1997 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 1997 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 65th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.
This season was considered a transitional year due to many key free agent losses in the offseason, as well as the first season of Kordell Stewart starting at quarterback.
The Steelers finished with an 11–5 record, their fourth consecutive AFC Central top seed, and their sixth straight playoff appearance. In doing so, Steelers head coach Bill Cowher tied Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown with most consecutive playoff appearances to start a head coaching career in the NFL—a record Cowher still co-owns with Brown, as the Steelers missed the playoffs the following year.
The Steelers had 572 rushing attempts in 1997, the most in the 1990s. Their 2,479 total rushing yards were the third-most of the decade by any team.
The Steelers went into the season introducing a new font style numbers on jerseys matching the ones they wear on the helmets and the Steelers logo patch on uniform which remains used as of 2017.
The Steelers would host the AFC Championship Game for the third time in four years; however, they would ultimately lose to the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos. That game was the last playoff appearance for the Steelers during the 1990s and they did not return to the postseason until 2001.
As of 2019, this remains the only time in their history the Steelers defeated the Patriots in the playoffs.
Offseason
The Steelers saw many key free-agents leave the team, the biggest being cornerback Rod Woodson, whose ten-year tenure with the team ended due to a dispute over money with the Rooney family. Woodson would sign with the San Francisco 49ers as a result, though the Steelers would see him again in the following four seasons afterward as a member of the rival Baltimore Ravens. Other free-agent losses included Chad Brown, Ernie Mills, Andre Hastings, Deon Figures, and Brentson Buckner, among others. The team did manage to keep its other prized free-agent besides Woodson, locking up Jerome Bettis with a four-year deal.The team also had a transition at quarterback. After pushing Bill Cowher play exclusively at quarterback, Kordell Stewart was handed the starting job and dropping his "Slash" role on the team. Stewart would have success with the team this season, but would be inconsistent afterwards.
The team also made some minor changes to the uniforms this season, the first changes since gold pants were adopted as part of the white jerseys in 1972. The jersey numbers, previously having the old-style block numbering, were switched to the rounder style as seen on the helmets. In addition, the Steelers logo was added to the left shoulder and the names became single color fonts on the white away jersey. The names returned to gold on black the following year. The uniforms have remained the same since these changes as of 2007.
NFL Draft
Personnel
Staff
Notable additions include Paul Wiggins and Mike Vrabel.Roster
Season
Preseason
Schedule
Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday August 31, 1997): vs. [Dallas Cowboys]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 74 °F
- Game attendance: 60,396
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers: Pat Summerall, John Madden, Pam Oliver
- Dallas – Miller 12 pass from Aikman
- Dallas – Irvin 42 pass from Aikman
- Dallas – FG Cunningham 52
- Dallas – Irvin 15 pass from Aikman
- Dallas – FG Cunningham 24
- Dallas – Johnston 13 pass from Aikman
- Dallas – FG Cunningham 28
- Pittsburgh – Bruener 4 pass from Stewart
Week 2 (Sunday September 7, 1997): vs. [Washington Redskins]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 74 °F
- Game attendance: 58,059
- Referee: Ron Blum
- TV announcers: Dick Stockton, Matt Millen, Pam Oliver
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run
- Washington – FG Blanton 37
- Washington – Mitchell 97 kickoff return
- Washington – FG Blanton 28
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run
Week 3 (Sunday September 14, 1997): Bye Week
Week 4 (Monday September 22, 1997): at [Jacksonville Jaguars]
at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida- Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 73,016
- Referee: Gerry Austin
- TV announcers: Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf, Lynn Swann
- Jacksonville – Means 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 6 run
- Jacksonville – Smith 11 pass from Brunell
- Jacksonville – FG Hollis 20
- Pittsburgh – Thigpen 4 pass from Stewart
- Jacksonville – FG Hollis 45
- Pittsburgh – Bruener 1 pass from Stewart
- Jacksonville – FG Hollis 27
- Jacksonville – Hudson 58 blocked field goal return
