1995 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Last updated

1995 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Owner The Rooney Family
General manager Tom Donahoe
Head coach Bill Cowher
Home stadium Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record11–5
Division place1st AFC Central
PlayoffsWon Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Bills) 40–21
Won AFC Championship
(vs. Colts) 20–16
Lost Super Bowl XXX
(vs. Cowboys) 17–27
Pro Bowlers
All-Pros
3
  • Dermontti Dawson (1st team)
  • Greg Lloyd (1st team)
  • Carnell Lake (2nd team)
Team MVP Neil O'Donnell
Team ROY Kordell Stewart

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).

Contents

This season saw the Steelers return to the Super Bowl for the first time in sixteen years (Super Bowl XIV). The team's 11–5 finish was good enough for the AFC Central championship and the second seed in the conference.

For the second consecutive season, Pittsburgh hosted the AFC Championship game, by virtue of the Indianapolis Colts' upset of the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Steelers won the conference championship game, but lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl in a matchup of teams that were looking to join the San Francisco 49ers as the only other team (at the time) to win five Super Bowls. It was the first time in three Super Bowl meetings that the Steelers had lost to the Cowboys, and also their first Super Bowl loss overall. Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher became (at the time) the youngest head coach to lead his team to the Super Bowl.

After the Super Bowl loss, quarterback Neil O'Donnell signed as a free agent with the New York Jets. The Steelers would not return to the Super Bowl until ten years later.

Offseason

AdditionsSubtractions
P Rohn Stark (Colts)WR Dwight Stone (Panthers)
CB Alvoid Mays (Redskins)RB Barry Foster (Panthers)
CB Chris Oldham (Cardinals)P Mark Royals (Lions)
G Tom Newberry (Rams)DE Gerald Williams (Panthers)
T Duval Love (Cardinals)

1995 expansion draft

Pittsburgh Steelers selected during the expansion draft
RoundSelectionNamePositionExpansion team
612 Tim McKyer Cornerback Carolina Panthers
1530 Fred Foggie Defensive back Carolina Panthers
1937 Charles Davenport Wide receiver Jacksonville Jaguars

NFL draft

1995 Pittsburgh Steelers draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
127 Mark Bruener   Tight end Washington
260 Kordell Stewart *  Quarterback Colorado
391 Brenden Stai   Guard Nebraska
4120 Oliver Gibson   Defensive tackle Notre Dame From New England
4125 Donta Jones   Linebacker Nebraska
5151 Lethon Flowers   Safety Georgia Tech From Chicago
5161 Lance Brown   Safety Indiana
6199 Barron Miles   Cornerback Nebraska
7235 Henry Bailey   Wide receiver UNLV
7247 Cole Ford   Placekicker USC
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents

1995 Undrafted Free Agents of note
PlayerPositionCollege
Greg BlackDefensive tackle North Carolina
LaMonte ColemanFullback Slippery Rock
Vincent DinkinsCenter South Carolina
Joey EllisCornerback Texas
Doug GrantWide receiver Savannah State
Tirrell GreeneGuard Miami (FL)
Germaine HoldenDefensive end Notre Dame
Tim PatilloSafety Ohio State
Kiefer PhillipsLinebacker Grambling State
Ty StewartKicker Iowa State

Staff

1995 Pittsburgh Steelers staff

Front office

  • President – Daniel M. Rooney
  • Vice president – John R. McGinley
  • Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
  • Secretary & counsel – Arthur J. Rooney II
  • Administration advisor – Chuck Noll
  • Director of communications – Joe Gordon
  • Media relations coordinator – Rob Boulware
  • PR Assistant/Community Relations – Ron Miller
  • Entertainment manager – Lynne Balkovec Molyneaux
  • Controller – Mike Hagan
  • Assistant controller – Dan Ferens
  • Assistant controller – Jim Ellenberger
  • Ticket sales manager – Geraldine Glenn
  • Merchandising manager – Tim Carey
  • Football operations
  • Director of football operations – Tom Donahoe
  • Scouting staff
  • College personnel coordinator – Tom Modrak
  • Pro personnel coordinator – Charles Bailey
  • BLESTO College Scout – Mark Gorscak
  • College scout – Phil Kreidler
  • College scout – Bob Lane
  • College scout – Max McCartney

