1991 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 1991 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 59th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.
The Steelers struggled early as Neil O'Donnell took over from Bubby Brister at quarterback. The Steelers ended the season winning their last two games, 17–10, over the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns at Three Rivers Stadium to finish with a 7–9 record. Following the season Chuck Noll announced his retirement, ending his 23-year career in which he won four Super Bowls while posting an overall record of 209–156–1.
Offseason
NFL draft
Staff
Notable additions include Adrian Cooper, Neil O'Donnell and Ernie Mills.Roster
Preseason
Schedule
Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday September 1, 1991): vs. [San Diego Chargers]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- Game time: 4:00 PM EDT
- Game weather: 80°F
- Game attendance: 55,848
- Referee: Gerald Austin
- TV announcers: Joel Meyers, Dan Hampton
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 38
- San Diego – FG Carney 48
- Pittsburgh – Calloway 33 pass from Brister
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 29
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 31
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 39
- San Diego – Lewis 11 pass from Bernstine
- San Diego – FG Carney 35
- Pittsburgh – Stone 89 pass from O'Donnell
- San Diego – Jefferson 5 pass from Friesz
Week 2 (Sunday September 8, 1991): at [Buffalo Bills]
- Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
- Game weather: 84°F
- Game attendance: 79,545
- Referee: Tom Dooley
- TV announcers: Tom Hammond, Joe Namath
- Buffalo – Lofton 53 pass from Kelly
- Buffalo – FG Norwood 50
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25
- Buffalo – Beebe 34 pass from Kelly
- Buffalo – Beebe 14 pass from Kelly
- Pittsburgh – Foster 56 run
- Buffalo – Reed 14 pass from Kelly
- PIttsburgh – W. Williams 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Hinkle 57 interception return
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27
- Buffalo – Beebe 11 pass from Kelly
- Buffalo – Beebe 4 pass from Kelly
- Buffalo – Odomes 32 interception return
- Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run
Week 3 (Sunday September 15, 1991): vs. [New England Patriots]
- Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
- Game weather: 86°F
- Game attendance: 53,703
- Referee: Johnny Grier
- TV announcers: Joel Meyers, Dan Hampton
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 49
- New England – FG Staurovsky 33
- New England – FG Staurovsky 28
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 32
- Pittsburgh – Green 32 pass from Brister
- Pittsburgh – Mills recovered blocked punt in end zone
Week 4 (Sunday September 22, 1991): at [Philadelphia Eagles]
- Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
- Game weather: 66°F
- Game attendance: 65,511
- Referee: Bernie Kukar
- TV announcers: Marv Albert, Bill Parcells
- Pittsburgh – Hoge 12 pass from Brister
- Philadelphia – McMahon 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Green 8 pass from Brister
- Philadelphia – FG Ruzek 27
- Philadelphia – FG Ruzek 34
- Philadelphia – Drummond 2 run
- Philadelphia – FG Ruzek 20
Week 5 (Sunday September 29, 1991): Bye Week
Week 6 (Sunday October 6, 1991): at [Indianapolis Colts]
at Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana- Game time: 8:00 PM EDT
- Game weather: Dome
- Game attendance: 55,383
- Referee: Larry Nemmers
- TV announcers: Skip Caray, Pat Haden
- Indianapolis – FG Biasucci 19
- Pittsburgh – Green 21 pass from Brister
- Pittsburgh – Foster 24 pass from Brister
- Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run
Week 7 (Monday October 14, 1991): vs. [New York Giants]
- Game time: 9:00 PM EDT
- Game weather: 59°F
- Game attendance: 57,608
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers: Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf
- New York Giants – Cross 12 pass from Hostetler
- New York Giants – FG Bahr 45
- New York Giants – FG Bahr 40
- New York Giants – Meggett 30 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 26
