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 (NFL).
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, by virtue of the Indianapolis Colts' upset of the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Steelers won the conference championship game, but lost to the 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, and also their first Super Bowl loss overall. 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. The Steelers would not return to the Super Bowl until ten years later.
As of 2025, this is the last time the Steelers defeated the Bears in Chicago.
Offseason Additions SubtractionsP Rohn Stark (Colts) WR Dwight Stone (Panthers)CB Alvoid Mays (Redskins) RB Barry Foster (Panthers)CB Chris Oldham (Cardinals) P Mark Royals (Lions)G Tom Newberry (Rams) DE Gerald Williams (Panthers)K Norm Johnson (Falcons) T Duval Love (Cardinals)
1995 expansion draft
+ Pittsburgh Steelers selected during the expansion draft Round Selection Name Position Expansion team 6 12 Tim McKyer Cornerback Carolina Panthers 15 30 Fred Foggie Defensive back Carolina Panthers 19 37 Charles Davenport Wide receiver Jacksonville Jaguars
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 1995 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeGreg BlackDefensive tackleNorth CarolinaLaMonte ColemanFullbackSlippery RockVincent DinkinsCenterSouth CarolinaJoey EllisCornerbackTexasDoug GrantWide receiverSavannah StateTirrell GreeneGuardMiami (FL)Germaine HoldenDefensive endNotre DameTim PatilloSafetyOhio StateKiefer PhillipsLinebackerGrambling StateTy StewartKickerIowa State
Personnel
Coaches / Staff
Final roster
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Game site Kickoff (ET) TV Result Record 1 August 4 at Buffalo Bills Rich Stadium 7:30 p.m. WPXI W 31–10 1–0 2 August 13 Green Bay Packers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 36–13 1–1 3 August 19 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Stadium 7:30 p.m. WPXI L 20–7 1–2 4 August 24 Philadelphia Eagles Three Rivers Stadium 8:00 p.m. ESPN L 16–6 1–3
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Game site Kickoff (ET) TV Result Record 1 September 3 Detroit Lions Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. FOX W 23–20 1–0 2 September 10 at Houston Oilers Astrodome 1:00 p.m. NBC W 34–17 2–0 3 September 18 at Miami Dolphins Joe Robbie Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC L 23–10 2–1 4 September 24 Minnesota Vikings Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. FOX L 44–24 2–2 5 October 1 San Diego Chargers Three Rivers Stadium 4:00 p.m. NBC W 31–16 3–2 6 October 8 at Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville Municipal Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 20–16 3–3 7 October 15 Bye 8 October 19 Cincinnati Bengals Three Rivers Stadium 8:00 p.m. TNT L 27–9 3–4 9 October 29 Jacksonville Jaguars Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 24–7 4–4 10 November 5 at Chicago Bears Soldier Field 4:00 p.m. NBC W 37–34 (OT) 5–4 11 November 13 Cleveland Browns Three Rivers Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC W 20–3 6–4 12 November 19 at Cincinnati Bengals Riverfront Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 49–31 7–4 13 November 26 at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Municipal Stadium 4:00 p.m. NBC W 20–17 8–4 14 December 3 Houston Oilers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 21–7 9–4 15 December 10 at Oakland Raiders Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 4:00 p.m. NBC W 29–10 10–4 16 December 16 New England Patriots Three Rivers Stadium 12:30 p.m. NBC W 41–27 11–4 17 December 24 at Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field 1:00 p.m. NBC L 24–19 11–5
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday September 3, 1995): vs. Detroit Lions
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Sunny) Game attendance: 58,002 Referee: Tom White TV announcers: (FOX) Kevin Harlan (play by play), Jerry Glanville (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 39 Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 47 Detroit – Perriman 5 pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick) Detroit – FG Hanson 43 Pittsburgh – Morris 5 run (Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run (Johnson kick) Detroit – Moore 27 pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick) Detroit – FG Hanson 36 Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 31
Week 2 (Sunday September 10, 1995): at Houston Oilers
at Astrodome, Houston, Texas
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: Dome Game attendance: 44,122 Referee: Bob McElwee TV announcers: (NBC) Dan Hicks (play by play), Tunch Ilkin (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – Hastings 72 punt return (Johnson kick) Houston – FG Del Greco 43 Pittsburgh – Bruener 15 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 43 Pittsburgh – 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 40
Week 3 (Monday September 18, 1995): at Miami Dolphins
at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida
Game time: 9:00 pm EDT Game weather: Game attendance: 72,874 Referee: Larry Nemmers TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf (color commentators), Lynn Swann (sideline reporter)
Scoring drives:
Miami – FG Stoyanovich 37 Miami – Parmalee 2 run (Stoyanovich kick) Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 40 Miami – Kirby 28 pass from Marino (Stoyanovich kick) Miami – FG Stoyanovich 39 Miami – FG Stoyanovich 21 Pittsburgh – Mills 27 pass form Miller (Johnson kick)
Week 4 (Sunday September 24, 1995): vs. Minnesota Vikings
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Partly Cloudy) Game attendance: 57,853 Referee: Gordon McCarter TV announcers: (FOX) Kenny Albert (play by play), Anthony Muñoz (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 32 Minnesota – R. Smith 58 run (Reveiz kick) Minnesota – FG Reveiz 33 Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 35 Minnesota – 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 40 Pittsburgh – 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)
Week 5 (Sunday October 1, 1995): vs. San Diego Chargers
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 4:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Sunny) Game attendance: 57,012 Referee: Gerald Austin TV 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 25 San 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 28
Week 6 (Sunday October 8, 1995): at Jacksonville Jaguars
at Alltell Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: Game attendance: 72,042 Referee: Mike Carey TV 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 53 Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 41 Jacksonville – FG Hollis 32 Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 19 Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 22
Week 7 (Sunday October 15, 1995): Bye Week
Week 8 (Thursday October 19, 1995): vs. Cincinnati Bengals
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 8:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Clear) Game attendance: 56,684 Referee: Gary Lane TV 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 25 Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 31 Cincinnati – To. McGee 12 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick) Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 28 Cincinnati – Pickens 41 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick) Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 38 Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 23 Pittsburgh – O'Donnell To Thigpen 60 yard touchdown
Week 9 (Sunday October 29, 1995): vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Partly Cloudy) Game attendance: 54,516 Referee: Tom White TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commentator)
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 36
Week 10 (Sunday November 5, 1995): at Chicago Bears
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Game time: 4:00 pm EST Game weather: Game attendance: 61,838 Referee: Howard Roe TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators)
Scoring drives:
Chicago – FG Butler 40 Pittsburgh – Pegram 1 run (Johnson kick) Chicago – Conway 6 pass from Kramer (Butler kick) Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 40 Pittsburgh – 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 46 Chicago – FG Butler 27 Pittsburgh – Pegram 6 run (Johnson kick) Chicago – Minter 2 interception return (Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – Mills 11 pass form O'Donnell (Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 24
With the win, the Steelers recorded their first-ever road victory in Chicago, ending a 10-game road losing streak to the Bears. As of 2025, this remains their only win in Chicago.
Week 11 (Monday November 13, 1995): vs. Cleveland Browns
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 9:00 pm EST Game weather: (Fog) Game attendance: 58,675 Referee: Ron Blum TV 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 29 Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 38 Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 34 Pittsburgh – Thigpen 9 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
Week 12 (Sunday November 19, 1995): at Cincinnati Bengals
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: Game attendance: 54,636 Referee: Bob McElwee TV 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 50 Cincinnati – 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 27 Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 26 Cincinnati – 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: 4:00 pm EST