The Pittsburgh Steelers have performed 92 NFL seasons, their 93rd beginning in only a few months. There have been highs, lows, and every part in between. In a brand new sequence we’ll use to move the time of the offseason, I’m rating all of them. From the worst season in franchise historical past to the perfect, which suggests choosing which of the six Tremendous Bowl winners got here out on high. Not a straightforward process.
We’ll break this sequence down into elements (roughly) 10 at a time, working from worst to greatest, with one small caveat. I gained’t be together with the crew’s two merger years, 1943 and 1944, when Pittsburgh mixed with the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Cardinals as a result of a participant scarcity ensuing from WWII. Since these have been merger years the place Pittsburgh wasn’t completely its personal entity, they fall right into a separate class. We are going to rank the opposite 90.
Half One – Worst Of The Worst
Half Two – Not The Worst, Far From Finest
Half Three – Complete Stagnation
Half 4 – Be taught To Love .500
Rating Each Steelers Season (No. 50-41)
50. 1961 season (6-8 report)
Pittsburgh completed a lowly fifth out of seven groups within the division. Regardless of being two video games beneath .500, the Steelers completed with a plus-eight level differential, a uncommon prevalence for the period. An 0-4 begin proved to outline the season, ending it earlier than it began, however the crew rallied as victors of 5 of the final eight. There have been some hard-luck losses, three of the primary 4 determined by one rating.
The Steelers swept the Washington Redskins together with a 20-0 consequence to notch their first win of the 12 months and exacted revenge on the Dallas Cowboys 37-7 after falling to them within the opener. Turnovers have been problematic all 12 months, with 4 video games of six-plus turnovers. A 20-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals within the finale prevented the crew from reaching .500.
As a crew, Pittsburgh threw 34 interceptions. WR Buddy Dial was a brilliant spot, changing into the crew’s first 1,000-yard receiver in historical past. He completed the 12 months with 1,047 yards to make the Professional Bowl.
Notable: DT Gene “Large Daddy” Lipscomb is unofficially credited with 17.5 sacks. He and T.J. Watt are the one two Steelers to take action in a season.
49. 1959 season (6-5-1 report)
A profitable season, one of many first on the listing. Pittsburgh started the 12 months with a win over Paul Brown’s Cleveland squad earlier than struggling shut losses to the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles the following two weeks. A win over Washington within the rematch obtained the crew again to .500 earlier than one other two-game skid adopted by a tie to the Detroit Lions.
Pittsburgh obtained sizzling the remainder of the way in which, profitable three straight video games that included a 31-0 beatdown in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles within the rematch. A good 27-21 loss to the Chicago Bears late within the 12 months was the one blemish. Beating the Chicago Cardinals 35-20 within the finale put Pittsburgh over the .500 mark, and a 28-point second quarter was an important cause for the win.
Statistically, the Steelers completed effectively. They have been fourth defensively and fifth offensively. In his first full season with the crew, a 33-year-old QB Bobby Layne tossed 20 touchdowns. He additionally threw a league-high 21 picks and served because the crew’s kicker, making 11 subject objectives on 17 tries. RB Tom Tracy led the squad in speeding whereas extensive receiver Jimmy Orr was chosen to the Professional Bowl.
CB Jack Butler had an All-Professional 12 months, nevertheless it was defensive again Dean Derby who led the unit with seven interceptions, making the second-team All-Professional squad.
Regardless of the promising report, Pittsburgh nonetheless completed behind the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, and Philadelphia Eagles within the division.
Notable: Butler didn’t simply end behind Derby in interceptions. He completed fourth behind him, Dick Alban’s six, and Bobby Luna’s three.
48. 2006 season (8-8 report)
A more moderen and remembered season. The final of Invoice Cowher’s head teaching profession, Pittsburgh suffered a Tremendous Bowl hangover after profitable one for the thumb. QB Ben Roethlisberger regressed after a life-threatening bike crash in June and an emergency appendectomy that induced him to overlook the season opener. He completed the 12 months with 23 touchdowns however 18 interceptions.
Even with out Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh gained its season opener. However Roethlisberger was greeted by a stout Jacksonville Jaguars’ protection in Week Two, shutting the Steelers out 9-0.
Pittsburgh stumbled to a 1-3 begin and had ugly video games all 12 months lengthy. Two uncompetitive losses to the Baltimore Ravens, an extra time heartbreaker to the Atlanta Falcons, and a 20-13 loss to an Oakland Raiders crew that ended the 12 months 2-14. The Steelers obtained sizzling late within the 12 months, and after they gained, they gained massive: 45-7 over Kansas Metropolis, 37-3 in opposition to Carolina, and an extra time win over Cincinnati to finish Cowher’s profession on a excessive observe.
