The 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 77th season in the National Football League (NFL). They were coming off a season in which they compiled a 12–4 regular season record and capped the season by winning the franchise's record sixth Super Bowl. The team's coaching staff remained the same for the third consecutive year.
As the defending champions, the Steelers opened the season by hosting the NFL Kickoff game on Thursday, September 10, 2009, which was an overtime victory against the Tennessee Titans. The team compiled a 6–2 record over the season's first half, but then began a five-game losing streak which included losses to all three division opponents. Three late wins led to a 9–7 record, but the team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2006. This was the third straight time the team had missed the playoffs following a Super Bowl victory, 1980 and 2006 being the previous two.
Off season activity
The front office's major goals coming into the off-season were to retain the bulk of the team's own free agents and to look to add talent primarily through the draft rather than free agent acquisitions. This has been the team's primary philosophy since Chuck Noll took over as head coach in 1969. The other major item on the team's agenda was to extend the contracts of a few of the players who were coming into the final year of their contracts – chief among these were linebacker and 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, James Harrison, tight end Heath Miller, and tackle Max Starks.
Management completed the highest-priority item on its off-season checklist by reaching agreement with Harrison on a six-year, $51.175 million contract, which includes $20 million in guaranteed money. The team was also successful in extending the contracts of Starks (four years, $26.3 million) and Miller (six years, $35.3 million) both of whom were potential free agents after the season. Additionally, contract extension were completed with receiver Hines Ward (five years, $22.1 million), guard Chris Kemoeatu (five years, $20 million), center Justin Hartwig (four years, $10 million) and defensive end Brett Keisel (five years, $18.885 million).
The team's primary needs coming into the 2009 season were considered to be shoring up the offensive line and improving performance on special teams, primarily at kick returner. In addition, they were forced to address the loss through free agency of two key contributors: starting cornerback Bryant McFadden and number three wide receiver Nate Washington. The front office and coaching staff also had to focus on uncovering for eventual replacements for some aging cogs: defensive end Aaron Smith and cornerback Deshea Townsend, who were 33 and 34 respectively at the start of the season. ESPN's Matt Williamson ranked the team's pre-draft needs as (in order), defensive end, offensive tackle, wide receiver and cornerback.
Free agents signed Players from the 2008 team who signed new contracts with the Steelers: OT Max Starks – signed $26.3 million, four-year contract, G Chris Kemoeatu – signed five year, $20+ million contract OT Willie Colon – signed one year, $2.198 million restricted free agent tender OT Trai Essex – signed two year, $1.92 million contract LB Keyaron Fox – signed two year, $1.8 million contract FB/TE Sean McHugh – signed three year, $2.57 million contract, expected to be starting FB – placed on Injured Reserve on September 5, 2009 QB Charlie Batch – signed one year, $795,000 contract LB Andre Frazier – signed two year, $1.375 million contract FB Carey Davis – signed exclusive rights free agent tender, which amounts to a one-year, $460,000 contract LB Arnold Harrison – signed one year, $460,000 contract
Players not with the 2008 team who were signed for 2009 CB Keiwan Ratliff – from Indianapolis Colts; Ike Taylor's contract was restructured to clear cap space RB Stefan Logan – from CFL's BC Lions WR Shaun McDonald – spent 2007 & 2008 with Detroit Lions
Players who signed with the team in 2009, but did not make the 53-man roster K Piotr Czech – attended training camp with the Baltimore Ravens in 2008 – released on September 5, 2009, in final cut-down to 53-man roster WR Martin Nance – 2008 Steelers practice squad player; signed two year, $705,000 contract – released on August 31, 2009, in cut-down to 75-man roster P Dirk Johnson – released by the Washington Redskins in 2009 – released June 12, 2009 FB Ryan Powdrell – spent a week on the Bucs practice squad in 2008 – released June 18, 2009 WR/KR Jayson Foster – spent 2008 on Steelers' and Denver Broncos' practice squads – released June 18, 2009 WR Brandon Williams – released by Rams prior to 2008 season – released on September 5, 2009, in final cut-down to 53-man roster
Practice squad players 2008 practice squad players who made the 2009 53-man roster: C Doug Legursky – 2008 Steelers practice squad player S Ryan Mundy – 2008 Steelers practice squad player, signed reserve/futures contract
2008 practice squad players who signed new reserve contracts, but did not make the final 53-man roster: DE Jordan Reffett – 2008 Steelers practice squad player, signed reserve/futures contract RB Justin Vincent – 2008 Steelers practice squad player, signed reserve/futures contract – released on September 5, 2009, in final cut-down to 53-man roster TE Dezmond Sherrod – 2008 Steelers practice squad player, signed reserve/futures contract – released on September 5, 2009, in final cut-down to 53-man roster CB Roy Lewis – 2008 Steelers practice squad player, signed reserve/futures contract – released on September 5, 2009, in final cut-down to 53-man roster WR Dallas Baker – 2008 Steelers practice squad player, signed reserve/futures contract – released on September 5, 2009, in final cut-down to 53-man roster LB Donovan Woods – 2008 Steelers practice squad player, signed reserve/futures contract – released on September 5, 2009, in final cut-down to 53-man roster
