The 1996 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 64th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.
This was Bill Cowher's fifth season as head coach of the Steelers, which resulted in yet another trip to the playoffs for the team, as Pittsburgh won the AFC Central championship for the fourth time under Cowher.
The team's 10–6 record was not enough to earn the Steelers a first-round bye. In their first playoff game, a rematch of the previous year's AFC Championship Game, the Steelers defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 42–14. The following their season would come to a halt as the Steelers lost to the New England Patriots, 28–3.
This would be the final season that the team wore block numerals, the next year they would switch to rounded numerals where it has remained ever since.
Offseason Additions SubtractionsRB Jerome Bettis (Rams) LB Kevin Greene (Panthers)C Jim Sweeney (Seahawks) QB Neil O'Donnell (Jets) P Rohn Stark (Panthers) G/T Ariel Solomon (Vikings) FB John L. Williams (retirement) G Tom Newberry (retirement)
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 1996 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeRicky BellCornerbackNorth Carolina StateLorenzo GreenDefensive tackleOklahoma StateChris JonesWide receiverMississippi StateCornell ParkerCornerbackSMULewis TyreeOffensive linemenFlorida State
Personnel
Coaches / Staff
Notable additions include Jerome Bettis, Earl Holmes and Carlos Emmons.
Final roster
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Game Site Kickoff (ET) TV Result Record 1 July 27 vs. San Diego Chargers Tokyo Dome (Tokyo, Japan) 10:00 p.m. ESPN L 20–10 0–1 2 August 3 St. Louis Rams Three Rivers Stadium 6:00 p.m. WPXI W 16–10 1–1 3 August 11 at Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field 8:00 p.m. TNT L 24–17 1–2 4 August 17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Three Rivers Stadium 6:00 p.m. WPXI W 13–3 2–2 5 August 23 at Philadelphia Eagles Veterans Stadium 7:30 p.m. WPXI L 20–19 2–3
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Game Site Kickoff (ET) TV TV Announcers Result Record 1 September 1 at Jacksonville Jaguars Alltel Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC Marv Albert & Sam Wyche L 24–9 0–1 2 September 8 Baltimore Ravens Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC Marv Albert & Sam Wyche W 31–17 1–1 3 September 16 Buffalo Bills Three Rivers Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf W 24–6 2–1 4 September 22 Bye 5 September 29 Houston Oilers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC Don Criqui & Beasley Reece W 30–16 3–1 6 October 7 at Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf W 17–7 4–1 7 October 13 Cincinnati Bengals Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC Charlie Jones & Randy Cross W 20–10 5–1 8 October 20 at Houston Oilers Astrodome 4:00 p.m. NBC Don Criqui & Beasley Reece L 23–13 5–2 9 October 27 at Atlanta Falcons Georgia Dome 1:00 p.m. NBC Dan Hicks & Bob Trumpy W 20–17 6–2 10 November 3 St. Louis Rams Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. FOX Joe Buck & Bill Maas W 42–6 7–2 11 November 10 at Cincinnati Bengals Cinergy Field 1:00 p.m. NBC Don Criqui & Beasley Reece L 34–24 7–3 12 November 17 Jacksonville Jaguars Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC Jim Lampley & Bob Golic W 28–3 8–3 13 November 25 at Miami Dolphins Pro Player Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf W 24–17 9–3 14 December 1 at Baltimore Ravens Memorial Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC Jim Lampley & Bob Golic L 31–17 9–4 15 December 8 San Diego Chargers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC Tom Hammond & Bob Trumpy W 16–3 10–4 16 December 15 San Francisco 49ers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. FOX Pat Summerall & John Madden L 25–15 10–5 17 December 22 at Carolina Panthers Ericsson Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC Don Criqui & Beasley Reece L 18–14 10–6
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday September 1, 1996): at Jacksonville Jaguars
at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: Game attendance: 70,210 Referee: Bob McElwee TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Sam Wyche (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Jacksonville – Jackson 38 pass from Brunell (Hollis kick) Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 48 Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 29 Jacksonville – McCardell 15 pass from Brunell (Hollis kick) Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 23 Jacksonville – FG Hollis 52 Jacksonville – J. Stewart 1 run (Hollis kick)
Week 2 (Sunday September 8, 1996): vs. Baltimore Ravens
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Partly Sunny) Game attendance: 57,241 Referee: Gerry Austin TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Sam Wyche (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – Woodson 43 interception return (Johnson kick) Baltimore – Testaverde 6 run (Stover kick) Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run (Johnson kick) Baltimore – Alexander 17 pass from Testaverde (Stover kick) Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 5 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – Hastings 20 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick) Baltimore – FG Stover 29 Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 35
Week 3 (Monday September 16, 1996): vs. Buffalo Bills
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 9:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Cloudy) Game attendance: 59,002 Referee: Larry Nemmers TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf (color commentators)
Scoring drives:
Buffalo – FG Christie 31 Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run (Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 30 Pittsburgh – Bettis 43 run (Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – Lake 47 interception return (Johnson kick) Buffalo – FG Christie 45
Week 4 (Sunday September 22, 1996): Bye Week
Week 5 (Sunday September 29, 1996): vs. Houston Oilers