Individually, RB Willie Parker didn’t decelerate and rushed for nearly 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns. Rookie WR Santonio Holmes dazzled as a receiver and returner whereas SS Troy Polamalu and NT Casey Hampton represented the Steelers’ protection within the Professional Bowl. OG Alan Faneca made his fifth first-team All-Professional crew. However the 12 months fell effectively wanting expectations.
Notable: Pittsburgh was shut out twice that 12 months, 9-0 to the Jags and 27-0 in one of many Ravens’ losses. That Baltimore sport marks the final time the Steelers have been shut out in a sport, proudly owning the league’s second-longest energetic streak behind, humorous sufficient, the Ravens. Baltimore hasn’t been shut out since 2002.
47. 1981 season (8-8 report)
Pittsburgh opened the season 0-2 earlier than stacking four-straight victories, together with an extra time win in opposition to the New England Patriots. The Steelers climbed to 5-3 earlier than getting streaky, shedding the following two, profitable the next three, and shutting the 12 months on a three-game skid. TE Dave Casper caught a go-ahead fourth quarter landing move to guide the Oilers to a daily season finale win over Pittsburgh.
It was an odd season. Pittsburgh beat the New York Jets by 28, shutout the Los Angeles Rams 24-0, and knocked off the Cleveland Browns by 22. The crew additionally misplaced to the Miami Dolphins by 20 factors and the Cincinnati Bengals by 27 factors.
WR John Stallworth posted his second 1,000-yard season whereas RB Franco Harris completed simply shy of 4 digits. LB Jack Lambert, CB Mel Blount, and S Donnie Shell have been ballhawks, combining for 17 of the protection’s 30 interceptions. All made the Professional Bowl.
Notable: RB Sidney Thornton fumbled six occasions on simply 64 complete touches, the worst ratio by a Steelers’ operating again because the merger.
46. 2000 season (9-7 report)
Although Pittsburgh missed the playoffs, a 9-7 report and plus-66 level differential are positives and served as tangible progress following the 1999 6-10 marketing campaign. The 12 months obtained off to a tricky begin with a 16-0 shutout loss to the Baltimore Ravens, one the crew needed to sit in for an additional week due to a unusual Week 2 bye. In reality, the Steelers opened the 12 months 0-3 following similar 23-20 losses to the Cleveland Browns and the Tennessee Titans.
It took till October for Pittsburgh to notch its first victory, setting off a five-game profitable streak to set them to 5-3. That was capped by a 9-6 slugfest revenge win over the Ravens.
2000 was a 12 months of low-scoring affairs. That included back-to-back shutout victories, 15-0 over the Cincinnati Bengals and 22-0 versus the Cleveland Browns, a feat Pittsburgh hadn’t achieved since its vaunted 1976 unit. From Weeks 6-10, the Steelers gave up simply 18 complete factors.
That 5-3 mark was erased by a three-game shedding streak, which itself was reversed by profitable 4 of the crew’s remaining 5 video games. Beating the Washington Redskins 24-3 within the remaining sport at Three Rivers Stadium, the Steelers knocked off the San Diego Chargers on the highway within the common season finale. Nonetheless, that positioned them third within the AFC Central behind the 13-win Tennessee Titans and 12-win Baltimore Ravens.
Quarterback play was weak, and Pittsburgh relied on the operating sport. Kent Graham and Kordell Stewart mixed to throw for simply 12 touchdowns, Graham producing only one regardless of 5 begins. RB Jerome Bettis was the offensive anchor, speeding for 1,300 yards. Receivers Hines Ward and Bobby Shaw tied for the crew lead with 672 yards every. Defensively, Jason Gildon and Joey Porter went for double-digit sacks, although solely Gildon made the Professional Bowl. Pittsburgh’s protection allowed simply 22 touchdowns all 12 months and netted a pair of defensive touchdowns with two pick-sixes.
This season additionally served as Kevin Colbert’s first within the de facto common supervisor function, though we wouldn’t formally maintain the title till 2010.
Notable: Because the 1970 merger, solely two groups have allowed not more than 18 collective factors over a five-game common season span. Pittsburgh did each. First in 1976 and once more on this 12 months, 2000.
45. 1946 season (5-5-1 report)
A decent season with a constructive level differential (plus-19). Beneath head coach Jock Sutherland, simply the perfect coach Pittsburgh had earlier than Chuck Noll, the crew discovered traction. The Steelers gained or tied three of their first 4 video games, solely narrowly falling to the New York Giants 17-14 over that span. The protection held agency wire-to-wire to complete No. 1 within the league, permitting simply 10.6 factors per sport. The offense, nonetheless, stumbled on the end line and scored simply 24 factors over its remaining 4 video games. Pittsburgh misplaced three of these contests.
