1996 Pittsburgh Steelers season | |
---|---|
Owner | The Rooney Family |
General manager | Tom Donahoe |
Head coach | Bill Cowher |
Home stadium | Three Rivers Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 10–6 |
Division place | 1st AFC Central |
Playoffs | Won Wild Card Playoffs (vs. Colts) 42–14 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Patriots) 3–28 |
All-Pros | 4
|
Pro Bowlers | 6
|
Team MVP | Jerome Bettis |
Team ROY | Jon Witman |
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.
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.
Additions | Subtractions |
---|---|
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) |
1996 Pittsburgh Steelers draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 29 | Jamain Stephens | Tackle | North Carolina A&T | |
3 | 72 | Steve Conley | Linebacker | Arkansas | |
3 | 92 | Jon Witman | Fullback | Penn State | |
4 | 126 | Earl Holmes | Linebacker | Florida A&M | |
4 | 132 | Jahine Arnold | Wide receiver | Fresno State | |
5 | 163 | Israel Raybon | Defensive end | North Alabama | |
6 | 200 | Orpheus Roye | Defensive end | Florida State | |
6 | 203 | Spence Fischer | Quarterback | Duke | |
7 | 242 | Carlos Emmons | Linebacker | Arkansas State | |
Made roster |
Player | Position | College |
---|---|---|
Ricky Bell | Cornerback | North Carolina State |
Lorenzo Green | Defensive tackle | Oklahoma State |
Chris Jones | Wide receiver | Mississippi State |
Cornell Parker | Cornerback | SMU |
Lewis Tyree | Offensive linemen | Florida State |
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
| Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
Notable additions include Jerome Bettis, Earl Holmes and Carlos Emmons.
Week | Date | Opponent | Game Site | Kickoff (ET) | TV | Result | Record |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | July 27 | vs. San Diego Chargers | ![]() | 10:00 p.m. | ESPN | L 20–10 | 0–1 |
2 | August 3 | St. Louis Rams | Three Rivers Stadium | 6:00 p.m. | WPXI | W 16–10 | 1–1 |
3 | August 11 | at Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | 8:00 p.m. | TNT | L 24–17 | 1–2 |
4 | August 17 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Three Rivers Stadium | 6:00 p.m. | WPXI | W 13–3 | 2–2 |
5 | August 23 | at Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | 7:30 p.m. | WPXI | L 20–19 | 2–3 |
Week | Date | Opponent | Game Site | Kickoff (ET) | TV | TV Announcers | Result | Record |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 1 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | Alltel Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Marv Albert & Sam Wyche | L 24–9 | 0–1 |
2 | September 8 | Baltimore Ravens | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Marv Albert & Sam Wyche | W 31–17 | 1–1 |
3 | September 16 | Buffalo Bills | Three Rivers Stadium | 9:00 p.m. | ABC | Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf | W 24–6 | 2–1 |
4 | September 22 | Bye | ||||||
5 | September 29 | Houston Oilers | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Don Criqui & Beasley Reece | W 30–16 | 3–1 |
6 | October 7 | at Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | 9:00 p.m. | ABC | Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf | W 17–7 | 4–1 |
7 | October 13 | Cincinnati Bengals | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Charlie Jones & Randy Cross | W 20–10 | 5–1 |
8 | October 20 | at Houston Oilers | Astrodome | 4:00 p.m. | NBC | Don Criqui & Beasley Reece | L 23–13 | 5–2 |
9 | October 27 | at Atlanta Falcons | Georgia Dome | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Dan Hicks & Bob Trumpy | W 20–17 | 6–2 |
10 | November 3 | St. Louis Rams | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | FOX | Joe Buck & Bill Maas | W 42–6 | 7–2 |
11 | November 10 | at Cincinnati Bengals | Cinergy Field | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Don Criqui & Beasley Reece | L 34–24 | 7–3 |
12 | November 17 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Jim Lampley & Bob Golic | W 28–3 | 8–3 |
13 | November 25 | at Miami Dolphins | Pro Player Stadium | 9:00 p.m. | ABC | Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf | W 24–17 | 9–3 |
14 | December 1 | at Baltimore Ravens | Memorial Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Jim Lampley & Bob Golic | L 31–17 | 9–4 |
15 | December 8 | San Diego Chargers | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Tom Hammond & Bob Trumpy | W 16–3 | 10–4 |
16 | December 15 | San Francisco 49ers | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | FOX | Pat Summerall & John Madden | L 25–15 | 10–5 |
17 | December 22 | at Carolina Panthers | Ericsson Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Don Criqui & Beasley Reece | L 18–14 | 10–6 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
Jaguars | 7 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 24 |
at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ravens | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
Steelers | 14 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 31 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bills | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
Steelers | 7 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oilers | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 16 |
Steelers | 17 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 30 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 17 |
Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bengals | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
Steelers | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 20 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
Oilers | 3 | 6 | 0 | 14 | 23 |
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 3 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 20 |
Falcons | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rams | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
Steelers | 14 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
Bengals | 3 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 34 |
at Cinergy Field, Cincinnati, Ohio
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jaguars | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Steelers | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
Dolphins | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
Ravens | 7 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 31 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Steelers | 6 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 16 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
49ers | 16 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 25 |
Steelers | 0 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 15 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Panthers | 7 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 18 |
at Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Scoring drives:
AFC Central | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
(3) Pittsburgh Steelers | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 344 | 257 | L2 |
(5) Jacksonville Jaguars | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 325 | 335 | W5 |
Cincinnati Bengals | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 372 | 369 | W3 |
Houston Oilers | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 345 | 319 | W1 |
Baltimore Ravens | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 371 | 441 | L3 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colts | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Steelers | 10 | 3 | 8 | 21 | 42 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Patriots | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
at Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
Scoring drives: