The 1989 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 57th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League. They were considered a rebuilding team filled with many young players, especially after the release of longtime center Mike Webster in the offseason. The young team showed its inexperience in the first game of the season, when they lost at home to the archrival Cleveland Browns 51–0. The loss marked the Steelers worst defeat in franchise history. The following week wasn't much better, losing 41–10 to another division rival, the defending AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals.
However, the Steelers clinched the final playoff spot in the last week in the season with a 9–7 record. Chuck Noll, in his 21st season as the team's head coach, was named the NFL's Coach of the Year for the only time in his coaching career.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Steelers would have a memorable come-from-behind overtime victory over the division-rival Houston Oilers 26–23, which saw Gary Anderson kick a game-winning, 50-yard field goal in the extra period. The following week, the Steelers nearly pulled off a major upset against the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium before losing 24–23 on a Melvin Bratton one-yard touchdown run with 2:22 remaining in the game.
Though the Steelers would not make the playoffs again under Chuck Noll (missing in 1990 with an identical 9–7 record and again in 1991 at 7–9 despite a second-place finish that year), the season did set the tone for the team's return to prominence in the 1990s under his successor, Bill Cowher.
Offseason
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 1989 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeOwen BartruffSafetyFloridaLester BrinkleyDefensive endOle MissCammie CollinsLinebackerJackson StateGene CullinaneCenterWashburnCharles FryarCornerbackNebraskaFred HighsmithRunning backMiami (FL)Alvin JohnsonWide receiverCentral Missouri StateBob KovachGuardWest VirginiaJohn O'NeillTackleMiami (FL)Terry O'SheaTight endCalifornia (PA)Thane RitchieTight endWheatonTracy SimienLinebackerTCUJohn StroiaTackleWest VirginiaFine UngaRunning backWeber StateSteve VandegriftNose tackleMissouriEric WilkersonRunning backKent State
Personnel Staff / Coaches
Roster
Offseason The offseason was marked with the team deciding not to renew the contract of longtime center Mike Webster. Webster's release marked the end of the Super Bowl-era players on the team. Although Dwayne Woodruff was still with the Steelers and had won a Super Bowl ring during his rookie year, Webster had been the last member on the team that won all four Super Bowls. Webster would be succeeded at center with a young Dermontti Dawson, who was drafted the year before to be groomed as Webster's replacement, and like Webster would go on to an All-Pro career as one of the best at his position.
Meanwhile, the team drafted UCLA safety Carnell Lake in the second round of the 1989 draft. Lake would be a key member of the team's defense through the 1998 season, although his accomplishments would often be underlooked as opposed to his teammate, Rod Woodson.
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Game Site Kickoff (ET) TV Result Record 1 Sat. Aug. 12 Washington Redskins Three Rivers Stadium 8:00 p.m. ESPN L 21–14 0–1 2 Sat. Aug. 19 at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Municipal Stadium 7:30 p.m. WTAE W 24–21 1–1 3 Sat. Aug. 26 at Philadelphia Eagles Veterans Stadium 7:30 p.m. WTAE L 38–14 1–2 4 Sat. Sep. 2 at New York Giants Giants Stadium 8:00 p.m. WTAE W 13–10 2–2
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Game Site Kickoff (ET) TV Result Record 1 Sun. Sep. 10 Cleveland Browns Three Rivers Stadium 4:00 p.m. NBC L 51–0 0–1 2 Sun. Sep. 17 at Cincinnati Bengals Riverfront Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 41–10 0–2 3 Sun. Sep. 24 Minnesota Vikings Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. CBS W 27–14 1–2 4 Sun. Oct. 1 at Detroit Lions Pontiac Silverdome 1:00 p.m. NBC W 23–3 2–2 5 Sun. Oct. 8 Cincinnati Bengals Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 26–16 2–3 6 Sun. Oct. 15 at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Municipal Stadium 4:00 p.m. NBC W 17–7 3–3 7 Sun. Oct. 22 at Houston Oilers Astrodome 1:00 p.m. NBC L 27–0 3–4 8 Sun. Oct. 29 Kansas City Chiefs Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 23–17 4–4 9 Sun. Nov. 5 at Denver Broncos Mile High Stadium 4:00 p.m. NBC L 34–7 4–5 10 Sun. Nov. 12 Chicago Bears Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. CBS L 20–0 4–6 11 Sun. Nov. 19 San Diego Chargers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 20–17 5–6 12 Sun. Nov. 26 at Miami Dolphins Joe Robbie Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 34–14 6–6 13 Sun. Dec. 3 Houston Oilers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 23–16 6–7 14 Sun. Dec. 10 at New York Jets Giants Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 13–0 7–7 15 Sun. Dec. 17 New England Patriots Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 28–10 8–7 16 Sun. Dec. 24 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 31–22 9–7
Game summaries
Week 1
The Steelers and Chuck Noll faced off against their divisional rival Browns and former defensive coordinator Bud Carson in the season opener.
Week 2 (Sunday September 17, 1989): at Cincinnati Bengals
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: Game attendance: 53,885 Referee: Dick Jorgensen TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Ahmad Rashad (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Cincinnati – FG Gallery 26 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 38 Cincinnati – Brown 27 pass from Esiason (Gallery kick) Cincinnati – FG Gallery 47 Cincinnati – Woods 1 run (Gallery kick) Pittsburgh – Hill 7 pass from Brister (Anderson kick) CIncinnati – Jennings 1 run (Gallery kick) CIncinnati – Brooks 2 run (Gallery kick) Cincinnati – Jennings 43 pass from Esiason (Gallery kick)
Week 3 (Sunday September 24, 1989): vs. Minnesota Vikings
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Cloudy) Game attendance: 50,744 Referee: Dick Hantak TV announcers: (CBS) Steve Zabriskie (play by play), Hank Stram (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – Mularkey 15 pass from Brister (Anderson kick) Minnesota – Wilson 1 run (Garcia kick) Pittsburgh – Worley 8 run (Anderson kick) Minnesota – Thomas 27 fumble return (Garcia kick) Pittsburgh – Hoge 2 run (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 38 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 44
Week 4 (Sunday October 1, 1989): at Detroit Lions
at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: Dome Game attendance: 43,804 Referee: Ben Dreith TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Ahmad Rashad (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Detroit – FG Murray 37 Pittsburgh – Lipps 48 pass from Brister (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20 Pittsburgh – Carter 1 run (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Wallace 2 run (pass failed)
Week 5 (Sunday October 8, 1989): vs. Cincinnati Bengals
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Cloudy) Game attendance: 52,785 Referee: Howard Roe TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Paul Maguire (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – Carter 22 pass from Brister (Anderson kick) Cincinnati – FG Breech 24 Cincinnati – FG Breech 27 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 24 Cincinnati – Martin 7 pass from Esiason (Breech kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 40 Cincinnati – Brooks 13 run (kick failed) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 34 Cincinnati – Brooks 65 run (Breech kick)
Week 6 (Sunday October 15, 1989): at Cleveland Browns
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Game time: 4:00 pm EDT Game weather: Game attendance: 78,840 Referee: Gene Barth TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Paul Maguire (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 49 Pittsburgh – Carter 14 pass from Blackledge (Anderson kick) Cleveland – Metcalf 2 run (Bahr kick) Pittsburgh – Williams 1 run (Anderson kick)
Week 7 (Sunday October 22, 1989): at Houston Oilers
at Astrodome, Houston, Texas
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: Dome Game attendance: 59,091 Referee: Jerry Markbreit TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Joe Namath (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Houston – Highsmith 3 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick) Houston – FG Zendejas 41 Houston – Duncan 51 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick) Houston – Highsmith 5 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick) Houston – FG Zendejas 51
Week 8 (Sunday October 29, 1989): vs. Kansas City Chiefs
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Mostly Cloudy) Game attendance: 54,194 Referee: Tom Dooley TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Paul Maguire (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 41 Pittsburgh – Lipps 16 pass from Brister (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 47 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 29 Kansas City – FG Lowery 50 Kansas City – Mandley 8 pass from DeBerg (Lowery kick) Kansas City – Maas 4 fumble return (Lowery kick) Pittsburgh – Lipps 64 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
Week 9 (Sunday November 5, 1989): at Denver Broncos
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
Game time: 4:00 pm EST Game weather: Game attendance: 74,739 Referee: Red Cashion TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Denver – Humphrey 22 run (Treadwell kick) Denver – FG Treadwell 26 Pittsburgh – Carter 15 pass from Brister (Anderson kick) Denver – FG Treadwell 26 Denver – Johnson 44 pass from Elway (Treadwell kick) Denver – Elway 2 run (Treadwell kick) Denver – Humphrey 12 run (Treadwell kick)
Week 10 (Sunday November 12, 1989): vs. Chicago Bears
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Partly Cloudy) Game attendance: 56,505 Referee: Gordon McCarter TV announcers: (CBS) Jim Nantz (play by play), Pat Haden (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Chicago – N. Anderson 2 run (Butler kick) Chicago – FG Butler 39 Chicago – Muster 20 pass from Harbaugh (Butler kick) Chicago – FG Butler 35
Week 11 (Sunday November 19, 1989): vs. San Diego Chargers
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Cloudy) Game attendance: 44,203 Referee: Bob McElwee TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Paul Maguire (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 49 San Diego – A. Miller 20 pass from McMahon (Bahr kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 28 San Diego – FG Bahr 27 Pittsburgh – Woodson 84 kickoff return (Anderson kick) San Diego – A. Miller 18 pass from McMahon (Bahr kick) Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run (Anderson kick)
Week 12 (Sunday November 26, 1989): at Miami Dolphins
at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: Game attendance: 59,936 Referee: Dick Jorgensen TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
Steelers get first ever win against the Dolphins in Miami. This game was played in a driving rain storm.
Scoring drives:
Miami – Smith 1 run (Stoyanovich kick) Miami – Clayton 66 pass from Marino (Stoyanovich kick) Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Woodruff 21 with lateral after Lake 2 fumble return (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27 Pittsburgh – Hoge 5 run (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42 Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run (Anderson kick)
Week 13 (Sunday December 3, 1989): vs. Houston Oilers
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Light Snow Showers) Game attendance: 40,541 Referee: Ben Dreith TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Donovan (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 18 Pittsburgh – Hoge 4 run (Anderson kick) Houston – Duncan 18 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick) Houston – Hill 27 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37