Invoice Dudley was the star of the crew and a uncommon Triple Crown winner. He led the NFL in speeding, all-purpose yards, and interceptions, the kind of season we’ll by no means see once more. Nonetheless, he solely made second-team All-Professional.
A run-first crew, no Steeler had greater than 10 receptions. As an alternative, Dudley led the crew – and the league – with 146 rushes. He actually did all of it, even kicking, punting, and being Pittsburgh’s punt returner—a literal “crew on his again” standing.
Notable: Revisiting that defensive output, the ten.6 PPG Pittsburgh allowed is the second-best scoring common the Steelers have ever allowed in a single season—the ’46 squad trails solely the historic 1976 protection, which allowed 9.9 PPG.
44. 1949 season (6-5-1 report)
A uncommon profitable season of the period, solely the third the Steelers would have from inception in 1933 via 1957. A sizzling begin was the important thing issue, starting 4-1, aided by two wins over Steve Owen’s New York Giants. The end was the issue, operating into and shedding in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears in two of the ultimate three weeks. Pittsburgh ended the 12 months with a win, shutting out the New York Bulldogs within the franchise’s first season (they’d fold after 1951).
The protection was wonderful, ending second out of the then-10 NFL groups, holding groups to seven or fewer in 5 of 12 video games. Passing remained an issue, although it was hardly probably the most environment friendly method to transfer the ball, ending with 10 touchdowns to 18 interceptions. Former third-round decide Jerry Nuzum led the crew with 611 speeding yards and 5 touchdowns in what was simply his greatest NFL season. Finish Elbie Nickel and receiver Val Jasante have been the highest receivers. In reality, Nickel led the NFL at 24.3 yards per reception, 633 yards on 26 catches.
Discipline objectives have been uncommon, the crew making simply two all season. In the end, Pittsburgh completed second within the division behind the 11-win Philadelphia Eagles, who went on to beat the Los Angeles Rams within the 1949 Championship Recreation.
Notable: RB/DB Bob Gage recorded a 97-yard speeding landing in that late-season loss to the Chicago Bears. It stays the Steelers’ longest speeding rating in crew historical past. By a large margin, too. The following-closest is John Henry Johnson’s 87-yard rating in 1960, whereas the post-merger mark is 80, tied by Kordell Stewart and Willie Parker (Le’Veon Bell had an 81-yard run however not for a landing).
Gage’s run stays tied for the fifth-longest speeding rating in NFL historical past.
43. 1990 season (9-7 report)
One thing slightly extra fashionable. One other season-opening loss to the Cleveland Browns, one 12 months after getting shellacked by them 51-0. This one was nearer at 13-3. Pittsburgh bounced again with a Week Two victory over the Houston Oilers earlier than dropping the following two video games to start 1-3. A molasses offense was the most important concern.
The offense perked up in October, ripping off 36 and 34-point performances in wins over the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos. That obtained the Steelers again to .500. Pittsburgh hung round that mark via many of the season till profitable the primary three video games of December. The Steelers dropped the finale, 34-14, to the Houston Oilers, which prevented a playoff berth. As an alternative, the Oilers (and division winner Cincinnati Bengals) made the postseason.
The Steelers’ protection completed third within the league. Defensive linemen Gerald Williams and Keith Willis led the move rush whereas Rod Woodson patrolled the skies, choosing off 5 passes and being named first-team All-Professional. He additionally returned a punt for a rating.
Pittsburgh ended the 12 months with 24 picks and held 11 of 16 opponents beneath 20 factors. The offense, led by QB Bubby Brister and RB Merril Hoge, wasn’t almost as efficient.
Notable: In Week 16, Pittsburgh romped the Cleveland Browns 35-0. The protection pressured 9 turnovers, together with eight fumble recoveries. The Steelers are the final NFL crew to power 9 takeaways in a regular-season sport.
42. 2009 season (9-7 report)
One other Tremendous Bowl hangover after the crew’s sixth Lombardi. The 12 months started with an extra time win over the Tennessee Titans, Ok Jeff Reed making a subject objective to ship it into the additional body earlier than profitable it on a 33-yard boot. After shedding the following two, Pittsburgh regained composure to win 5 straight via the bye. Sitting fairly at 6-2, the Steelers slid to lose 5 in a row, together with consecutive extra time losses to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens. An unsightly residence loss to the Oakland Raiders (which I imagine I attended) was additionally included.
