1982 Pittsburgh Steelers season

1982 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Steelers 50th Anniversary Logo
Head coach Chuck Noll
General manager Dick Haley
Owner Art Rooney
Home field Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record 6–3
Division place 4th AFC
Playoff finish Lost to the San Diego Chargers in the 1st Round of the Super Bowl Tournament
Pro Bowlers OT Larry Brown
LB Jack Lambert
S Donnie Shell
WR John Stallworth
C Mike Webster
AP All-Pros Jack Lambert (1st team)
Donnie Shell (1st team)
Team MVP Dwayne Woodruff

The 1982 Pittsburgh Steelers saw the team return to the playoffs after a two-year hiatus. This was also the Steelers 50th Anniversary season. Although the season was shortened as a result of the 1982 strike, the Steelers finished a strong 6–3 record, good enough for fourth in the AFC as a whole. Although division standings were thrown out as a result of the strike, the Steelers unofficially finished second in the AFC Central, one game behind defending AFC Champion Cincinnati.

The 1982 season is best remembered as the final seasons for Hall of Famers Lynn Swann and Jack Ham and the "unofficial" final season of fellow Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw, who would miss much of the 1983 season due to injuries before retiring. On the flip side, it would also be the first year of future Hall of Fame placekicker Gary Anderson and the first year of the team using a 3-4 defense, a style still used by the team as of 2013.

The Steelers would lose in the first round of the playoffs to the San Diego Chargers, in what would be the last home playoff game for the Steelers for the next ten years.

Personnel

Staff

1982 Pittsburgh Steelers staff
Front office
  • Chairman of the Board – Arthur J. Rooney
  • President – Daniel M. Rooney
  • Vice President – John R. McGinley
  • Vice President – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
  • Controller – Dennis P. Thimons
  • Assistant Controller – Dan Ferens
  • Traveling Secretary – James A. Boston
  • Public Relations Director – Ed Kiely
  • Publicity Director – Joe Gordon
  • Assistant Publicity Director – John Evenson
  • Director of Ticket Sales – Geraldine Glenn
  • Director of Player Personnel – Dick Haley
  • Assistant Director of Player Personnel – William Nunn, Jr.
  • Pro Talent Scout – Tom Modrak
  • Talent Scout – West Coast – Bob Schmitz
  • College Talent Scout – Joe Krupa

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches


Strength and conditioning

  • Conditioning Coach – Jon Kolb
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. David S. Huber
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. Anthony P. Yates
  • Physician, Orthopedic – Dr. Paul Steele
  • Neurological Surgery Consultant – Dr. Joseph C. Maroon
  • Dentist – Dr. George P. Boucek
  • Ophthalmologist – Dr. Phillip Buzzelli
  • Trainer – Ralph Berlin
  • Assistant Trainer – Gary Stragar
  • Equipment Manager – Anthony Parisi
  • Field Manager – Rodgers Freyvogel
  • Film Director – Bob McCartney
  • Photographers – Harry Homa, Bill Amatucci

[1]

Roster

1982 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad [2] [3] [4]


Rookies in italics
 50 Active, 8 Inactive, Practice squad

Offseason

The 1982 offseason was the start of a slow transition period for the team, as the defensive line was hit with key retirements in "Mean Joe" Greene and L. C. Greenwood. Partially due to the team losing two key players and partially due to the need to go up against a more wide-open NFL, head coach Chuck Noll switched from the traditional 4–3 defensive alignment (four lineman & three linebackers) to the 3–4 (three lineman & four linebackers). The Steelers would more than make a good transition to the 3–4, as many teams have since tried to copy the Steelers success with the 3–4 alignment, especially since 2001, when the Steelers were the only team in the NFL with the alignment but led the league in defense.

