NFL team season
The 1983 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 51st season in the National Football League.
Personnel
Staff
1983 Pittsburgh Steelers staff | Front office - Chairman of the board – Arthur J. Rooney
- President – Daniel M. Rooney
- Vice president – John R. McGinley
- Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
- Controller – Dennis P. Thimons
- Assistant controller – Dan Ferens
- Traveling secretary – James A. Boston
- Public relations director – Ed Kiely
- Publicity director – Joe Gordon
- Assistant publicity director – John Evenson
- Director of ticket sales – Geraldine Glenn
- Director of player personnel – Dick Haley
- Assistant director of player personnel – William Nunn, Jr.
- Pro talent scout – Tom Modrak
- Talent scout – West Coast – Bob Schmitz
- College talent scout – Joe Krupa
Head coaches - Head coach – Chuck Noll
- Assistant head coach – Woody Widenhofer
Offensive coaches - Offensive coordinator – Tom Moore
- Offensive line – Ron Blackledge
- Offensive backfield – Dick Hoak
| | | Defensive coaches - Defensive coordinator – Woody Widenhofer
- Defensive backfield – Tony Dungy
- Defensive line – Jon Kolb
Strength and conditioning - Conditioning coach – Jon Kolb
- Physician, M.D. – Dr. David S. Huber
- Physician, M.D. – Dr. Anthony P. Yates
- Physician, orthopedic – Dr. Paul Steele
- Neurological surgery consultant – Dr. Joseph C. Maroon
- Dentist – Dr. George P. Boucek
- Ophthalmologist – Dr. Phillip Buzzelli
- Trainer – Ralph Berlin
- Assistant trainer – Gary Stragar
- Equipment manager – Anthony Parisi
- Field manager – Rodgers Freyvogel
- Film director – Bob McCartney
- Photographers – Harry Homa, Bill Amatucci
[1] |
Roster
1983 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster |
| Quarterbacks Running backs Wide receivers Tight ends | | Offensive linemen Defensive linemen | | Linebackers Defensive backs Special teams | | Reserve lists - 45 Russell Davis RB (PUPTooltip Physically unable to perform)
- 69 Gabe Rivera NT (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
- 73 Pete Rostosky T (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
- 59 Todd Seabaugh ILB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
Practice squad [2] [3] [4] Rookies in italics 51 active, 4 inactive |
Preseason
Schedule
Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Game Site | Kickoff (ET) | TV | Result | Record |
1 | Sunday, September 4 | Denver Broncos | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | L 14–10 | 0–1 |
2 | Sunday, September 11 | at Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | W 25–21 | 1–1 |
3 | Sunday, September 18 | at Houston Oilers | Astrodome | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | W 40–28 | 2–1 |
4 | Sunday, September 25 | New England Patriots | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | L 28–23 | 2–2 |
5 | Sunday, October 2 | Houston Oilers | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | W 17–10 | 3–2 |
6 | Monday, October 10 | at Cincinnati Bengals | Riverfront Stadium | 9:00 p.m. | ABC | W 24–14 | 4–2 |
7 | Sunday, October 16 | Cleveland Browns | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | W 44–17 | 5–2 |
8 | Sunday, October 23 | at Seattle Seahawks | Kingdome | 4:00 p.m. | NBC | W 27–21 | 6–2 |
9 | Sunday, October 30 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | CBS | W 17–12 | 7–2 |
10 | Sunday, November 6 | San Diego Chargers | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | W 26–3 | 8–2 |
11 | Sunday, November 13 | at Baltimore Colts | Memorial Stadium | 2:00 p.m. | NBC | W 24–13 | 9–2 |
12 | Sunday, November 20 | Minnesota Vikings | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | CBS | L 17–14 | 9–3 |
13 | Thursday, November 24 | at Detroit Lions | Pontiac Silverdome | 12:30 p.m. | NBC | L 45–3 | 9–4 |
14 | Sunday, December 4 | Cincinnati Bengals | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | L 23–10 | 9–5 |
15 | Saturday, December 10 | at New York Jets | Shea Stadium | 12:30 p.m. | NBC | W 34–7 | 10–5 |
16 | Sunday, December 18 | at Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | L 30–17 | 10–6 |
Week 1: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 2: at Green Bay Packers
Pittsburgh Steelers at Green Bay Packers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Steelers | 7 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 25 |
Packers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: September 11, 1983
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 60 °F (15.6 °C), wind 11 miles per hour (18 km/h; 9.6 kn)
- Game attendance: 58,144
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (NBC): Bob Costas (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
- [6]
Week 3: at Houston Oilers
Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Oilers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Steelers | 6 | 6 | 14 | 14 | 40 |
Oilers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 28 |
at Astrodome, Houston, Texas
- Date: September 18, 1983
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: Dome
- Game attendance: 44,150
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert (play by play), John Brodie (color commentator)
- [7]
Week 4: vs. New England Patriots
Scoring summary |
Quarter | Time | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Plays | Yards | TOP | Patriots | Steelers | 1 | | | | | Steelers | Calvin Sweeney 3-yard touchdown reception from Cliff Stoudt, Gary Anderson kick good | 0 | 7 | 1 | | | | | Patriots | Clayton Weishuhn 27-yard run for touchdown off lateral pass from interception by Steve Nelson | 7 | 7 | 2 | | | | | Steelers | 20-yard field goal by Gary Anderson | 7 | 10 | 2 | | | | | Patriots | Derrick Ramsey 4-yard touchdown reception from Steve Grogan, John Smith kick good | 14 | 10 | 2 | | | | | Steelers | 34-yard field goal by Gary Anderson | 14 | 13 | 3 | | | | | Patriots | Tony Collins 4-yard touchdown run, John Smith kick good | 21 | 13 | 4 | | | | | Steelers | 28-yard field goal by Gary Anderson | 21 | 16 | 4 | | | | | Steelers | Walter Abercrombie 26-yard touchdown reception from Cliff Stoudt, Gary Anderson kick good | 21 | 23 | 4 | | | | | Patriots | Stephen Starring 76-yard touchdown reception from Steve Grogan, John Smith kick good | 28 | 23 | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 28 | 23 | |
