The 2020 season was the Pittsburgh Steelers' 88th in the National Football League (NFL), their 20th playing home games at Heinz Field, their 21st under general manager Kevin Colbert, and their 14th under head coach Mike Tomlin. The team vastly improved on their 8–8 record from 2019 beginning the season 11–0, a franchise-best. They became the first NFL team to do so since the Carolina Panthers in the 2015 season. However, that streak was broken after a Week 13 loss to the Washington Football Team; the loss was the first of four in a five-game span to close the regular season. The Steelers clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2017 after the Miami Dolphins' Week 14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and clinched their first AFC North title since 2017 with a Week 16 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
The season marked the return of Ben Roethlisberger, who was sidelined for 14 games the season prior. However, despite entering Week 13 at 11–0, the Steelers collapsed and lost four of their last five games to finish 12–4 and join the 1969 Los Angeles Rams as the only teams in NFL history to go 11–0 and lose 3 consecutive games afterwards. In the playoffs, the collapse continued as the Steelers faced the Cleveland Browns in the Wild Card round, allowing Cleveland to break a substantial playoff drought by defeating the Steelers, 48–37.
The Steelers swept the Ravens for the first time in three seasons. Their 11–0 start marked the longest the Steelers have gone before their first loss in a season in franchise history. They also went undefeated against the AFC South for the first time in six seasons.
Because the New England Patriots went 7–9, their first losing season in 20 years, the Steelers ended the year as the only team from 2004 to 2020 that didn't have a single losing season. As of the 2025 NFL season, the streak is still ongoing. This was also the first season since 2014 in which the Steelers did not face the Patriots.
Transactions The Steelers have been involved in the following transactions during the 2020 season:
Trades Player Acquired from Traded to Date Trade terms DE Chris Wormley Baltimore Ravens March 20 2021 7th round pick to Pittsburgh2021 5th round pick to Baltimore ILB Avery Williamson New York Jets November 1 2022 7th round pick to Pittsburgh2022 5th round pick to New York
Free agent signings Lost Player Lost to Date Contract terms DT Javon Hargrave Philadelphia Eagles March 21 3 years / $39 million C B. J. Finney Seattle Seahawks March 23 2 years / $8 million FS Sean Davis Washington Football Team March 23 1 years / $4 million CB Artie Burns Chicago Bears March 26 1 year / $1.05 million ILB Tyler Matakevich Buffalo Bills March 30 2 years / $7.1 million TE Nick Vannett Denver Broncos April 2 2 years / $5.7 million
Acquired Player Acquired from Date Contract terms FB Derek Watt Los Angeles Chargers March 26 3 years / $9.75 million G Stefen Wisniewski Kansas City Chiefs March 26 2 years / $2.85 million TE Eric Ebron Indianapolis Colts March 30 2 years / $12 million
Cuts Position Player Date ILB Mark Barron March 16 OLB Anthony Chickillo March 16 FB Roosevelt Nix March 18
Draft
2020 Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 2 49 Chase Claypool WR Notre Dame 3 102 Alex Highsmith OLB Charlotte Compensatory pick 4 124 Anthony McFarland Jr. RB Maryland 4 135 Kevin Dotson G Louisiana From Miami 6 198 Antoine Brooks S Maryland 7 232 Carlos Davis DT Nebraska Notes
Pittsburgh traded 2020 first and fifth round selections and a 2021 sixth round selection to Miami in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2020 fourth round selection. Pittsburgh traded a third-round selection along with 2019 first- and second-round selections to Denver in exchange for Denver's 2019 first-round selection. Jacksonville traded a fifth-round selection to Pittsburgh in exchange for quarterback Joshua Dobbs. Pittsburgh traded a fifth-round selection to Seattle in exchange for tight end Nick Vannett.
Staff
Final roster
Preseason The Steelers would have played the Dallas Cowboys in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 6, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, and the Steelers were to be represented by former head coach Bill Cowher and safeties Troy Polamalu and Donnie Shell. However, the game, the annual Hall of Fame enshrinement and the remainder of the preseason were later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Hall of Fame game between the Steelers and Cowboys was rescheduled for 2021. Week Date Opponent Venue Result HOF vs. Dallas Cowboys Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 1 August 14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Heinz Field 2 August 23 New Orleans Saints Heinz Field 3 August 28 at New York Jets MetLife Stadium 4 September 3 at Carolina Panthers Bank of America Stadium
Regular season Schedule The Steelers' 2020 schedule was announced on May 7. Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at New York Giants W 26–16 1–0 MetLife Stadium Recap 2 September 20 Denver Broncos W 26–21 2–0 Heinz Field Recap 3 September 27 Houston Texans W 28–21 3–0 Heinz Field Recap 4 Bye 5 October 11 Philadelphia Eagles W 38–29 4–0 Heinz Field Recap 6 October 18 Cleveland Browns W 38–7 5–0 Heinz Field Recap 7 October 25 at Tennessee Titans W 27–24 6–0 Nissan Stadium Recap 8 November 1 at Baltimore Ravens W 28–24 7–0 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 9 November 8 at Dallas Cowboys W 24–19 8–0 AT&T Stadium Recap 10 November 15 Cincinnati Bengals W 36–10 9–0 Heinz Field Recap 11 November 22 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 27–3 10–0 TIAA Bank Field Recap 12 Baltimore Ravens W 19–14 11–0 Heinz Field Recap 13 Washington Football Team L 17–23 11–1 Heinz Field Recap 14 December 13 at Buffalo Bills L 15–26 11–2 Bills Stadium Recap 15 at Cincinnati Bengals L 17–27 11–3 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 16 December 27 Indianapolis Colts W 28–24 12–3 Heinz Field Recap 17 January 3 at Cleveland Browns L 22–24 12–4 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: at New York Giants
The Steelers started their season on the road against the Giants on Monday Night Football. In the first quarter, the Giants scored first when Graham Gano kicked a 21-yard field goal to make it 3–0. Later on in the quarter, Chris Boswell would tie the game at 3–3 with a 41-yard field goal. The Giants took the lead in the second quarter when Daniel Jones found Darius Slayton on a 41-yard TD pass to make it 10–3. The Steelers responded when Ben Roethlisberger found JuJu Smith-Schuster on a 10-yard TD pass (with a failed PAT) to make the score 10–9. Finally, the Steelers took the lead before halftime when Roethlisberger connected with James Washington on a 13-yard TD pass to make the score 16–10. After a scoreless third quarter, the Steelers got back to work when Boswell kicked a 36-yard field goal to make it 19–10. This was followed up by Roethlisberger connecting with Smith-Schuster again on an 8-yard TD pass to make it 26–10. Finally, the Giants wrapped up the scoring of the game when Jones and Slayton connected again for a 7-yard TD pass to make the final score 26–16.
With the win, the Steelers started their season 1–0. They won their regular season-opening game for the first time since 2017.
In Roethlisberger's first game in 364 days, he went 21 of 32 for 229 yards and 3 touchdown passes, giving him a 117.8 passer rating.
The win was the third straight time that they have beaten the Giants.
Week 2: vs. Denver Broncos
After a road win on Monday Night Football, the Steelers headed home for a game against the Broncos. In the first quarter, the Steelers made it 7–0 after James Conner ran for a 2-yard TD for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, the Broncos managed to get on the board when Brandon McManus kicked a 49-yard field goal to make it 7–3. Ben Roethlisberger then found rookie WR Chase Claypool on an 84-yard TD pass to make it 14–3. Chris Boswell then put the Steelers up by a couple touchdowns at halftime with a 21-yard field goal to make it 17–3.
After the break, the Broncos eventually came within 3 when McManus kicked a 28-yard field goal to make it 17–6. Backup QB Jeff Driskel then found Noah Fant on a 20-yard TD pass (with a successful 2-point conversion) to make it 17–14. In the fourth quarter, the Steelers responded when Roethlisberger found Diontae Johnson on a 28-yard TD pass to make it 24–14. This would be followed on the next Broncos drive by Derek Watt tackling Broncos punter Sam Martin in the end zone for a safety to make it 26–14. Driskel then found Melvin Gordon III on a 16-yard TD pass to get the Broncos within 5, 26–21. The Broncos were able to drive late, getting to the Steelers' 15-yard line at the two-minute warning. However, the Steelers forced an incompletion on 3rd and 2, and then Terrell Edmunds sacked Driskel on 4th down, giving the ball back to the Steelers. On the second play of the next Steelers' drive, Conner carried for 59 yards, sealing the victory.
With the win, the Steelers improved to 2–0 for the first time since 2017. In addition, the quarterback/head coach duo of Roethlisberger and Tomlin won their 117th regular season game together, moving to third all-time.
Week 3: vs. Houston Texans
After a tough win at home, the Steelers stayed home for a game against the Texans, known as the "Watt Bowl" for T. J. & Derek Watt on the Steelers going against their older brother, J. J., on the Texans for the first time ever. In the first quarter, the Steelers took an early 3–0 lead after Chris Boswell kicked a 33-yard field goal. However, the Texans took the lead later on in the quarter when DeShaun Watson found Randall Cobb on a 28-yard TD pass for a 7–3 lead. In the second quarter, the Texans made it 14–3 when David Johnson ran for a 2-yard TD. The Steelers fired back to take the lead with Ben Roethlisberger finding Eric Ebron a 10-yard TD pass, followed up by Roethlisberger finding JuJu Smith-Schuster on a 26-yard TD pass for a 17–14 lead. The Texans then scored on a Watson pass to Will Fuller to take back the lead at 21–17 before half. Chris Boswell scored the only points of the third quarter, kicking a field goal to bring the Steelers within one point with a score of 21–20. In the fourth quarter, James Conner ran for a touchdown and Smith-Schuster then caught a two-point conversion pass from Roethlisberger to put the Steelers ahead with what would be the final score of 28–21.
With the win, the Steelers go into their bye week 3–0. It would be the team's first 3–0 start since 2010. For the 60th consecutive game, the Steelers recorded at least one sack on defense, reaching the second longest streak in NFL history. The game also snapped a streak of 25 games with at least one turnover committed by the Steelers. In addition, the Steelers scored 28 points for the first time since December 23, 2018. With his 221st game played for the Steelers, Roethlisberger set a new franchise record. With the Ravens' loss to the Chiefs on Monday Night Football, the Steelers took the lead in the AFC North.
With the win, the Steelers beat the Texans for the third straight time.
Week 5: vs. Philadelphia Eagles