1982 did see the Steelers sign a rookie placekicker from Syracuse named Gary Anderson, claiming him off waivers from Buffalo just before the start of the season. Anderson would stay in Pittsburgh for the next 13 season and play an additional 10 with four other teams to become the Steelers' all-time leading scorer. He retired after the 2004 season as the NFL's all-time leading scorer, a record since surpassed by Morten Andersen.

Preseason

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Game Site Time (ET) TV Result Record
1 Sat. Aug. 14 vs. New England Patriots Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, Tennessee) 7:30 p.m. WPXI W 24–20 1–0
2 Sat. Aug. 21 at New York Giants Giants Stadium 8:00 p.m. WPXI W 13–10 2–0
3 Sat. Aug. 28 Baltimore Colts Three Rivers Stadium 6:00 p.m. WPXI W 37–15 3–0
4 Sat. Sep. 4 Philadelphia Eagles Three Rivers Stadium 6:00 p.m. WPXI W 27–24 4–0

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Game Site Time (ET) TV Result Record
1 Mon. Sep. 13 at Dallas Cowboys Texas Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC W 36–28 1–0
2 Sun. Sep. 19 Cincinnati Bengals Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 26–20 (OT) 2–0
3 Sun. Sep. 26 New York Giants Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. CBS Cancelled 2–0
4 Sun. Oct. 3 at Denver Broncos Mile High Stadium 4:00 p.m. NBC Cancelled 2–0
5 Mon. Oct. 11 Philadelphia Eagles Three Rivers Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC Cancelled 2–0
6 Sun. Oct. 17 at Washington Redskins RFK Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC Cancelled 2–0
7 Sun. Oct. 24 Cleveland Browns Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC Postponed 2–0
8 Sun. Oct. 31 at Cincinnati Bengals Riverfront Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC Cancelled 2–0
9 Sun. Nov. 7 Houston Oilers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC Cancelled 2–0
10 Sun. Nov. 14 New York Jets Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC Cancelled 2–0
11 Sun. Nov. 21 at Houston Oilers Astrodome 1:00 p.m. NBC W 24–10 3–0
12 Sun. Nov. 28 at Seattle Seahawks Kingdome 4:00 p.m. NBC L 16–0 3–1
13 Sun. Dec. 5 Kansas City Chiefs Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 35–14 4–1
14 Sun. Dec. 12 at Buffalo Bills Rich Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 13–0 4–2
15 Sun. Dec. 19 at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 10–9 4–3
16 Sun. Dec. 26 New England Patriots Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 37–14 5–3
17 Sun. Jan. 2 Cleveland Browns Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 37–21 6–3

Game summaries

Week 1: at Dallas Cowboys

1 2 34Total
Steelers 6 7 17636
Cowboys 7 7 01428

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

Game information

First Quarter
Second Quarter
  • PIT – Jim Smith 7-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Gary Anderson kick) – Steelers 13–7
  • DAL – Doug Cosbie 12-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) – Cowboys 14–13
Third Quarter
  • PIT – Frank Pollard 1-yard run (Gary Anderson kick) – Steelers 20–14
  • PIT – Jim Smith 15-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Gary Anderson kick) – Steelers 27–14
  • PIT – Gary Anderson 26-yard field goal – Steelers 30–14
Fourth Quarter
  • PIT – Gary Anderson 43-yard field goal – Steelers 33–14
  • DAL – Tony Hill 45-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) – Steelers 33–21
  • DAL – Billy Joe DuPree 5-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) – Steelers 33–28
  • PIT – Gary Anderson 40-yard field goal – Steelers 36–28
Steelers
  • Terry Bradshaw
    17/28, 246 Yds, 3 TD
  • Franco Harris
    24 Rush, 103 Yds
  • John Stallworth
    7 Rec, 137 Yds, TD
Cowboys
  • Danny White
    25/36, 347 Yds, 4 TD, 2 INT
  • Tony Dorsett
    11 Rush, 30 Yds
  • Tony Hill
    6 Rec, 130 Yds, TD

Week 2: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

1 2 34OTTotal
Bengals 0 3 710020
Steelers 7 3 73626

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: Sunday, September 19
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 55°F
  • Game attendance: 59,973
  • Referee: Jim Tunney
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui & John Brodie
Game information

Week 3: vs. New York Giants

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 4: at Denver Broncos

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 5: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 6: at Washington Redskins

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 7: vs. Cleveland Browns

Postponed due to player's strike.

