The 2017 season was the Pittsburgh Steelers' 85th in the National Football League (NFL). It was the 18th season under leadership of general manager Kevin Colbert and the eleventh under head coach Mike Tomlin. It was also the Steelers' first full season since the death of Dan Rooney.
The Steelers clinched the AFC North division title for the second consecutive season with a 39–38 win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14, and secured a first-round playoff bye for the first time since 2010 following a 34–6 win over the Houston Texans on Christmas Day in Week 16. In the Divisional Round however, the Steelers suffered a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars by a score of 45–42 after falling behind 28–14 at halftime. After their loss, the Steelers were criticized for looking past the Jaguars and anticipating a rematch with the New England Patriots. With a record of 13–3, the Steelers posted their best mark since 2004, as well as their first 13–3 record since 2001. The Steelers were also the solitary team in 2017 that swept their division. This was the best record posted by a Mike Tomlin-led Steeler team.
Transactions The Steelers were involved in the following transactions during the 2017 season:
Trades Player Acquired from Traded to Date Trade terms CB Dashaun Phillips Washington Redskins August 23, 2017 C Lucas Crowley TE Vance McDonald San Francisco 49ers August 29, 2017 San Francisco receives Pittsburgh's 2018 4th Rd. pickPittsburgh receives San Francisco's 2018 5th Rd. pick WR Sammie Coates Cleveland Browns September 2, 2017 Pittsburgh receives Cleveland's 2018 6th Rd. pickCleveland receives Pittsburgh's 2019 7th Rd. pick CB Ross Cockrell New York Giants September 2, 2017 2018 conditional pick SS J. J. Wilcox Tampa Bay Buccaneers September 3, 2017 Tampa Bay receives Pittsburgh's 2018 6th Rd. pickPittsburgh receives Tampa Bay's 2019 7th Rd. pick
Free agents Player Acquired from Lost to Date Contract terms WR Markus Wheaton Chicago Bears March 9, 2017 2 years/$11.0 million ILB Lawrence Timmons Miami Dolphins March 10, 2017 2 years/$12.0 million OLB Jarvis Jones Arizona Cardinals March 14, 2017 1 year/$2.25 million SS Shamarko Thomas New York Jets June 2, 2017 1 year/$775,000 WR Justin Hunter Buffalo Bills March 15, 2017 1 year/$855,000 RB Knile Davis Kansas City Chiefs March 20, 2017 1 year/$755,000 CB Coty Sensabaugh New York Giants March 20, 2017 2 years/$2.6 million NT Tyson Alualu Jacksonville Jaguars March 21, 2017 2 years/$6.0 million SS Daimion Stafford Tennessee Titans May 30, 2017 1 year/$775,000
Signings Player Date Contract terms RB Brandon Brown-Dukes January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future) CB Brandon Dixon January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future) T Matt Feiler January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future) FS Jacob Hagen January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future) CB Mike Hilton January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future) FB Gus Johnson January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future) T Keavon Milton January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future) RB Dreamius Smith January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future) WR Marcus Tucker January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future) RB Karlos Williams January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future) FB Roosevelt Nix January 26, 2017 1-year extension/$615,000 WR Cobi Hamilton January 27, 2017 1-year extension/$540,000 NT Farrington Huguenin January 27, 2017 (Reserve/Future) SS Jordan Dangerfield January 28, 2017 1-year extension/$540,000 CB Greg Ducre January 30, 2017 (Reserve/Future) LS Greg Warren February 2, 2017 1-year extension/$1.08 million K Chris Boswell February 2, 2017 1-year extension/$615,000 TE Xavier Grimble February 