Week 5 (Sunday September 28, 1997): vs. [Tennessee Oilers]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 67 °F
- Game attendance: 57,507
- Referee: Bernie Kukar
- TV announcers: Jim Donovan, Beasley Reece
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 7 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 48
- Pittsburgh – Gildon 12 fumble return
- Tennessee – FG Del Greco 37
- Pittsburgh – Bruener 18 pass from Stewart
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 2 run
- Tennessee – FG Del Greco 47
- Tennessee – FG Del Greco 26
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 25
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 44
- Tennessee – Wycheck 10 pass from McNair
- Tennessee – Davis 11 pass from McNair
Week 6 (Sunday October 5, 1997): at [Baltimore Ravens]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 64,421
- Referee: Bill Carollo
- TV announcers: Tom Hammond, Jim Kelly
- Baltimore – Green 22 pass from Testaverde
- Baltimore – Morris 1 run
- Baltimore – Kinchen 24 pass from Testaverde
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run
- Baltimore – FG Stover 34
- Pittsburgh – Blackwell 97 kickoff return
- Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 8 pass from Stewart
- Pittsburgh – Bruener 4 pass from Stewart
- Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 17 pass from Stewart
- Baltimore – Alexander 10 pass from Testaverde
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 74 run
- Baltimore – Safety, Miller ran out of end zone
Week 7 (Sunday October 12, 1997): vs. [Indianapolis Colts]
- Game time: 8:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 66 °F
- Game attendance: 57,925
- Referee: Tom White
- TV announcers: Verne Lundquist, Pat Haden & Mark May, Craig Sager
- Indianapolis – Harrison 18 pass from Harbaugh
- Indianapolis – FG Blanchard 37
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 23
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 7 run
- Pittsburgh – Lake 38 fumble return
- Indianapolis – FG Blanchard 27
- Pittsburgh – Hawkins 28 pass from Tomczak
- Indianapolis – FG Blanchard 35
- Indianapolis – Stablein 5 pass from Harbaugh
Week 8 (Sunday October 19, 1997): at [Cincinnati Bengals]
- Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 60,020
- Referee: Phil Luckett
- TV announcers: Dan Hicks, Bob Trumpy & Jim Kelly
- Cincinnati – Carter 6 run
- Pittsburgh – Jones 11 pass from Stewart
- PIttsburgh – Bettis 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Thigpen 11 pass from Stewart
- Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 33
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 43
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 32
Week 9 (Sunday October 26, 1997): vs. [Jacksonville Jaguars]
- Game time: 4:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 48 °F
- Game attendance: 57,011
- Referee: Gary Lane
- TV announcers: Dick Enberg, Phil Simms & Paul Maguire
- Jacksonville – Jackson 8 pass from Brunell
- Jacksonville – FG Hollis 20
- Pittsburgh – Hawkins 28 pass from Stewart
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run
- Jacksonville – Mitchell 3 pass from Brunell
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 19
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 17 pass from Stewart
Week 10 (Monday November 3, 1997): at [Kansas City Chiefs]
- Game time: 9:00 pm EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 78,301
- Referee: Ed Hochuli
- TV announcers: Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf, Lynn Swann
- Pittsburgh – Hawkins 44 pass from Stewart
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 27
- Kansas City – FG Stoyanovich 35
- Kansas City – FG Stoyanovich 44
- Kansas City – Hughes 14 pass from Allen
Week 11 (Sunday November 9, 1997): vs. [Baltimore Ravens]
- Game time: 8:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 44 °F
- Game attendance: 56,669
- Referee: Gary Lane
- TV announcers: Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, Ron Jaworski
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 52
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 22
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 39
- Pittsburgh – Thigpen 52 pass from Stewart
- Pittsburgh – Jones 1 run
Week 12 (Sunday November 16, 1997): vs. [Cincinnati Bengals]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 30 °F
- Game attendance: 55,226
- Referee: Johnny Grier
- TV announcers: Dan Hicks, Jim Kelly
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 34
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 25
- Pittsburgh – Thigpen 20 pass from Stewart
- Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 25
- Pittsburgh – Bruener 5 pass from Stewart
