# 1946 Pittsburgh Steelers season

The 1946 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 14th season in the National Football League (NFL). The team finished the season with a record of 5–5–1. This season marked the first of two seasons played with Jock Sutherland as head coach.

## Off Season Changes

When the 1945 season ended, Jock Sutherland returned from service in World War II and signed a head coaching contract with team owner Art Rooney, Sr. on December 29, 1945 in front of local reporters. Sutherland's fame as a college coach caused a great deal of excitement among Steelers fans and ticket sales for the 1946 season set records.
Additionally, fan favorite Bill Dudley was set to return for his first full season since serving in World War II. Dudley had only played in 4 games in 1945. By the end of the season, Dudley's play was so exceptional, he was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player.

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Game | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
| 1 | September 20 | Chicago Cardinals | W 14–7 | 1–0 | Forbes Field | 32,951 | Recap |
| 2 | September 29 | at Washington Redskins | T 14–14 | 1–0–1 | Griffith Stadium | 33,620 | Recap |
| 3 | October 6 | New York Giants | L 14–17 | 1–1–1 | Forbes Field | 33,702 | Recap |
| 4 | October 13 | Boston Yanks | W 16–7 | 2–1–1 | Forbes Field | 34,297 | Recap |
| 5 | October 20 | at Green Bay Packers | L 7–17 | 2–2–1 | City Stadium | 22,588 | Recap |
| 6 | October 27 | at Boston Yanks | W 33–7 | 3–2–1 | Fenway Park | 13,797 | Recap |
| 7 | November 3 | Washington Redskins | W 14–7 | 4–2–1 | Forbes Field | 36,995 | Recap |
| 8 | November 10 | at Detroit Lions | L 7–17 | 4–3–1 | Briggs Stadium | 13,621 | Recap |
| 9 | November 17 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 10–7 | 5–3–1 | Forbes Field | 38,882 | Recap |
| 10 | November 24 | at New York Giants | L 0–7 | 5–4–1 | Polo Grounds | 45,347 | Recap |
| 11 | December 1 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 7–10 | 5–5–1 | Shibe Park | 29,943 | Recap |

### Game summaries
#### Game 1 (Friday September 20, 1946): Chicago Cardinals

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Steelers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 32,951
* Referee:
Scoring Drives:
* Pittsburgh – Seabright 8 pass from Dudley (Dudley kick)
* Pittsburgh – Compagno 1 run (Dudley kick)
* Chicago Cardinals – Goldberg 8 pass from Mallouf (Cuff kick)

#### Game 2 (Monday September 29, 1946): Washington Redskins

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
| Redskins | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
at Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 33,620
* Referee:
Scoring Drives:
* Washington – Saenz 1 run (Poillon kick)
* Washington – Todd 23 pass from Baugh (Poillon kick)
* Pittsburgh – Jansante 17 pass from Clement (Dudley kick)
* Pittsburgh – Dudley 1 run (Dudley kick)

#### Game 3 (Sunday October 6, 1946): New York Giants

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Giants | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 33,702
* Referee:
Scoring Drives:
* New York – Hapes 2 run (Strong kick)
* New York – Filchock 70 run (Strong kick)
* New York – FG Strong 23
* Pittsburgh – Garnaas 30 pass from Dudley (Dudley kick)
* Pittsburgh – Clement 2 run (Dudley kick)

#### Game 4 (Sunday October 13, 1946): Boston Yanks

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Yanks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Steelers | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 34,297
* Referee:
Scoring Drives:
* Pittsburgh – Lach 1 run (kick blocked)
* Pittsburgh – Lach 5 run (Dudley kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Dudley 34
* Boston – Scollard 6 fumble run (Scollard kick)

#### Game 5 (Sunday October 20, 1946): Green Bay Packers

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Packers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
at East Stadium, Green Bay, Wisconsin
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 22,588
* Referee:
Scoring Drives:
* Green Bay – FG Fritsch 38
* Pittsburgh – Dudley 31 run (Dudley kick)
* Green Bay – Luhn, 19 pass from Comp (Fritsch kick)
* Green Bay – Schlinkman 2 run (Fritsch kick)

#### Game 6 (Sunday October 27, 1946): Boston Yanks

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 6 | 0 | 14 | 13 | 33 |
| Yanks | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 13,797
* Referee:
Scoring Drives:
* Pittsburgh – Condit 18 run (kick failed)
* Boston – Dimancheff 26 pass from Governali (Scollard kick)
* Pittsburgh – Dudley 23 lateral from Compagno (Dudley kick)
* Pittsburgh – R. Davis 29 fumble run (Dudley kick)
* Pittsburgh – Dudley – 80 pass from Condit (Condit kick)
* Pittsburgh – Dutton 38 run (kick failed)

#### Game 7 (Sunday November 3, 1946): Washington Redskins

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Steelers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 36,995
* Referee:
Scoring Drives:
* Pittsburgh – Dudley 80 interception (Dudley kick)
* PIttsburgh – Lach 5 run (Dudley kick)
* Washington – Baugh 1 run (Poillon kick)

#### Game 8 (Sunday November 10, 1946): Detroit Lions

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Lions | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Briggs Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 13,621
* Referee:
Scoring Drives:
* Detroit – FG Helms 35
* Detroit – DeCorrevont 72 pass from Ryan (DeShane kick)
* Pittsburgh – Dutton 12 run (Dudley kick)
* Detroit – Greene 88 pass from Ryan (DeShane kick)

#### Game 9 (Sunday November 17, 1946): Philadelphia Eagles

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| Steelers | 7 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 38,882
* Referee:
Scoring Drives:
* Philadelphia – Zimmerman 1 run (Zimmerman kick)
* Pittsburgh – Lach 1 run (Condit kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Dudley 14

#### Game 10 (Sunday November 24, 1946): New York Giants

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Giants | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Polo Grounds, New York, New York
Scoring Drives:
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 45,346
* Referee:
Scoring Drives:
* New York – Paschal 4 run (Strong kick)

#### Game 11 (Sunday December 1, 1946): Philadelphia Eagles

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Eagles | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 29,943
* Referee:
Scoring Drives:
* Philadelphia – Pritchard 58 run (Lio kick)
* Philadelphia – FG Lio 15
* Pittsburgh – Lach 7 run (Dudley kick)

## Standings

NFL Eastern Division :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | PF | PA | STK |
| New York Giants | 7 | 3 | 1 | .700 | 5–2–1 | 236 | 162 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | 5–3 | 231 | 220 | W2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | 4–3–1 | 136 | 117 | L2 |
| Washington Redskins | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | 4–3–1 | 171 | 191 | L2 |
| Boston Yanks | 2 | 8 | 1 | .200 | 0–7–1 | 189 | 273 | L1 |
    Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
NFL Western Division :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | PF | PA | STK |
| Chicago Bears | 8 | 2 | 1 | .800 | 6–1–1 | 289 | 193 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 6 | 4 | 1 | .600 | 5–2–1 | 277 | 257 | W2 |
| Chicago Cardinals | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | 5–3 | 260 | 198 | W2 |
| Green Bay Packers | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | 3–5 | 148 | 158 | L1 |
| Detroit Lions | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | 0–8 | 142 | 310 | L4 |
    Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.