowhead Stadium - Kansas City Chiefs - Joe Montana - Tim Barnett - Nick Lowery

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The 1994 season brought back memories of the 1970s Steeler teams. Barry Foster was joined in the backfield by rookie Bam Morris, who combined for almost 1700 rushing yards. The "Steel Curtain" defense made a resurgence, with Kevin Greene responsible for 14 sacks and Greg Lloyd tacking on 10 more. The Steelers' 12-4 record clinched them home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. In the divisional playoff Pittsburgh walloped the Cleveland Browns 29-9, and were heavily favored

Related Topics:
1994 - Bam Morris - Kevin Greene - Greg Lloyd - Cleveland Browns

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in the conference championship against the San Diego Chargers. The Steelers seemed to dominate when the numbers were crunched: O'Donnell passed for 349 yards to Stan Humphries' 165, and had a nearly 2-1 edge in time of possession. But they gave up a 13-3 lead in the 3rd quarter when Alfred Pupunu and Tony Martin caught touchdowns of 43 yards each, and it was the Chargers who advanced to Super Bowl XXIX, by the score of 17-13. AFC Championship collapses, unfortunately for the Steelers, would become a hallmark of the Cowher era.

Related Topics:
San Diego Chargers - Stan Humphries - Alfred Pupunu - Tony Martin - Super Bowl XXIX

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The Steelers' 1995 campaign was no less dominant. Foster left the team, but Erric Pegram (picked up from the Atlanta Falcons) made up for it with an 800-yard season. Yancey Thigpen amassed 1307 receiving yards and Willie Williams had seven interceptions. The Steelers' 11-5 record once again won them the division and a first-round bye. As in 1994, the Steelers dominated in the divisional playoff (a 40-21 win over the Buffalo Bills), but the cinderella Indianapolis Colts put up a fight in the AFC championship. There were four lead changes, the last when Bam Morris scored a one-yard touchdown with 1:34 remaining. Colts quarterback Jim Harbaugh threw a "hail mary" that was dropped by Aaron Bailey in the end zone. The Steelers narrowly won, 20-16, and went on to play the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX.

Related Topics:
1995 - Erric Pegram - Atlanta Falcons - Yancey Thigpen - Willie Williams - Buffalo Bills - Indianapolis Colts - Bam Morris - Jim Harbaugh - Aaron Bailey - Dallas Cowboys - Super Bowl XXX

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The Cowboys, a team that thought themselves to be just as dominant in the 1990s as the Steelers were in the 1970s heyday, jumped to a quick 13-0 lead and never looked back. Although Pittsburgh showed some signs of life, such as a Yancey Thigpen touchdown before halftime, and a surprise onside kick recovery that led to a Bam Morris touchdown run, Neil O'Donnell's three interceptions contributed heavily to the Steelers' 27-17 loss.

Related Topics:
Yancey Thigpen - Bam Morris - Neil O'Donnell

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That was O'Donnell's last game as a Steeler, as he signed with the New York Jets as a free agent in the offseason. Pittsburgh drafted Kordell Stewart, but he remained a backup through the 1996 season. Mike Tomczak received the starting duties. The Steelers also signed running back Jerome Bettis from the St. Louis Rams, who ran for 1400 yards in his first year in the Steel City. A late-season decline hurt the Steelers Super Bowl chances, but their 10-6 record still won them the division. Pittsburgh won their wild-card playoff game handily (42-14 over the Colts), but lost just as handily, 28-3, to the New England Patriots in the divisional playoff.

Related Topics:
New York Jets - Kordell Stewart - 1996 - Mike Tomczak - Jerome Bettis - St. Louis Rams - New England Patriots

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Stewart was given the starting quarterback job in 1997 after Tomczak failed to impress. Stewart did impress fans, however, in his first full season: 3000 passing yards and 21 touchdowns. Bettis had another 1000-yard rushing season, and Thigpen had 1000 yards receiving to boot. The Steelers once again won the AFC Central, but their 11-5 record gave them a first-round playoff bye. They narrowly won a 7-6 defensive struggle against the Patriots in the divisional playoff, setting the stage for an AFC Championship showdown at Three Rivers Stadium against the Denver Broncos. Kordell Stewart scored early, going for 33 yards with one of his well-known scrambles, but the Broncos exploded in the second quarter. A late Steelers comeback was quashed and the Broncos went on to win 24-21.

Related Topics:
1997 - Three Rivers Stadium - Denver Broncos - Kordell Stewart

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It looked like the Steelers would be back in the playoffs for most of the 1998 regular season, going 7-4 in their first eleven games. But the tables turned starting with an official's error on Thanksgiving Day against the Detroit Lions. The game was tied at 16 going into overtime. Bettis, being on the visiting team, called "tails" on the overtime coin toss, and the coin did land with the "tails" side up. But referee Phil Luckett, apparently mishearing Bettis's call, awarded the ball to the Lions. The Lions kicked a field goal on the opening drive to win the game, starting a five-game losing streak that cost the Steelers a playoff spot at 7-9.

Related Topics:
1998 - Thanksgiving Day - Detroit Lions - Phil Luckett

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The Steelers fell into turmoil in 1999. Stewart was benched partway through the season and Tomczak was given back his starting job. Pittsburgh's mostly new receivng corps (including future star Hines Ward) showed their inexperience at times, and the team finished 6-10, their worst showing in eleven years.

Related Topics:
1999 - Hines Ward

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It has become an article of faith among NFL pundits that the Steelers do not have a bad team two years in a row -- they have never lost 10 or more in consecutive years since the 1970 AFL-NFL Merger.

