1996 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 1996 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 64th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.
This was Bill Cowher's fifth season as head coach of the Steelers, which resulted in yet another trip to the playoffs for the team, as Pittsburgh won the AFC Central Division championship for the fourth time under Cowher
The team's 10–6 record was not enough to earn the Steelers a first-round bye. In their first playoff game, a rematch of the previous year's AFC Championship Game, the Steelers defeated the Colts, However, their season would come to a halt a week later as the Steelers lost to the New England Patriots, 28–3.
Personnel
Staff
Notable additions include Jerome Bettis, Earl Holmes and Carlos Emmons.Roster
Preseason
Schedule
Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday September 1, 1996): at [Jacksonville Jaguars]
at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 70,210
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers: Marv Albert, Sam Wyche
- Jacksonville – Jackson 38 pass from Brunell
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 48
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 29
- Jacksonville – McCardell 15 pass from Brunell
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 23
- Jacksonville – FG Hollis 52
- Jacksonville – J. Stewart 1 run
Week 2 (Sunday September 8, 1996): vs. [Baltimore Ravens]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 75°F
- Game attendance: 57,241
- Referee: Gerry Austin
- TV announcers: Marv Albert, Sam Wyche
- Pittsburgh – Woodson 43 interception return
- Baltimore – Testaverde 6 run
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run
- Baltimore – Alexander 17 pass from Testaverde
- Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 5 pass from Tomczak
- Pittsburgh – Hastings 20 pass from Tomczak
- Baltimore – FG Stover 29
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 35
Week 3 (Monday September 16, 1996): vs. [Buffalo Bills]
- Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 58°F
- Game attendance: 59,002
- Referee: Larry Nemmers
- TV announcers: Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf
- Buffalo – FG Christie 31
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 30
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 43 run
- Pittsburgh – Lake 47 interception return
- Buffalo – FG Christie 45
Week 4 (Sunday September 22, 1996): Bye Week
Week 5 (Sunday September 29, 1996): vs. [Houston Oilers]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 59°F
- Game attendance: 58,608
- Referee: Tom White
- TV announcers: Don Criqui, Beasley Reece
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 16 pass from Tomczak
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 33
- Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 62 pass from Tomczak
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 36
- Houston – Davis 4 pass from Chandler
- Houston – Lewis 36 interception return
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 36
- Pittsburgh – Perry 13 interception return
- Houston – Safety, Edge ran out of end zone
Week 6 (Monday October 7, 1996): at [Kansas City Chiefs]
- Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 79,189
- Referee: Howard Roe
- TV announcers: Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf
- Kansas City – Allen 6 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 21
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 32
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 5 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 43
Week 7 (Sunday October 13, 1996): vs. [Cincinnati Bengals]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 64°F
- Game attendance: 58,875
- Referee: Gary Lane
- TV announcers: Charlie Jones, Randy Cross
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 33
- Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 19
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 32 pass from Tomczak
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 22
- Pittsburgh – Woodson 42 fumble return
- Cincinnati – Pickens 3 pass from Blake
Week 8 (Sunday October 20, 1996): at [Houston Oilers]
- Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: Dome
- Game attendance: 50,337
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers: Don Criqui, Beasley Reece
- Houston – FG Del Greco 22
- Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 70 pass from Tomczak
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 26
- Houston – FG Del Greco 32
- Houston – FG Del Greco 48
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 29
- Houston – W. Davis 34 pass from Chandler
- Houston – George 2 run
Week 9 (Sunday October 27, 1996): at [Atlanta Falcons]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: Dome
- Game attendance: 58,760
- Referee: Ron Blum
- TV announcers: Dan Hicks, Bob Trumpy
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 27
- Atlanta – Tobeck 1 pass from Hebert
- Atlanta – FG Andersen 41
- Pittsburgh – Hastings 112 pass from Tomczak
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run
- Atlanta – Emanuel 4 pass from Hebert
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 20
Week 10 (Sunday November 3, 1996): vs. [St. Louis Rams]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 38°F
- Game attendance: 58,148
