2003 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Last updated

2003 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Owner The Rooney Family
General manager Kevin Colbert
Head coach Bill Cowher
Home field Heinz Field
Results
Record6–10
Division place3rd AFC North
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers
AP All-Pros Alan Faneca (2nd team)
Hines Ward (2nd team)
Team MVPHines Ward
Team ROY Troy Polamalu

The 2003 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 71st season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.

Contents

Their season began with the team trying to improve on their 10–5–1 record from 2002 in which they lost to the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round of the playoffs.

With the team suffering through injuries as well as less reliance on the running game than normal, the Steelers stumbled to a 6–10 record, going the entire season without winning consecutive games. Since moving to Heinz Field in 2001, this was the Steelers' first season with a losing record and their first season missing the playoffs. The team's record is tied with that of the 1999 season as the worst for a season under head coach Bill Cowher.

In his final season with the team, linebacker Jason Gildon became the franchise's career sack leader during a game against the Arizona Cardinals on November 9.

Since then, this represents the most recent losing season for the Steelers.

Personnel

2003 Pittsburgh Steelers staff

Front office

  • Chairman – Daniel M. Rooney
  • President – Arthur J. Rooney II
  • Vice president – John R. McGinley
  • Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
  • Administration advisor – Chuck Noll
  • Director of business – Mark Hart
  • Business accounting coordinator – Jim Ellenberger
  • Human relations/office coordinator – Geraldine Glenn
  • Business operations – Omar Khan
  • Accounting manager – Jodie Spagnolli
  • Communications coordinator – Ron Wahl
  • Public relations/media manager – David Lockett
  • Website/network administrator – Scott Phelps
  • Marketing
  • Director of marketing – Tony Quatrini
  • Marketing coordinator – Rick Giugliano
  • Client services administrator – Amy Corbett
  • Marketing manager – John Wodarek
  • Producer/broadcasting manager – Rick Fairbend
  • Marketing/community relations manager – Lynne Molyneaux
  • Marketing assistant – John Simpson
  • Marketing assistant – Mike Marchinsky
  • Ticket operations
  • Ticket manager – Ben Lentz
  • Season ticket assistant – Libby Patcher
  • Football operations
  • Director of football operations – Kevin Colbert
  • College scouting coordinator – Ron Hughes
  • Pro scouting coordinator – Doug Whaley
  • Pro/college scout – Phil Kreidler
  • College scout – Mark Gorscak
  • College scout – Bob Lane
  • College scout – Bruce McNorton
  • College scout – Dan Rooney
  • College scout – Bill Nunn
  • BLESTO Scout – Kelvin Fisher

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Conditioning coach – Chet Fuhrman
  • Medical staff
  • Ophthalmologist – Dr. Randy Beatty
  • Physician, orthopedic – Dr. James P. Bradley
  • Neurological surgeon – 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 athletic trainer – John Norwig
  • Assistant athletic trainer – Ryan Grove
  • Assistant athletic trainer – Ariko Iso
  • Football staff
  • Player development coordinator – Anthony Griggs
  • Equipment manager – Rodgers Freyvogel
  • Field manager – Rich Baker
  • Field/equipment assistant – Kalvin Jones
  • Video coordinator – Bob McCartney
  • Video assistant – Andy Lizanich
  • Video assistant – Rob Brakel
  • Photographers – Mike Fabus

[1]

Notable additions include Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor.

Roster

2003 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad

[2] [3] [4] [5]
Rookies in italics
53 active, 5 inactive, 5 practice squad

Preseason

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordGame SiteNFL Recap
1August 9at Detroit Lions L 13–260–1 Ford Field
2August 16 Philadelphia Eagles L 16–210–2 Heinz Field
3August 21 Dallas Cowboys W 15–141–2Heinz Field
4August 29at Carolina Panthers L 14–211–3 Bank of America Stadium

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordGame SiteNFL Recap
1September 7 Baltimore Ravens W 34–151–0 Heinz Field Summary
2September 14at Kansas City Chiefs L 20–411–1 Arrowhead Stadium Summary
3September 21at Cincinnati Bengals W 17–102–1 Paul Brown Stadium Summary
4September 28 Tennessee Titans L 13–302–2Heinz Field Summary
5October 5 Cleveland Browns L 13–332–3Heinz Field Summary
6October 12at Denver Broncos L 14–172–4 Invesco Field at Mile High Summary
7 Bye
8October 26 St. Louis Rams L 21–332–5Heinz Field Summary
9November 2at Seattle Seahawks L 16–232–6 Seahawks Stadium Summary
10November 9 Arizona Cardinals W 28–153–6Heinz Field Summary
11November 17at San Francisco 49ers L 14–303–7 San Francisco Stadium Summary
12November 23at Cleveland Browns W 13–64–7 Cleveland Browns Stadium Summary
13November 30 Cincinnati Bengals L 20–244–8Heinz Field Summary
14December 7 Oakland Raiders W 27–75–8Heinz Field Summary
15December 14at New York Jets L 0–65–9 Giants Stadium Summary
16December 21 San Diego Chargers W 40–246–9Heinz Field Summary
17December 28at Baltimore Ravens L 10–13 (OT)6–10 M&T Bank Stadium Summary

Note: Intra-divisional opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1

Week One: Baltimore Ravens (0–0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (0–0)
Period1234Total
Ravens007815
Steelers6714734

at Heinz FieldPittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

Pittsburgh won their season opener for the first time since 1999. [6]

Week 2

1234Total
Steelers1730020
Chiefs7207741

Week 3

1234Total
Steelers077317
Bengals003710

Week 4

1234Total
Titans0167730
Steelers3100013
  • Date: September 28
  • Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 63,244
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C) (Cloudy)
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • TV announcers (CBS): Gus Johnson and Brent Jones

Week 5

1234Total
Browns10137333
Steelers0103013

Week 6

1234Total
Steelers330814
Broncos0701017

Week 8

1234Total
Rams71010633
Steelers777021
  • Date: October 26
  • Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 62,665
  • Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C) (Light Rain)
  • Referee: Johnny Grier
  • TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen & Bill Maas

This was the 1,000th game in Steelers history.

Week 9

1234Total
Steelers0331016
Seahawks3331423

Week 10

1234Total
Cardinals036615
Steelers0721028
  • Date: November 9
  • Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 59,520
  • Game weather: 41 °F (5 °C) (Sunny)
  • Referee: Jeff Triplette
  • TV announcers (Fox): Ron Pitts & Tim Ryan, and Alby Oxenreiter

Week 11

1234Total
Steelers007714
49ers7314630

Week 12

1234Total
Steelers0100313
Browns33006

The Steelers were the only team in the 2003 season to play on the road following a Monday night road game. The NFL at that time had typically given teams that traveled for a Monday night game either a home game or their bye week the following week. Steelers head coach Bill Cowher objected to the team playing a road game after a Monday night road game. Team president Dan Rooney said that he would not pursue the matter with the NFL, noting that the second game was in Cleveland, only 112 miles (180 km) from Pittsburgh. [7]

Week 13

1234Total
Bengals7701024
Steelers0371020
  • Date: November 30
  • Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 58,797
  • Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C) (Sunny)
  • Referee: Bernie Kukar
  • TV announcers (CBS): Don Criqui & Steve Tasker

Week 14

1234Total
Raiders70007
Steelers0177327
  • Date: December 7
  • Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 53,079
  • Game weather: 30 °F (−1 °C) (Partly Cloudy)
  • Referee: Johnny Grier
  • TV announcers (CBS): Gus Johnson & Brent Jones

Week 15

1234Total
Steelers00000
Jets33006

Week 16

1234Total
Chargers0107724
Steelers14771240
  • Date: December 21
  • Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Game start: 4:05 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 52,527
  • Game weather: 37 °F (3 °C) (Sunny)
  • Referee: Bill Carollo
  • TV announcers (CBS): Don Criqui & Steve Tasker

Week 17

1234OTTotal
Steelers00100010
Ravens7003313
  • Date: December 28
  • Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
  • Game start: 8:30 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 70,001
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, Paul Maguire & Suzy Kolber

Standings

AFC North
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
(4) Baltimore Ravens 1060.6254–27–5391281W2
Cincinnati Bengals 880.5003–36–6346384L2
Pittsburgh Steelers 6100.3753–35–7300327L1
Cleveland Browns 5110.3132–43–9254322W1

Honors and awards

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References

  1. 2003 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  2. 2003 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  3. 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  4. "2003 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  5. "2004 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  6. ESPN.com. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  7. "Cowher says NFL scheduling puts team in bad spot for next 2 weeks". old.post-gazette.com. Retrieved May 14, 2022.