Week 8: at Cincinnati Bengals

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 9: vs. Houston Oilers

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 10: vs. New York Jets

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 11: at Houston Oilers

1 2 34Total
Steelers 3 7 7724
Oilers 0 3 7010

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Game information

Week 12: at Seattle Seahawks

1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 0 000
Seahawks 3 6 7016

at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: Sunday, November 28
  • Game time: 4:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: indoors (dome)
  • Game attendance: 55,553
  • Referee: Fred Silva
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones & Len Dawson
Game information
  • Seattle – FG N. Johnson 35
  • Seattle – FG N. Johnson 48
  • Seattle – FG N. Johnson 29
  • Seattle – Johns 11 pass from Zorn (N. Johnson kick)

Week 13: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 7 0714
Steelers 14 14 0735

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

Week 14: at Buffalo Bills

1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 0 000
Bills 0 10 3013

at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

  • Date: Sunday, December 12
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 20°F, wind chill 8°F
  • Game attendance: 58,391
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui & John Brodie
Game information
  • Buffalo – Leaks 1 run (Herrera kick)
  • Buffalo – FG Herrera 34
  • Buffalo – FG Herrera 19

Week 15: at Cleveland Browns

1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 7 029
Browns 3 0 7010

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio''

Game information
  • Cleveland – FG Bahr 44
  • Pittsburgh – Stallworth 6 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick)
  • Cleveland – Davis 1 run (Bahr kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Safety, Cox ran out of end zone

Week 16: vs. New England Patriots

1 2 34Total
Patriots 0 0 7714
Steelers 10 10 01737

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: Sunday, December 26
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 51°F
  • Game attendance: 50,515
  • Referee: Tom Dooley
  • TV announcers (NBC): Bob Costas & Bob Trumpy
Game information

Week 17: vs. Cleveland Browns

1 2 34Total
Browns 0 7 01421
Steelers 7 6 71737

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

  • Pittsburgh – Pinney 3 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick)
  • Cleveland – Feacher 1 pass from McDonald (Bahr kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Rodgers 18 blocked punt return (run failed)
  • Pittsburgh – Harris 6 run (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Smith 38 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick)
  • Cleveland – Logan 8 pass from McDonald (Bahr kick)
  • Cleveland – Feacher 12 pass from McDonald (Bahr kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 34
  • Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 1 run (Anderson kick)
Browns
  • Paul McDonald
    22/47, 313 Yds, 3 TD, 4 INT
  • Mike Pruitt
    11 Rush, 30 Yds
  • Ozzie Newsome
    9 Rec, 123 Yds
Steelers
  • Terry Bradshaw
    14/24, 269 Yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
  • Franco Harris
    23 Rush, 120 Yds, TD
  • Lynn Swann
    5 Rec, 114 Yds

Standings

AFC Central
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Cincinnati Bengals(3) 7 2 0 .778 3–1 6–2 232 177 W2
Pittsburgh Steelers(4) 6 3 0 .667 3–1 5–3 204 146 W2
Cleveland Browns(8) 4 5 0 .444 2–2 4–3 140 182 L1
Houston Oilers 1 8 0 .111 0–4 1–5 136 245 L7
American Football Conference
W L T PCT PF PA STK
Los Angeles Raiders(1) 8 1 0 .889 260 200 W5
Miami Dolphins(2) 7 2 0 .778 198 131 W3
Cincinnati Bengals(3) 7 2 0 .778 232 177 W2
Pittsburgh Steelers(4) 6 3 0 .667 204 146 W2
San Diego Chargers(5) 6 3 0 .667 288 221 L1
New York Jets(6) 6 3 0 .667 245 166 L1
New England Patriots(7) 5 4 0 .556 143 157 W1
Cleveland Browns(8) 4 5 0 .444 140 182 L1
Buffalo Bills 4 5 0 .444 150 154 L3
Seattle Seahawks 4 5 0 .444 127 147 W1
Kansas City Chiefs 3 6 0 .333 176 184 W1
Denver Broncos 2 7 0 .222 148 226 L3
Houston Oilers 1 8 0 .111 136 245 L7
Baltimore Colts 0 8 1 .056 113 236 L2

