1996 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Last updated

1996 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Owner The Rooney Family
General manager Tom Donahoe
Head coach Bill Cowher
Home stadium Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record10–6
Division place1st AFC Central
PlayoffsWon Wild Card Playoffs
(vs. Colts) 42–14
Lost Divisional Playoffs
(at Patriots) 3–28
All-Pros
4
  • Jerome Bettis (1st team)
  • Chad Brown (1st team)
  • Dermontti Dawson (1st team)
  • Levon Kirkland (2nd team)
Pro Bowlers
Team MVPJerome Bettis
Team ROY Jon Witman
Aerial view of Three Rivers Stadium hosting an NFL game for the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the Baltimore Ravens on September 8, 1996 Three Rivers Stadium aerial view 1996.jpg
Aerial view of Three Rivers Stadium hosting an NFL game for the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the Baltimore Ravens on September 8, 1996

The 1996 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 64th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.

Contents

This was Bill Cowher's fifth season as head coach of the Steelers, which resulted in yet another trip to the playoffs for the team, as Pittsburgh won the AFC Central championship for the fourth time under Cowher.

The team's 10–6 record was not enough to earn the Steelers a first-round bye. In their first playoff game, a rematch of the previous year's AFC Championship Game, the Steelers defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 42–14. The following their season would come to a halt as the Steelers lost to the New England Patriots, 28–3.

This would be the final season that the team wore block numerals, the next year they would switch to rounded numerals where it has remained ever since.

Offseason

AdditionsSubtractions
RB Jerome Bettis (Rams)LB Kevin Greene (Panthers)
C Jim Sweeney (Seahawks)QB Neil O'Donnell (Jets)
P Rohn Stark (Panthers)
G/T Ariel Solomon (Vikings)
FB John L. Williams (retirement)
G Tom Newberry (retirement)

NFL draft

1996 Pittsburgh Steelers draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
129 Jamain Stephens   Tackle North Carolina A&T
372 Steve Conley   Linebacker Arkansas
392 Jon Witman   Fullback Penn State
4126 Earl Holmes  Linebacker Florida A&M
4132 Jahine Arnold   Wide receiver Fresno State
5163 Israel Raybon   Defensive end North Alabama
6200 Orpheus Roye  Defensive end Florida State
6203Spence Fischer  Quarterback Duke
7242 Carlos Emmons  Linebacker Arkansas State
      Made roster  

Undrafted free agents

1996 undrafted free agents of note
PlayerPositionCollege
Ricky BellCornerback North Carolina State
Lorenzo GreenDefensive tackle Oklahoma State
Chris JonesWide receiver Mississippi State
Cornell ParkerCornerback SMU
Lewis TyreeOffensive linemen Florida State

Personnel

Staff

1996 Pittsburgh Steelers staff

Front office

  • President – Daniel M. Rooney
  • Vice president – John R. McGinley
  • Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
  • Vice president and general counsel – Arthur J. Rooney II
  • Administration advisor – Chuck Noll
  • Director of marketing – Joe Gordon
  • Marketing coordinator – Mark Fuhrman
  • Merchandising manager – Tim Carey
  • Assistant marketing manager – Lynne Molyneaux
  • Media relations coordinator – Rob Boulware
  • Assistant/community relations – Ron Miller
  • Director of business – Mark Hart
  • Business coordinator – Dan Ferens
  • Accounts coordinator – Jim Ellenberger
  • Office/ticket manager – Geraldine Glenn
  • 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
  • Physician, orthopedic – Dr. James P. Bradley
  • Ophthalmologist – Dr. Randy Beatty
  • 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]

Notable additions include Jerome Bettis, Earl Holmes and Carlos Emmons.

Roster

1996 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

[1] [2] [3] Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 5 reserve, 2 practice squad

Preseason

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentGame SiteKickoff (ET)TVResultRecord
1 July 27vs. San Diego Chargers Flag of Japan.svg Tokyo Dome (Tokyo, Japan)10:00 p.m. ESPN L 20–100–1
2August 3 St. Louis Rams Three Rivers Stadium 6:00 p.m. WPXI W 16–101–1
3August 11at Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field 8:00 p.m. TNT L 24–171–2
4August 17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Three Rivers Stadium6:00 p.m.WPXIW 13–32–2
5August 23at Philadelphia Eagles Veterans Stadium 7:30 p.m.WPXIL 20–192–3

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentGame SiteKickoff (ET)TVTV AnnouncersResultRecord
1September 1at Jacksonville Jaguars Alltel Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC Marv Albert & Sam Wyche L 24–90–1
2September 8 Baltimore Ravens Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m.NBCMarv Albert & Sam WycheW 31–171–1
3September 16 Buffalo Bills Three Rivers Stadium9:00 p.m. ABC Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf W 24–62–1
4September 22Bye
5September 29 Houston Oilers Three Rivers Stadium1:00 p.m.NBC Don Criqui & Beasley Reece W 30–163–1
6October 7at Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium 9:00 p.m.ABCAl Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan DierdorfW 17–74–1
7October 13 Cincinnati Bengals Three Rivers Stadium1:00 p.m.NBC Charlie Jones & Randy Cross W 20–105–1
8October 20at Houston Oilers Astrodome 4:00 p.m.NBCDon Criqui & Beasley ReeceL 23–135–2
9October 27at Atlanta Falcons Georgia Dome 1:00 p.m.NBC Dan Hicks & Bob Trumpy W 20–176–2
10November 3 St. Louis Rams Three Rivers Stadium1:00 p.m. FOX Joe Buck & Bill Maas W 42–67–2
11November 10at Cincinnati Bengals Cinergy Field 1:00 p.m.NBCDon Criqui & Beasley ReeceL 34–247–3
12November 17 Jacksonville Jaguars Three Rivers Stadium1:00 p.m.NBC Jim Lampley & Bob Golic W 28–38–3
13November 25at Miami Dolphins Pro Player Stadium 9:00 p.m.ABCAl Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan DierdorfW 24–179–3
14December 1at Baltimore Ravens Memorial Stadium 1:00 p.m.NBCJim Lampley & Bob GolicL 31–179–4
15December 8 San Diego Chargers Three Rivers Stadium1:00 p.m.NBC Tom Hammond & Bob Trumpy W 16–310–4
16December 15 San Francisco 49ers Three Rivers Stadium1:00 p.m.FOX Pat Summerall & John Madden L 25–1510–5
17December 22at Carolina Panthers Ericsson Stadium 1:00 p.m.NBCDon Criqui & Beasley ReeceL 18–1410–6

Game summaries

Week 1 (Sunday September 1, 1996): at Jacksonville Jaguars

1234Total
Steelers33309
Jaguars7701024

at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 70,210
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Sam Wyche (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Week 2 (Sunday September 8, 1996): vs. Baltimore Ravens

1234Total
Ravens7100017
Steelers14143031

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather:75 °F (24 °C) (Partly Sunny)
  • Game attendance: 57,241
  • Referee: Gerry Austin
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Sam Wyche (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Week 3 (Monday September 16, 1996): vs. Buffalo Bills

1234Total
Bills30306
Steelers7170024

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Scoring drives:

Week 4 (Sunday September 22, 1996): Bye Week

Week 5 (Sunday September 29, 1996): vs. Houston Oilers

1234Total
Oilers0014216
Steelers17301030

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather:59 °F (15 °C) (Mostly Sunny)
  • Game attendance: 58,608
  • Referee: Tom White
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Stewart 16 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 33
  • Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 62 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 36
  • Houston – Davis 4 pass from Chandler (Del Greco kick)
  • Houston – Lewis 36 interception return (Del Greco kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 36
  • Pittsburgh – Perry 13 interception return (Johnson kick)
  • Houston – Safety, Edge ran out of end zone

Week 6 (Monday October 7, 1996): at Kansas City Chiefs

1234Total
Steelers068317
Chiefs07007

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Scoring drives:

Week 7 (Sunday October 13, 1996): vs. Cincinnati Bengals

1234Total
Bengals003710
Steelers3071020

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather:64 °F (18 °C) (Partly Sunny)
  • Game attendance: 58,875
  • Referee: Gary Lane
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Randy Cross (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 33
  • Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 19
  • Pittsburgh – Stewart 32 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 22
  • Pittsburgh – Woodson 42 fumble return (Johnson kick)
  • Cincinnati – Pickens 3 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)

