# 1991 Pittsburgh Steelers season

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

1991 Pittsburgh Steelers draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 17 | Huey Richardson | Defensive end | Florida |
| 2 | 46 | Jeff Graham | Wide receiver | Ohio State |
| 3 | 73 | Ernie Mills | Wide receiver | Florida |
| 4 | 88 | Sammy Walker | Cornerback | Texas Tech |
| 4 | 103 | Adrian Cooper | Tight end | Oklahoma |
| 6 | 158 | Leroy Thompson | Running back | Penn State |
| 7 | 185 | Andre Jones | Linebacker | Notre Dame |
| 8 | 212 | Dean Dingman | Guard | Michigan |
| 9 | 238 | Bruce McGonnigal | Tight end | Virginia |
| 10 | 269 | Ariel Solomon | Tackle | Colorado |
| 11 | 296 | Efrum Thomas | Defensive back | Alabama |
| 12 | 323 | Jeff Brady | Linebacker | Kentucky |
| Made roster ||||||

## Staff

Notable additions include Adrian Cooper, Neil O'Donnell and Ernie Mills.

## Preseason
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue |
| 1 | August 4 | Washington Redskins | W 16–7 | 1–0 | Three Rivers Stadium |
| 2 | August 10 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 24–34 | 1–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome |
| 3 | August 17 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 20–21 | 1–2 | Veterans Stadium |
| 4 | August 23 | 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 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| 6 | October 6 | at Indianapolis Colts | W 21–3 | 3–2 | Hoosier Dome |
| 7 | October 14 | 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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chargers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 20 |
| Steelers | 3 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 26 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 4:00 PM EDT
* Game weather: 80 °F (27 °C) (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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 10 | 17 | 7 | 34 |
| Bills | 10 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 52 |
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
* Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
* Game weather: 84 °F (29 °C) (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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Patriots | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Steelers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 20 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
* Game weather: 86 °F (30 °C) (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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Eagles | 7 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 23 |
at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
* Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C) (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 6 (Sunday October 6, 1991): at Indianapolis Colts

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
| Colts | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Giants | 7 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 23 |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 20 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 9:00 PM EDT
* Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C) (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

#### Week 8 (Sunday October 20, 1991): vs. Seattle Seahawks

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Seahawks | 3 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
* Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C) (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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Browns | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 3 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| Broncos | 0 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
* Game time: 8:00 PM EST
* Game weather: 16 °F (−9 °C), wind 8 mph (13 km/h) 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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 33 |
| Bengals | 10 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 27 |
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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins | 7 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 41 |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C) (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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Oilers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Steelers | 6 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 26 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather: 34 °F (1 °C) (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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Cowboys | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Oilers | 7 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bengals | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| Steelers | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Date: December 15
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Mostly sunny, 31 °F (−1 °C)
* Game attendance: 35,420
* Referee: Gordon McCarter
* TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
PIT – Adrian Cooper 47-yard pass from Bubby Brister (Gary Anderson kick), 12:59. Steelers 7–0.
PIT – Gary Anderson 47-yard field goal, 3:48. Steelers 10–0.
Second quarter
CIN – David Fulcher 27-yard interception return (Jim Breech kick), 14:00. Steelers 10–7.
Third quarter
CIN – Jim Breech 39-yard field goal, 5:10. Tie 10–10.
Fourth quarter
PIT – Keith Cash 19-yard pass from Bubby Brister (Gary Anderson kick), 14:55. Steelers 17–10.
Top passers
CIN – Boomer Esiason – 14/26, 125 yards, 2 INT
PIT – Bubby Brister – 15/28, 184 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
CIN – Harold Green – 18 rushes, 62 yards
PIT – Merril Hoge – 16 rushes, 79 yards
Top receivers
CIN – Eddie Brown – 5 receptions, 50 yards
PIT – Keith Cash – 4 receptions, 55 yards, TD :

#### Week 17 vs Browns

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Browns | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Steelers | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Date: December 22
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 39 °F (4 °C)
* Game attendance: 47,070
* Referee: Pat Haggerty
* TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy
* Box Score, Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
PIT – Gary Anderson 34-yard field goal, 0:59. Steelers 3–0.
Second quarter
CLE – Matt Stover 19-yard field goal, 6:18. Tie 3–3.
Third quarter
PIT – Dwight Stone 65-yard pass from Bubby Brister (Gary Anderson kick), 0:16. Steelers 10–3.
Fourth quarter
PIT – Richard Shelton 57-yard interception return (Gary Anderson kick), 9:28. Steelers 17–3.
CLE – Michael Jackson 27-yard pass from Bernie Kosar (Matt Stover kick), 6:56. Steelers 17–10.
Top passers
CLE – Bernie Kosar – 28/49, 335 yards, TD, 3 INT
PIT – Bubby Brister – 7/26, 113 yards, TD
Top rushers
CLE – Joe Morris – 12 rushes, 26 yards
PIT – Tim Worley – 16 rushes, 84 yards
Top receivers
CLE – Webster Slaughter – 11 receptions, 138 yards
PIT – Dwight Stone – 3 receptions, 76 yards, TD :
Chuck Noll's final game as head coach

### Standings

AFC Central :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| $^{(3)}$ Houston Oilers | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 5–1 | 10–2 | 386 | 251 | L1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–2 | 7–5 | 292 | 344 | W2 |
| Cleveland Browns | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2–4 | 6–6 | 293 | 298 | L3 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 1–5 | 2–10 | 263 | 435 | W1 |