The 1947 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 15th season in the National Football League (NFL). The team improved on its 1946 record by winning eight games and losing four. This record tied for the lead in the Eastern Division and qualified the Steelers for the franchise's first It was the Steelers' only postseason appearance before 1972.
It was Jock Sutherland's second and final year as head coach; he died the following April after being found wandering around in a field in Kentucky. Once flown back to Pittsburgh, he was diagnosed as having two brain tumors. He only lived a few more days.
Pre-Season Changes In 1946, the Steeler offense and defense featured the NFL MVP in the person of Bill Dudley. The Virginia grad and Army veteran led the NFL in rushing, interceptions, punt returns and all-purpose yards. Despite being wildly popular with fans and fellow players, Dudley and Coach Sutherland could not get along. Ultimately, Dudley asked Art Rooney, Sr. to trade him and the owner reluctantly agreed.
Dudley was traded to the Detroit Lions for Bob Cifers and Paul White. Additionally, the Steelers received the Lions' 1948 first round draft pick. Both White and Cifers had a demonstrable positive effect on the team. Cifers played brilliantly and was one of the top punters in the NFL that year. Starless: The 1947 Pittsburgh Steelers, Steve Massey, 2018 Draft
Regular season Schedule Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources 1 September 21 Detroit Lions W 17–10 1–0 Forbes Field 34,691 Recap 2 September 29 Los Angeles Rams L 7–48 1–1 Forbes Field 35,658 Recap 3 October 5 at Washington Redskins L 26–27 1–2 Griffith Stadium 36,565 Recap 4 October 12 at Boston Yanks W 30–14 2–2 Fenway Park 18,894 Recap 5 October 19 Philadelphia Eagles W 35–24 3–2 Forbes Field 33,538 Recap 6 October 26 at New York Giants W 38–21 4–2 Polo Grounds 41,736 Recap 7 November 2 at Green Bay Packers W 18–17 5–2 State Fair Park 30,073 Recap 8 November 9 Washington Redskins W 21–14 6–2 Forbes Field 36,257 Recap 9 November 16 New York Giants W 24–7 7–2 Forbes Field 35,000 Recap 10 November 23 at Chicago Bears L 7–49 7–3 Wrigley Field 34,142 Recap 11 November 30 at Philadelphia Eagles L 0–21 7–4 Shibe Park 37,218 Recap 12 December 7 Boston Yanks W 17–7 8–4 Forbes Field 31,398 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1 Sunday, September 21: Detroit Lions
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 34,691 Referee:
Scoring Drives:
Detroit – Dudley 30 pass from Zimmerman (Zimmerman kick) Pittsburgh – Jansante 15 pass from Slater (Glamp kick) Detroit – FG Zimmerman 18 Pittsburgh – Repko 48 fumble run (Glamp kick) Pittsburgh – FG Glamp 35
Week 2 Monday, September 29: Los Angeles Rams
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 35,658 Referee:
Scoring Drives:
Los Angeles – FG Waterfield 30 Los Angeles – FG Waterfield 45 Los Angeles – Hoerner 4 run (Waterfield kick) Pittsburgh – Lach 4 run (Glamp kick) Los Angeles – Benton 11 pass from Waterfield (Waterfield kick) Los Angeles – Washington 9 lateral from Waterfield (Waterfield kick) Los Angeles – Hubbell 45 pass from Waterfield (Waterfield kick) Los Angeles – Hubbell 15 pass from Hardy (Waterfield kick) Los Angeles – Washington 6 run
Week 3 Sunday, October 5): Washington Redskins
at Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 36,565 Referee:
Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Glamp 15 Washington – Nussbaumer 55 pass from Baugh (Poillon kick) Pittsburgh – Lach 15 pass from Clement (Glamp kick) Washington – Poillon 3 pass from Baugh (kick failed) Pittsburgh – Compagno 64 int (Glamp kick) Washington – Taylor 35 pass from Baugh (Poillon kick) Pittsburgh – Sullivan 50 pass from Clement (Glamp kick) Pittsburgh – Safety, Baugh stepped out of end zone Washington – Farmer 1 run (Poillon kick)
Week 4 Sunday, October 12: Boston Yanks
at Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 18,894 Referee:
Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – Lach 1 run (Glamp kick) Pittsburgh – White 52 run (Glamp kick) Pittsburgh – Lach 1 run (Glamp kick) Pittsburgh – Safety, Dancewicz tackled in end zone by Bova Pittsburgh – Clement 1 run (Glamp kick) Boston – Currivan 33 pass from Dancewicz (Scollard kick) Boston – Currivan 20 pass from Dancewicz (Maznicki kick)
Week 5 Sunday, October 19: Philadelphia Eagles
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 33,538 Referee:
Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – Compagno 39 pass from Clement (Glamp kick) Philadelphia – Pihos 43 pass from Thompson (Patton kick) Philadelphia – FG Patton 14 Philadelphia – Pritchard 69 pass from Thompson (Patton kick) Pittsburgh – Clement 5 run (Glamp kick) Philadelphia – Pihos 17 pass from Thompson (Patton kick) Pittsburgh – Garnaas 19 pass from Clement (Glamp kick) Pittsburgh – Clement 23 run (Glamp kick) Pittsburgh – Lach 1 run (Glamp kick)
Week 6 Sunday, October 26: New York Giants
at Polo Grounds, New York, New York
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 41,736 Referee:
Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – Jansante 7 pass from Lach (Glamp kick) New York – Carroll 18 pass from Governali (Strong kick) Pittsburgh – Lach 1 run (Glamp kick) Pittsburgh – Lach 1 run (Glamp kick) Pittsburgh – FG Glamp 37 Pittsburgh – Garnaas 68 pass from Clement (Glamp kick) New York – Blumenstock 1 run (Strong kick) Pittsburgh – Sinkovitz 47 int (Glamp kick) New York – Livingston 65 pass from Governali (Strong kick)
Week 7 Sunday, November 2: Green Bay Packers
at Wisconsin State Fair Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 30,073 Referee:
Scoring Drives:
Green Bay – Goodnight 69 pass from Jacobs (Cuff kick) Green Bay – FG Cuff 16 Pittsburgh – FG Glamp 23 Pittsburgh – Jansante 37 pass from Clement (kick failed) Pittsburgh – Compagno 55 int (Glamp kick) Pittsburgh – Safety, Jacobs tackled in end zone by Calcagni Green Bay – Luhn 27 pass from Jacobs (Cuff kick)
Week 8 Sunday, November 9: Washington Redskins
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 36,257 Referee:
Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – Lach run (Glamp kick) Pittsburgh – Compagno 2 run (Glamp kick) Washington – Taylor 24 pass from Baugh (Poillon kick) Pittsburgh – Clement 18 run (Glamp kick) Washington – Castiglia 2 run (Poillon kick)
Week 9 Sunday, November 16: New York Giants
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 35,000 Referee:
Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Glamp 12 New York – Paschka 2 run (Strong kick) Pittsburgh – Compagno 4 run (Glamp kick) Pittsburgh – Jansante 19 pass from Clement (Glamp kick) Pittsburgh – Seabright 39 int (Glamp kick)
Week 10 Sunday, November 23: Chicago Bears
at Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
Scoring Drives:
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 34,142 Referee:
Scoring Drives:
Chicago Bears – McAfee 2 run (McLean kick) Chicago Bears – Kavanaugh 6 pass from Luckman (McLean kick) Chicago Bears – McAfee 4 run (McLean kick) Pittsburgh – Jansante 15 pass from Morales (Glamp kick) Chicago Bears – Kindt 3 run (McLean kick) Chicago Bears – Keane 6 pass from Luckman (McLean kick) Chicago Bears – Gulyanics 44 run (McLean kick)
Week 11 Sunday, November 30: Philadelphia Eagles
at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 37,218 Referee:
Scoring Drives:
Philadelphia – Van Buren 2 run (Patton kick) Philadelphia – Muha 28 run (Patton kick) Philadelphia – Mackrides 1 run (Patton kick)
Week 12 Sunday, December 7: Boston Yanks
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 31,398 Referee:
Scoring Drives:
Pittsburgh – Mastrangelo recovered blocked punt in end zone (Glamp kick) Pittsburgh – FG Glamp 30 Boston – Golding 14 run (Maznicki kick) Pittsburgh – Lach 1 run (Glamp kick)
Standings
Postseason
The 1947 team was the most successful team in club history to date. It was the Steelers' first playoff appearance, the first time winning more than four games consecutively, and the club posted a franchise-best record. Though the Steelers lost the playoff, fans and players were excited for their future.
However, fate would interrupt again when head coach Jock Sutherland took a trip to visit family in Kentucky. He ran off the road and was found wondering in a muddy field. Flown back to Pittsburgh, Sutherland died four days later on April 11, 1948, due to complications from a brain tumor. It was a sudden and disheartening end to a successful period in team history. The Steelers did not play in the postseason again until 1972.
Round Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Recap Sources Divisional December 21 Philadelphia Eagles L 0–21 Forbes Field 35,729 Recap
Game summary Sunday, December 21: Philadelphia Eagles
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 2:00 pm EST Game weather: Game attendance: 35,729 Referee:
Scoring Drives:
Philadelphia – Van Buren 15 pass from Thompson (Patton kick) Philadelphia – Ferrante 28 pass from Thompson (Patton kick) Philadelphia – Pritchard 79 punt return (Patton kick) a
Personnel Roster 1947 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster Backs Bob Cifers RB/CB/P Johnny Clement RB Tony Compagno CB/FB Paul Davis RB/S Bill Garnaas RB Joe Glamp RB/K Gene Hubka RB Steve Lach FB/LB Gonzalo Morales S/RB Charley Seabright FB/MLB Walt Slater S/RB Paul White CB/RB
Ends/Receivers Tony Bova Bob Davis Sam Gray Val Jansante Charley Mehelich Elbie Nickel Linemen/Linebackers Ralph Calcagni DT/T Chuck Cherundolo C/OLB Bill Cregar G/MG Al Drulis OLB Bill Hornick T/DT John Mastrangelo G/OLB Bryant Meeks OLB/C Red Moore G/MG John Perko G/MG Joe Repko T/DT Frank Sinkovitz OLB/C Nick Skorich G/MG Paul Stenn T/DT Jack Wiley T/DT Frank Wydo DT/T
Reserve Bob Sullivan RB (IR)
Rookies in italics
All-Pro Honors
Val Jansante 2nd Team, UPI Charley Mehelich 2nd Team, Chicago Herald Red Moore 1st Team, UPI Johnny Clement 2nd Team AP, 2nd Team UPI Chuck Cherundolo 2nd Team AP, 2nd Team UPI Pro Football Reference 1947 All Pro Team
References
Further reading
Steve Massey, Starless: The 1947 Pittsburgh Steelers. NC: Steve Massey, 2018.