Players lost OG Kendall Simmons – released; 2002 first round pick; ended 2008 season on IR LB Mike Humpal – released; 2008 sixth round pick; ended 2008 on IR WR Nate Washington – 2005 undrafted free agent; signed with the Tennessee Titans as an unrestricted free agent FS Anthony Smith – 2006 3rd round pick; signed with Green Bay Packers as an unrestricted free agent CB Bryant McFadden – 2005 2nd round pick; signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an unrestricted free agent OT Marvel Smith – 2000 2nd round pick who started 108 games as a Steeler; signed with San Francisco 49ers QB Byron Leftwich – Steelers 2008 back-up QB; signed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Gary Russell – released; 2007 undrafted rookie free agent, scored first touchdown of Super Bowl XLIII; signed with Oakland Raiders. LB Larry Foote – released; 2002 2nd round pick who started 83 games as a Steeler, including all 80 over the past five seasons; signed with Detroit Lions. LS Jared Retkofsky – released; signed last season when veteran long snapper Greg Warren tore his ACL CB Fernando Bryant – signed one year, $745,000 contract – Retired June 23, 2009 OT Jeremy Parquet (exclusive rights free agent) – released on September 5, 2009, in final cut-down to 53-man roster P Mitch Berger – made superfluous by return from injury of Daniel Sepulveda TE Jonathan Dekker – not invited to training camp DE Orpheus Roye – not invited to training camp CB Anthony Madison signed one year, $1.01 million restricted free agent tender – released on September 5, 2009, in final cut-down to 53-man roster
2009 NFL draft
The 2009 NFL draft was held on April 25 and 26, 2009, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. In addition to their own draft picks, the team also had the Tampa Bay Buccaneers seventh-round selection (#226 overall) which they received in a trade prior to the 2008 season for offensive lineman Sean Mahan and a compensatory pick at the end of the 5th round.
During the draft, the Steelers traded their second-round (#64 overall) and fourth-round (#132) picks to the Denver Broncos in exchange for Denver's third-round (#79) and Chicago's third-round (#84) picks.
+ 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers draft selections Round Pick # Player Position Height Weight CollegeStatus 1 32 Hood, EvanderZiggy Hood Defensive tackle Missouri Made 53-man roster at start of 2009 season 3 79 Urbik, KraigKraig Urbik Offensive guard Wisconsin Made 53-man roster at start of 2009 season 3 84 Wallace, MikeMike Wallace Wide receiver Mississippi Made 53-man roster at start of 2009 season 3 96 Lewis, KeenanKeenan Lewis Cornerback Oregon State Made 53-man roster at start of 2009 season 5 168 Burnett, JoeJoe Burnett Cornerback Central Florida Made 53-man roster at start of 2009 season 5 169 Summers, FrankFrank Summers Running back UNLV Made 53-man roster at start of 2009 season 6 205 Harris, Ra'ShonRa'Shon Harris Defensive tackle Oregon Released by Steelers at final cut-down – claimed by Carolina Panthers – later re-signed by Pittsburgh 7 226 Shipley, A.Q.A.Q. Shipley Center Penn State Signed to Practice Squad at start of 2009 season 7 241 Johnson, DavidDavid Johnson Tight end Arkansas State Made 53-man roster at start of 2009 season
+ 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers undrafted free agents Player Position Height Weight College Estermyer, MarkMark Estermyer Long snapper Pitt Korte, TomTom Korte Linebacker Hillsdale College Foster, RamonRamon Foster Guard Tennessee Reilly, MikeMike Reilly Quarterback Central Washington Grisham, TylerTyler Grisham Wide receiver Clemson Richardson, DerrickDerrick Richardson Strong Safety New Mexico State McCabe, KevinKevin McCabe Quarterback California (Pa.) Schantz, AndyAndy Schantz Linebacker Portland State Goodman, DemikoDemiko Goodman Wide receiver Georgia Black, StevenSteven Black Wide receiver Memphis Bradley, JeffJeff Bradley Defensive tackle Western Carolina McLendon, SteveSteve McLendon Defensive tackle Troy Redman, IsaacIsaac Redman Running back Bowie State
Personnel
Staff
Training camp Pittsburgh Steelers 2009 training camp roster Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
Roster
Schedule
Preseason The Steelers opened their preseason schedule on August 13 with a re-match of Super Bowl XLIII against the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 August 13 Arizona Cardinals W 20–10 1–0 Heinz Field Recap 2 August 22 at Washington Redskins L 13–17 1–1 FedExField Recap 3 August 29 Buffalo Bills W 17–0 2–1 Heinz Field Recap 4 September 3 at Carolina Panthers W 21–10 3–1 Bank of America Stadium Recap
Regular season The Steelers' opponents for the 2009 season are based on the NFL's predetermined scheduling formula. The combined 2008 record of the Steelers' 2009 opponents was 110–144–2 (.434 winning percentage). By this measure the Steelers have the fourth easiest schedule in the league – only the Packers, Vikings and Bears opponents have a worse cumulative 2008 winning percentage. The Packers, Vikings and Bears play two games each against the Lions, who finished 0–16 in 2008.
As the defending Super Bowl champion, the Steelers hosted the kickoff game for the 2009 season on Thursday, September 10, at 8:30 p.m. EDT. Their opponent for the kickoff game was the Tennessee Titans.
The Pittsburgh Steelers won the first game of the 2009 season in overtime over the Tennessee Titans on September 10, 2009 at 11:48 pm EDT with a field goal.