The 1995 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 63rd season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.
This season saw the Steelers return to the Super Bowl for the first time in sixteen years (Super Bowl XIV). The team's 11–5 finish was good enough for the AFC Central championship and the second seed in the conference.
For the second consecutive season Pittsburgh hosted the AFC Championship Game at home by virtue of the Indianapolis Colts' that upsetted of the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Steelers won the game, but lost to the 1995 Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl in a matchup of teams that were looking to join the San Francisco 49ers as the only other team (at the time) to win five Super Bowls. It was the first time in three Super Bowl meetings that the Steelers had lost to the Cowboys. Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher became (at the time) the youngest head coach to lead his team to the Super Bowl.
After the Super Bowl loss, quarterback Neil O'Donnell signed as a free agent with the New York Jets.
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather: 78°F (Sunny)Game attendance: 58,002Referee: Tom WhiteTV announcers: (FOX) Kevin Harlan (play by play), Jerry Glanville (color commentator)Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 39Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 47Detroit – Perriman 5 pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick)Detroit – FG Hanson 43Pittsburgh – Morris 5 run (Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run (Johnson kick)Detroit – Moore 27 pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick)Detroit – FG Hanson 36Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 31at Astrodome, Houston, Texas
Game time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather: DomeGame attendance: 44,122Referee: Bob McElweeTV announcers: (NBC) Dan Hicks (play by play), Tunch Ilkin (color commentator)Scoring Drives:
PIttsburgh – Hastings 72 punt return (Johnson kick)Houston – FG Del Greco 43PIttsburgh – Bruener 15 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 43Pittsburgh – McAfee 22 run (Johnson kick)Houston – Chandler 1 run (Del Greco kick)Pittsburgh – Lake 32 interception return (Johnson kick)Houston – Thomas 6 run (Del Greco kick)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 40at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida
Game time: 9:00 pm EDTGame weather:Game attendance: 72,874Referee: Larry NemmersTV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf (color commentators), Lynn Swann (sideline reporter)Scoring Drives:
Miami – FG Stoyanovich 37Miami – Parmalee 2 run (Stoyanovich kick)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 40Miami – Kirby 28 pass from Marino (Stoyanovich kick)Miami – FG Stoyanovich 39Miami – FG Stoyanovich 21Pittsburgh – Mills 27 pass form Miller (Johnson kick)at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather: 63°F (Partly Cloudy)Game attendance: 57,853Referee: Gordon McCarterTV announcers: (FOX) Kenny Albert (play by play), Anthony Muñoz (color commentator)Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 32Minnesota – R. Smith 58 run (Reveiz kick)Minnesota – FG Reveiz 33Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 35Minnesota – Fuller 12 fumble return (Reveiz kick)Minnesota – Carter 18 pass from Moon (Reveiz kick)Minnesota – Thomas 45 lateral from Del Rio (Reveiz kick)Minnesota – FG Reveiz 40Pittsburgh – Pegram 5 run (run failed)Pittsburgh – Thigpen 42 pass from Miller (pass failed)Minnesota – Carter 22 pass from Moon (Reveiz kick)Pittsburgh – Pegram 1 run (run failed)at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 4:00 pm EDTGame weather: 77°F (Sunny)Game attendance: 57,012Referee: Gerald AustinTV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators)Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run (Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – W. Williams 63 interception return (Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Mays 32 interception return (Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 25San Diego – Means 13 run (pass failed)Pittsburgh – Morris 2 run (Johnson kick)San Diego – Martin 19 pass from Humphries (Carney kick)San Diego – FG Carney 28at Alltell Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
Game time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather:Game attendance: 72,042Referee: Mike CareyTV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commentator)Scoring Drives:
Jacksonville – Tillman 10 pass from Brunell (Hollis kick)Jacksonville – Stewart 6 run (Hollis kick)Pittsburgh – Avery 18 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)Jacksonville – FG Hollis 53Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 41Jacksonville – FG Hollis 32Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 19Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 22at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 8:00 pm EDTGame weather: 63°F (Clear)Game attendance: 56,684Referee: Gary LaneTV announcers: (TNT) Verne Lundquist (play by play), Pat Haden (color commentator), Craig Sager (sideline reporter)Scoring Drives:
Cincinnati – Scott 47 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 25Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 31Cincinnati – To. McGee 12 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 28Cincinnati – Pickens 41 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 38Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 23Pittsburgh – O'Donnell To Thigpen 60 yard touchdownat Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: 48°F (Partly Cloudy)Game attendance: 54,516Referee: Tom WhiteTV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commenator)Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – Pegram 6 run (Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Thigpen 15 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Williams 6 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)Jacksonville – Mitchell 16 pass from Brunell (Hollis kick)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 36at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Game time: 4:00 pm ESTGame weather:Game attendance: 61,838Referee: Howard RoeTV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators)Scoring Drives:
Chicago – FG Butler 40Pittsburgh – Pegram 1 run (Johnson kick)Chicago – Conway 6 pass from Kramer (Butler kick)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 40Pittsburgh – Pegram 7 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)Chicago – Carter 12 pass from Kramer (Butler kick)Chicago – Wetnight 14 pass from Kramer (Butler kick)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 46Chicago – FG Butler 27Pittsburgh – Pegram 6 run (Johnson kick)Chicago – Minter 2 interception return (Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Mills 11 pass form O'Donnell (Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 24Week 11 (Monday November 13, 1995): vs. Cleveland Browns