Pittsburgh ended the 12 months with three straight wins to finish a 12 months of streaks. On the ultimate play of the sport, QB Ben Roethlisberger discovered a toe-tapping WR Mike Wallace ultimately zone to knock off the Inexperienced Bay Packers. Tight finish Heath Miller made his first Professional Bowl.
Nonetheless, it wasn’t sufficient to make the postseason, ending behind the Ravens and the AFC North champ Cincinnati Bengals.
RB Rashard Mendenhall bounced again from his rookie 12 months shoulder damage to hurry for 1,100 yards. At receiver, Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward registered 1,000-yard seasons whereas Mike Wallace led the league in yards per reception in his rookie 12 months. EDGE LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison grew to become an elite duo. Woodley had 20 TFL and 13.5 sacks, Harrison 14 TFL and 10 sacks. At age 34, ILB James Farrior led the crew with 102 tackles.
It felt like this crew had expertise and loads of particular person achievement, however collectively, it wasn’t adequate. Roethlisberger being sacked 50 occasions didn’t assist the trigger.
Notable: Pittsburgh performed three extra time video games in 2009, going 1-2. The 2 defeats tied 2005 and 1986 for the crew’s most OT video games misplaced in a season.
41. 2021 season (9-7 Report, Wild Card Loss)
Our first playoff crew. Ben Roethlisberger’s remaining season resulted in a playoff loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. Pittsburgh hung in early and even briefly took the lead on a T.J. Watt scoop-and-score, however Patrick Mahomes and firm obtained rolling earlier than the half ended.
An upset win over the Buffalo Payments obtained the 12 months going, however the next three losses put a damper on issues. Roethlisberger examined constructive for COVID the night time earlier than a sport in opposition to the Detroit Lions, forcing Mason Rudolph into motion last-second. The sport resulted in a tie. A failed comeback bid in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers got here in Roethlisberger’s return. Earlier than the playoff assembly, the Chiefs routed the Steelers 36-10 the day after Christmas.
Sitting at 7-7-1 with two weeks to go, Pittsburgh obtained its act along with a 26-14 Monday night time win over the Cleveland Browns, a becoming Heinz Discipline sendoff for Roethlisberger to defeat the crew he dominated all through his profession. After the victory, Roethlisberger traced the stadium earlier than he and his household made their method to the crew tunnel. With extra work to do, the Steelers knocked off the Baltimore Ravens 16-13, Ok Chris Boswell profitable the sport in extra time, to ship Pittsburgh to the playoffs.
Beating lengthy odds for the postseason, the Steelers have been heavy underdogs to the Chiefs and proved they nonetheless lacked solutions to counter Andy Reid and Mahomes. Mahomes completed the day with 5 touchdowns and solely 9 incompletions. Roethlisberger threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns.
Large image, Roethlisberger ended his remaining season with 3,740 yards and 22 touchdowns, although late in his profession, with two bum knees, most of his throws have been brief and beneath. Rookie RB Najee Harris ran for precisely 1,200 yards whereas WR Diontae Johnson made the Professional Bowl with a 1,161-yard, eight-touchdown marketing campaign.
EDGE T.J. Watt took residence Defensive Participant of the 12 months by tying the NFL report with 22.5 sacks. Many would argue he was robbed of at the least yet one more that may’ve given him the outright lead. Cam Heyward made first-team All-Professional with a 10-sack season. Interceptions weren’t plentiful, with simply 13 as a crew, CB Ahkello Witherspoon main with three.
This playoff season ranks decrease due to a blowout playoff loss, an offense and protection that completed twentieth in scoring, and the crew’s minus-55 common season level differential, second-worst of any Steelers’ crew that has made the playoffs. Solely 1989, a 12 months through which Pittsburgh gained the Wild Card sport, was worse.
Notable: Within the common season for his profession, Roethlisberger went 26-2-1 in opposition to the Browns.
Rating Steelers’ Seasons (Recap)
90. 1941
89. 1965
88. 1934
87. 1939
86. 1969
85. 1940
84. 1945
83. 1968
82. 1938
81. 1988
80. 1933
79. 1955
78. 1935
77. 1967
76. 1964
75. 2003
74. 1951
73. 1937
72. 1948
71. 1936
70. 1970
69. 1986
68. 1991
67. 1966
66. 1999
65. 1954
64. 1956
63. 1960
62. 1950
61. 2022
60. 1998
59. 1971
58. 1952
57. 2013
56. 1957
55. 2012
54. 1953
53. 2019
52. 1985
51. 1987
50. 1961
49. 1959
48. 2006
47. 1981
46. 2000
45. 1946
44. 1949
43. 1990
42. 2009
41. 2021
