The 2016 season was the Pittsburgh Steelers' 84th in the National Football League (NFL), their 17th under general manager Kevin Colbert and their 10th under head coach Mike Tomlin. For the first time since 2004, tight end Heath Miller was not on the opening day roster, as he announced his retirement on February 19, 2016.
After going 4–5 in their first nine games, the Steelers ended their season on a high note, winning all of their last seven. The Steelers were the first team since the 2011 Green Bay Packers to play on both Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The Steelers won the AFC North for the second time in three years and made the playoffs for the third straight year. The team also improved upon their 10–6 record from 2015. Le'Veon Bell made his career first playoff appearance with the Steelers in the 2016–17 playoffs. The Steelers went on to defeat the Miami Dolphins in the Wild Card round and the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional round before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots 36–17 in the AFC Championship game. This was the Steelers' first appearance in the AFC Championship game since the 2010 NFL season. The team ranked 10th in both offense and defense.
This was also the final season under the ownership of Dan Rooney, as he died on April 13, 2017.
As of 2025 this is the most recent season the Steelers have won a playoff game, having gone 0–7 (including the AFC Championship loss) since.
Draft
2016 Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Round Selection Player Position College 1 25 Artie Burns CB Miami (Fla.) 2 58 Sean Davis FS Maryland 3 89 Javon Hargrave NT S.C. State 4 123 Jerald Hawkins T LSU 6 220 Travis Feeney ILB Washington 7 229 Demarcus Ayers WR Houston 7 246 Tyler Matakevich ILB Temple Notes The Steelers traded a conditional fifth-round selection (#164 overall) to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for cornerback Brandon Boykin – contingent upon Boykin playing 60% of the snaps with the Steelers during the 2015 season. The Steelers traded their original sixth-round selection (#201 overall) to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for placekicker Josh Scobee. The Steelers acquired a sixth-round compensatory selection (#220 overall) as a result of the departure of Brice McCain during the free agency period. The Steelers acquired an additional seventh-round selection (#229 overall) in a trade that sent punter Brad Wing to the New York Giants.
Undrafted free agents All undrafted free agents were signed after the 2016 NFL draft concluded on April 30 unless otherwise noted.
Position Player College Notes NT Johnny Maxey Mars Hill OLB Tyriq McCord Miami (Fla.) P Will Monday Duke DE Giorgio Newberry Florida State RB Christian Powell Colorado TE D.J. Reeves Duke TE Jay Rome Georgia C Quinton Schooley N.C. State WR Canaan Severin Virginia DE Devaunte Sigler Jacksonville State
Staff
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason The Steelers' preseason opponents and schedule was announced on April 7. Dates and times were announced on April 14.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Detroit Lions L 17–30 0–1 Heinz Field Recap 2 Philadelphia Eagles L 0–17 0–2 Heinz Field Recap 3 at New Orleans Saints W 27–14 1–2 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap 4 at Carolina Panthers L 6–18 1–3 Bank of America Stadium Recap
Regular season The Steelers' regular season schedule was announced on April 14.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Washington Redskins W 38–16 1–0 FedExField Recap 2 September 18 Cincinnati Bengals W 24–16 2–0 Heinz Field Recap 3 September 25 at Philadelphia Eagles L 3–34 2–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 4 October 2 Kansas City Chiefs W 43–14 3–1 Heinz Field Recap 5 October 9 New York Jets W 31–13 4–1 Heinz Field Recap 6 October 16 at Miami Dolphins L 15–30 4–2 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 7 October 23 New England Patriots L 16–27 4–3 Heinz Field Recap 8Bye 9 November 6 at Baltimore Ravens L 14–21 4–4 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 10 November 13 Dallas Cowboys L 30–35 4–5 Heinz Field Recap 11 November 20 at Cleveland Browns W 24–9 5–5 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 12 November 24 at Indianapolis Colts W 28–7 6–5 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 13 December 4 New York Giants W 24–14 7–5 Heinz Field Recap 14 December 11 at Buffalo Bills W 27–20 8–5 New Era Field Recap 15 December 18 at Cincinnati Bengals W 24–20 9–5 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 16 December 25 Baltimore Ravens W 31–27 10–5 Heinz Field Recap 17 January 1 Cleveland Browns W 27–24 11–5 Heinz Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Postseason
Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap Wild Card January 8 Miami Dolphins (6) W 30–12 1–0 Heinz Field Recap Divisional January 15 at Kansas City Chiefs (2) W 18–16 2–0 Arrowhead Stadium Recap AFC Championship January 22 at New England Patriots (1) L 17–36 2–1 Gillette Stadium Recap
Game summaries
Regular season
Week 1: at Washington Redskins
The Steelers opened their 2016 season on the road against the Redskins. In the first quarter, the Redskins got on the board jumping out to a 6–0 lead with two field goals kicked by Dustin Hopkins from 31 and 40 yards out. In the second quarter it was all Steelers as they jumped out to leads of 7–6 and 14–6 at halftime when Ben Roethlisberger found Antonio Brown and Eli Rogers on 29-yard and 3-yard touchdown passes. After the break, the Steelers moved ahead 24–6 when Chris Boswell nailed a 46-yard field goal while Roethlisberger found Brown on a 26-yard touchdown pass. The Skins tried to rally later on in the quarter, but could only get away with a 34-yard field goal from Hopkins making the score 24–9. Though in the fourth quarter, they would eventually pull within 8 when Chris Thompson ran for a 1-yard touchdown making the score 24–16. Later on in the quarter, the Steelers sealed the game when DeAngelo Williams ran for two touchdowns from 15 and 6 yards out to make the final score 38–16.
