The 1993 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 61st season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.
The Steelers looked to continue the progress made under second year head coach Bill Cowher. However, the team would take a slight step backwards, finishing 9–7 (three games behind the eventual AFC Central champion Houston Oilers). Despite that, the Steelers clinched a wild card spot, making the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The team would lose to the Kansas City Chiefs 27–24 in overtime in the AFC Wild Card Round of the playoffs, in what is considered one of the best playoff games in NFL history even though the Steelers were on the losing end.
In the second week of the season, the Steelers suffered a shutout loss to the Los Angeles Rams 27–0, in the team's penultimate visit to the Los Angeles area until 2019. The day was highlighted by the emergence of Rams rookie Jerome Bettis running over the Steelers defense. Though no one knew it at the time, it would foreshadow what was to come with Bettis' career—as a member of the Steelers, who would acquire Bettis in a draft day trade with the Rams three years later.
1993 was also the season in which the Steelers began their policy of "blacking out" regular season contract negotiations. Early in the season the Steelers had reached contract extensions with Rod Woodson and Barry Foster and continued negotiations with other players. However, this led to discord in the locker room, and management felt that contract talk was taking the team's focus off of winning. At mid-season the Steelers broke off all contract negotiations and have refused to negotiate contracts during the regular season since.
Offseason Additions SubtractionsQB Mike Tomczak (Browns) QB Bubby Brister (Eagles)LB Kevin Greene (Rams) LB Jerrol Williams (Chargers)OL David Viaene (Packers) LB Hardy Nickerson (Buccaneers)LB Louis Cooper (Chiefs) T Tunch Ilkin (Packers)LB Greg Clark (Seahawks) DE Aaron Jones (Patriots)WR Louis Lipps (Saints) RB Warren Williams (Colts)
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 1993 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeReggie BarnesLinebackerOklahomaRandy CuthbertRunning backDukeBoris GrahamLinebackerWest VirginiaMartin HoustonFullbackAlabamaToby LawrenceGuardKansas StateGary ReidDefensive linemenCincinnatiTim SamecCenterVirginiaRicky SuttonDefensive linemenAuburn
Personnel
Coaches / Staff
Notable additions include Chad Brown, Kevin Greene and Willie Williams
Final roster
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Game site Kickoff (ET) TV Result Record 1 August 1 vs. San Francisco 49ers Estadi Olímpic (Barcelona, Spain) 1:00 p.m. NBC L 21–14 0–1 2 August 7 New York Jets Three Rivers Stadium 6:00 p.m. WPXI W 17–13 1–1 3 August 14 at New York Giants Giants Stadium 8:00 p.m. WPXI W 23–17 2–1 4 August 22 Washington Redskins Three Rivers Stadium 8:00 p.m. TNT L 10–3 2–2 5 August 26 at Minnesota Vikings Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 8:00 p.m. ESPN L 30–13 2–3
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Game site Kickoff (ET) TV Result Record 1 September 5 San Francisco 49ers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. CBS L 24–13 0–1 2 September 12 at Los Angeles Rams Anaheim Stadium 4:00 p.m. NBC L 27–0 0–2 3 September 19 Cincinnati Bengals Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 34–7 1–2 4 September 27 at Atlanta Falcons Georgia Dome 9:00 p.m. ABC W 45–17 2–2 5 October 3 Bye 6 October 10 San Diego Chargers Three Rivers Stadium 4:00 p.m. NBC W 16–3 3–2 7 October 17 New Orleans Saints Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. CBS W 37–14 4–2 8 October 24 at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Municipal Stadium 4:00 p.m. NBC L 28–23 4–3 9 October 31 Bye 10 November 7 at Cincinnati Bengals Riverfront Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 24–16 5–3 11 November 15 Buffalo Bills Three Rivers Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC W 23–0 6–3 12 November 21 at Denver Broncos Mile High Stadium 4:00 p.m. NBC L 37–13 6–4 13 November 28 at Houston Oilers Astrodome 8:00 p.m. ESPN L 23–3 6–5 14 December 5 New England Patriots Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 17–14 7–5 15 December 13 at Miami Dolphins Joe Robbie Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC W 21–20 8–5 16 December 19 Houston Oilers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 26–17 8–6 17 December 26 at Seattle Seahawks Kingdome 4:00 p.m. NBC L 16–6 8–7 18 January 2 Cleveland Browns Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 16–9 9–7
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday September 5, 1993): vs. San Francisco 49ers
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Mostly Sunny) Game attendance: 57,502 Referee: Gordon McCarter TV announcers: (CBS) Dick Stockton (play by play), Dan Fouts (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
San Francisco – FG Cofer 37 San Francisco – Rice 5 pass from Young (Cofer kick) San Francisco – Rice 6 pass from Young (Cofer kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 29 Pittsburgh – Foster 5 run (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 39 San Francisco – B. Jones 5 pass from Young (Cofer kick)
Week 2 (Sunday September 12, 1993): at Los Angeles Rams
at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California
Game time: 4:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Cloudy) Game attendance: 50,588 Referee: Dick Hantak TV announcers: (NBC) Dan Hicks (play by play), Joe Gibbs (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Los Angeles Rams – Drayton 22 pass from Everett (Zendejas kick) Los Angeles Rams – Gary 6 run (Zendejas kick) Los Angeles Rams – FG Zendejas 54 Los Angeles Rams – FG Zendejas 50 Los Angeles Rams – Bettis 29 run (Zendejas kick)
Week 3 (Sunday September 19, 1993): vs. Cincinnati Bengals
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Mostly Sunny) Game attendance: 53,682 Referee: Gerald Austin TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Cris Collinsworth (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
