1973 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Last updated

1973 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Owner Art Rooney
Head coach Chuck Noll
Home field Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record10–4
Division place2nd AFC Central
Playoff finishLost Divisional Playoffs
(at Raiders) 14–33
Pro Bowlers
8
AP All-Pros
3
Team MVP Ron Shanklin

The 1973 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 41st season in the National Football League. The team finished second in the AFC Central division, but qualified for the postseason for the second consecutive season. The Steelers got off to a terrific start winning eight of their first nine games. However, a costly three game losing streak would put their playoff hopes in jeopardy. The Steelers would recover to win their last two games, but had to settle for a Wild Card berth with a 10–4 record. The Steelers would lose in the playoffs to the Oakland Raiders 33–14 in Oakland.

Contents

The 1973 Steelers' pass defense is arguably the greatest in the history of the NFL. Their defensive passer rating—the quarterback passer rating of all opposing quarterbacks throughout the season—was 33.1, an NFL record for the Super Bowl era.

According to Cold Hard Football Facts: [1]

Pittsburgh's pass-defense numbers that year were stunning. Opposing passers compiled the following stat-line:

The figure that leaps screaming off the sheet is the amazing 37 picks in 14 games. The 2009 Jets, by comparison, allowed a puny 8 TDs in 16 games, but hauled in just 17 picks.

Pittsburgh's all-time best pass defense was an equal-opportunity unit: Mike Wagner led the team with 8 INT, but 10 other guys recorded at least one pick. Amazing. Eleven defenders boasted at least one INT for Pittsburgh that season. The entire starting secondary recorded 24 picks alone, and Hall of Fame cornerback Mel Blount was last on the list: Wagner (8), safety Glen Edwards (6), cornerback John Rowser (6) and Blount (4).

The campaign was chronicled in Roy Blount Jr.'s 1974 book About Three Bricks Shy of a Load. The source of its title was Craig Hanneman whose endearing description of himself and his teammates after the regular season away victory over the Oakland Raiders was "We’re all about three bricks shy of a load." [2]

Offseason

NFL Draft

TeamRdPickNamePosCollege
PIT124 J.T. Thomas DBFlorida St.
PIT250 Ken Phares DBMississippi St.
PIT376 Roger Bernhardt GKansas
PIT4102 Gail Clark LBMichigan St.
PIT5106 Dave Reavis TArkansas
PIT5128Larry ClarkLBNorthern Illinois
PIT6140Ron BellRBIllinois St.
PIT6154 Glenn Scolnik WRIndiana
PIT7180 Nate Dorsey WRMiss Valley St.
PIT8192 Loren Toews LBCalifornia
PIT8206 Bill Janssen TNebraska
PIT9232 Bracey Bonham GNorth Carolina Central
PIT10258Don WunderlyDTArkansas
PIT11284Bob WhiteDBArizona
PIT12310Willie LeeRBIndiana St.
PIT13336Rick FergersonWRKansas St.
PIT14362Roger CowanDEStanford
PIT15388Charles CrossDBIowa
PIT16414Glen NardiDTNavy
PIT17440Mike ShannonDTOregon St.

Personnel

Staff

1973 Pittsburgh Steelers staff

Front office

  • President – Arthur J. Rooney
  • Vice president – John R. McGinley
  • Vice president – Daniel M. Rooney
  • Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
  • Public relations director – Ed Kiely
  • Traveling secretary – James A. Boston
  • Controller – Robert P. Quinn
  • Publicity director – Joe Gordon
  • Ticket manager – Joseph H. Carr
  • Director of player personnel – Dick Haley
  • Assistant director of player personnel – Bill Nunn
  • Director of professional scouting – V. Timothy Rooney

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches


Strength and conditioning

  • Strength – Louis Riecke
  • Flexibility – Paul Uram
  • Team physician, orthopedic – Dr. John Best
  • Team Physician, M.D. – Dr. David S. Huber
  • Team dentist – Dr. Robert Gray
  • Trainer – Ralph Berlin
  • Assistant trainer – Robert Milie
  • Equipment manager – Anthony Parisi
  • Field manager – Jack Hart

[3]

Roster

1973 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad

[3] [4] [5] [6]
Rookies in italics
46 active, 1 inactive, 1 practice squad

Regular season

Game summaries

Week 1

Detroit Lions (0–0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (0–0)
Period1234Total
Lions0010010
Steelers0371424

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA

Game information

Week 2

Cleveland Browns (1–0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (1–0)
Period1234Total
Browns30036
Steelers10610733

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

Week 3

Pittsburgh Steelers (2–0) at Houston Oilers (0–2)
Period1234Total
Steelers33131736
Oilers07007

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Game information

Week 4

San Diego Chargers (1–2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (3–0)
Period1234Total
Chargers0002121
Steelers17210038

at Three Rivers Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

Johnny Unitas playing for San Diego is knocked out of the game after completing only 3 of 15 passes for 24 yards and three interceptions.