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 39
- Pittsburgh – Lipps 16 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – Green 5 pass from O'Donnell
- New York Giants – FG Bahr 44
Week 8 (Sunday October 20, 1991): vs. [Seattle Seahawks]
- Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
- Game weather: 47°F
- Game attendance: 54,678
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- TV announcers: Mel Proctor, Joe Namath
- Seattle – FG Kasay 36
- Seattle – Williams 1 run
- Seattle – Chadwick 14 pass from Krieg
- Pittsburgh – Stone 57 pass from O'Donnell
- Seattle – FG Kasay 21
- Seattle – Tice 1 pass from Krieg
Week 9 (Sunday October 27, 1991): at [Cleveland Browns]
- Game time: 4:00 PM EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 78,285
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers: Don Criqui, Bob Trumpy
- Cleveland – FG Stover 34
- Cleveland – Hoard 2 pass from Kosar
- Pittsburgh – O'Donnell 1 run
- Cleveland – Mack 1 run
- Pittsburgh – W. Williams 1 run
Week 10 (Sunday November 3, 1991): at [Denver Broncos]
- Game time: 8:00 PM EST
- Game weather: 16°F, wind 8 mph
- Game attendance: 70,973
- Referee: Dale Hamer
- TV announcers: Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 26
- Pittsburgh – Green 23 pass from O'Donnell
- Denver – Lewis 1 run
- Denver – Elway 4 run
- Denver – FG Treadwell 28
- Denver – FG Treadwell 21
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 39
Week 11 (Sunday November 10, 1991): at [Cincinnati Bengals]
- Game time: 1:00 PM EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 55,503
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers: Joel Meyers, Dan Hampton
- Cincinnati – FG Breech 29
- Cincinnati – Woods 4 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 44
- Cincinnati – Holman 18 pass from Esiason
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 46
- Pittsburgh – J. Williams 38 fumble return
- Cincinnati – Woods 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Mills 35 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – Lipps 12 pass from O'Donnell
- Cincinnati – FG Breech 47
- Pittsburgh – Green 26 pass from O'Donnell
Week 12 (Sunday November 17, 1991): vs. [Washington Redskins]
- Game time: 1:00 PM EST
- Game weather: 47°F
- Game attendance: 56,813
- Referee: Tom White
- TV announcers: Dick Stockton, Merlin Olsen
- Washington – Riggs 1 run
- Washington – FG Lohmiller 36
- Washington – Monk 11 pass from Rypien
- Washington – FG Lohmiller 41
- Washington – Riggs 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Cooper 5 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – Stone 40 pass from O'Donnell
- Washington – Clark 49 pass from Rypien
- Washington – Sanders 40 pass from Rutledge
Week 13 (Sunday November 24, 1991): vs. [Houston Oilers]
- Game time: 1:00 PM EST
- Game weather: 34°F
- Game attendance: 45,795
- Referee: Howard Roe
- TV announcers: Don Criqui, Bob Trumpy
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 28
- Houston – Givins 10 pass from Moon
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 33
- Pittsburgh – Stone 43 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – W. Williams 1 run
- Houston – Jeffries 15 pass from Moon
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 24
Week 14 (Thursday November 28, 1991): at [Dallas Cowboys]
- Game time: 4:00 PM EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 62,253
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers: Dick Enberg, Bill Walsh
- Dallas – E. Smith 6 run
- Dallas – FG Willis 19
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42
- Dallas – FG Willis 43
- Pittsburgh – W. Williams 3 run
- Dallas – Irvin 66 pass from Beuerlein
Week 15 (Sunday December 8, 1991): at [Houston Oilers]
- Game time: 1:00 PM EST
- Game weather: Dome
- Game attendance: 59,225
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers: Charlie Jones, Todd Christensen
- Houston – Pinkett 7 run
- Houston – FG Del Greco 24
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 54
- Houston – Jeffires 16 pass from Moon
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 36
- Houston – Pinkett 11 run
- Houston – A. Smith 70 fumble return
Week 16