The 1991 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 59th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League (NFL).
The Steelers struggled early as Neil O'Donnell took over from Bubby Brister at quarterback. The Steelers ended the season winning their last two games, 17–10, over the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns at Three Rivers Stadium to finish with a 7–9 record. Following the season Chuck Noll announced his retirement, ending his 23-year career in which he won four Super Bowls while posting an overall record of 209–156–1.
Offseason NFL draft
Personnel
Coaches / Staff
Notable additions include Adrian Cooper, Neil O'Donnell and Ernie Mills.
Final roster
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue 1 August 4 Washington Redskins W 16–7 1–0 Three Rivers Stadium 2 at Minnesota Vikings L 24–34 1–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 3 at Philadelphia Eagles L 20–21 1–2 Veterans Stadium 4 at Detroit Lions W 16–3 2–2 Pontiac Silverdome
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue 1 September 1 San Diego Chargers W 26–20 1–0 Three Rivers Stadium 2 September 8 at Buffalo Bills L 34–52 1–1 Rich Stadium 3 September 15 New England Patriots W 20–6 2–1 Three Rivers Stadium 4 September 22 at Philadelphia Eagles L 14–23 2–2 Veterans Stadium 5 Bye 6 October 6 at Indianapolis Colts W 21–3 3–2 Hoosier Dome 7 New York Giants L 20–23 3–3 Three Rivers Stadium 8 October 20 Seattle Seahawks L 7–27 3–4 Three Rivers Stadium 9 October 27 at Cleveland Browns L 14–17 3–5 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 10 November 3 at Denver Broncos L 13–20 3–6 Mile High Stadium 11 November 10 at Cincinnati Bengals W 33–27 4–6 Riverfront Stadium 12 November 17 Washington Redskins L 14–41 4–7 Three Rivers Stadium 13 November 24 Houston Oilers W 26–14 5–7 Three Rivers Stadium 14 November 28 at Dallas Cowboys L 10–20 5–8 Texas Stadium 15 December 8 at Houston Oilers L 6–31 5–9 Astrodome 16 December 15 Cincinnati Bengals W 17–10 6–9 Three Rivers Stadium 17 December 22 Cleveland Browns W 17–10 7–9 Three Rivers Stadium Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday September 1, 1991): vs. San Diego Chargers
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 4:00 PM EDT Game weather: (Sunny) Game attendance: 55,848 Referee: Gerald Austin TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Dan Hampton (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 38 San Diego – FG Carney 48 Pittsburgh – Calloway 33 pass from Brister (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 29 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 31 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 39 San Diego – Lewis 11 pass from Bernstine (Carney kick) San Diego – FG Carney 35 Pittsburgh – Stone 89 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) San Diego – Jefferson 5 pass from Friesz (Carney kick)
Week 2 (Sunday September 8, 1991): at Buffalo Bills
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
Game time: 1:00 PM EDT Game weather: (Sunny) Game attendance: 79,545 Referee: Tom Dooley TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Joe Namath (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Buffalo – Lofton 53 pass from Kelly (Norwood kick) Buffalo – FG Norwood 50 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25 Buffalo – Beebe 34 pass from Kelly (Norwood kick) Buffalo – Beebe 14 pass from Kelly (Norwood kick) Pittsburgh – Foster 56 run (Anderson kick) Buffalo – Reed 14 pass from Kelly (Norwood kick) PIttsburgh – W. Williams 1 run (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Hinkle 57 interception return (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27 Buffalo – Beebe 11 pass from Kelly (Norwood kick) Buffalo – Beebe 4 pass from Kelly (Norwood kick) Buffalo – Odomes 32 interception return (Norwood kick) Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run (Anderson kick)
Week 3 (Sunday September 15, 1991): vs. New England Patriots
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 PM EDT Game weather: (Sunny) Game attendance: 53,703 Referee: Johnny Grier TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Dan Hampton (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 49 New England – FG Staurovsky 33 New England – FG Staurovsky 28 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 32 Pittsburgh – Green 32 pass from Brister (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Mills recovered blocked punt in end zone (Anderson kick)
Week 4 (Sunday September 22, 1991): at Philadelphia Eagles
at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 PM EDT Game weather: (Mostly Sunny) Game attendance: 65,511 Referee: Bernie Kukar TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Bill Parcells (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – Hoge 12 pass from Brister (Anderson kick) Philadelphia – McMahon 1 run (Ruzek kick) Pittsburgh – Green 8 pass from Brister (Anderson kick) Philadelphia – FG Ruzek 27 Philadelphia – FG Ruzek 34 Philadelphia – Drummond 2 run (Ruzek kick) Philadelphia – FG Ruzek 20 With their 5th loss to the Eagles on the road since 1965, the Steelers entered their bye week at 2-2.