Week 5

Pittsburgh Steelers (4–0) at Cincinnati Bengals (2–2)
Period1234Total
Steelers00077
Bengals637319

at Riverfront Stadium • Cincinnati, Ohio

Game information

Week 6

New York Jets (2–3) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4–1)
Period1234Total
Jets770014
Steelers0931426

at Three Rivers Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: October 21
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C) • Wind 9 mph (14 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 48,682
  • Referee: John McDonough
  • Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information

Week 7 vs Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals (4–2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (5–1)
Period1234Total
Bengals060713
Steelers3710020

at Three Rivers Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

Week 8 vs Washington Redskins

Washington Redskins (5–2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (6–1)
Period1234Total
Redskins333716
Steelers770721

at Three Rivers Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: Monday, November 5
  • Game time: 9:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 40 °F (4 °C) • Wind 13 miles per hour (21 km/h; 11 kn)
  • Game attendance: 49,220
  • Referee: Tommy Bell
  • TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, and Don Meredith
  • Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information

Joe Gilliam makes Monday Night Football debut

Week 9 at Raiders

Pittsburgh Steelers (7–1) at Oakland Raiders (5–2–1)
Period1234Total
Steelers077317
Raiders03069

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum • Oakland, California

  • Date: November 11
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C) • Wind 16 miles per hour (26 km/h; 14 kn)
  • Game attendance: 47,535
  • Referee: Bernie Ulman
  • Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information

Week 10 vs Broncos

Week Ten: Denver Broncos (4–3–2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (8–1)
Period1234Total
Broncos 3371023
Steelers 330713

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: November 18, 1973
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 35 °F (2 °C)
  • Game attendance: 48,580
  • Referee: Fred Silva
  • Box Score
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
BroncosPassing Charley Johnson 13/20, 86 Yds, TD
Rushing Floyd Little 27 Rush, 88 Yds, TD
Receiving Riley Odoms 6 Rec, 47 Yds, TD
SteelersPassing Terry Hanratty 10/19, 217 Yds, TD
Rushing Franco Harris 11 Rush, 53 Yds
Receiving John McMakin 3 Rec, 64 Yds

Week 11

1234Total
Steelers733316
• Browns770721
Game summary

Scoring drives:

Week 12 (Monday December 3, 1973): at Miami Dolphins

1234Total
Steelers0371626
• Dolphins20100030
  • Date: Monday, December 3
  • Location: Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
  • Game start: 9:00 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 68,901
  • Game weather: 75 F, wind 14 mph (23 km/h)
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, and Don Meredith
Game summary

Scoring drives:

Week 13

1234Total
Oilers70007
• Steelers31410633
Game summary

Scoring drives:

Week 14

1234Total
• Steelers77131037
49ers070714
Game summary

John Brodie's number 12 was retired prior to game.

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Rowser 71 interception return (Gerela kick) – Steelers 7–0
  • San Francisco – Hall recovered blocked punt in end zone (Gossett kick) – Tie 7–7
  • Pittsburgh – P. Pearson 1 run (Gerela kick) – Steelers 14–7
  • Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 27 – Steelers 17–7
  • Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 27 – Steelers 20–7
  • Pittsburgh – Lewis 50 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Steelers 27–7
  • Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 35 – Steelers 30–7
  • Pittsburgh – Steve Davis 1 run (Gerela kick) – Steelers 37–7
  • San Francisco – Atkins 3 run (Gossett kick) – Steelers 37–14

Standings

AFC Central
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Cincinnati Bengals 1040.7144–28–3286231W6
Pittsburgh Steelers 1040.7144–27–4347210W2
Cleveland Browns 752.5714–26–3–2234255L2
Houston Oilers 1130.0710–61–10199447L6

Postseason

AFC Divisional: @ Oakland Raiders

1234Total
Steelers070714
• Raiders73131033
  • Date: Saturday, December 22
  • Location: Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
  • Game start: 4 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 52,646
  • Game weather: 50 F, wind 11 mph (18 km/h)
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson and Kyle Rote
  • References:

Scoring Drives

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1972–73 NFL playoffs</span> NFL seasonal playoff games

The National Football League playoffs for the 1972 season began on December 23, 1972. The postseason tournament concluded with the Miami Dolphins defeating the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII, 14–7, on January 14, 1973, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California, becoming the only NFL team to finish a championship season undefeated and untied.

