The 2002 season was the Pittsburgh Steelers' 70th as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.
The Steelers were coming off a 13–3 record in 2001 and making an appearance in the AFC Championship game. The team failed to improve their 13–3 record, finishing 10–5–1, although this record was good enough for a division championship. With their finish, the Steelers became the first champions of the newly created AFC North. Bill Cowher's team won the Wild Card Game, defeating the rival Cleveland Browns at home, but lost to AFC South champion Tennessee Titans in the divisional round.
Week 4 saw Kordell Stewart's final game as the Steelers' starting quarterback, as he was replaced by Tommy Maddox during the game. Even though he did relieve an injured Maddox, Stewart never regained his job as he was released following the season.
Offseason Additions Subtractions QB Charlie Batch (Lions) WR Troy Edwards (Rams) WR Terance Mathis (Falcons) WR Bobby Shaw (Jaguars) K Todd Peterson (Chiefs) FS Jason Simmons (Texans)LB James Farrior (Jets) C Roger Duffy (retirement) FB Jon Witman (retirement) G Rich Tylski (Panthers)
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 2002 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeMatt AndersonCenterTexasWill BoutonLinebackerFurmanLeon BrockmeierTackleNorthwesternJosh BurrTackleSouth DakotaBurke DalesPunterConcordiaDallas DavisWide receiverColorado StateD. J. FlickWide receiverSlippery RockPernell GriffinLinebackerEast CarolinaJames HarrisonLinebackerKent StateBary HolleymanDefensive EndOklahomaJay JohnsonLinebackerSUNY BrockportBob JonesDefensive EndPenn StateJermese JonesTackleVirginiaAntwon McRayRunning backToledoErik TottenSafetyWestern WashingtonAlbert TuipulotuFullbackPortland State
Personnel Staff / Coaches
Roster
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 August 8 New York Jets L 6-16 0–1 Heinz Field 57,251 Recap 2 August 18 at Washington Redskins L 34-35 0–2 FedExField 70,310 Recap 3 August 24 at Detroit Lions W 34–22 1–2 Ford Field 59,262 Recap 4 August 29 Minnesota Vikings W 17–14 2–2 Heinz Field 57,062 Recap
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 9 at New England Patriots L 14–30 0–1 Gillette Stadium 68,436 Summary 2 September 15 Oakland Raiders L 17–30 0–2 Heinz Field 62,260 Summary 3 Bye week 4 September 29 Cleveland Browns W 16–13 (OT) 1–2 Heinz Field 62,864 Summary 5 October 6 at New Orleans Saints L 29–32 1–3 Louisiana Superdome 67,734 Summary 6 October 13 at Cincinnati Bengals W 34–7 2–3 Paul Brown Stadium 63,900 Summary 7 October 21 Indianapolis Colts W 28–10 3–3 Heinz Field 62,800 Summary 8 October 27 at Baltimore Ravens W 31–18 4–3 PSINet Stadium 69,638 Summary 9 November 3 at Cleveland Browns W 23–20 5–3 Cleveland Browns Stadium 73,718 Summary 10 November 10 Atlanta Falcons T 34–34 (OT) 5–3–1 Heinz Field 62,779 Summary 11 November 17 at Tennessee Titans L 23–31 5–4–1 Adelphia Coliseum 68,804 Summary 12 November 24 Cincinnati Bengals W 29–21 6–4–1 Heinz Field 60,473 Summary 13 December 1 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 25–23 7–4–1 Alltel Stadium 55,260 Summary 14 December 8 Houston Texans L 6–24 7–5–1 Heinz Field 58,551 Summary 15 December 15 Carolina Panthers W 30–14 8–5–1 Heinz Field 58,586 Summary 16 December 23 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 17–7 9–5–1 Raymond James Stadium 65,684 Summary 17 December 29 Baltimore Ravens W 34–31 10–5–1 Heinz Field 61,961 Summary
Note: Intra-divisional opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at New England Patriots
Week 2: vs. Oakland Raiders
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 8:30 pm EDT Game weather: (Cloudy) Game attendance: 62,260 Referee: Bill Leavy TV announcers: (ESPN) Mike Patrick (play by play), Paul Maguire (color commentator), Joe Theismann (color commentator), Suzy Kolber (sideline reporter)
With the loss, the Steelers went 0-2 heading into their bye week.
Week 4: vs. Cleveland Browns
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Sunny) Game attendance: 62,864 Referee: Bernie Kukar TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)
Kordell Stewart began the game, going 15–25 for 143 yards, but was intercepted by Robert Griffith of the Browns. At this point his Pittsburgh career all but ended when he was benched and replaced by backup Tommy Maddox, who had resurrected his career with stints with the New Jersey Red Dogs in the Arena Football League and a championship season in the ill-fated XFL. With the Steelers down 13–6, Maddox found Plaxico Burress for the tying touchdown just before the two-minute warning. The game went to overtime, but Maddox was picked off on his first throw of the extra quarter. The Browns, however, gagged when Phil Dawson missed a 45-yard field goal try. With new life the Steelers led by Maddox marched in range for Todd Peterson's 31-yarder and the 16–13 final.
Week 5: at New Orleans Saints
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: Dome Game attendance: 67,734 Referee: Larry Nemmers TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator) Tommy Maddox made his first start replacing an ineffective Kordell Stewart. Jerome Bettis went over 11,000 rushing yards in his career.
