1983 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Last updated

1983 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Owner Art Rooney
General manager Dick Haley
Head coach Chuck Noll
Home field Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record10–6
Division place1st AFC Central
Playoff finishLost Divisional Playoffs
(at Raiders) 10–38
Pro Bowlers PK Gary Anderson
LB Jack Lambert
C Mike Webster
AP All-Pros Jack Lambert (1st team)
Mike Webster (1st team)
Gary Anderson (2nd team)
Team MVPGary Anderson

The 1983 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 51st season in the National Football League.

Contents

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

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches


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 (PUP Tooltip Physically unable to perform) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 69 Gabe Rivera NT (IR Tooltip Injured reserve) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 73 Pete Rostosky T (IR Tooltip Injured reserve) Injury icon 2.svg
  • 59 Todd Seabaugh ILB (IR Tooltip Injured reserve) Injury icon 2.svg


Practice squad [2] [3] [4]
Rookies in italics
51 active, 4 inactive

Preseason

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentGame SiteKickoff (ET)TVResultRecord
1 Saturday, July 30vs. New Orleans Saints Fawcett Stadium (Canton, Ohio)2:00 p.m. ABC W 27–141–0
2Saturday, August 6vs. New England Patriots Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, Tennessee)7:30 p.m. WPXI W 27–162–0
3Friday, August 12 New York Giants Three Rivers Stadium 8:00 p.m. ABC L 22–132–1
4Saturday, August 20at Dallas Cowboys Texas Stadium 9:00 p.m. NBC W 24–73–1
5Thursday, August 25at Philadelphia Eagles Veterans Stadium 7:30 p.m.WPXIW 10–34–1

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentGame SiteKickoff (ET)TVResultRecord
1Sunday, September 4 Denver Broncos Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 14–100–1
2Sunday, September 11at Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field 1:00 p.m.NBCW 25–211–1
3Sunday, September 18at Houston Oilers Astrodome 1:00 p.m.NBCW 40–282–1
4Sunday, September 25 New England Patriots Three Rivers Stadium1:00 p.m.NBCL 28–232–2
5Sunday, October 2Houston OilersThree Rivers Stadium1:00 p.m.NBCW 17–103–2
6Monday, October 10at Cincinnati Bengals Riverfront Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC W 24–144–2
7Sunday, October 16 Cleveland Browns Three Rivers Stadium1:00 p.m.NBCW 44–175–2
8Sunday, October 23at Seattle Seahawks Kingdome 4:00 p.m.NBCW 27–216–2
9Sunday, October 30 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Three Rivers Stadium1:00 p.m. CBS W 17–127–2
10Sunday, November 6 San Diego Chargers Three Rivers Stadium1:00 p.m.NBCW 26–38–2
11Sunday, November 13at Baltimore Colts Memorial Stadium 2:00 p.m.NBCW 24–139–2
12Sunday, November 20 Minnesota Vikings Three Rivers Stadium1:00 p.m.CBSL 17–149–3
13 Thursday, November 24at Detroit Lions Pontiac Silverdome 12:30 p.m.NBCL 45–39–4
14Sunday, December 4Cincinnati BengalsThree Rivers Stadium1:00 p.m.NBCL 23–109–5
15Saturday, December 10at New York Jets Shea Stadium 12:30 p.m.NBCW 34–710–5
16Sunday, December 18at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1:00 p.m.NBCL 30–1710–6

Week 1: vs. Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period1234Total
Broncos070714
Steelers073010

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: September 4, 1983
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 80 °F or 26.7 °C (Drizzle)
  • Game attendance: 58,233
  • Referee: Jerry Seeman
  • TV announcers (NBC): Bob Costas (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
  • [5]

Week 2: at Green Bay Packers

Pittsburgh Steelers at Green Bay Packers
Period1234Total
Steelers763925
Packers770721

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
Period1234Total
Steelers66141440
Oilers7002128