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The 1970 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise’s 38th in the National Football League. They improved from a league-worst 1–13 record the previous year, finishing with a 5–9 record and third place in the newly formed AFC Central. The Steelers began the decade in a new conference and a new stadium with a new quarterback. After nearly 40 years in the NFL they shifted to the AFC, to complete the merger between the NFL and AFL. It was the NFL’s weakest division that season, as the Steelers finished three games behind the first place Cincinnati Bengals — a team that was only in its third year of existence.

The 1971 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 39th in the National Football League. The Steelers showed improvement finishing in second place in the AFC Central Division with a 6–8 record. Terry Bradshaw struggled with turnovers in his second season throwing 22 interceptions to 13 touchdown passes. The Steelers that year drafted wide receiver Frank Lewis, Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Ham, guard Gerry Mullins, defensive end Dwight White, tight end/tackle Larry Brown, defensive tackle Ernie Holmes, and safety Mike Wagner, all key contributors during the Steelers Super Bowl teams of the 1970s.

The 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 40th in the National Football League.

The 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 42nd in the National Football League (NFL). They improved to a 10–3–1 regular-season record, won the AFC Central division title, sending them to the playoffs for the third consecutive season, and won a Super Bowl championship, the first league title in Steelers' history. This was the first of six consecutive AFC Central division titles for the Steelers, and the first of four Super Bowl championships in the same time period.

The 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 44th in the National Football League. The team attempted to win their third consecutive Super Bowl championship, but ultimately lost to their bitter rivals, the Oakland Raiders, in the AFC Championship Game. Despite failing to reach the Super Bowl, the 1976 Steelers are fondly remembered as one of the franchise's most dominant teams, thanks to a record-setting defense and running game. The Steelers' strong defense finished the season with just 9.9 points allowed per game, the fewest in the NFL, and a franchise record that still stands.

The 1977 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 45th in the National Football League. After what was considered the franchise's greatest season ever in 1976, the 1977 Pittsburgh Steelers failed to improve on their 10-4 record from 1976 and finished with a 9-5 record; however, they appeared in the playoffs for their 6th straight season and won the AFC Central again. They had a hard time for most of the season as their record hovered around .500. Even the Steel Curtain seemed to have a little wear and tear allowing 243 points on the season, more than 100 more than the previous season. The sloppy plays would catch up with them in the Divisional Playoffs when they were knocked off by the Broncos 34–21 in Denver.

The 1981 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 49th in the National Football League. After enduring an injury plagued 9–7 season the previous year and missing the playoffs for the first time since 1971, the Steelers had hoped that the 1980 season was just a small hiatus from contending for championships. However, while the Steelers had flashes of their former glory years after starting the season with 2 unimpressive losses, the 1981 season would end in an 8–8 record and eventually prove the end of the Steelers great dynasty of the 1970s. The Steelers had a chance to make the playoffs with an 8–5 start to the year but lost all of their last three games to miss the playoffs.

The 1984 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 52nd season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.

The 1989 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 57th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League. They were considered a rebuilding team filled with many young players, especially after the release of longtime center Mike Webster in the offseason. The young team showed its inexperience in the first game of the season, when they lost at home to the archrival Cleveland Browns 51–0. The loss marked the Steelers worst defeat in franchise history. The following week wasn't much better, losing 41–10 to another division rival, the defending AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals.

The 1990 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 58th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.

The 1995 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 63rd season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League (NFL).

The 1967 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 35th in the National Football League.

The 1964 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 32nd in the National Football League.

The 1970 Oakland Raiders season was the team's 11th season in Oakland. It was also their first season as members of the NFL. The Raiders would ultimately win their fourth consecutive division title. They advanced to the AFC Championship Game, where they lost to the Baltimore Colts.

The 1975 Oakland Raiders season was the team's 16th season, and 6th in the National Football League.

The 1975 AFC Championship Game was the sixth title game of the American Football Conference (AFC). Played on January 4, 1976, the game was hosted by the AFC Central champion and defending AFC and Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers who, in a rematch of the 1974 title game, played the AFC West champion Oakland Raiders at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Along with the 1975 NFC Championship Game played on the same day, this game constituted the penultimate round of the 1975–76 NFL playoffs which had followed the 1975 regular season of the National Football League (NFL).

References

  1. ↑ Cold Hard Football Facts: Shutdown! The greatest pass defenses in history
  2. ↑ Starkey, Joe. "The wildest Steelers season there ever was," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Saturday, December 30, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2020
  3. 1 2 1973 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  4. ↑ 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  5. ↑ About Three Bricks Shy... and the Load Filled Up.
  6. ↑ "1973 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
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