1956 Pittsburgh Steelers season

1956 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Head coach	Walt Kiesling
Home stadium	Forbes Field
Results
Record	5–7
Division place	T–4th NFL Eastern
Playoffs	Did not qualify
←  1955 Steelers seasons 1957  →

The 1956 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 24th in the National Football League.

Offseason

NFL Draft

See also: 1956 NFL draft

1956 Pittsburgh Steelers draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	1	Gary Glick	DB	Colorado A&M
1	5	Art Davis	DB	Mississippi State
2	17	Joe Krupa  *	DT	Purdue
3	29	Jim Taylor	C	Baylor
4	39	Dick Murley	T	Purdue
5	52	Bill Murakowski	B	Purdue
6	63	Ray Taylor	B	TCU
7	76	Dick Gaspari	C	George Washington
8	87	Vere Wellmen	G	Wichita
9	100	Wayne Edmonds	G	Notre Dame
10	111	Lou Baldacci	HB	Michigan
10	118	Bob Nolan	E	Miami (FL)
12	135	Phil Tarasovic	E	Yale
13	148	Weldon Holley	B	Baylor
14	159	Jim Emmons	T	Alabama
16	183	Lionel Reed	B	Central State (OK)
17	196	Bill Schmitt	G	Pittsburgh
18	207	John Stephans	QB	Holy Cross
19	220	Jerry Jacobs	G	Florida State
20	231	Fred Glatz	E	Pittsburgh
21	244	Gene Martell	T	Notre Dame
22	255	Ray DiPasquale	B	Pittsburgh
23	268	Pete Neft	QB	Pittsburgh
24	279	Bryan Engram	E	TCU
25	292	Bill O'Dell	B	Clemson
26	303	Frank Sweeney	G	Xavier
27	316	Buddy Benson	B	Arkansas
28	327	Bill DeGraaf	B	Cornell
29	340	Wes Thompson	T	Alabama
Made roster    †    Pro Football Hall of Fame     *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Preseason

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Location	Attendance	Sources
1	August 17	vs. Detroit Lions	L 15–20	0–1	Glass Bowl	Toledo, OH	11,912
2	August 25	vs. Baltimore Colts	L 16–37	0–2	Nippert Stadium	Cincinnati	12,500
3	September 8	Chicago Bears	L 10–21	0–3	Forbes Field	Pittsburgh	22,194
4	September 15	vs. Philadelphia Eagles	W 14–12	1–3	Metropolitan Stadium	Minneapolis	14,742
5	September 22	vs. Los Angeles Rams	W 20–17	2–3	Multnomah Stadium	Portland, OR	20,559	[1] [2]

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance	Recap	Sources
1	September 30	Washington Redskins	W 30–13	1–0	Forbes Field	27,718	Recap
2	October 6	Cleveland Browns	L 10–14	1–1	Forbes Field	35,398	Recap
3	October 14	Philadelphia Eagles	L 21–35	1–2	Forbes Field	31,375	Recap
4	October 21	at New York Giants	L 10–38	1–3	Yankee Stadium	48,108	Recap
5	October 28	at Cleveland Browns	W 24–16	2–3	Cleveland Municipal Stadium	50,358	Recap
6	November 4	New York Giants	L 14–17	2–4	Forbes Field	31,240	Recap
7	November 11	at Philadelphia Eagles	L 7–14	2–5	Connie Mack Stadium	22,652	Recap
8	November 18	Chicago Cardinals	W 14–7	3–5	Forbes Field	24,086	Recap
9	November 25	at Chicago Cardinals	L 27–38	3–6	Comiskey Park	17,724	Recap
10	December 2	Los Angeles Rams	W 30–13	4–6	Forbes Field	20,540	Recap
11	December 9	at Detroit Lions	L 7–45	4–7	Briggs Stadium	52,124	Recap
12	December 16	at Washington Redskins	W 23–0	5–7	Griffith Stadium	21,097	Recap
Note: Conference opponents are in bold text.