Week 6: at Cincinnati Bengals
at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Sunny) Game attendance: 63,900 Referee: Ron Winter TV announcers: (CBS) Kevin Harlan (play by play), Randy Cross (color commentator), and Beasley Reece (Sideline Reporter)
Week 7: vs. Indianapolis Colts
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 9:00 pm EDT Game weather: (Partly Cloudy) Game attendance: 62,800 Referee: Walt Coleman TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), John Madden (color commentator), Melissa Stark (sideline reporter)
Week 8: at Baltimore Ravens
at Ravens Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Sunny) Game attendance: 69,638 Referee: Johnny Grier TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)
Week 9: at Cleveland Browns
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Sunny) Game attendance: 73,718 Referee: Mike Carey TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator), Marcus Allen (sideline reporter)
Week 10: vs. Atlanta Falcons
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Cloudy) Game attendance: 62,779 Referee: Terry McAulay TV announcers: (FOX) Sam Rosen (play by play), Bill Maas (color commentator), Alby Oxenreiter (sideline reporter)
In the first NFL tie since 1997, Tommy Maddox erupted with 473 passing yards (a club record that stood until Ben Roethlisberger broke it in 2009) and connected on four touchdown throws in his first matchup against the coach who drafted him in Denver, Dan Reeves. Reeves' Falcons, however, were surging behind the running of sophomore quarterback Michael Vick. A 34–17 Steelers lead in the fourth could not be held as Warrick Dunn and Vick rushed the Falcons in range for a one-yard Bob Christian rushing touchdown, a Jay Feely field goal, and finally the tying Vick rushing score with 32 seconds remaining in regulation. In overtime the Steelers drove to range of a 48-yard field goal try by Todd Peterson, this after he'd missed a 40-yarder in regulation. The Falcons' Brian Finneran had caught six passes for 72 yards, but in his career debut on special teams he pulled off the play of the game by blocking the kick. Late in the extra quarter Maddox was picked off by Kevin Mathis, but the subsequent 56-yad Feely try was blocked, with one second left on the clock. Maddox launched a desperation heave and Burress caught it, but was ruled down at the one-foot line with the game declared over. This would be the last time the Steelers would tie until Week 1 of the 2018 season.
Week 11: at Tennessee Titans
at Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Partly Cloudy) Game attendance: 68,804 Referee: Tony Corrente TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator), Marcus Allen (sideline reporter)
Maddox's career nearly ended in tragedy as he threw a pass that Hines Ward turned into a 72-yard touchdown, but after completing just 14 of 28 throws for 194 yards and three picks he was sacked; the hit left him briefly paralyzed and he was taken to the hospital on a stretcher. He recovered from the hit but Kordell Stewart had to come off the bench for what turned out to be his final three games with the Steelers. He completed 13 of 17 throws for two touchdowns and the Steelers also completed two two-point tries. It wasn't enough as the Titans behind 257 passing yards (with two touchdowns) by Steve McNair and 121 rushing yards (McNair and Eddie George accounted for 103 of them) won 31–23.
Week 12: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Partly Cloudy) Game attendance: 60,473 Referee: Ed Hochuli TV announcers: (CBS) Craig Bolerjack (play by play), Craig James (color commentator)
Week 13: at Jacksonville Jaguars
at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Sunny) Game attendance: 55,260 Referee: Gerald Austin TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson and Brent Jones
Kordell Stewart made his last start as a Steelers quarterback, running for a touchdown. Jeff Reed kicked six field goals. Maddox regained his starting position the following week despite Stewart performing well.
Week 14: vs. Houston Texans
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Cloudy) Game attendance: 58,551 Referee: Bob McElwee TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)
The Steelers were stunned at home against the expansion Houston Texans, failing to find any offensive footing at all. With the embarrassing loss, the Steelers fell to 7-5-1. This would be the Steelers only home loss to the Texans until 2025.
Week 15: vs. Carolina Panthers
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Cloudy) Game attendance: 58,586 Referee: Dick Hantak TV announcers: (FOX) Sam Rosen (play by play), Bill Maas (color commentator)
Week 16: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Game time: 9:00 pm EST Game weather: Game attendance: 65,864 Referee: Larry Nemmers TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), John Madden (color commentator), Melissa Stark (sideline reporter)
Week 17: vs. Baltimore Ravens
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Cloudy) Game attendance: 61,961 Referee: Ron Winter TV announcers: (CBS) Kevin Harlan (play by play), Randy Cross (color commentator), and Beasley Reece (sideline reporter)
Standings Division
Conference
Playoffs
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Wild Card January 5 Cleveland Browns W 36–33 1–0 Heinz Field 62,595 Summary Divisional January 11 at Tennessee Titans L 31–34 (OT) 1–1 Adelphia Coliseum 68,809 Summary
Game summaries
AFC Wild Card Playoff: vs. Cleveland Browns
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST Game weather: (Light Snow) Game attendance: 62,595 Referee: Bill Carollo TV announcers: (CBS) Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms and Armen Keteyian
AFC Divisional Playoff: at Tennessee Titans
at Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee
Game time: 4:30 p.m. EST Game weather: (Sunny) Game attendance: 68,809 Referee: Ron Blum TV announcers: (CBS) Dick Enberg, Dan Dierdorf and Bonnie Bernstein
Honors and awards
Pro Bowl representatives See: 2003 Pro Bowl
No. 55 Joey Porter-Outside Linebacker