Postseason

Game summary

Wild Card: vs. San Diego Chargers

This playoff game against the Chargers, played on Jan. 9, 1983 at Three Rivers Stadium, will go down in history as one of the greatest games of Bradshaw’s Hall of Fame career as well as one of the most bitter defeats in franchise history.

In 1979, the San Diego Chargers went into the AFC Playoffs as the No. 1 seed, but a loss to the Houston Oilers in the Divisional Round prevented them from even getting a shot at the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. In 1981 the Chargers had made that step, but they lost in Cincinnati in a game played in temperatures even polar bears would consider on the chilly side. The 1982 San Diego Chargers were still explosive offensively, having ranked No. 1 in the NFL in points scored and passing yards, while their defense depended upon sacks (19) and takeaways (25) during the course of the nine-game regular season. These Chargers finished with the same 6-3 record as the Steelers, but they entered the AFC Tournament having won five of their previous six games.

The game opened with Steelers linebacker Guy Ruff recovering a Chargers fumble of the opening kickoff in the end zone for a quick touchdown, and then for the next three-and-a-half quarters the game belonged to Bradshaw. At one point he completed 15 passes in a row, and he finished the game with 28 completions in 39 attempts for 335 yards, with two touchdowns. But Bradshaw also threw two interceptions, the second of which served as a turning point in the game.

In the moments just before that turnover, the Steelers were holding a 28-17 lead with 11 minutes remaining in a game of which they were in complete control. Facing a third down situation, Bradshaw dropped back to pass, and after he escaped the contain of the Chargers pass rush he had a clear path to run for the first down. But instead of running, Bradshaw tried to depend on his right arm once again, but this time the pass was intercepted by Jeff Allen and returned to the Steelers 29-yard line.

In another of the examples of the 1982 Steelers defense being more opportunistic than impregnable, Mel Blount answered with an interception of Dan Fouts, but the play was nullified by a holding penalty on the Steelers. With new life, Fouts moved the Chargers offense down the field for a touchdown that came on an 8-yard pass to tight end Kellen Winslow and closed the Steelers’ lead to 28-24.

On their ensuing offensive possession, the Steelers offense was able to grind out a couple of first downs to get close to midfield before John Goodson had to come on to punt. But instead of pinning the Chargers deep, Goodson, a barefoot punter, shanked one for only 20 yards to the Chargers 36-yard line.

Fouts moved the offense down the field methodically, and with one minute to play, he threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Winslow, and the Steelers had been eliminated from the Tournament, 31-28.

1 2 34Total
Chargers 3 14 01431
Steelers 14 0 7728

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
  • PIT – John Stallworth 14-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Gary Anderson kick)
  • SD – Kellen Winslow 8-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick)
  • SD – Kellen Winslow 12-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick)
Chargers
  • Dan Fouts
    27/42, 333 Yds, 3 TD
  • Chuck Muncie
    25 Rush, 126 Yds
  • Wes Chandler
    9 Rec, 124 Yds
Steelers
  • Terry Bradshaw
    28/39, 325 Yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
  • Franco Harris
    10 Rush, 35 Yds
  • John Stallworth
    8 Rec, 116 Yds, TD

References

  1. ↑ 1982 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  2. ↑ 1982 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  3. ↑ 1983 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  4. ↑ "1982 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 11, 2014.

External links

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