2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 69th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League. After finishing the previous three seasons a combined 22–26, the Steelers returned to the top seed in the AFC, rolling to a 13–3 record in their first playoff berth since 1997 and playing at Heinz Field. The Steelers went 7–1 in their new home stadium, with the only loss coming to the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens.
However, for the third time in Bill Cowher's coaching tenure, the Steelers fell in the AFC Championship Game at home. This time, the eventual champion New England Patriots defeated the top-seeded Steelers.
Offseason
NFL draft
Personnel
Notable additions include Casey Hampton, Jeff Hartings and Kendrell Bell.Roster
Preseason
Schedule
Regular season
Schedule
The Steelers did not play in their home stadium for the entire month of September. Their Week 2 game against the archrival Cleveland Browns was canceled due to the events of September 11, and was rescheduled for the end of the year. Week 2 was then their bye week.Standings
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday September 9, 2001): at [Jacksonville Jaguars]
at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 83° F
- Game attendance: 63,785
- Referee: Mack Gentry
- TV announcers: Don Criqui, Craig James, Beasley Reece
- (Sunday September 16, 2001): vs. [Cleveland Browns]
Week 2 (Sunday September 23, 2001): Bye Week
Week 3 (Sunday September 30, 2001): at [Buffalo Bills]
at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 63° F
- Game attendance: 72,874
- Referee: Tom White
- TV announcers: Ian Eagle, Solomon Wilcots
Week 4 (Sunday October 7, 2001): vs. [Cincinnati Bengals]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 46 °F
- Game attendance: 62,335
- Referee: Larry Nemmers
- TV announcers: Bill Macatee, Trevor Matich
Week 5 (Sunday October 14, 2001): at [Kansas City Chiefs]
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 57°F
- Game attendance: 78,413
- Referee: Ron Blum
- TV announcers: Gus Johnson, Brent Jones
Week 6 (Sunday October 21, 2001): at [Tampa Bay Buccaneers]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 83°F
- Game attendance: 65,588
- Referee: Ed Hochuli
- TV announcers: Dick Enberg, Dan Dierdorf, Bonnie Bernstein
Week 7 (Monday October 29, 2001): vs. [Tennessee Titans]
- Game time: 9:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 51 °F
- Game attendance: 63,763
- Referee: Terry McAulay
- TV announcers: Al Michaels, Dan Fouts & Dennis Miller, Eric Dickerson & Melissa Stark
Week 8 (Sunday November 4, 2001): vs. [Baltimore Ravens]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 63 °F
- Game attendance: 62,906
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers: Dick Enberg, Dan Dierdorf, Bonnie Bernstein
Week 9 (Sunday November 11, 2001): at [Cleveland Browns]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 42°F
- Game attendance: 73,218
- Referee: Dick Hantak
- TV announcers: Ian Eagle, Solomon Wilcots
Week 10 (Sunday November 18, 2001): vs. [Jacksonville Jaguars]
- Game time: 4:05 pm EST
- Game weather: 57 °F
- Game attendance: 62,644
- Referee: Ron Winter
- TV announcers: Ian Eagle, Solomon Wilcots
Week 11 (Sunday November 25, 2001): at [Tennessee Titans]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 63°F
- Game attendance: 68,801
- Referee: Bill Leavy
- TV announcers: Dick Enberg, Dan Dierdorf, Bonnie Bernstein
Week 12 (Sunday December 2, 2001): vs. [Minnesota Vikings]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 48 °F
- Game attendance: 62,661
- Referee: Tony Corrente
- TV announcers: Dick Stockton, Troy Aikman & Daryl Johnston, Pam Oliver
Week 13 (Sunday December 9, 2001): vs. [New York Jets]
- Game time: 4:15 pm EST
- Game weather: 41 °F
- Game attendance: 62,884
- Referee: Terry McAulay
- TV announcers: Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, Armen Keteyian
Week 14 (Sunday December 16, 2001): at [Baltimore Ravens]
- Game time: 8:30 pm EST
- Game weather: 42°F
- Game attendance: 69,506
- Referee: Tom White
- TV announcers: Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann & Paul Maguire, Suzy Kolber
Week 15 (Sunday December 23, 2001): vs. [Detroit Lions]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 43 °F
- Game attendance: 62,809
- Referee: Johnny Grier
- TV announcers: Kenny Albert, Tim Green, Jennifer Hammond
Week 16 (Sunday December 30, 2001): at [Cincinnati Bengals]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 20 °F
- Game attendance: 63,751
- Referee: Jeff Triplette
- TV announcers: Gus Johnson, Brent Jones
Week 17 (Sunday January 6, 2002): vs. [Cleveland Browns]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 32 °F
- Game attendance: 59,189
- Referee: Bernie Kukar
- TV announcers: Gus Johnson, Brent Jones
Playoffs
Schedule
Game summaries
AFC Divisional Playoff (Sunday January 20, 2002): vs. [Baltimore Ravens]
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- Game time: 12:30 pm EST
- Game weather: 30 °F
- Game attendance: 63,976
- Referee: Tony Corrente
- TV announcers: Dick Enberg, Dan Dierdorf, Bonnie Bernstein
AFC Championship Game (Sunday January 27, 2002): vs. [New England Patriots]
- Game time: 12:30 pm EST
- Game weather: 57 °F
- Game attendance: 64,704
- Referee: Ed Hochuli
- TV announcers: Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, Armen Keteyian & Bonnie Bernstein
Honors and awards
Pro Bowl Representatives
See: 2002 Pro Bowl- No. 10 Kordell Stewart-Quarterback
- No. 36 Jerome Bettis-Running Back
- No. 66 Alan Faneca-Offensive Guard
- No. 86 Hines Ward-Wide Receiver
- No. 92 Jason Gildon-Outside Linebacker
- No. 97 Kendrell Bell-Inside Linebacker