Standings

NFL Eastern Conference
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	STK
New York Giants	8	3	1	.727	7–3	264	197	W1
Chicago Cardinals	7	5	0	.583	7–3	240	182	W1
Washington Redskins	6	6	0	.500	5–5	183	225	L2
Cleveland Browns	5	7	0	.417	4–6	167	177	L1
Pittsburgh Steelers	5	7	0	.417	4–6	217	250	W1
Philadelphia Eagles	3	8	1	.273	3–7	143	215	L3

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

NFL Western Conference
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Chicago Bears	9	2	1	.818	8–2	363	246	W2
Detroit Lions	9	3	0	.750	8–2	300	188	L1
San Francisco 49ers	5	6	1	.455	5–5	233	284	W3
Baltimore Colts	5	7	0	.417	3–7	270	322	W1
Los Angeles Rams	4	8	0	.333	3–7	291	307	W2
Green Bay Packers	4	8	0	.333	3–7	264	342	L2

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Game summaries

Week 1 (Sunday September 30, 1956): Washington Redskins

	1	2	3	4	Total
Redskins	0	6	0	7	13
Steelers	7	7	9	7	30

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 27,718
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Pittsburgh – Chandnois 2 run (Glick kick)
• Washington – FG Baker 42
• Pittsburgh – Marchibroda 1 run (Glick kick)
• Washington – FG Baker 41
• Pittsburgh – FG Glick 27
• Pittsburgh – Chandnois 17 pass from Marchibroda (kick blocked)
• Pittsburgh – Chandnois 5 run (Glick kick)
• Washington – Meilinger 13 pass from LeBaron (Baker kick)

Week 2 (Saturday October 6, 1956): Cleveland Browns

	1	2	3	4	Total
Browns	0	7	0	7	14
Steelers	0	10	0	0	10

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 35,398
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Cleveland – Ratterman 1 run (Groza kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Glick 30
• Pittsburgh – Chandnois 1 run (Glik kick)
• Cleveland – Modzelewski 13 run (Groza kick)

Week 3 (Sunday October 14, 1956): Philadelphia Eagles

	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	7	21	0	7	35
Steelers	0	0	7	14	21

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 31,375
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Philadelphia – Schaefer 1 run (Walston kick)
• Philadelphia – Walston 51 pass from Thomason (Walston kick)
• Philadelphia – Bell 28 interception (Walston kick)
• Philadelphia – Bredice 40 pass from Thomason (Walston kick)
• Pittsburgh – Perry 15 pass from Marchibroda (Glick kick)
• Pittsburgh – Mathews 64 pass from Marchibroda (Glick kick)
• Pittsburgh – Mathews 20 pass from Marchibroda (Glick kick)
• Philadelphia – Keller 51 run (Walston kick)

Week 4 (Sunday October 21, 1956): New York Giants

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	3	0	0	7	10
Giants	0	17	14	7	38

at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 48,108
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Glick 35
• New York Giants – MacAfee 14 pass from Conerly (Agajanian kick)
• New York Giants – Webster 21 pass from Conerly (Agajanian kick)
• New York Giants – FG Agajanian 14
• New York Giants – Gifford 1 run (Agajanian kick)
• New York Giants – Rote 19 pass from Conerly (Agajanian kick)
• Pittsburgh – Nickel 14 pass from Marchibroda (Glick kick)
• New York Giants – Filpski 35 run (Agajanian kick)

Week 5 (Sunday October 28, 1956): Cleveland Browns

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	21	0	3	24
Browns	13	0	0	3	16

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 50,358
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Cleveland – Lavelli 68 pass from Parilli (kick failed)
• Cleveland – Paul 35 interception (Groza kick)
• Pittsburgh – Nickel 10 pass from Marchibroda (Glick kick)
• Pittsburgh – Chandnois 1 run (Glick kick)
• Pittsburgh – Perry 75 pass from Marchibroda (Glick kick)
• Cleveland – FG Groza 28
• Pittsburgh – FG Glick 11

Week 6 (Sunday November 4, 1956): New York Giants

	1	2	3	4	Total
Giants	7	3	7	0	17
Steelers	0	0	7	7	14

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 31,240
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring Drives:

• New York Giants – Webster 1 run (Agajanian kick)
• New York Giants – FG Agajanian 32
• Pittsburgh – Watson 1 run (Glick kick)
• New York Giants – Rote 3 pass from Conerly (Agajanian kick)
• Pittsburgh – Watson 6 run (Glick kick)

Week 7 (Sunday November 11, 1956): Philadelphia Eagles

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	7	0	0	0	7
Eagles	7	0	7	0	14

at Connie Mack Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 22,652
• Referee: Jack Glascott
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Pittsburgh – Marchibroda 1 run (Glick kick)
• Philadelphia – Burnine 35 pass from Thomason (Walston kick)
• Philadelphia – Keller 1 run (Walston kick)

Week 8 (Sunday November 18, 1956): Chicago Cardinals

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	0	0	7	7
Steelers	7	0	7	0	14

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 24,086
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Pittsburgh – Rogel 13 run (Glick kick)
• Pittsburgh – Butler 6 fumble run (Glick kick)
• Chicago Cardinals – Matson 45 pass from McHan (Summerall kick)

Week 9 (Sunday November 25, 1956): Chicago Cardinals

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	7	0	0	20	27
Cardinals	7	17	7	7	38

at Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 17,724
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Chicago Cardinals – Root 3 run (Summerall kick)
• Pittsburgh – Mathews 29 pass from Marchibroda (Watson kick)
• Chicago Cardinals – Matson 1 run (Summerall kick)
• Chicago Cardinals – FG Summerall 27
• Chicago Cardinals – Matson 79 run (Summerall kick)
• Chicago Cardinals – Childress 34 pass from Root (Summerall kick)
• Pittsburgh – Ford 3 run (Watson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Nickel 4 pass from Marchibroda (kick failed)
• Chicago Cardinals – McHan 1 run (Summerall kick)
• Pittsburgh – Ford 4 run (Watson kick)

Week 10 (Sunday December 2, 1956): Los Angeles Rams

	1	2	3	4	Total
Giants	6	0	7	0	13
Steelers	7	7	0	7	21

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 20,540
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Los Angeles – McFadin 21 fumble run (kick failed)
• Pittsburgh – Nickel 22 pass from Scarbath (Watson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Watson 16
• Los Angeles – Boyd 61 pass from Wade (Richter kick)
• Pittsburgh – Mathews 6 pass from Marchibroda (Watson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Rogel 1 run (Watson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Nickel 47 pass from Scarbath (kick failed)

Week 11 (Sunday December 9, 1956): Detroit Lions

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	7	0	0	7
Lions	14	24	7	0	45

at Briggs Stadium, Detroit, Michigan

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 52,124
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Detroit – Hart 20 pass from Layne (Layne kick)
• Detroit – Gedman 5 run (Layne kick)
• Pittsburgh – Watson 1 run (Watson kick)
• Detroit – Lary 73 interception (Layne kick)
• Detroit – Christiansen 66 punt return (Layne kick)
• Detroit – Christiansen 66 punt return (Layne kick)
• Detroit – FG Layne 13
• Detroit – Reichow 41 pass from Gilmer (Layne kick)

Week 12 (Sunday December 16, 1956): Washington Redskins

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	7	0	16	23
Redskins	0	0	0	0	0

at Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 49,086
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Pittsburgh – Watson 1 run (Watson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Mathews 48 pass from Marchibroda (Watson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Butler 10 pass from Marchibroda (Watson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Safety, Dorow tackled by McPeak in end zone

References

1. Pat Frizzell, "Steelers Beat Rams: Pitt Winner of 20–13 Tilt," The Oregonian, Sept. 23, 1956, sports p. 1, 6.
2. George Pasero, "Steelers Take Early Lead, Hang On for 20–17 Victory: 20,559 See Rams Bow In Pro Test," The Oregon Journal, Sept. 23, 1956, pp. 1B-[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oregon-daily-journal-steelers-stun-r/163009409/ 2B.