The 1997 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 65th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.
This season was considered a transitional year due to many key free agent losses in the offseason, as well as the first season of Kordell Stewart starting at quarterback.
The Steelers finished with an 11–5 record, their fourth consecutive AFC Central top seed, and their sixth straight playoff appearance. In doing so, Steelers head coach Bill Cowher tied Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown with most consecutive playoff appearances to start a head coaching career in the NFL—a record Cowher still co-owns with Brown, as the Steelers missed the playoffs the following year.
The Steelers had 572 rushing attempts in 1997, the most in the 1990s. Their 2,479 total rushing yards were the third-most of the decade by any team.
The Steelers would host the AFC Championship Game for the third time in four years; however, they would ultimately lose to the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.
Notable additions include Paul Wiggins and Mike Vrabel.
The Steelers saw many key free-agents leave the team, the biggest being cornerback Rod Woodson, whose ten-year tenure with the team ended due to a dispute over money with the Rooney family. Woodson would sign with the San Francisco 49ers as a result, though the Steelers would see him again in the following four seasons afterward as a member of the rival Baltimore Ravens. Other free-agent losses included Chad Brown, Ernie Mills, Andre Hastings, Deon Figures, and Brentson Buckner, among others. The team did manage to keep its other prized free-agent besides Woodson, locking up Jerome Bettis (who they had acquired in a trade with the St. Louis Rams the year before) with a four-year deal.
The team also had a transition at quarterback. After pushing Bill Cowher play exclusively at quarterback, Kordell Stewart was handed the starting job and dropping his "Slash" role on the team. Stewart would have success with the team this season, but would be inconsistent afterwards.
The team also made some minor changes to the uniforms this season, the first changes since gold pants were adopted as part of the white jerseys in 1972. The jersey numbers, previously having the old-style block numbering, were switched to the rounder style (Futura Condensed) as seen on the helmets. In addition, the Steelers logo was added to the left shoulder. The uniforms have remained the same since these changes as of 2007.
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather: 74 °F (Partly Sunny)Game attendance: 60,396Referee: Jerry MarkbreitTV announcers: (FOX) Pat Summerall (play by play), John Madden (color commentator), Pam Oliver (sideline reporter)Scoring Drives:
Dallas – Miller 12 pass from Aikman (Cunningham kick)Dallas – Irvin 42 pass from Aikman (Cunningham kick)Dallas – FG Cunningham 52Dallas – Irvin 15 pass from Aikman (Cunningham kick)Dallas – FG Cunningham 24Dallas – Johnston 13 pass from Aikman (Cunningham kick)Dallas – FG Cunningham 28Pittsburgh – Bruener 4 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather: 74 °F (Partly Sunny)Game attendance: 58,059Referee: Ron BlumTV announcers: (FOX) Dick Stockton (play by play), Matt Millen (color commentator), Pam Oliver (sideline reporter)Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run (N. Johnson kick)Washington – FG Blanton 37Washington – Mitchell 97 kickoff return (Blanton kick)Washington – FG Blanton 28Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run (N. Johnson kick)at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
Game time: 9:00 pm EDTGame weather:Game attendance: 73,016Referee: Gerry AustinTV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf (color commentators), Lynn Swann (sideline reporter)Scoring Drives:
Jacksonville – Means 1 run (Hollis kick)Pittsburgh – Stewart 6 run (N. Johnson kick)Jacksonville – Smith 11 pass from Brunell (Hollis kick)Jacksonville – FG Hollis 20Pittsburgh – Thigpen 4 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)Jacksonville – FG Hollis 45Pittsburgh – Bruener 1 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)Jacksonville – FG Hollis 27Jacksonville – Hudson 58 blocked field goal return (Hollis kick)at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather: 67 °F (Cloudy)Game attendance: 57,507Referee: Bernie KukarTV announcers: (NBC) Jim Donovan (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commentator)Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – Stewart 7 run (N. Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 48Pittsburgh – Gildon 12 fumble return (N. Johnson kick)Tennessee – FG Del Greco 37Pittsburgh – Bruener 18 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Stewart 2 run (N. Johnson kick)Tennessee – FG Del Greco 47Tennessee – FG Del Greco 26Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 25Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 44Tennessee – Wycheck 10 pass from McNair (Wycheck pass from McNair)Tennessee – Davis 11 pass from McNair (Del Greco kick)at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Game time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather:Game attendance: 64,421Referee: Bill CarolloTV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Jim Kelly (color commentator)Scoring Drives:
Baltimore – Green 22 pass from Testaverde (Stover kick)Baltimore – Morris 1 run (Stover kick)Baltimore – Kinchen 24 pass from Testaverde (Stover kick)Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run (N. Johnson kick)Baltimore – FG Stover 34Pittsburgh – Blackwell 97 kickoff return (N. Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 8 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Bruener 4 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 17 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)Baltimore – Alexander 10 pass from Testaverde (Byner pass from Testaverde)Pittsburgh – Stewart 74 run (N. Johnson kick)Baltimore – Safety, Miller ran out of end zoneat Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 8:00 pm EDTGame weather: 66 °F (Clear)Game attendance: 57,925Referee: Tom WhiteTV announcers: (TNT) Verne Lundquist (play by play), Pat Haden & Mark May (color commentators), Craig Sager (sideline reporter)Scoring Drives:
Indianapolis – Harrison 18 pass from Harbaugh (Blanchard kick)Indianapolis – FG Blanchard 37Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 23Pittsburgh – Bettis 7 run (N. Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Lake 38 fumble return (N. Johnson kick)Indianapolis – FG Blanchard 27Pittsburgh – Hawkins 28 pass from Tomczak (N. Johnson kick)Indianapolis – FG Blanchard 35Indianapolis – Stablein 5 pass from Harbaugh (pass failed)at Cinergy Field, Cincinnati
Game time: 4:00 pm EDTGame weather:Game attendance: 60,020Referee: Phil LuckettTV announcers: (NBC) Dan Hicks (play by play), Bob Trumpy & Jim Kelly (color commentators)Scoring Drives:
Cincinnati – Carter 6 run (Pelfrey kick)Pittsburgh – Jones 11 pass from Stewart (pass failed)PIttsburgh – Bettis 1 run (N. Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Thigpen 11 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 33Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 43Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 32at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 4:00 pm ESTGame weather: 48 °F (Light Rain)Game attendance: 57,011Referee: Gary LaneTV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators)Scoring Drives:
Jacksonville – Jackson 8 pass from Brunell (Hollis kick)Jacksonville – FG Hollis 20Pittsburgh – Hawkins 28 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run (N. Johnson kick)Jacksonville – Mitchell 3 pass from Brunell (Hollis kick)Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 19Pittsburgh – Bettis 17 pass from Stewartat Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Game time: 9:00 pm ESTGame weather:Game attendance: 78,301Referee: Ed HochuliTV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf (color commentators), Lynn Swann (sideline reporter)Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – Hawkins 44 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 27Kansas City – FG Stoyanovich 35Kansas City – FG Stoyanovich 44Kansas City – Hughes 14 pass from Allen (Stoyanovich kick)at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 8:00 pm ESTGame weather: 44 °F (Cloudy)Game attendance: 56,669Referee: Gary LaneTV announcers: (ESPN) Mike Patrick (play by play), Joe Theismann (color commentator), Ron Jaworski (sideline reporter)Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run (N. Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 52Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run (N. Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 22Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 39Pittsburgh – Thigpen 52 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Jones 1 run (N. Johnson kick)at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: 30 °F (Light Snow)Game attendance: 55,226Referee: Johnny GrierTV announcers: (NBC) Dan Hicks (play by play), Jim Kelly (color commentator)Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 34Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 25Pittsburgh – Thigpen 20 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 25Pittsburgh – Bruener 5 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia
Game time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather:Game attendance: 67,166Referee: Jerry MarkbreitTV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Jim Mora (color commentator)Scoring Drives:
Philadelphia – Dunn 31 pass from Hoying (Boniol kick)Philadelphia – Fryar 8 pass from Hoying (Boniol kick)Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 46Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 40Philadelphia – FG Boniol 23Philadelphia – FG Boniol 35Pittsburgh – Bettis 19 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)Philadelphia – FG Boniol 25Pittsburgh – Blackwell 30 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Game time: 4:00 pm ESTGame weather:Game attendance: 66,341Referee: Bob McElweeTV announcers: (NBC) Dan Hicks (play by play), Jim Kelly (color commentator)Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – Bettis 2 run (N. Johnson kick)Arizona – FG Nedney 32Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 40Arizona – Sanders 3 pass from Plummer (Nedney kick)Pittsburgh – Bettis 7 run (N. Johnson kick)Arizona – Gedney 11 pass from Plummer (Nedney kick)Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 39Arizona – FG Nedney 19Pittsburgh – Bettis 10 runat Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: 31 °F (Flurries)Game attendance: 59,739Referee: Walt ColemanTV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators), Jim Gray (sideline reporter)Scoring Drives:
Denver – R. Smith 37 pass from Elway (Elam kick)Pittsburgh – Thigpen 33 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)Denver – Davis 3 run (Elam kick)Denver – R. Smith 25 pass from Elway (Elam kick)Pittsburgh – Thigpen 69 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Thigpen 21 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)Denver – FG Elam 35Pittsburgh – Stewart 4 run (N. Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Stewart 9 run (N. Johnson kick)Week 16 (Saturday December 13, 1997): at New England Patriots
at Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
Game time: 4:00 pm ESTGame weather:Game attendance: 60,013Referee: Mike CareyTV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators), Jim Gray (sideline reporter)Scoring Drives:
New England – Coates 18 pass from Bledsoe (Vinatieri kick)New England – Gash 1 pass from Bledsoe (Vinatieri kick)Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run (N. Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 36Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 34New England – Meggett 49 pass from Bledsoe (Vinatieri kick)Pittsburgh – Bruener 1 pass from Stewart (Thigpen pass from Stewart)Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 31at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee
Game time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather:Game attendance: 50,677Referee: Phil LuckettTV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)Scoring Drives:
Tennessee – FG Del Greco 34Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 23Tennessee – Thomas 25 run (Del Greco kick)Tennessee – FG Del Greco 29Tennessee – FG Del Greco 26Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 36Both of the Steelers post-season matchups were rematches from the regular season. The Steelers had a first-round bye, then faced the AFC East champion (and defending AFC champion) New England Patriots at home. The game, which was a homecoming for young Patriots players & Pittsburgh area natives Ty Law and Curtis Martin (Martin was in fact playing in his last game with New England before signing with the New York Jets that offseason), was also a rematch of the previous year's AFC Divisional matchup, which took place in Foxborough.
After defeating the Pats, the Steelers would lose to the eventual Super Bowl XXXII champion Denver Broncos 24–21 in Elway's last trip to Pittsburgh.
AFC Divisional Playoff (Saturday January 3, 1998): vs. New England Patriots
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 12:30 pm ESTGame weather: 52 °F (Light Rain)Game attendance: 61,228Referee: Walt ColemanTV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Randy Cross (color commentator), James Lofton (sideline reporter)Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – Stewart 40 run (N. Johnson kick)New England – FG Vinatieri 31New England – FG Vinatieri 46at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 12:30 pm ESTGame weather: 34 °F (Mostly Sunny)Game attendance: 61,382Referee: Ron BlumTV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators), Jim Gray & John Dockery (sideline reporters)Scoring Drives:
Denver – Davis 8 run (Elam kick)Pittsburgh – Stewart 33 run (N. Johnson kick)Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run (N. Johnson kick)Denver – FG Elam 43Denver – Griffith 16 pass from Elway (Elam kick)Denver – McCaffrey 1 pass from Elway (Elam kick)Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 15 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)See: 1998 Pro Bowl
No. 36 Jerome Bettis-Running backNo. 37 Carnell Lake-SafetyNo. 63 Dermontti Dawson-CenterNo. 82 Yancey Thigpen-Wide receiverNo. 93 Joel Steed-Nose tackleNo. 99 Levon Kirkland-Inside linebackerYancy Thigpen (Second-Team)Joel Steed (Pro Football Weekly First-Team All-AFC)Levon Kirkland (First-Team)Dermontti Dawson (First-Team)Carnell Lake (First-Team)Jerome Bettis (Second-Team)