Week 5: vs. Houston Oilers
Week 6: at Cincinnati Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Steelers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
Bengals | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati
- Date: October 10, 1983
- Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 56 °F (13.3 °C), wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn)
- Game attendance: 56,086
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford (play by play), Don Meredith & O. J. Simpson (color commentators)
- [10]
Scoring summary |
Quarter | Time | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Plays | Yards | TOP | | | 1 | | | | | Steelers | Fumble recovery returned 38 yards for touchdown by Rick Woods, Gary Anderson kick good | 7 | 0 | 2 | | | | | Steelers | 35-yard field goal by Gary Anderson | 10 | 0 | 2 | | | | | Bengals | Pete Johnson 1-yard touchdown run, Jim Breech kick good | 10 | 7 | 2 | | | | | Bengals | Interception returned 41 yards for touchdown by James Griffin, Jim Breech kick good | 10 | 14 | 4 | | | | | Steelers | Interception returned 34 yards for touchdown by Johnson, Gary Anderson kick good | 17 | 14 | 4 | | | | | Steelers | Interception returned 70 yards for touchdown by Harvey Clayton, Gary Anderson kick good/no good (blocked)/no good (miss right)/no good (miss left)/no good (miss short)/no good | 24 | 14 | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 24 | 14 | |
Week 7: vs. Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Browns | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
Steelers | 20 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 44 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: October 16, 1983
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 73 °F or 22.8 °C (Mostly Cloudy)
- Game attendance: 59,263
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones (play by play), Bob Griese (color commentator)
- [11]
Scoring summary |
Quarter | Time | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Plays | Yards | TOP | Browns | Steelers | 1 | | | | | Steelers | 18-yard field goal by Gary Anderson | 0 | 3 | 1 | | | | | Steelers | Walter Abercrombie 1-yard touchdown run, Gary Anderson kick good | 0 | 10 | 1 | | | | | Steelers | Interception returned 31 yards for touchdown by Mike Merriweather, Gary Anderson kick good | 0 | 17 | 1 | | | | | Browns | 27-yard field goal by Matt Bahr | 3 | 17 | 1 | | | | | Steelers | 29-yard field goal by Gary Anderson | 3 | 20 | 2 | | | | | Browns | Boyce Green 23-yard touchdown run, Matt Bahr kick good | 10 | 20 | 2 | | | | | Steelers | Franco Harris 1-yard touchdown run, Gary Anderson kick good | 10 | 27 | 2 | | | | | Steelers | Calvin Sweeney 40-yard touchdown reception from Cliff Stoudt, Gary Anderson kick good | 10 | 34 | 3 | | | | | Browns | Boyce Green 1-yard touchdown run, Matt Bahr kick good | 17 | 34 | 4 | | | | | Steelers | 26-yard field goal by Gary Anderson | 17 | 37 | 4 | | | | | Steelers | Fumble recovery returned 94 yards for touchdown by Greg Best, Gary Anderson kick good | 17 | 44 | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 17 | 44 | |
Week 8: at Seattle Seahawks
Pittsburgh Steelers at Seattle Seahawks
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Steelers | 7 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 27 |
Seahawks | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
at Kingdome, Seattle
Week 9: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Buccaneers | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 12 |
Steelers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 17 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: October 30, 1983
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 57 °F or 13.9 °C (Cloudy)
- Game attendance: 57,468
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers (CBS): Jim Kelly (play by play), John Dockery (color commentator)
- [13]
Week 10: vs. San Diego Chargers
Scoring summary |
Quarter | Time | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Plays | Yards | TOP | Chargers | Steelers | 1 | | | | | Steelers | Walter Abercrombie 6-yard touchdown run, Gary Anderson kick good | 0 | 7 | 1 | | | | | Steelers | 45-yard field goal by Gary Anderson | 0 | 10 | 1 | | | | | Steelers | Fumble recovery returned 3 yards for touchdown by Mel Blount, Gary Anderson kick good | 0 | 17 | 2 | | | | | Chargers | 39-yard field goal by Rolf Benirschke | 3 | 17 | 2 | | | | | Steelers | 30-yard field goal by Gary Anderson | 3 | 20 | 3 | | | | | Steelers | 49-yard field goal by Gary Anderson | 3 | 23 | 4 | | | | | Steelers | 42-yard field goal by Gary Anderson | 3 | 26 | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 3 | 26 | |
Week 11: at Baltimore Colts
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Colts
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Steelers | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
Colts | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Date: November 13, 1983
- Game time: 2:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 38 °F (3.3 °C), wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
- Game attendance: 57,319
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (NBC): Merle Harmon (play by play), Jim Turner (color commentator)
- [15]
The Colts' first sellout since 1977, and last in Baltimore, came about because thousands of Steelers fans who normally could not purchase tickets at Three Rivers Stadium found them cheap and plentiful in Maryland. Pittsburgh returned to Memorial Stadium with the birth of the Baltimore Ravens in 1996.