Week 5 (Sunday September 29, 1991): Bye Week
Week 6 (Sunday October 6, 1991): at Indianapolis Colts
at Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana
Game time: 8:00 PM EDT Game weather: Dome Game attendance: 55,383 Referee: Larry Nemmers TV announcers: (TNT) Skip Caray (play by play), Pat Haden (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Indianapolis – FG Biasucci 19 Pittsburgh – Green 21 pass from Brister (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Foster 24 pass from Brister (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run (Anderson kick)
Week 7 (Monday October 14, 1991): vs. New York Giants
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 9:00 PM EDT Game weather: (Cloudy) Game attendance: 57,608 Referee: Red Cashion TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf (color commentators)
Scoring drives:
New York Giants – Cross 12 pass from Hostetler (Bahr kick) New York Giants – FG Bahr 45 New York Giants – FG Bahr 40 New York Giants – Meggett 30 run (Bahr kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 26 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 39 Pittsburgh – Lipps 16 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Green 5 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) New York Giants – FG Bahr 44
Despite a second half rally, the Steelers were defeated 23-20 and they fell to 3-3. This would be their last home loss on a Monday night until the 2025 AFC Wild Card vs the Houston Texans, as the Steelers would have a 23 game win streak at home on Monday Night Football from 1992-2025.
Week 8 (Sunday October 20, 1991): vs. Seattle Seahawks
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 PM EDT Game weather: (Partly Sunny) Game attendance: 54,678 Referee: Gordon McCarter TV announcers: (NBC) Mel Proctor (play by play), Joe Namath (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Seattle – FG Kasay 36 Seattle – Williams 1 run (Kasay kick) Seattle – Chadwick 14 pass from Krieg (Kasay kick) Pittsburgh – Stone 57 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) Seattle – FG Kasay 21 Seattle – Tice 1 pass from Krieg (Kasay kick)
Week 9 (Sunday October 27, 1991): at Cleveland Browns
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Game time: 4:00 PM EST Game weather: Game attendance: 78,285 Referee: Bob McElwee TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Cleveland – FG Stover 34 Cleveland – Hoard 2 pass from Kosar (Stover kick) Pittsburgh – O'Donnell 1 run (Anderson kick) Cleveland – Mack 1 run (Stover kick) Pittsburgh – W. Williams 1 run (Anderson kick)
Week 10 (Sunday November 3, 1991): at Denver Broncos
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
Game time: 8:00 PM EST Game weather: , wind mph Game attendance: 70,973 Referee: Dale Hamer TV announcers: (ESPN) Mike Patrick (play by play), Joe Theismann (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 26 Pittsburgh – Green 23 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) Denver – Lewis 1 run (Treadwell kick) Denver – Elway 4 run (Treadwell kick) Denver – FG Treadwell 28 Denver – FG Treadwell 21 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 39
Week 11 (Sunday November 10, 1991): at Cincinnati Bengals
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Game time: 1:00 PM EST Game weather: Game attendance: 55,503 Referee: Jerry Markbreit TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Dan Hampton (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Cincinnati – FG Breech 29 Cincinnati – Woods 4 run (Breech kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 44 Cincinnati – Holman 18 pass from Esiason (Breech kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 46 Pittsburgh – J. Williams 38 fumble return (Anderson kick) Cincinnati – Woods 1 run (Breech kick) Pittsburgh – Mills 35 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Lipps 12 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) Cincinnati – FG Breech 47 Pittsburgh – Green 26 pass from O'Donnell
Week 12 (Sunday November 17, 1991): vs. Washington Redskins
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 PM EST Game weather: (Sunny) Game attendance: 56,813 Referee: Tom White TV announcers: (CBS) Dick Stockton (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Washington – Riggs 1 run (Lohmiller kick) Washington – FG Lohmiller 36 Washington – Monk 11 pass from Rypien (Lohmiller kick) Washington – FG Lohmiller 41 Washington – Riggs 1 run (Lohmiller kick) Pittsburgh – Cooper 5 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Stone 40 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) Washington – Clark 49 pass from Rypien (Lohmiller kick) Washington – Sanders 40 pass from Rutledge (Lohmiller kick)
Week 13 (Sunday November 24, 1991): vs. Houston Oilers
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 PM EST Game weather: (Cloudy) Game attendance: 45,795 Referee: Howard Roe TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 28 Houston – Givins 10 pass from Moon (Del Greco kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 33 Pittsburgh – Stone 43 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – W. Williams 1 run (Anderson kick) Houston – Jeffries 15 pass from Moon (Del Greco kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 24
Week 14 (Thursday November 28, 1991): at Dallas Cowboys
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
Game time: 4:00 PM EST Game weather: Game attendance: 62,253 Referee: Red Cashion TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Bill Walsh (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Dallas – E. Smith 6 run (Willis kick) Dallas – FG Willis 19 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42 Dallas – FG Willis 43 Pittsburgh – W. Williams 3 run (Anderson kick) Dallas – Irvin 66 pass from Beuerlein (Willis kick)
Week 15 (Sunday December 8, 1991): at Houston Oilers
at Astrodome, Houston, Texas
Game time: 1:00 PM EST Game weather: Dome Game attendance: 59,225 Referee: Bob McElwee TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Todd Christensen (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Houston – Pinkett 7 run (Del Greco kick) Houston – FG Del Greco 24 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 54 Houston – Jeffires 16 pass from Moon (Del Greco kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 36 Houston – Pinkett 11 run (Del Greco kick) Houston – A. Smith 70 fumble return (Del Greco kick)
Week 16 vs Bengals
Week 17 vs Browns
Chuck Noll's final game as head coach
Standings
References
External links 1991 Pittsburgh Steelers season at Pro Football Reference 1991 Pittsburgh Steelers season statistics at jt-sw.com