With the win, the Steelers started their season 1–0.
Week 2: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Steelers played their first home game of the year against the division rival Bengals in a rematch of the 2015 AFC wild card game. In the first quarter, the Steelers struck first when Ben Roethlisberger found Xavier Grimble on a 20-yard touchdown pass for a 7–0 lead. The Bengals came within 4 later on in the quarter when Mike Nugent kicked a 25-yard field goal for a 7–3 game. In the second quarter, the Steelers increased their lead when Chris Boswell kicked a 49-yard field goal to make it 10–3. The Bengals came within 4 again when Nugent kicked a 33-yard field goal to make it 10–6 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Steelers moved ahead by double digits when Roethlisberger found Jesse James on a 9-yard touchdown pass to make it 17–6. The Bengals reduced the lead when Nugent kicked another field goal from 21 yards out to make it 17–9. In the fourth quarter, the Steelers pulled away as Roethlisberger found De'Angelo Williams on a 4-yard touchdown pass to make it 24–9. Though the Bengals wrapped up the scoring of the game when Andy Dalton found Giovani Bernard on a 25-yard touchdown pass to make the final score 24–16.
With the win, the Steelers started 2–0 for the first time since 2010.
Week 3: at Philadelphia Eagles
The Steelers traveled cross-state to take on the Eagles. The Eagles scored first with a 29-yarder from Caleb Sturgis, then Jordan Matthews scored a touchdown. The Steelers then got their first and only score of the game, followed by another Eagles field goal to make it 13-3 heading into the half. The Eagles then got three straight touchdowns, all scored by a running back. It was 34-3 heading into the fourth quarter, and the score stayed that way for the rest of the game
With this game, the Steelers suffered their first loss of the season, their 8th loss in Philadelphia since 1965, falling to 2-1
Week 4: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
After a horrifying road loss, the Steelers returned home for a Sunday Night duel against the Chiefs. Through the first half, it was all Steelers starting in the first quarter when Ben Roethlisberger found Darrius Heyward-Bey on a 31-yard touchdown pass with a successful two-point conversion to make it 8–0. This was followed up with Roethlisberger finding Antonio Brown on 2 consecutive touchdown passes: from 4 and 38 yards out to make the score 22–0. In the second quarter, they made the halftime score 29–0 when Roethlisberger found Jesse James on a 9-yard touchdown pass. In the third quarter, Markus Wheaton caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger to make the score 36–0. In the fourth quarter, the Chiefs finally got on the board when Alex Smith found Tyreek Hill on a 10-yard touchdown pass to make it 36–7. Though the Steelers pretty much sealed the game when De'Angelo Williams ran for a 2-yard touchdown to make it 43–7. The Chiefs then wrapped up the scoring of the game when Smith found Travis Kelce on a 3-yard touchdown pass to make the final score 43–14.
With the win, the Steelers improved to 3–1. With the Ravens' loss to the Raiders earlier in the day, they move into a tie at the top of the AFC North.
The Steelers set a franchise record with 22 total points scored in the first quarter. The team also snapped their streak of consecutive games with at least a giveaway.
Roethlisberger who had thrown 6 touchdown passes and 4 interceptions through the first 3 games had thrown 5 touchdown passes and no interceptions in this game alone.
Week 5: vs. New York Jets
The Steelers stayed home for a game against the Jets. In the first quarter, the Jets took an early 3–0 lead when Nick Folk kicked a 30-yard field goal. Later on, the Steelers took the lead when Ben Roethlisberger found Sammie Coates for a 72-yard touchdown pass to make it 7–3. The Jets scored 10 straight points in the second quarter: Folk kicked a 48-yard field goal to come within a point, 7–6. This would be followed by Ryan Fitzpatrick finding Brandon Marshall on a 15-yard touchdown pass to make it 13–7. The Steelers wrapped up the scoring of the half when Roethlisberger found Jesse James on a 1-yard touchdown pass to make it 14–13 at halftime. In the second half it was all Steelers. Starting in the third quarter, Chris Boswell put the team up by 4 with a 47-yard field goal to make it 17–13. In the fourth quarter, they would score 2 touchdowns: Roethlisberger found Antonio Brown on a 5-yard pass and then Coates on another 5-yard pass to make the score 24–13 and the eventual final score 31–13.
With the win, the Steelers improved to 4–1. With the Ravens' loss to the Redskins, the team is also now in outright first place in the AFC North.
This would be the final game the Steelers would wear their bumblebee uniforms.
Week 6: at Miami Dolphins
The Steelers traveled to Miami to take on the Dolphins. In the first quarter, the Dolphins struck first when Andrew Franks kicked a 30-yard field goal for a 3–0 lead. The Steelers got on the board later on in the quarter taking the lead when Darrius Heyward-Bey ran for a 60-yard touchdown (with a successful 2-point conversion) for an 8–3 game. In the second quarter, it was all Dolphins as they closed out the half by first coming within 2 when Franks kicked a 23-yard field goal to make the score 8–6. The Dolphins eventually took the lead back when Franks kicked another 30-yard field goal for a 9–8 game. They would move ahead by a touchdown when Damien Williams ran for one from a yard out to take a 16–8 lead at halftime. In the third quarter, the Dolphins got back to work when Jay Ajayi ran for a 1-yard touchdown to make the score 23–8 for the only score of the period. The Steelers tried to rally when Ben Roethlisberger found Cobi Hamilton on a 23-yard touchdown pass shortening their deficit to 8, 23–15. Though the Steelers' rush defense stalled with less than a minute left in the game and Ajayi ran for a 62-yard touchdown to seal the game with the final score 30–15.