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers: Joe Buck, Bill Maas
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 3 run
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 50 run
- Saint Louis – FG Lohmiller 25
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 7 run
- Saint Louis – FG Lohmiller 27
- Pittsburgh- Pegram 91 kickoff return
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 2 run
- Pittsburgh – Pegram 17 run
Week 11 (Sunday November 10, 1996): at [Cincinnati Bengals]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 57,265
- Referee: Mike Carey
- TV announcers: Don Criqui, Beasley Reece
- Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 32
- Pittsburgh- FG Johnson 46
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 6 run
- Cincinnati – Carter 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run
- Cincinnati – Dunn 90 kickoff return
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run
- Cincinnati – Bieniemy 33 run
- Cincinnati – Carter 12 pass from Blake
- Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 34
Week 12 (Sunday November 17, 1996): vs. [Jacksonville Jaguars]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 50°F
- Game attendance: 58,879
- Referee: Bernie Kukar
- TV announcers: Jim Lampley, Bob Golic
- Pittsburgh – Thigpen 12 pass from Tomczak
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 3 run
- Jacksonville – FG Hollis 40
- Pittsburgh – Lake 85 fumble return
- Pittsburgh – Thigpen 28 pass from Tomczak
Week 13 (Monday November 25, 1996): at [Miami Dolphins]
- Game time: 9:00 pm EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 73,849
- Referee: Walt Coleman
- TV announcers: Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf
- Miami – McDuffie 2 pass from Marino
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 47
- Miami – Jackson 61 interception return
- Pittsburgh- Lester 5 run
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 5 run
- Miami – FG Nedney 41
- Pittsburgh – Mills 20 pass from Tomczak
Week 14 (Sunday December 1, 1996): at [Baltimore Ravens]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 51,882
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers: Jim Lampley, Bob Golic
- Baltimore – Ogden 1 pass from Testaverde
- Pittsburgh – Hastings 30 pass from Tomczak
- Pittsburgh- FG Johnson 22
- Baltimore – Alexander 24 pass from Testaverd
- Baltimore – Byner 7 run
- Baltimore – FG Stover 40
- Pittsburgh – Hastings 5 pass from Tomzak
- Baltimore – Green 3 pass from Testaverde
Week 15 (Sunday December 8, 1996): vs. [San Diego Chargers]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 40°F
- Game attendance: 56,368
- Referee: Gerry Austin
- TV announcers: Tom Hammond, Bob Trumpy
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 49
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 39
- Pittsburgh – Hastings 11 pass from Tomzak
- San Diego – FG Carney 25
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 21
Week 16 (Sunday December 15, 1996): vs. [San Francisco 49ers]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 38°F
- Game attendance: 59,823
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers: Pat Summerall, John Madden
- San Francisco – Rice 4 pass from S. Young
- San Francisco – Safety, B. Young sacked Tomczak in end zone
- San Francisco – Rice 4 pass from S. Young
- San Francisco – Owens 20 pass from S. Young
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run
- San Francisco – FG Wilkins 22
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 42 pass from Tomczak
Week 17 (Sunday December 22, 1996): at [Carolina Panthers]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 72,217
- Referee: Dick Hantak
- TV announcers: Don Criqui, Beasley Reece
- Carolina – Walls 9 pass from Collins
- Carolina – Safety, Tomczak intentional grounding in end zone
- Pittsburgh – Hastings 6 pass from Tomczak
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 80 run
- Carolina – FG Kasay 35
- Carolina – FG Kasay 30
- Carolina – FG Kasay 29
Standings
Playoffs
Game summaries
AFC Wild Card Playoff (Sunday December 29, 1996): vs. [Indianapolis Colts]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- Game time: 12:30 pm EST
- Game weather: 60°F
- Game attendance: 58,078
- Referee: Ed Hochuli
- TV announcers: Dick Enberg, Phil Simms & Paul Maguire
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 29
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 50
- Indianapolis – Daniel 59 interception return
- Indianapolis – Bailey 9 pass from Harbaugh
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run
- Pittsburgh- Bettis 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Witman 31 run
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 3 run
AFC Divisional Playoff (Sunday January 5, 1997): at [New England Patriots]
- Game time: 12:30 pm EST
- Game weather: 40°F
- Game attendance: 60,188
- Referee: Bernie Kukar
- TV announcers: Marv Albert, Sam Wyche & Randy Cross
- New England – Martin 2 run
- New England – Byars 34 pass from Bledsoe
- New England – Martin 78 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 29
- New England – Martin 23 run
Honors and awards
Pro Bowl Representatives
- No. 26 Rod Woodson-Cornerback
- No. 36 Jerome Bettis-Running Back
- No. 37 Carnell Lake-Safety
- No. 63 Dermontti Dawson-Center
- No. 94 Chad Brown-Outside Linebacker
- No. 99 Levon Kirkland-Inside Linebacker