Week 8 (Sunday October 20, 1996): at Houston Oilers

1234Total
Steelers730313
Oilers3601423

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Scoring drives:

Week 9 (Sunday October 27, 1996): at Atlanta Falcons

1234Total
Steelers3014320
Falcons730717

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: Dome
  • Game attendance: 58,760
  • Referee: Ron Blum
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Dan Hicks (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Week 10 (Sunday November 3, 1996): vs. St. Louis Rams

1234Total
Rams03306
Steelers14714742

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather:38 °F (3 °C) (Partly Sunny)
  • Game attendance: 58,148
  • Referee: Jerry Markbreit
  • TV announcers: (FOX) Joe Buck (play by play), Bill Maas (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Week 11 (Sunday November 10, 1996): at Cincinnati Bengals

1234Total
Steelers0177024
Bengals31471034

at Cinergy Field, Cincinnati, Ohio

Scoring drives:

  • Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 32
  • Pittsburgh- FG Johnson 46
  • Pittsburgh – Bettis 6 run (Johnson kick)
  • Cincinnati – Carter 1 run (Pelfrey kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run (Johnson kick)
  • Cincinnati – Dunn 90 kickoff return (Pelfrey kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run (Johnson kick)
  • Cincinnati – Bieniemy 33 run (Pelfrey kick)
  • Cincinnati – Carter 12 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)
  • Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 34

Week 12 (Sunday November 17, 1996): vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

1234Total
Jaguars03003
Steelers14140028

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather:50 °F (10 °C) (Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 58,879
  • Referee: Bernie Kukar
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Lampley (play by play), Bob Golic (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Week 13 (Monday November 25, 1996): at Miami Dolphins

1234Total
Steelers377724
Dolphins773017

at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida

Scoring drives:

Week 14 (Sunday December 1, 1996): at Baltimore Ravens

1234Total
Steelers737017
Ravens7170731

at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 51,882
  • Referee: Red Cashion
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Lampley (play by play), Bob Golic (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Week 15 (Sunday December 8, 1996): vs. San Diego Chargers

1234Total
Chargers00303
Steelers670316

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather:40 °F (4 °C) (Partly Sunny)
  • Game attendance: 56,368
  • Referee: Gerry Austin
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Week 16 (Sunday December 15, 1996): vs. San Francisco 49ers

1234Total
49ers1660325
Steelers008715

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather:38 °F (3 °C) (Partly Sunny)
  • Game attendance: 59,823
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • TV announcers: (FOX) Pat Summerall (play by play), John Madden (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

  • San Francisco – Rice 4 pass from S. Young (Wilkins kick)
  • San Francisco – Safety, B. Young sacked Tomczak in end zone
  • San Francisco – Rice 4 pass from S. Young (Wilkins kick)
  • San Francisco – Owens 20 pass from S. Young (kick failed)
  • Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run (C. Johnson pass from Tomczak)
  • San Francisco – FG Wilkins 22
  • Pittsburgh – Stewart 42 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)

Week 17 (Sunday December 22, 1996): at Carolina Panthers

1234Total
Steelers0140014
Panthers726318

at Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Scoring drives:

Standings

AFC Central
WLTPCTPFPASTK
(3) Pittsburgh Steelers 1060.625344257L2
(5) Jacksonville Jaguars 970.563325335W5
Cincinnati Bengals 880.500372369W3
Houston Oilers 880.500345319W1
Baltimore Ravens 4120.250371441L3

Playoffs

Game summaries

AFC Wild Card Playoff (Sunday December 29, 1996): vs. Indianapolis Colts

1234Total
Colts0140014
Steelers10382142

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 29
  • Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 50
  • Indianapolis – Daniel 59 interception return (Blanchard kick)
  • Indianapolis – Bailey 9 pass from Harbaugh (Blanchard kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run (Farquhar pass from Stewart)
  • Pittsburgh- Bettis 1 run (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Witman 31 run (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Stewart 3 run (Johnson kick)

AFC Divisional Playoff (Sunday January 5, 1997): at New England Patriots

1234Total
Steelers00303
Patriots1470728

at Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

Scoring drives:

Honors and awards

Pro Bowl Representatives

References

  1. 1 2 1996 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  2. 1997 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  3. "1996 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 24, 2014.