Week 13 (Sunday November 23, 1997): at [Philadelphia Eagles]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 67,166
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers: Don Criqui, Jim Mora
- Philadelphia – Dunn 31 pass from Hoying
- Philadelphia – Fryar 8 pass from Hoying
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 46
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 40
- Philadelphia – FG Boniol 23
- Philadelphia – FG Boniol 35
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 19 pass from Stewart
- Philadelphia – FG Boniol 25
- Pittsburgh – Blackwell 30 pass from Stewart
Week 14 (Sunday November 30, 1997): at [Arizona Cardinals]
- Game time: 4:00 pm EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 66,341
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers: Dan Hicks, Jim Kelly
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 2 run
- Arizona – FG Nedney 32
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 40
- Arizona – Sanders 3 pass from Plummer
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 7 run
- Arizona – Gedney 11 pass from Plummer
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 39
- Arizona – FG Nedney 19
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 10 run
Week 15 (Sunday December 7, 1997): vs. [Denver Broncos]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 36 °F
- Game attendance: 59,739
- Referee: Walt Coleman
- TV announcers: Dick Enberg, Phil Simms & Paul Maguire, Jim Gray
- Denver – R. Smith 37 pass from Elway
- Pittsburgh – Thigpen 33 pass from Stewart
- Denver – Davis 3 run
- Denver – R. Smith 25 pass from Elgay
- Pittsburgh – Thigpen 69 pass from Stewart
- Pittsburgh – Thigpen 21 pass from Stewart
- Denver – FG Elam 35
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 4 run
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 9 run
Week 16 (Saturday December 13, 1997): at [New England Patriots]
- Game time: 4:00 pm EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 60,013
- Referee: Mike Carey
- TV announcers: Dick Enberg, Phil Simms & Paul Maguire, Jim Gray
- New England – Coates 18 pass from Bledsoe
- New England – Gash 1 pass from Bledsoe
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 36
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 34
- New England – Meggett 49 pass from Bledsoe
- Pittsburgh – Bruener 1 pass from Stewart
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 31
Week 17 (Sunday December 21, 1997): at [Tennessee Oilers]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 50,677
- Referee: Phil Luckett
- TV announcers: Charlie Jones, Bob Trumpy
- Tennessee – FG Del Greco 34
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 23
- Tennessee – Thomas 25 run
- Tennessee – FG Del Greco 29
- Tennessee – FG Del Greco 26
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 36
Standings
Playoffs
Game summaries
Both of the Steelers post-season matchups were rematches from the regular season. The Steelers had a first-round bye, then faced the AFC East champion New England Patriots at home. The game, which was a homecoming for young Patriots players & Pittsburgh area natives Ty Law and Curtis Martin, was also a rematch of the previous year's AFC Divisional matchup, which took place in Foxborough.After defeating the Pats, the Steelers would lose to the eventual Super Bowl XXXII champion Denver Broncos 24–21 in Elway's last trip to Pittsburgh.
AFC Divisional Playoff (Saturday January 3, 1998): vs. [New England Patriots]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- Game time: 12:30 pm EST
- Game weather: 52 °F
- Game attendance: 61,228
- Referee: Walt Coleman
- TV announcers: Tom Hammond, Randy Cross, James Lofton
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 40 run
- New England – FG Vinatieri 31
- New England – FG Vinatieri 46
AFC Championship Game (Sunday January 11, 1998): vs. [Denver Broncos]
- Game time: 12:30 pm EST
- Game weather: 34 °F
- Game attendance: 61,382
- Referee: Ron Blum
- TV announcers: Dick Enberg, Phil Simms & Paul Maguire, Jim Gray & John Dockery
- Denver – Davis 8 run
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 33 run
- Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run
- Denver – FG Elam 43
- Denver – Griffith 16 pass from Elway
- Denver – McCaffrey 1 pass from Elway
- Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 15 pass from Stewart
Honors and awards
Pro Bowlers
See: 1998 Pro Bowl- No. 36 Jerome Bettis-Running back
- No. 37 Carnell Lake-Safety
- No. 63 Dermontti Dawson-Center
- No. 82 Yancey Thigpen-Wide receiver
- No. 93 Joel Steed-Nose tackle
- No. 99 Levon Kirkland-Inside linebacker
All-Pros
- Yancy Thigpen
- Joel Steed
- Levon Kirkland
- Dermontti Dawson
- Carnell Lake
- Jerome Bettis