1947 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 1947 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 15th season in the National Football League. The team improved on its 1946 record by winning eight games and losing four. This record tied for the lead in the Eastern Division and qualified the Steelers for the franchise's first It was the Steelers' only postseason appearance before 1972.
It was Jock Sutherland's second and final year as head coach; he died the following April after being found wandering around in a field in Kentucky. Once flown back to Pittsburgh, he was diagnosed as having two brain tumors. He only lived a few more days.
Pre-Season Changes
In 1946, the Steeler offense and defense featured the NFL MVP in the person of Bill Dudley. The West Virginia grad and Army veteran led the NFL in rushing, interceptions, punt returns and all-purpose yards. Despite being wildly popular with fans and fellow players, Dudley and Coach Sutherland could not get along. Ultimately, Dudley asked Art Rooney, Sr. to trade him and the owner reluctantly agreed.Dudley was traded to the Detroit Lions for Bob Cifers and Paul White. Additionally, the Steelers received the Lions' 1948 first round draft pick. Both White and Cifers had a demonstrable positive effect on the team. Cifers played brilliantly and was one of the top punters in the NFL that year.
Regular season
Schedule
Playoffs
The 1947 team was the most successful team in club history to date. It was the Steelers' first playoff appearance, the first time winning more than four games consecutively, and the club posted a franchise-best record. Though the Steelers lost the playoff, fans and players were excited for their future.However, fate would interrupt again when head coach Jock Sutherland took a trip to visit family in Kentucky. He ran off the road and was found wondering in a muddy field. Flown back to Pittsburgh, Sutherland died four days later on April 11, 1948, due to complications from a brain tumor. It was a sudden and disheartening end to a successful period in team history. The Steelers did not play in the postseason again until 1972.
Game summaries
Week 1
Sunday, September 21: Detroit Lionsat Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 34,691
- Referee:
- Detroit – Dudley 30 pass from Zimmerman
- Pittsburgh – Jansante 15 pass from Slater
- Detroit – FG Zimmerman 18
- Pittsburgh – Repko 48 fumble run
- Pittsburgh – FG Glamp 35
Week 2
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 35,658
- Referee:
- Los Angeles – FG Waterfield 30
- Los Angeles – FG Waterfield 45
- Los Angeles – Hoerner 4 run
- Pittsburgh – Lach 4 run
- Los Angeles – Benton 11 pass from Waterfield
- Los Angeles – Washington 9 lateral from Waterfield
- Los Angeles – Hubbell 45 pass from Waterfield
- Los Angeles – Hubbell 15 pass from Hardy
- Los Angeles – Washington 6 run
Week 3
at Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 36,565
- Referee:
- Pittsburgh – FG Glamp 15
- Washington – Nussbaumer 55 pass from Baugh
- Pittsburgh – Lach 15 pass from Clement
- Washington – Poillon 3 pass from Baugh
- Pittsburgh – Compagno 64 int
- Washington – Taylor 35 pass from Baugh
- Pittsburgh – Sullivan 50 pass from Clement
- Pittsburgh – Safety, Baugh stepped out of end zone
- Washington – Farmer 1 run
Week 4
at Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 18,894
- Referee:
- Pittsburgh – Lach 1 run
- Pittsburgh – White 52 run
- Pittsburgh – Lach 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Safety, Dancewicz tackled in end zone by Bova
- Pittsburgh – Clement 1 run
- Boston – Currivan 33 pass from Dancewicz
- Boston – Currivan 20 pass from Dancewicz
Week 5
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 33,538
- Referee:
- Pittsburgh – Compagno 39 pass from Clement
- Philadelphia – Pihos 43 pass from Thompson
- Philadelphia – FG Patton 14
- Philadelphia – Pritchard 69 pass from Thompson
- Pittsburgh – Clement 5 run
- Philadelphia – Pihos 17 pass from Thompson
- Pittsburgh – Garnaas 19 pass from Clement
- Pittsburgh – Clement 23 run
- Pittsburgh – Lach 1 run
Week 6
at Polo Grounds, New York, New York
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 41,736
- Referee:
- Pittsburgh – Jansante 7 pass from Lach
- New York – Carroll 18 pass from Governali
- Pittsburgh – Lach 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Lach 1 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Glamp 37
- Pittsburgh – Garnaas 68 pass from Clement
- New York – Blumenstock 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Sinkovitz 47 int
- New York – Livingston 65 pass from Governali
Week 7
at Wisconsin State Fair Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 30,073
- Referee:
- Green Bay – Goodnight 69 pass from Jacobs
- Green Bay – FG Cuff 16
- Pittsburgh – FG Glamp 23
- Pittsburgh – Jansante 37 pass from Clement
- Pittsburgh – Compagno 55 int
- Pittsburgh – Safety, Jacobs tackled in end zone by Calcagni
- Green Bay – Luhn 27 pass from Jacobs
Week 8
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 36,257
- Referee:
- Pittsburgh – Lach run
- Pittsburgh – Compagno 2 run
- Washington – Taylor 24 pass from Baugh
- Pittsburgh – Clement 18 run
- Washington – Castiglia 2 run
Week 9
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 35,000
- Referee:
- Pittsburgh – FG Glamp 12
- New York – Paschka 2 run
- Pittsburgh – Compagno 4 run
- Pittsburgh – Jansante 19 pass from Clement
- Pittsburgh – Seabright 39 int
Week 10
at Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
Scoring Drives:
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 34,142
- Referee:
- Chicago Bears – McAfee 2 run
- Chicago Bears – Kavanaugh 6 pass from Luckman
- Chicago Bears – McAfee 4 run
- Pittsburgh – Jansante 15 pass from Morales
- Chicago Bears – Kindt 3 run
- Chicago Bears – Keane 6 pass from Luckman
- Chicago Bears – Gulyanics 44 run
Week 11
at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 37,218
- Referee:
Sunday, December 7: Boston Yanks
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 31,398
- Referee:
- Pittsburgh – Mastrangelo recovered blocked punt in end zone
- Pittsburgh – FG Glamp 30
- Boston – Golding 14 run
- Pittsburgh – Lach 1 run
Post season
Game summary
Week 14
Sunday, December 21: Philadelphia Eaglesat Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time: 2:00 pm EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 35,729
- Referee:
- Philadelphia – Van Buren 15 pass from Thompson
- Philadelphia – Ferrante 28 pass from Thompson
- Philadelphia – Pritchard 79 punt return
All-Pro Honors
- Val Jansante 2nd Team, UPI
- Charlie Mehelich 2nd Team, Chicago Herald
- Red Moore 1st Team, UPI
- Johnny Clement 2nd Team AP, 2nd Team UPI
- Chuck Cherundolo 2nd Team AP, 2nd Team UPI
Standings