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In the 2000 season, the Steelers proved that adage and started to improve. Wide receiver Plaxico Burress joined the team as a rookie. Jason Gildon, the team's only Pro Bowler, had a career-best 13 sacks, and the team finished back above .500 with a 9-7 record.

Related Topics:
2000 - Plaxico Burress - Jason Gildon

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The Steelers opened Heinz Field in the 2001 season. Both Ward and Burress had 1000-yard receiving seasons, and linebacker Kendrell Bell was named AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Bettis had to sit out the last five games of the regular season and start of the playoffs with a knee injury, but Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala and Amos Zereoue ably filled in. The Steelers' 13-3 record got them home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Related Topics:
Heinz Field - 2001 - Kendrell Bell - Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala - Amos Zereoue

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Zereoue, filling in for Bettis, scored two touchdowns in the divisional playoff against the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens, which the Steelers won 27-10. Pittsburgh then hosted its fourth AFC championship game in eight years, this one against the New England Patriots. Optimism was high as Bettis made his return. The Patriots jumped out to a big lead thanks to two special teams touchdowns, but the Steelers tried a fourth-quarter comeback with rushing touchdowns by Bettis and Zereoue. Kordell Stewart's final two drives both ended in interceptions, however, and the Patriots won the game 24-17.

Related Topics:
Super Bowl - Baltimore Ravens - New England Patriots - Kordell Stewart

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Stewart's inability to win big games and tendency to throw interceptions cost him the starting job once again early in the 2002 season. Journeyman Tommy Maddox, who played in the XFL at one point, became the starting quarterback. Maddox lost only three games as the Steelers finished 10-5-1, tops in the new AFC North division. (Stewart, who made a short comeback after Maddox was injured later in the year, was cut and later resurfaced with the Chicago Bears.)

Related Topics:
2002 - Tommy Maddox - XFL - Chicago Bears

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They faced their longtime rivals, the Cleveland Browns, in the wild card playoff game. The Steelers were down 24-7 in the third quarter, but Maddox led them on a wild comeback. Jeremy Tuman, Hines Ward, and Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala all scored fourth-quarter touchdowns to win the game 36-33. The divisional playoff against the Tennessee Titans was just as dramatic. Hines Ward tied the game early in the fourth quarter with a 21-yard touchdown, and the game eventually went to overtime. Tennessee won the toss and Titans kicker Joe Nedney lined up for a field goal, which he made. But the Steelers called timeout so the field goal did not count. Nedney's second try went wide, but the Steelers were called for running into the kicker. The third try was good and officially counted as the game-winner, but over protests by Bill Cowher who thought he called another timeout first. The 34-31 loss was another disappointing end to the season for the Steelers.

Related Topics:
Cleveland Browns - Jeremy Tuman - Hines Ward - Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala - Tennessee Titans - Joe Nedney - Bill Cowher

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2003 was an overall disappointment. Due to injuries on the offensive line, and Maddox's previous success in the passing game, the Steelers strayed from their typical run-heavy offense. However, Maddox threw only 18 touchdowns to 17 interceptions, causing fans to wonder if the previous season was a fluke. Jerome Bettis and Plaxico Burress both failed to reach 1000 yards. The Steelers collapsed to 6-10.

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In the 2004 draft, the Steelers took quarterback Ben Roethlisberger from Miami University in the first round. Maddox kept the starting job until he was injured in the second game of the season, in Baltimore, against the Ravens. Roethlisberger was pushed into action and immediately wowed fans. "Big Ben" did not lose a game during the entire regular season, setting a record for most consecutive games won with a rookie quarterback to start a career. Included were back-to-back convincing wins over the New England Patriots (breaking their record 21-game winning streak) and eventual NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles. By the end of the season, Roethlisberger and the Steelers started to show signs of wear, but the Steelers still escaped with victories every time. The Steelers completed the 2004 regular season with the best record in the NFL at 15-1.

Related Topics:
2004 - Ben Roethlisberger - New England Patriots - Philadelphia Eagles

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After 2003's failed attempt to focus on the passing game, the 2004 team returned to the typical Steelers formula, a run-heavy offense (61/39 run-pass ratio) and a strong defense. The team's dominant running game, featuring Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley (acquired prior to the season in free agency), was bolstered by an efficient and often explosive passing attack led by Roethlisberger and receivers Burress, Ward and Antwaan Randle El. The defense, one of the league's best, was anchored by Pro-Bowl linebackers James Farrior and Joey Porter and Pro-Bowl safety Troy Polamalu. Only three previous teams have 15 wins, with the Steelers being the first AFC team to accomplish this feat. As a result of this dominant season, the Steelers received home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

Related Topics:
Antwaan Randle El - James Farrior - Joey Porter - Troy Polamalu - AFC - Home field advantage

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Their divisional playoff game was against the New York Jets. Roethlisberger threw two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown by Reggie Tongue, but a Hines Ward touchdown catch tied the game at 17-17 in the fourth quarter. Jets kicker Doug Brien had two chances to win the game with a field goal in the final two minutes of regulation time, but both kicks went wide left. Jeff Reed kicked a field goal 11:04 into the extra period to win the game, 20-17.

Related Topics:
New York Jets - Reggie Tongue - Hines Ward - Doug Brien - Jeff Reed

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The Steelers were back in the AFC Championship, once again in Pittsburgh, for a rematch with the Patriots. New England went out to a big lead early after two first-quarter turnovers by the Steelers. In the second quarter, Rodney Harrison intercepted Roethlisberger (who had three picks overall) and returned it for a touchdown. The Steelers showed some signs of life in the third quarter, but it was not enough. The Patriots, another dynasty team that has been compared with the 1970s Steelers, won 41-27. This defeat marked the fourth time in ten years that the Steelers have lost the conference title game at home under Bill Cowher.

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