The 2003 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 71st season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.
Their season began with the team trying to improve on their 10–5–1 record from 2002 in which they lost to the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round of the playoffs.
With the team suffering through injuries as well as less reliance on the running game than normal, the Steelers stumbled to a 6–10 record, going the entire season without winning consecutive games. Since moving to Heinz Field in 2001, this was the Steelers' first season with a losing record and their first season missing the playoffs. The team's record is tied with that of the 1999 season as the worst for a season under head coach Bill Cowher. This was the Steelers' only losing season from 2000 to 2025.
In his final season with the team, linebacker Jason Gildon became the franchise's career sack leader during a game against the Arizona Cardinals on November 9.
Since then, this represents the most recent losing season for the Steelers, as well as the only time they've lost to the Browns on Heinz Field in the regular season.
Offseason Additions Subtractions TE Jay Riemersma (Bills) QB Kordell Stewart (Bears) T Todd Fordham (Jaguars) K Todd Peterson (49ers) LB Clint Kriewaldt (Lions) T Wayne Gandy (Saints) WR Chris Doering (Redskins)
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 2003 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeJason ArmsteadWide receiverOle MissRoy AttiehDefensive TackleKent StatePhil BraxtonWide receiverWest VirginiaDante BrownRunning backMemphisNashville DyerCornerbackKent StateJack FaduleTackleHarvardRashad FaisonSafetySouth CarolinaCasey PoppingaTight endUtah StateDan RumishekDefensive endMichiganJonathan RuffinKickerCincinnatiLeonard ScottWide receiverTennesseeRussell StuvaintsSafetyYoungstown State
Personnel
Notable additions include Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor.
Roster
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Game Site NFL Recap 1 August 9 at Detroit Lions L 13–26 0–1 Ford Field 2 August 16 Philadelphia Eagles L 16–21 0–2 Heinz Field 3 August 21 Dallas Cowboys W 15–14 1–2 Heinz Field 4 August 29 at Carolina Panthers L 14–21 1–3 Bank of America Stadium
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Game Site NFL Recap 1 September 7 Baltimore Ravens W 34–15 1–0 Heinz FieldSummary 2 September 14 at Kansas City Chiefs L 20–41 1–1 Arrowhead StadiumSummary 3 September 21 at Cincinnati Bengals W 17–10 2–1 Paul Brown StadiumSummary 4 September 28 Tennessee Titans L 13–30 2–2 Heinz FieldSummary 5 October 5 Cleveland Browns L 13–33 2–3 Heinz FieldSummary 6 October 12 at Denver Broncos L 14–17 2–4 Invesco Field at Mile HighSummary 7 Bye 8 October 26 St. Louis Rams L 21–33 2–5 Heinz FieldSummary 9 November 2 at Seattle Seahawks L 16–23 2–6 Seahawks StadiumSummary 10 November 9 Arizona Cardinals W 28–15 3–6 Heinz FieldSummary 11 November 17 at San Francisco 49ers L 14–30 3–7 San Francisco StadiumSummary 12 November 23 at Cleveland Browns W 13–6 4–7 Cleveland Browns StadiumSummary 13 November 30 Cincinnati Bengals L 20–24 4–8 Heinz FieldSummary 14 December 7 Oakland Raiders W 27–7 5–8 Heinz FieldSummary 15 December 14 at New York Jets L 0–6 5–9 Giants StadiumSummary 16 December 21 San Diego Chargers W 40–24 6–9 Heinz FieldSummary 17 December 28 at Baltimore Ravens L 10–13 (OT) 6–10 M&T Bank StadiumSummary
Note: Intra-divisional opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1
Pittsburgh won their season opener for the first time since 1999.. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
This was Pittsburgh's last loss at home against Cleveland until 2020. As of 2025, this is the Steelers last regular season loss at home to Cleveland.
Week 6
Week 8
This was the 1,000th game in Steelers history.
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
The Steelers were the only team in the 2003 season to play on the road following a Monday night road game. The NFL at that time had typically given teams that traveled for a Monday night game either a home game or their bye week the following week. Steelers head coach Bill Cowher objected to the team playing a road game after a Monday night road game. Team president Dan Rooney said that he would not pursue the matter with the NFL, noting that the second game was in Cleveland, only from Pittsburgh.
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
With the loss, the Steelers would be eliminated from playoff contention at 5-9, their first and only losing season since 1999.
Week 16
Week 17
With the loss the Steelers would finish their season at 6-10, their most recent losing season as of 2025.
Standings
References
External links 2003 Pittsburgh Steelers season at Pro Football Reference 2003 Pittsburgh Steelers season statistics at jt-sw.com