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Conditioning coordinator – Chet Fuhrman
  • Medical staff
  • Ophthalmologist – Dr. Randy Beatty
  • Physician, orthopedic – Dr. James P. Bradley
  • Neurological surgery consultant – Dr. Joseph Maroon
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. Richard Rydze
  • Physician, consultant – Dr. Abraham J. Twerski
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. Anthony P. Yates
  • Training staff
  • Head trainer – John Norwig
  • Assistant trainer – Rick Burkholder
  • Equipment manager – Anthony Parisi
  • Field manager – Rodgers Freyvogel
  • Field assistant – Rich Baker
  • Video coordinator – Bob McCartney
  • Video assistant – Pat Dolan
  • Player development coordinator – Anthony Griggs
  • Administrative assistant – Lou Spanos
  • Photographers – Mike Fabus, Bill Amatucci

[1]

Roster

1995 Pittsburgh Steelers roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams (ST)

Practice squad

Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 4 reserve, 4 practice squad

[1] [2] [3]

Preseason

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentGame siteKickoff (ET)TVResultRecord
1August 4at Buffalo Bills Rich Stadium 7:30 p.m. WPXI W 31–101–0
2August 13 Green Bay Packers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 36–131–1
3August 19at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Stadium 7:30 p.m.WPXIL 20–71–2
4August 24 Philadelphia Eagles Three Rivers Stadium8:00 p.m. ESPN L 16–61–3

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentGame siteKickoff (ET)TVResultRecord
1September 3 Detroit Lions Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. FOX W 23–201–0
2September 10at Houston Oilers Astrodome 1:00 p.m. NBC W 34–172–0
3September 18at Miami Dolphins Joe Robbie Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC L 23–102–1
4September 24 Minnesota Vikings Three Rivers Stadium1:00 p.m.FOXL 44–242–2
5October 1 San Diego Chargers Three Rivers Stadium4:00 p.m.NBCW 31–163–2
6October 8at Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville Municipal Stadium 1:00 p.m.NBCL 20–163–3
7October 15Bye
8October 19 Cincinnati Bengals Three Rivers Stadium8:00 p.m. TNT L 27–93–4
9October 29Jacksonville JaguarsThree Rivers Stadium1:00 p.m.NBCW 24–74–4
10November 5at Chicago Bears Soldier Field 4:00 p.m.NBCW 37–34 (OT)5–4
11November 13 Cleveland Browns Three Rivers Stadium9:00 p.m.ABCW 20–36–4
12November 19at Cincinnati Bengals Riverfront Stadium 1:00 p.m.NBCW 49–317–4
13November 26at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Municipal Stadium 4:00 p.m.NBCW 20–178–4
14December 3Houston OilersThree Rivers Stadium1:00 p.m.NBCW 21–79–4
15December 10at Oakland Raiders Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 4:00 p.m.NBCW 29–1010–4
16December 16 New England Patriots Three Rivers Stadium12:30 p.m.NBCW 41–2711–4
17December 24at Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field 1:00 p.m.NBCL 24–1911–5

Standings

AFC Central
WLTPCTPFPASTK
(2) Pittsburgh Steelers 1150.688407327L1
Cincinnati Bengals 790.438349374W1
Houston Oilers 790.438348324W2
Cleveland Browns 5110.313289356L1
Jacksonville Jaguars 4120.250275404W1

Game summaries

Week 1 (Sunday September 3, 1995): vs. Detroit Lions

1234Total
Lions01001020
Steelers3371023

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather:78 °F (26 °C) (Sunny)
  • Game attendance: 58,002
  • Referee: Tom White
  • TV announcers: (FOX) Kevin Harlan (play by play), Jerry Glanville (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 39
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 47
  • Detroit – Perriman 5 pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick)
  • Detroit – FG Hanson 43
  • Pittsburgh – Morris 5 run (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run (Johnson kick)
  • Detroit – Moore 27 pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick)
  • Detroit – FG Hanson 36
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 31

Week 2 (Sunday September 10, 1995): at Houston Oilers

1234Total
Steelers14371034
Oilers307717

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: Dome
  • Game attendance: 44,122
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Dan Hicks (play by play), Tunch Ilkin (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Week 3 (Monday September 18, 1995): at Miami Dolphins

1234Total
Steelers030710
Dolphins3143323

at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida

Scoring drives:

Week 4 (Sunday September 24, 1995): vs. Minnesota Vikings

1234Total
Vikings01324744
Steelers0601824

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Scoring drives:

Week 5 (Sunday October 1, 1995): vs. San Diego Chargers

1234Total
Chargers067316
Steelers21100031

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Scoring drives:

Week 6 (Sunday October 8, 1995): at Jacksonville Jaguars

1234Total
Steelers076316
Jaguars7103020

at Alltell Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

Scoring drives:

Week 7 (Sunday October 15, 1995): Bye Week

Week 8 (Thursday October 19, 1995): vs. Cincinnati Bengals

1234Total
Bengals01014327
Steelers03339

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Scoring drives:

  • Cincinnati – Scott 47 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 25
  • Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 31
  • Cincinnati – To. McGee 12 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 28
  • Cincinnati – Pickens 41 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 38
  • Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 23
  • Pittsburgh – O'Donnell To Thigpen 60 yard touchdown

Week 9 (Sunday October 29, 1995): vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

1234Total
Jaguars00707
Steelers7140324

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather:48 °F (9 °C) (Partly Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 54,516
  • Referee: Tom White
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Week 10 (Sunday November 5, 1995): at Chicago Bears

1234OTTotal
Steelers017314337
Bears371410034

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Game time: 4:00 pm EST
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 61,838
  • Referee: Howard Roe
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators)

Scoring drives:

  • Chicago – FG Butler 40
  • Pittsburgh – Pegram 1 run (Johnson kick)
  • Chicago – Conway 6 pass from Kramer (Butler kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 40
  • Pittsburgh – Pegram 7 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
  • Chicago – Carter 12 pass from Kramer (Butler kick)
  • Chicago – Wetnight 14 pass from Kramer (Butler kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 46
  • Chicago – FG Butler 27
  • Pittsburgh – Pegram 6 run (Johnson kick)
  • Chicago – Minter 2 interception return (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Mills 11 pass form O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 24

Week 11 (Monday November 13, 1995): vs. Cleveland Browns

1234Total
Browns03003
Steelers076720

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Scoring drives:

Week 12 (Sunday November 19, 1995): at Cincinnati Bengals

1234Total
Steelers310152149
Bengals14107031

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Scoring drives:

  • Cincinnati – Scott 4 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 50
  • Cincinnati – Blake 1 run (Pelfrey kick)
  • Cincinnati – Pickens 1 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Mills 42 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
  • Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 27
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 26
  • Cincinnati – McGee 20 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Hastings 15 pass from O'Donnell (Pegram run)
  • Pittsburgh – Stewart 71 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Morris 3 run (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Morris 8 run (Johnson kick)

Week 13 (Sunday November 26, 1995): at Cleveland Browns

1234Total
Steelers1070320
Browns0107017

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Scoring drives:

Week 14 (Sunday December 3, 1995): vs. Houston Oilers

1234Total
Oilers07007
Steelers770721

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather:52 °F (11 °C) (Light Rain)
  • Game attendance: 56,013
  • Referee: Red Cashion
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Cris Collinsworth (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Week 15 (Sunday December 10, 1995): at Oakland Raiders

1234Total
Steelers7133629
Raiders073010

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

Scoring drives:


The Steelers would not win another road game against the Raiders until 2023.

Week 16 (Saturday December 16, 1995): vs. New England Patriots

1234Total
Patriots3361527
Steelers17717041

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 12:30 pm EST
  • Game weather:38 °F (3 °C) (Sunny)
  • Game attendance: 57,158
  • Referee: Bernie Kukar
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Week 17 (Sunday December 24, 1995): at Green Bay Packers

1234Total
Steelers0103619
Packers0147324

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Scoring drives:

  • Green Bay – Bennett 9 run (Jacke kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 33
  • Green Bay – Brooks 19 pass from Favre (Jacke kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Mills 8 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
  • Green Bay – Chmura 1 pass from Favre (Jacke kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 25
  • Green Bay – FG Jacke 47
  • Pittsburgh – Lester 2 run (pass failed)

Playoffs

Game summaries

AFC Divisional Playoff (Saturday January 6, 1996): vs. Buffalo Bills

1234Total
Bills077721
Steelers71631440

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Scoring drives:

AFC Championship game (Sunday January 14, 1996): vs. Indianapolis Colts

1234Total
Colts333716
Steelers373720

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Scoring drives:

  • Indianapolis – FG Blanchard 34
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 31
  • Indianapolis – FG Blanchard 36
  • Pittsburgh – Stewart 5 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
  • Indianapolis – FG Blanchard 37
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 36
  • Indianapolis – Turner 47 pass from Harbaugh (Blanchard kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run (Johnson kick)

Super Bowl XXX (Sunday January 28, 1996): vs. Dallas Cowboys

1234Total
Cowboys1037727
Steelers0701017

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

Scoring drives:

Honors and awards

Pro Bowl Representatives

See: 1996 Pro Bowl

References

  1. 1 2 1995 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  2. 1996 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  3. "1995 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 24, 2014.