7, 2017 1-year extension/$540,000 ILB Akil Blount February 14, 2017 (Reserve/Future) OLB Jason Fanaika February 14, 2017 (Reserve/Future) C Kyle Friend February 14, 2017 (Reserve/Future) CB Devonte Johnson February 14, 2017 (Reserve/Future) C Mike Matthews February 14, 2017 (Reserve/Future) RB Trey Williams February 14, 2017 (Reserve/Future) OLB Anthony Chickillo February 14, 2017 1-year extension/$615,000 RB Fitzgerald Toussaint February 14, 2017 1-year extension/$690,000 ILB Steven Johnson February 15, 2017 1-year extension/$775,000 LS Kameron Canaday February 21, 2017 (Reserve/Future) P A. J. Hughes February 21, 2017 (Reserve/Future) TE Ryan Malleck February 21, 2017 (Reserve/Future) RB Le'Veon Bell February 27, 2017 1-year extension/$12.12 million (Exclusive rights franchise tag) OLB James Harrison March 1, 2017 2-year extension/$3.5 million G B. J. Finney March 8, 2017 1-year extension/$540,000 QB Landry Jones March 9, 2017 2-year extension/$4.4 million TE David Johnson March 9, 2017 2-year extension/$2.05 million NT Nelson Adams April 29, 2017 (UDFA) NT Christian Brown April 29, 2017 (UDFA) G Ethan Cooper April 29, 2017 (UDFA) DE Francis Kallon April 29, 2017 (UDFA) DE Keith Kelsey April 29, 2017 (UDFA) TE Scott Orndoff April 29, 2017 (UDFA) QB Nick Schuessler April 29, 2017 (UDFA) RB Rushel Shell April 29, 2017 (UDFA) FS Terrish Webb April 29, 2017 (UDFA) T Jake Rodgers May 5, 2017 1 year TE Phazahn Odom May 16, 2017 1 year ILB Matt Galambos May 16, 2017 1 year QB Bart Houston May 17, 2017 1 year WR Canaan Severin May 17, 2017 1 year RB Terrell Watson May 18, 2017 1 year SS Daimion Stafford May 30, 2017 1 year LS Kameron Canaday May 30, 2017 1 year RB Brandon Brown-Dukes June 14, 2017 1 year T Alejandro Villanueva July 28, 2017 4-year extension/$24.0 million TE Jake McGee August 2, 2017 1 year CB JaCorey Shepherd August 5, 2017 1 year C Ruben Carter August 25, 2017 1 year CB Joe Haden August 30, 2017 3 years/$27.0 million C Kyle Friend September 3, 2017 Practice Squad ILB Matt Galambos September 3, 2017 Practice Squad FS Jacob Hagen September 3, 2017 Practice Squad NT Lavon Hooks September 3, 2017 Practice Squad NT Farrington Huguenin September 3, 2017 Practice Squad TE Jake McGee September 3, 2017 Practice Squad CB Dashaun Phillips September 3, 2017 Practice Squad RB Fitzgerald Toussaint September 3, 2017 Practice Squad WR Marcus Tucker September 3, 2017 Practice Squad WR Justin Thomas September 3, 2017 Practice Squad ILB Steven Johnson September 4, 2017 1 year DE Stephon Tuitt September 9, 2017 5-year extension/$60.0 million ILB Steven Johnson September 12, 2017 1 year ILB L. J. Fort September 13, 2017 Practice Squad T Jake Rodgers September 20, 2017 Practice Squad ILB L.J. Fort September 23, 2017 1 year ILB Matt Galambos September 26, 2017 Practice Squad WR Justin Thomas September 26, 2017 Practice Squad DE Keith Kelsey September 28, 2017 Practice Squad SS Jordan Dangerfield October 16, 2017 Practice Squad T Jake Rodgers October 18, 2017 Practice Squad WR Justin Thomas November 6, 2017 Practice Squad T Jake Rodgers November 20, 2017 Practice Squad RB Fitzgerald Toussaint November 25, 2017 1 year RB Terrell Watson November 27, 2017 Practice Squad ILB Sean Spence December 5, 2017 1 year RB Stevan Ridley December 19, 2017 1 year WR Justin Thomas December 21, 2017 Practice Squad