PIttsburgh – Mills 3 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 33 Cincinnati – Pickens 15 pass from Klingler (Pelfrey kick) Pittsburgh – Thigpen 18 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 34 Pittsburgh – Stone 9 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) PIttsburgh – Stone 38 run (Anderson kick)
Week 4 (Monday September 27, 1993): at Atlanta Falcons
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta
Game time: 9:00 pm EDT Game weather: Dome Game attendance: 65,477 Referee: Bob McElwee TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf (color commentators)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – Foster 30 run (Anderson kick) Atlanta – T. Smith 97 kickoff return (N. Johnson kick) Atlanta – Clark 46 fumble return (N. Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 21 Atlanta – FG N. Johnson 49 Pittsburgh – Foster 7 run (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Stone 4 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Thigpen 7 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Foster 1 run (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Davidson 18 fumble return (Anderson kick)
Week 5 (Sunday October 3, 1993): Bye Week
Week 6 (Sunday October 10, 1993): vs. San Diego Chargers
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 4:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Partly Sunny) Game attendance: 55,264 Referee: Gary Lane TV announcers: (NBC) Dan Hicks (play by play), Dan Hampton (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 34 San Diego – FG Carney 33 Pittsburgh – Kirkland 16 fumble return (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 35
Week 7 (Sunday October 17, 1993): vs. New Orleans Saints
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Light Rain) Game attendance: 56,056 Referee: Howard Roe TV announcers: (CBS) Tim Ryan (play by play), Matt Millen (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – Woodson 63 interception return (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Foster 20 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 40 Pittsburgh – Foster 1 run (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 22 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 29 Pittsburgh – Green 26 pass from Tomczak (Anderson kick) New Orleans – Small 3 pass from Buck (Anderson kick) New Orleans – Early 63 pass from Buck (Anderson kick)
Week 8 (Sunday October 24, 1993): at Cleveland Browns
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Game time: 4:00 pm EDT Game weather: Game attendance: 78,118 Referee: Tom White TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Cris Collinsworth (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Cleveland – Jackson 62 pass from Testaverde (Stover kick) Cleveland – Metcalf 91 punt return (Stover kick) Pittsburgh – Foster 4 run (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Foster 1 run (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 30 Cleveland – Wolfey 4 pass from Testaverde (Stover kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 46 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 30 Cleveland – Metcalf 75 punt return (Stover kick)
Week 9 (Sunday October 31, 1993): Bye Week
Week 10 (Sunday November 7, 1993): at Cincinnati Bengals
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: Game attendance: 51,202 Referee: Johnny Grier TV announcers: (NBC) Drew Goodman (play by play), Dan Hampton (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 32 Cincinnati – Williams 97 interception return (kick failed) Cincinnati – Query 7 pass from Schroeder (Pelfrey kick) Pittsburgh – Green 71 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Hoge 9 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Foster 1 run (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 23
Week 11 (Monday November 15, 1993): vs. Buffalo Bills
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 9:00 pm EST Game weather: (Cloudy) Game attendance: 60,265 Referee: Ed Hochuli TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf (color commentators)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – Thompson 9 run (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37 Pittsburgh – Green 1 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 19 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 31
Week 12 (Sunday November 21, 1993): at Denver Broncos
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
Game time: 4:00 pm EST Game weather: Game attendance: 74,840 Referee: Gordon McCarter TV announcers: (NBC) Bob Costas (play by play), Joe Gibbs (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Denver – FG Elam 48 Denver – Delpino 1 run (Elam kick) Denver – Russell fumble recovery in end zone (Elam kick) Denver – FG Elam 27 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37 Denver – Delpino 1 run (Elam kick) Denver – V. Johnson 13 pass from Elway (Elam kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 38 Denver – FG Elam 28 Pittsburgh – Thigpen 39 pass from Tomczak (Anderson kick)
Week 13 (Sunday November 28, 1993): at Houston Oilers
at Astrodome, Houston, Texas
Game time: 8:00 pm EST Game weather: Dome Game attendance: 61,238 Referee: Gerald Austin TV announcers: (ESPN) Mike Patrick (play by play), Joe Theismann (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Houston – FG Del Greco 43 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42 Houston – Brown 3 run (Del Greco kick) Houston – Jeffires 66 pass from Moon (Del Greco kick) Houston – FG Del Greco 21 Houston – FG Del Greco 28
Week 14 (Sunday December 5, 1993): vs. New England Patriots
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Cloudy) Game attendance: 51,358 Referee: Ron Blum TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Paul Maguire (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
New England – Coates 3 pass from Bledsoe (Sisson kick) New England – Russell 3 run (Sisson kick) Pittsburgh – Hoge 5 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 35 Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
Week 15 (Monday December 13, 1993): at Miami Dolphins
at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida
Game time: 9:00 pm EST Game weather: (Partly cloudy) Game attendance: 70,232 Referee: Jerry Markbreit