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

New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period1234Total
Patriots777728
Steelers7601023

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: September 25, 1983
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 71 °F or 21.7 °C (Mostly Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 55,282
  • Referee: Jerry Markbreit
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)
  • [8]

Week 5: vs. Houston Oilers

Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period1234Total
Oilers037010
Steelers0701017

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: October 2, 1983
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 73 °F or 22.8 °C (Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 56,901
  • Referee: Dick Jorgensen
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui (play by play), Ahmad Rashad (color commentator)
  • [9]

Week 6: at Cincinnati Bengals

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
Period1234Total
Steelers7301424
Bengals0140014

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]

Week 7: vs. Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period1234Total
Browns377017
Steelers201401044

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]

Week 8: at Seattle Seahawks

Pittsburgh Steelers at Seattle Seahawks
Period1234Total
Steelers7170327
Seahawks0071421

at Kingdome, Seattle

Week 9: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period1234Total
Buccaneers633012
Steelers0001717

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

San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period1234Total
Chargers03003
Steelers1733326

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: November 6, 1983
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 57 °F or 13.9 °C (Partly Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 58,191
  • Referee: Jerry Seeman
  • TV announcers (NBC): Bob Costas (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
  • [14]

Week 11: at Baltimore Colts

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Colts
Period1234Total
Steelers7100724
Colts337013

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
Period1234Total
Vikings7010017
Steelers700714

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 Steelers at Detroit Lions
Period1234Total
Steelers03003
Lions17771445

at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan

  • Date: November 24, 1983
  • Game time: 12:30 pm EST
  • Game weather: Dome
  • Game attendance: 77,724
  • Referee: Gene Barth
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)
  • [17]

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
Period1234Total
Bengals1433323
Steelers030710

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

Period1234Total
Steelers7137734
Jets00707

at Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York

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

Period1234Total
Steelers370717
Browns9147030

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

  • Date: December 18, 1983
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 18 °F (−7.8 °C), wind 11 miles per hour (18 km/h; 9.6 kn), wind chill 6 °F or −14.4 °C
  • Game attendance: 72,313
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • TV announcers (NBC): Bob Costas (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
  • [20]

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

AFC Central
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Pittsburgh Steelers (3)1060.6254–28–4355303L1
Cleveland Browns 970.5633–37–5356342W1
Cincinnati Bengals 790.4384–24–8346302L1
Houston Oilers 2140.1251–51–11288460L1

Playoffs

AFC Divisional Playoff: at Los Angeles Raiders

Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Raiders
Period1234Total
Steelers307010
Raiders71021038

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]

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References

  1. 1983 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  2. 1983 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  3. 1984 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  4. "1983 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  5. Pro Football Reference Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers – September 4th, 1983
  6. Pro Football Reference Pittsburgh Steelers at Green Bay Packers – September 11th, 1983
  7. Pro Football Reference Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Oilers – September 18th, 1983
  8. Pro Football Reference New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers – September 25th, 1983
  9. Pro Football Reference Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers – October 2nd, 1983
  10. Pro Football Reference Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals – October 10th, 1983
  11. Pro Football Reference Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers – October 16th, 1983
  12. Pro Football Reference Pittsburgh Steelers at Seattle Seahawks – October 23rd, 1983
  13. Pro Football Reference Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Pittsburgh Steelers – October 30th, 1983
  14. Pro Football Reference San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers – November 6th, 1983
  15. Pro Football Reference Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Colts – November 13th, 1983
  16. Pro Football Reference Minnesota Vikings at Pittsburgh Steelers – November 20th, 1983
  17. Pro Football Reference Pittsburgh Steelers at Detroit Lions - November 24th, 1983
  18. Pro Football Reference Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers - December 4th, 1983
  19. "It all falls apart in LA". Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  20. Pro Football Reference Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns – December 18th, 1983
  21. Pro Football Reference Divisional Round - Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Raiders - January 1st, 1984