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 9:00 pm ESTGame weather: 34°F (Fog)Game attendance: 58,675Referee: Ron BlumTV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf (color commentators), Lynn Swann (sideline reporter)Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – Mills 2 pass from Stewart (Johnson kick)Cleveland – FG Stover 29Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 38Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 34Pittsburgh – Thigpen 9 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Game time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather:Game attendance: 54,636Referee: Bob McElweeTV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators)Scoring Drives:
Cincinnati – Scott 4 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 50Cincinnati – Blake 1 run (Pelfrey kick)Cincinnati – Pickens 1 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)Pittsburgh – Mills 42 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 27Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 26Cincinnati – McGee 20 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run (Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Hastings 15 pass from O'Donnell (Pegram run)Pittsburgh – Stewart 71 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Morris 3 run (Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Morris 8 run (Johnson kick)Week 13 (Sunday November 26, 1995): at Cleveland Browns
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Game time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather:Game attendance: 67,269Referee: Dick HantakTV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators)Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 33Pittsburgh – Bruener 12 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)Cleveland – FG Stover 44Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run (Johnson kick)Cleveland – Jackson 11 pass from Testaverde (Stover kick)Cleveland – Testaverde 1 run (Stover kick)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 27at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: 52°F (Light Rain)Game attendance: 56,013Referee: Red CashionTV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Cris Collinsworth (color commentator)Scoring Drives:
PIttsburgh – Thigpen 33 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)Houston – Sanders 76 pass from Chandler (Del Greco kick)Pittsburgh – Bruener 7 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Morris 30 run (Johnson kick)Week 15 (Sunday December 10, 1995): at Oakland Raiders
at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
Game time: 4:00 pm ESTGame weather:Game attendance: 53,516Referee: Larry NemmersTV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators)Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – Mills 37 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 41Oakland – Bruce 1 interception return (Jaeger kick)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 35Pittsburgh – Mills 14 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)Oakland – FG Jaeger 39Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 32Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 20Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 22Week 16 (Saturday December 16, 1995): vs. New England Patriots
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 12:30 pm ESTGame weather: 38°F (Sunny)Game attendance: 57,158Referee: Bernie KukarTV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)Scoring Drives:
New England – FG Bahr 23Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 32New England – FG Bahr 22Pittsburgh – Thigpen 14 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Buckner 46 fumble return (Johnson kick)New England – Coates 6 pass from Bledsoe (run failed)Pittsburgh – Stewart 22 run (Johnson kick)New England – Coates 6 pass from Bledsoe (run failed)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 32New England – Martin 22 pass from Bledsoe (Meggett pass from Bledsoe)Pittsburgh – Mills 62 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Oldham 23 fumble return (Johnson kick)at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Game time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather:Game attendance: 60,649Referee: Jerry MarkbreitTV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Randy Cross (color commentator)Scoring Drives:
Green Bay – Bennett 9 run (Jacke kick)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 33Green Bay – Brooks 19 pass from Favre (Jacke kick)Pittsburgh – Mills 8 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)Green Bay – Chmura 1 pass from Favre (Jacke kick)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 25Green Bay – FG Jacke 47Pittsburgh – Lester 2 run (pass failed)at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 12:30 pm ESTGame weather: 18°F (Cloudy)Game attendance: 59,072Referee: Larry NemmersTV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Cris Collinsworth (color commentator), Jim Gray (sideline reporter)Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – Williams 1 run (Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Mills 10 pass form O'Donnell (Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 45Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 38Buffalo – Thomas 1 run (Christie kick)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 34Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 39Buffalo – Cline 2 pass from Van Pelt (Christie kick)Buffalo – Thomas 9 pass from Kelly (Christie kick)Pittsburgh – Morris 13 run (Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Morris 2 run (Johnson kick)at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 12:30 pm ESTGame weather: 44°F (Mostly Cloudy)Game attendance: 61,062Referee: Bernie KukarTV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators), Jim Gray & Will McDonough (sideline reporters)Scoring Drives:
Indianapolis – FG Blanchard 34Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 31Indianapolis – FG Blanchard 36Pittsburgh – Stewart 5 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)Indianapolis – FG Blanchard 37Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 36Indianapolis – Turner 47 pass from Harbaugh (Blanchard kick)Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run (Johnson kick)at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Game time: 6:20 pm ESTGame weather: 68°F (Sunny)Game attendance: 76,347Referee: Red CashionTV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators), Jim Gray & Will McDonough (sideline reporters)Scoring Drives:
Dallas – FG Boniol 42Dallas – Novacek 3 pass from Aikman (Boniol kick)Dallas – FG Boniol 35Pittsburgh – Thigpen 6 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)Dallas – E. Smith 1 run (Boniol kick)Pittsburgh – FG N. JohnsonPittsburgh – Morris 1 run (Johnson kick)Dallas – E. Smith 4 run (Boniol kick)See: 1996 Pro Bowl
No. 37 Carnell Lake-Cornerback/SafetyNo. 63 Dermontti Dawson-CenterNo. 82 Yancey Thigpen-Wide ReceiverNo. 91 Kevin Greene-Outside LinebackerNo. 95 Greg Lloyd-Outside Linebacker