Week 12: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Vikings | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
Steelers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: November 20, 1983
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 63 °F or 17.2 °C (Light Rain)
- Game attendance: 58,417
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (CBS): Jim Kelly (play by play), John Dockery (color commentator)
- [16]
Week 13: at Detroit Lions
Pittsburgh's first trip to the Motor City since 1967 was nothing short of disastrous. It was the Steelers' most lopsided loss under Noll, eclipsed only by a 51-0 embarrassment by the Browns at home in the 1989 opener.
Week 14: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bengals | 14 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
Steelers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: December 4, 1983
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 44 °F or 6.7 °C (Fog & Light Drizzle)
- Game attendance: 55,832
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones (play by play), Bob Griese (color commentator)
- [18]
Week 15: at New York Jets
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Steelers | 7 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
Jets | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
at Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York
- Date: December 10, 1983
- Game time: 12:30 pm EST
- Game weather: 45 °F (7.2 °C), wind 12 miles per hour (19 km/h; 10 kn)
- Game attendance: 53,996
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen
- Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets – December 10th, 1983
After having been sidelined with an elbow injury for the first 14 games of the season, 36-year old Terry Bradshaw started his first game of the season. Despite still clearly being hampered by his elbow, he was able to impress in limited time. It would the final time Bradshaw would see the field as a player, as he felt a pop in his elbow while throwing his final pass, a 10-yard touchdown to Calvin Sweeney. Bradshaw did not play during the play-offs and retired after the season.[19]
This was also the final NFL game held at Shea Stadium.
Week 16: at Cleveland Browns
Eight days after Bradshaw threw his last pass, Brian Sipe started his last NFL game in what turned out to be a hollow victory for the Browns, who were eliminated from the playoffs three hours later when the Seahawks defeated the Patriots in Seattle.
Standings
Playoffs
AFC Divisional Playoff: at Los Angeles Raiders
Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Raiders
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Steelers | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
Raiders | 7 | 10 | 21 | 0 | 38 |
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles
- Date: January 1, 1984
- Game time: 4:00 pm EST/1:00 pm PST
- Game weather: 61 °F (16.1 °C), wind 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h; 5.2 kn)
- Game attendance: 90,380
- Referee: Gene Barth
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)
- [21]
References
- ^ 1983 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
- ^ 1983 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
- ^ 1984 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
- ^ "1983 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
- ^ Pro Football Reference Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers – September 4th, 1983
- ^ Pro Football Reference Pittsburgh Steelers at Green Bay Packers – September 11th, 1983
- ^ Pro Football Reference Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Oilers – September 18th, 1983
- ^ Pro Football Reference New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers – September 25th, 1983
- ^ Pro Football Reference Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers – October 2nd, 1983
- ^ Pro Football Reference Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals – October 10th, 1983
- ^ Pro Football Reference Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers – October 16th, 1983
- ^ Pro Football Reference Pittsburgh Steelers at Seattle Seahawks – October 23rd, 1983
- ^ Pro Football Reference Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Pittsburgh Steelers – October 30th, 1983
- ^ Pro Football Reference San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers – November 6th, 1983
- ^ Pro Football Reference Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Colts – November 13th, 1983
- ^ Pro Football Reference Minnesota Vikings at Pittsburgh Steelers – November 20th, 1983
- ^ Pro Football Reference Pittsburgh Steelers at Detroit Lions - November 24th, 1983
- ^ Pro Football Reference Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers - December 4th, 1983
- ^ "It all falls apart in LA". Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- ^ Pro Football Reference Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns – December 18th, 1983
- ^ Pro Football Reference Divisional Round - Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Raiders - January 1st, 1984
External links
- 1983 Pittsburgh Steelers season at Profootballreference.com
- 1983 Pittsburgh Steelers season statistics at jt-sw.com
Pittsburgh Steelers |
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- Founded in 1933
- Formerly the Pittsburgh Pirates (1933–1939)
- Based and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Pittsburgh Steelers seasons |
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Formerly the Pittsburgh Pirates (1933–1939) |
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