Cuts Position Player DateCB Justin Gilbert February 6, 2017RB Karlos Williams March 9, 2017OLB Jason Fanaika April 19, 2017QB Zach Mettenberger May 1, 2017RB Brandon Brown-Dukes May 2, 2017FB Gus Johnson May 2, 2017WR Canaan Severin May 2, 2017CB Al-Hajj Shabazz May 2, 2017WR Dez Stewart May 5, 2017LS Kameron Canaday May 5, 2017WR Dez Stewart May 11, 2017RB Dreamius Smith May 12, 2017CB Devonte Johnson May 16, 2017TE Ryan Malleck May 16, 2017ILB Akil Blount May 17, 2017QB Nick Schuessler May 17, 2017TE Ladarius Green May 18, 2017LS Greg Warren May 18, 2017P A. J. Hughes May 30, 2017RB Rushel Shell June 18, 2017TE Scott Orndoff August 2, 2017DE Nelson Adams August 5, 2017C Mike Matthews August 8, 2017WR Canaan Severin August 14, 2017CB Greg Ducre August 23, 2017RB Brandon Brown-Dukes August 23, 2017DE Christian Brown August 29, 2017TE Phazahn Odom August 29, 2017WR Demarcus Ayers September 2, 2017C Ruben Carter September 2, 2017G Ethan Cooper September 2, 2017RB Knile Davis September 2, 2017CB Brandon Dixon September 2, 2017C Kyle Friend September 2, 2017ILB Matt Galambos September 2, 2017OLB Austin Gearing September 2, 2017FS Malik Golden September 2, 2017CB Senquez Golson September 2, 2017FS Jacob Hagen September 2, 2017WR Cobi Hamilton September 2, 2017LS Colin Holba September 2, 2017NT Lavon Hooks September 2, 2017QB Bart Houston September 2, 2017NT Farrington Huguenin September 2, 2017TE David Johnson September 2, 2017ILB Steven Johnson September 2, 2017DE Francis Kallon September 2, 2017DE Keith Kelsey September 2, 2017NT Johnny Maxey September 2, 2017TE Jake McGee September 2, 2017T Brian Mihalik September 2, 2017T Keavon Milton September 2, 2017CB Dashaun Phillips September 2, 2017NT Roy Philon September 2, 2017T Jake Rodgers September 2, 2017CB JaCorey Shepherd September 2, 2017WR Justin Thomas September 2, 2017RB Fitzgerald Toussaint September 2, 2017WR Marcus Tucker September 2, 2017FS Terrish Webb September 2, 2017RB Trey Williams September 2, 2017SS Jordan Dangerfield September 4, 2017ILB Steven Johnson September 9, 2017ILB L. J. Fort September 12, 2017ILB Matt Galambos September 13, 2017WR Justin Thomas September 20, 2017ILB Steven Johnson September 23, 2017T Jake Rodgers September 26, 2017ILB Matt Galambos September 29, 2017FS Jacob Hagen October 16, 2017WR Justin Thomas October 18, 2017T Jake Rodgers November 6, 2017WR Justin Thomas November 20, 2017RB Terrell Watson November 25, 2017T Jake Rodgers December 21, 2017OLB James Harrison December 23, 2017
Other
Name Date Details T Ryan Harris March 3, 2017 Retired
Draft
Notes As the result of a negative differential of free agent signings and departures that the Steelers experienced during the free agency period, the team received one compensatory selection at the end of the 3rd round for the 2017 draft.
Staff
Final roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at New York Giants W 20–12 1–0 MetLife Stadium Recap 2 August 20 Atlanta Falcons W 17–13 2–0 Heinz Field Recap 3 Indianapolis Colts L 15–19 2–1 Heinz Field Recap 4 at Carolina Panthers W 17–14 3–1 Bank of America Stadium Recap
Regular season
Schedule The Steelers' regular season schedule was announced on April 20.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 10 at Cleveland Browns W 21–18 1–0 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 2 September 17 Minnesota Vikings W 26–9 2–0 Heinz Field Recap 3 September 24 at Chicago Bears L 17–23 2–1 Soldier Field Recap 4 October 1 at Baltimore Ravens W 26–9 3–1 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 5 October 8 Jacksonville Jaguars L 9–30 3–2 Heinz Field Recap 6 October 15 at Kansas City Chiefs W 19–13 4–2 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 7 October 22 Cincinnati Bengals W 29–14 5–2 Heinz Field Recap 8 October 29 at Detroit Lions W 20–15 6–2 Ford Field Recap 9Bye 10 November 12 at Indianapolis Colts W 20–17 7–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 11 Tennessee Titans W 40–17 8–2 Heinz Field Recap 12 November 26 Green Bay Packers W 31–28 9–2 Heinz Field Recap 13 at Cincinnati Bengals W 23–20 10–2 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 14 December 10 Baltimore Ravens W 39–38 11–2 Heinz Field Recap 15 December 17 New England Patriots L 24–27 11–3 Heinz Field Recap 16 December 25 at Houston Texans W 34–6 12–3 NRG Stadium Recap 17 December 31 Cleveland Browns W 28–24 13–3 Heinz Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Cleveland Browns