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Mostly Sunny) Game attendance: 58,608 Referee: Tom White TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – Stewart 16 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 33 Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 62 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 36 Houston – Davis 4 pass from Chandler (Del Greco kick) Houston – Lewis 36 interception return (Del Greco kick) Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 36 Pittsburgh – Perry 13 interception return (Johnson kick) Houston – Safety, Edge ran out of end zone
Week 6 (Monday October 7, 1996): at Kansas City Chiefs
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Game time: 9:00 pm EDT Game weather: Game attendance: 79,189 Referee: Howard Roe TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf (color commentators)
Scoring drives:
Kansas City – Allen 6 run (Stoyanovich kick) Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 21 Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 32 Pittsburgh – Bettis 5 run (Bruener pass from Tomczak) Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 43
Week 7 (Sunday October 13, 1996): vs. Cincinnati Bengals
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Partly Sunny) Game attendance: 58,875 Referee: Gary Lane TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Randy Cross (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 33 Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 19 Pittsburgh – Stewart 32 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 22 Pittsburgh – Woodson 42 fumble return (Johnson kick) Cincinnati – Pickens 3 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)
Week 8 (Sunday October 20, 1996): at Houston Oilers
at Astrodome, Houston, Texas
Game time: 4:00 pm EDT Game weather: Dome Game attendance: 50,337 Referee: Red Cashion TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Houston – FG Del Greco 22 Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 70 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 26 Houston – FG Del Greco 32 Houston – FG Del Greco 48 Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 29 Houston – W. Davis 34 pass from Chandler (Del Greco kick) Houston – George 2 run (Del Greco kick)
Week 9 (Sunday October 27, 1996): at Atlanta Falcons
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: Dome Game attendance: 58,760 Referee: Ron Blum TV announcers: (NBC) Dan Hicks (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 27 Atlanta – Tobeck 1 pass from Hebert (Andersen kick) Atlanta – FG Andersen 41 Pittsburgh – Hastings 112 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run (Johnson kick) Atlanta – Emanuel 4 pass from Hebert (Andersen kick) Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 20
Week 10 (Sunday November 3, 1996): vs. St. Louis Rams
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Partly Sunny) Game attendance: 58,148 Referee: Jerry Markbreit TV announcers: (FOX) Joe Buck (play by play), Bill Maas (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – Bettis 3 run (Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – Bettis 50 run (Johnson kick) Saint louis – FG Lohmiller 25 Pittsburgh – Stewart 7 run (Johnson kick) Saint louis – FG Lohmiller 27 Pittsburgh- Pegram 91 kickoff return (Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – Stewart 2 run (Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – Pegram 17 run (Johnson kick)
Week 11 (Sunday November 10, 1996): at Cincinnati Bengals
at Cinergy Field, Cincinnati, Ohio
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: Game attendance: 57,265 Referee: Mike Carey TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 32 Pittsburgh- FG Johnson 46 Pittsburgh – Bettis 6 run (Johnson kick) Cincinnati – Carter 1 run (Pelfrey kick) Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run (Johnson kick) Cincinnati – Dunn 90 kickoff return (Pelfrey kick) Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run (Johnson kick) Cincinnati – Bieniemy 33 run (Pelfrey kick) Cincinnati – Carter 12 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick) Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 34
Week 12 (Sunday November 17, 1996): vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Cloudy) Game attendance: 58,879 Referee: Bernie Kukar TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Lampley (play by play), Bob Golic (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – Thigpen 12 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – Bettis 3 run (Johnson kick) Jacksonville – FG Hollis 40 Pittsburgh – Lake 85 fumble return (Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – Thigpen 28 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)
Week 13 (Monday November 25, 1996): at Miami Dolphins
at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida
Game time: 9:00 pm EST Game weather: Game attendance: 73,849 Referee: Walt Coleman TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf (color commentators)
Scoring drives:
Miami – McDuffie 2 pass from Marino (Nedney kick) Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 47 Miami – Jackson 61 interception return (Nedney kick) Pittsburgh- Lester 5 run (Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – Stewart 5 run (Johnson kick) Miami – FG Nedney 41 Pittsburgh – Mills 20 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)
Week 14 (Sunday December 1, 1996): at Baltimore Ravens
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: Game attendance: 51,882 Referee: Red Cashion TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Lampley (play by play), Bob Golic (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Baltimore – Ogden 1 pass from Testaverde (Stover kick) Pittsburgh – Hastings 30 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick) Pittsburgh- FG Johnson 22 Baltimore – Alexander 24 pass from Testaverd (Stover kick) Baltimore – Byner 7 run (Stover kick) Baltimore – FG Stover 40 Pittsburgh – Hastings 5 pass from Tomzak (Johnson kick) Baltimore – Green 3 pass from Testaverde (Stover kick)
Week 15 (Sunday December 8, 1996): vs. San Diego Chargers
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Partly Sunny) Game attendance: 56,368 Referee: Gerry Austin TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
Scoring drives: