The 1998 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 66th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League (NFL).
This season marked the first time since the 1991 season that the Steelers failed to make the playoffs. Pittsburgh finished 7–9 after starting the season 5–2, losing their last five games to lose a spot in the playoffs. It was Bill Cowher's first losing record as head coach of the Steelers.
The season was marked by a controversial ending to the team's Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions, where Jerome Bettis claimed he called the coin toss in overtime as "tails" although referee Phil Luckett heard "heads." The Lions won 19–16 and started the Steelers' losing streak to finish the season.
The inconsistent play of Kordell Stewart was cited as another conflict, as the fans slowly began to turn on him. After their 11–5 1997 season, Pittsburgh lost two key offensive components: Chan Gailey, the offensive coordinator who went on to become head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, and their leading receiver, Yancey Thigpen, a Pro Bowler for Pittsburgh in 1997, who joined the Tennessee Oilers.
Offseason Additions SubtractionsG Roger Duffy (Jets) WR Yancey Thigpen (Oilers)S Bo Orlando (Bengals) T John Jackson (Chargers)
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents + 1998 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeMatt CushingTight endIllinoisAaron DelatorreDefensive linemanStephen F. AustinMike EvansOffensive linemanMercyhurstPete GonzalezQuarterbackPittsburghMatt HarperDefensive endTCU
Personnel
Staff
Notable additions include Hines Ward, Alan Faneca and Deshea Townsend.
Roster
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Game site Kickoff (ET) TV Result Record 1 August 1 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fawcett Stadium (Canton, Ohio) 7:00 p.m. ABC L 30–6 0–1 2 August 8 Buffalo Bills Three Rivers Stadium 7:30 p.m. KDKA W 24–13 1–1 3 August 14 at Philadelphia Eagles Veterans Stadium 8:00 p.m. KDKA L 21–17 1–2 4 August 22 vs. Atlanta Falcons Mountaineer Field (Morgantown, West Virginia) 6:00 p.m. KDKA W 28–22 2–2 5 August 29 Carolina Panthers Three Rivers Stadium 8:00 p.m. ESPN W 38–24 3–2
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue 1 September 6 at Baltimore Ravens W 20–13 1–0 Ravens Stadium 2 September 13 Chicago Bears W 17–12 2–0 Three Rivers Stadium 3 September 20 at Miami Dolphins L 0–21 2–1 Pro Player Stadium 4 September 27 Seattle Seahawks W 13–10 3–1 Three Rivers Stadium 5 Bye 6 October 11 at Cincinnati Bengals L 20–25 3–2 Cinergy Field 7 October 18 Baltimore Ravens W 16–6 4–2 Three Rivers Stadium 8 at Kansas City Chiefs W 20–13 5–2 Arrowhead Stadium 9 November 1 Tennessee Oilers L 31–41 5–3 Three Rivers Stadium 10 Green Bay Packers W 27–20 6–3 Three Rivers Stadium 11 November 15 at Tennessee Oilers L 14–23 6–4 Vanderbilt Stadium 12 November 22 Jacksonville Jaguars W 30–15 7–4 Three Rivers Stadium 13 November 26 at Detroit Lions L 16–19 (OT) 7–5 Pontiac Silverdome 14 December 6 New England Patriots L 9–23 7–6 Three Rivers Stadium 15 December 13 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 3–16 7–7 Raymond James Stadium 16 December 20 Cincinnati Bengals L 24–25 7–8 Three Rivers Stadium 17 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 3–21 7–9 Alltel Stadium
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday September 6, 1998): at Baltimore Ravens
at Ravens Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: Game attendance: 68,847 Referee: Walt Coleman TV announcers: (CBS) Verne Lundquist (play by play), Randy Cross (color commentator), Michele Tafoya (sideline reporter)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 27 Baltimore – FG Stover 41 Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 49 Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run (N. Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 20 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick) Baltimore – FG Stover 25 Baltimore – J. Lewis 64 pass from Zeier (Stover kick)
Week 2 (Sunday September 13, 1998): vs. Chicago Bears
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Sunny) Game attendance: 59,084 Referee: Gerald Austin TV announcers: (FOX) Kenny Albert (play by play), Tim Green (color commentator), Dan Jiggetts (sideline reporter)
Scoring drives:
Chicago – Engram 54 pass from Kramer (kick failed) Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run (N. Johnson kick) Chicago – FG Jaeger 19 Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 49 Pittsburgh – Coleman 13 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick) Chicago – FG Jaeger 36
Week 3 (Sunday September 20, 1998): at Miami Dolphins
at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: Game attendance: 73,748 Referee: Bill Carollo TV announcers: (CBS) Verne Lundquist (play by play), Randy Cross (color commentator), and Michele Tafoya (sideline reporter)
Scoring drives:
Miami – Abdul-Jabbar 3 run (Mare kick) Miami – L. Thomas 8 pass from Marino (Mare kick) Miami – Z. Thomas 17 interception return (Mare kick)
Week 4 (Sunday September 27, 1998): vs. Seattle Seahawks
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 4:05 pm EDT Game weather: (Partly sunny) Game attendance: 58,413 Referee: Johnny Grier TV announcers: (CBS) Kevin Harlan (play by play), Sam Wyche (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 33 Seattle – Fauria 14 pass from Moon (Peterson kick) Pittsburgh – Fuamatu-Ma'afala 10 run (N. Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 25 Seattle – FG Peterson 47
Week 5 (Sunday October 4, 1998): Bye Week
Week 6 (Sunday October 11, 1998): at Cincinnati Bengals
at Cinergy Field, Cincinnati
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: Game attendance: 59,979 Referee: Tom White TV announcers: (CBS) Don Criqui (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 40 Pittsburgh – Bettis 13 run (N. Johnson kick) Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 44 Cincinnati – Scott 44 pass from O'Donnell (pass failed) Pittsburgh – Huntley 9 run (N. Johnson kick) Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 48 Cincinnati – Scott 30 pass from O'Donnell (pass failed) Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 40 Cincinnati – Pickens 25 pass from O'Donnell (Pelfrey kick)
Week 7 (Sunday October 18, 1998): vs. Baltimore Ravens
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Partly sunny) Game attendance: 58,620 Referee: Ron Blum TV announcers: (CBS) Kevin Harlan (play by play), Sam Wyche (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 41 Baltimore – FG Stover 41 Baltimore – FG Stover 40 Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 55 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 42 Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 40
Week 8 (Monday October 26, 1998): at Kansas City Chiefs
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Game time: 8:20 pm EST Game weather: Game attendance: 79,431 Referee: Bernie Kukar TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Dan Dierdorf & Boomer Esiason (color commentators), Lesley Visser (sideline reporter)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – McAfee recovered blocked punt in end zone (N. Johnson kick) Kansas City – FG Stoyanovich 20 Kansas City – FG Stoyanovich 28 Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 34 Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 22 Kansas City – Rison 2 pass from Grbac (Stoyanovich kick) Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 5 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)
Week 9 (Sunday November 1, 1998): vs. Tennessee Oilers
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Cloudy) Game attendance: 58,222 Referee: Mike Carey TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Mark May (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Tennessee – FG Del Greco 43 Tennessee – Wycheck 2 pass from McNair (Del Greco kick) Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 9 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick) Tennessee – Dyon 6 pass from McNair (Del Greco kick) Tennessee – FG Del Greco 32 Tennessee – George 37 run (Del Greco kick) Tennessee – Davis 29 pass from McNair (Del Greco kick) Pittsburgh – Hawkins 3 pass from Stewart (C. Johnson pass from Stewart) Tennessee – Marts 27 interception return (Del Greco kick) Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 37 pass from Tomczak (C. Johnson pass from Tomczak) Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 2 pass from Tomczak (Blackwell pass from Tomczak)
Week 10 (Monday November 9, 1998): vs. Green Bay Packers
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 8:20 pm EST Game weather: (Mostly cloudy) Game attendance: 60,507 Referee: Ron Winter TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Dan Dierdorf & Boomer Esiason (color commentators), Lesley Visser (sideline reporter)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 8 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run (N. Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 45 Pittsburgh – Fuamatu-Ma'afala 5 run (N. Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 21 Green Bay – FG Longwell 42 Green Bay – McKenzie 88 fumble return (pass failed) Green Bay – Harris 2 run (Freeman pass from Favre) Green Bay – FG Longwell 37
Week 11 (Sunday November 15, 1998): at Tennessee Oilers
at Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: Game attendance: 41,104 Referee: Johnny Grier TV announcers: (CBS) Craig Bolerjack (play by play), John Dockery (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Tennessee – FG Del Greco 46 Pittsburgh – Bruener 10 pass from Stewart (George kick) Tennessee – Davis 25 pass from McNair (Del Greco kick) Pittsburgh – Fuamatu-Ma'afala 26 pass from Stewart (George kick) Tennessee – FG Del Greco 24 Tennessee – FG Del Greco 22 Tennessee – Roan recovered fumble in end zone (Del Greco kick)
Week 12 (Sunday November 22, 1998): vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Mostly sunny) Game attendance: 59,124 Referee: Walt Coleman TV announcers: (CBS) Kevin Harlan (play by play), Sam Wyche (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – Washington 52 interception return (N. Johnson kick) Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 38 Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 29 Jacksonville – Taylor 2 run (Hollis kick) Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 41 Pittsburgh – Bruener 9 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick) Jacksonville – J. Smith 33 pass from Brunell (McCardell pass from Brunell) Pittsburgh – Washington 78 interception return (N. Johnson kick)
Week 13 (Thursday November 26, 1998): at Detroit Lions
at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan
Game time: 12:30 pm EST Game weather: Dome Game attendance: 78,139 Referee: Phil Luckett TV announcers: (CBS) Greg Gumbel (play by play), Phil Simms (color commentator), Armen Keteyian (Sideline Reporter)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 30 Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 38 Detroit – FG Hanson 45 Pittsburgh – Blackwell 24 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick) Detroit – FG Hanson 52 Detroit – Moore 21 pass from Batch (Hanson kick) Detroit – FG Hanson 35 Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 25 Detroit – FG Hanson 42
Week 14 (Sunday December 6, 1998): vs. New England Patriots
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Partly sunny) Game attendance: 58,632 Referee: Dick Hantak TV announcers: (CBS) Verne Lundquist (play by play), Randy Cross (color commentator), and Michele Tafoya (sideline reporter)
Scoring drives:
New England – FG Vinatieri 21 New England – FG Vinatieri 29 Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 49 New England – Glenn 86 pass from Bledsoe (Vinatieri kick) Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 26 Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 43 New England – FG Vinatieri 35 New England – Edwards 4 run (Vinatieri kick)
Week 15 (Sunday December 13, 1998): at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: Game attendance: 65,335 Referee: Tony Corrente TV announcers: (CBS) Verne Lundquist (play by play), Randy Cross (color commentator), and Michele Tafoya (sideline reporter)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 27