2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season

2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Head coach	Bill Cowher
General manager	Kevin Colbert
Owner	The Rooney Family
Home field	Heinz Field
Results
Record	13–3
Division place	1st AFC Central
Playoff finish	Won Divisional Playoffs (Ravens) 27–10 Lost AFC Championship (Patriots) 17–24
Pro Bowlers	6 LB Kendrell Bell RB Jerome Bettis G Alan Faneca OLB Jason Gildon QB Kordell Stewart WR Hines Ward
AP All-Pros	4 Alan Faneca (1st team) Jason Gildon (1st team) Kendrell Bell (2nd team) Jeff Hartings (2nd team)
Team MVP	Kordell Stewart
Team ROY	Kendrell Bell

The 2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 69th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League. After finishing the previous three seasons a combined 22–26, the Steelers returned to the top seed in the AFC, rolling to a 13–3 record in their first season since 1997 and playing at Heinz Field. The Steelers went 7–1 in their new home stadium, with the only loss coming to the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens (a loss the Steelers avenged in the divisional playoffs).

However, for the third time in Bill Cowher's coaching tenure, the Steelers fell in the AFC Championship Game at home. This time, the eventual champion New England Patriots defeated the top-seeded Steelers.

Personnel

Staff

2001 Pittsburgh Steelers staff

Front office

President – Daniel M. Rooney
Vice President & General Counsel – Arthur J. Rooney II
Vice President – John R. McGinley
Vice President – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
Administration Advisor – Chuck Noll
Director of Business – Mark Hart
Business Accounting Coordinator – Jim Ellenberger
Human Relations/Office Coordinator – Geraldine Glenn
Business Coordinator – Omar Khan
Accounting Manager – Jodie Spagnolli
Communications Coordinator – Ron Wahl
Public Relations/Media Manager – David Lockett
Network Administrator – Scott Phelps
Marketing and Merchandising
Director of Marketing – Tony Quatrini
Marketing Coordinator – Rick Giugliano
Merchandising Manager – Tim Carey
Assistant Merchandising Manager – Sam Rogiero
Marketing Assistant – John Wodarek
Producer/Broadcasting Manager – Rick Fairbend
Marketing/Community Relations Manager – Lynne Molyneaux
Marketing Assistant – John Simpson
Marketing Assistant – Mike Marchinsky
Ticket Operations
Ticket Manager – Brian Bonifate
Football Operations
Director of Football Operations – Kevin Colbert
College Scouting Coordinator – Bill Baker
Pro Scouting Coordinator – Doug Whaley
Pro/College Scout – Phil Kreidler
College Scout – Mark Gorscak
College Scout – Bob Lane
College Scout – Bruce McNorton
College Scout – Dan Rooney
College Scout – Bill Nunn
BLESTO Scout – Kelvin Fisher

Head coaches

Head Coach – Bill Cowher

Offensive coaches

Offensive Coordinator – Mike Mularkey
Quarterbacks – Tom Clements
Offensive Line – Russ Grimm
Running Backs – Dick Hoak
Wide Receivers – Kenny Jackson
Tight Ends – Ken Whisenhunt
Offensive Assistant – Mike Miller

Defensive coaches

Defensive Coordinator – Tim Lewis
Linebackers – Mike Archer
Defensive Line – John Mitchell
Defensive Backs – Willy Robinson
Defensive Assistant – Lou Spanos

Special teams coaches

Special Teams – Jay Hayes

Strength and conditioning

Conditioning Coach – Chet Fuhrman
Medical Staff
Ophthalmologist – Dr. Randy Beatty
Physician, Orthopedic – Dr. James P. Bradley
Neurological Surgeon – Dr. Joseph Maroon
Physician, M.D. – Dr. Richard Rydze
Physician, Consultant – Dr. Abraham J. Twerski
Physician, M.D. – Dr. Anthony P. Yates
Training Staff
Head Athletic Trainer – John Norwig
Assistant Athletic Trainer – Ryan Grove
Football Staff
Player Development Coordinator – Anthony Griggs
Equipment Manager - Rodgers Freyvogel
Field Manager – Rich Baker
Field/Equipment Assistant – Paul Gallagher
Video Coordinator – Bob McCartney
Video Assistant – Andy Lizanich
Video Assistant – Rob Brakel
Photographers – Mike Fabus

^[1]

Notable additions include Casey Hampton, Jeff Hartings and Kendrell Bell.

Roster

2001 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster

Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

62 Roger Duffy C/G
66 Alan Faneca G
72 Wayne Gandy T
64 Jeff Hartings C/G
78 Mathias Nkwenti T
56 Chukky Okobi C/G
79 Oliver Ross T/G
77 Marvel Smith T
66 Rich Tylski G
68 Keydrick Vincent G

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

97 Kendrell Bell ILB
57 John Fiala ILB
92 Jason Gildon OLB
53 Clark Haggans OLB
50 Earl Holmes ILB
51 Mike Jones ILB
90 Justin Kurpeikis LB
55 Joey Porter OLB

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists

87 Mark Bruener TE (IR)

Practice squad

19 Demetrius Brown WR
95 Rameel Connor DE
76 Chris Hoke DE
24 Payton Williams CB

^[2] ^[3] ^[4]

Rookies in italics
55 Active, 1 Inactive, 4 Practice squad

Preseason

Schedule

Week	Date	Time (ET)	TV	Opponent	Result	Record	Game Site	NFL Recap
1	Fri. Aug. 3	7:30 p.m.	KDKA	at Atlanta Falcons	W 17–16	1–0	Georgia Dome	Recap
2	Thu. Aug. 16	8:00 p.m.	KDKA	at Minnesota Vikings	L 24–10	1–1	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	Recap
3	Sat. Aug. 25	1:00 p.m.	KDKA	Detroit Lions	W 20–7	2–1	Heinz Field	Recap
4	Thu. Aug. 30	7:30 p.m.	KDKA	Buffalo Bills	W 20–0	3–1	Heinz Field	Recap

Regular season

Schedule

The Steelers did not play in their home stadium for the entire month of September. Their Week 2 game against the archrival Cleveland Browns was canceled due to the events of September 11, and was rescheduled for the end of the year. Week 3 was their bye week.

Week	Date	Time (ET)	TV	Opponent	Result	Record	Game Site	NFL Recap
1	Sun. Sep. 9	1:00 p.m.	CBS	at Jacksonville Jaguars	L 21–3	0–1	Alltel Stadium	Summary
2	Sun. Sep. 23	Bye Week
3	Sun. Sep. 30	1:00 p.m.	CBS	at Buffalo Bills	W 20–3	1–1	Ralph Wilson Stadium	Summary
4	Sun. Oct. 7	1:00 p.m.	CBS	Cincinnati Bengals	W 16–7	2–1	Heinz Field	Summary
5	Sun. Oct. 14	1:00 p.m.	CBS	at Kansas City Chiefs	W 20–17	3–1	Arrowhead Stadium	Summary
6	Sun. Oct. 21	1:00 p.m.	CBS	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 17–10	4–1	Raymond James Stadium	Summary
7	Mon. Oct. 29	9:00 p.m.	ABC	Tennessee Titans	W 34–7	5–1	Heinz Field	Summary
8	Sun. Nov. 4	1:00 p.m.	CBS	Baltimore Ravens	L 13–10	5–2	Heinz Field	Summary
9	Sun. Nov. 11	1:00 p.m.	CBS	at Cleveland Browns	W 15–12 (OT)	6–2	Cleveland Browns Stadium	Summary
10	Sun. Nov. 18	4:15 p.m.	CBS	Jacksonville Jaguars	W 20–7	7–2	Heinz Field	Summary
11	Sun. Nov. 25	1:00 p.m.	CBS	at Tennessee Titans	W 34–24	8–2	Adelphia Coliseum	Summary
12	Sun. Dec. 2	1:00 p.m.	Fox	Minnesota Vikings	W 21–16	9–2	Heinz Field	Summary
13	Sun. Dec. 9	4:15 p.m.	CBS	New York Jets	W 18–7	10–2	Heinz Field	Summary
14	Sun. Dec. 16	8:30 p.m.	ESPN	at Baltimore Ravens	W 26–21	11–2	PSINet Stadium	Summary
15	Sun. Dec. 23	1:00 p.m.	Fox	Detroit Lions	W 47–14	12–2	Heinz Field	Summary
16	Sun. Dec. 30	1:00 p.m.	CBS	at Cincinnati Bengals	L 26–23 (OT)	12–3	Paul Brown Stadium	Summary
17	Sun. Jan. 6	1:00 p.m.	CBS	Cleveland Browns	W 28–7	13–3	Heinz Field	Summary

Standings

AFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
⁽¹⁾ Pittsburgh Steelers	13	3	0	.813	352	212	W1
⁽⁵⁾ Baltimore Ravens	10	6	0	.625	303	265	W1
Cleveland Browns	7	9	0	.438	285	319	L1
Tennessee Titans	7	9	0	.438	336	388	L2
Jacksonville Jaguars	6	10	0	.375	294	286	L2
Cincinnati Bengals	6	10	0	.375	226	309	W2

Game summaries

Week 1 (Sunday September 9, 2001): at Jacksonville Jaguars

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	3	0	0	3
Jaguars	0	21	0	0	21

at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
Game weather:
Game attendance: 63,785
Referee: Mack Gentry
TV announcers: (CBS) Don Criqui (play by play), Craig James (color commentator)

- (Sunday September 16, 2001): vs. Cleveland Browns

Due to the September 11th attacks the National Football League postponed all games. It was played after the rest of the scheduled season had been completed.

Week 3 (Sunday September 30, 2001): at Buffalo Bills

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	7	3	0	10	20
Bills	0	3	0	0	3

at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
Game weather:
Game attendance: 72,874
Referee: Tom White
TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)

Week 4 (Sunday October 7, 2001): vs. Cincinnati Bengals

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bengals	0	0	0	7	7
Steelers	0	10	0	6	16

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
Game weather: 46 °F (Partly Cloudy)
Game attendance: 62,335
Referee: Larry Nemmers
TV announcers: (CBS) Bill Macatee (play by play), Trevor Matich (color commentator)

This was the first game at Heinz Field.

Week 5 (Sunday October 14, 2001): at Kansas City Chiefs

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	6	14	0	20
Chiefs	0	2	0	15	17

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
Game weather:
Game attendance: 78,413
Referee: Ron Blum
TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)

Week 6 (Sunday October 21, 2001): at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	7	10	0	17
Buccaneers	0	3	0	7	10

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
Game weather:
Game attendance: 65,588
Referee: Ed Hochuli
TV announcers: (CBS) Dick Enberg (play by play), Dan Dierdorf (color commentator)

Week 7 (Monday October 29, 2001): vs. Tennessee Titans

	1	2	3	4	Total
Titans	0	7	0	0	7
Steelers	7	10	10	7	34

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 9:00 pm EST
Game weather: 51 °F (Cloudy)
Game attendance: 63,763
Referee: Terry McAulay
TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Dan Fouts & Dennis Miller (color commentators), Eric Dickerson & Melissa Stark (sideline reporters)

Week 8 (Sunday November 4, 2001): vs. Baltimore Ravens

	1	2	3	4	Total
Ravens	0	7	0	6	13
Steelers	3	7	0	0	10

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 63 °F (Partly Cloudy)
Game attendance: 62,906
Referee: Bob McElwee
TV announcers: (CBS) Dick Enberg (play by play), Dan Dierdorf (color commentator)

Week 9 (Sunday November 11, 2001): at Cleveland Browns

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Steelers	3	3	3	3	3	15
Browns	9	0	3	0	0	12

at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 73,218
Referee: Dick Hantak
TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)

Week 10 (Sunday November 18, 2001): vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

	1	2	3	4	Total
Jaguars	0	0	7	0	7
Steelers	3	3	7	7	20

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 4:05 pm EST
Game weather: 57 °F (Mostly Cloudy)
Game attendance: 62,644
Referee: Ron Winter
TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)

Week 11 (Sunday November 25, 2001): at Tennessee Titans

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	3	7	14	10	34
Titans	7	7	3	7	24

at Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 68,801
Referee: Bill Leavy
TV announcers: (CBS) Dick Enberg (play by play), Dan Dierdorf (color commentator)

Week 12 (Sunday December 2, 2001): vs. Minnesota Vikings

	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	3	0	0	13	16
Steelers	0	7	14	0	21

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 48 °F (Sunny)
Game attendance: 62,661
Referee: Tony Corrente
TV announcers: (Fox) Dick Stockton (play by play), Troy Aikman & Daryl Johnston (color commentators)

Week 13 (Sunday December 9, 2001): vs. New York Jets

	1	2	3	4	Total
Jets	0	7	0	0	7
Steelers	3	9	0	6	18

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 4:15 pm EST
Game weather: 41 °F (Cloudy)
Game attendance: 62,884
Referee: Terry McAulay
TV announcers: (CBS) Greg Gumbel (play by play), Phil Simms (color commentator)

Week 14 (Sunday December 16, 2001): at Baltimore Ravens

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	3	10	0	13	26
Ravens	0	7	0	14	21

at PSINet Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

Game time: 8:30 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 69,506
Referee: Tom White
TV announcers: (ESPN) Mike Patrick (play by play), Joe Theismann & Paul Maguire (color commentators), Suzy Kolber (sideline reporter)

Week 15 (Sunday December 23, 2001): vs. Detroit Lions

	1	2	3	4	Total
Lions	7	7	0	0	14
Steelers	14	13	10	10	47

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 43 °F (Light Rain)
Game attendance: 62,809
Referee: Johnny Grier
TV announcers: (Fox) Kenny Albert (play by play), Tim Green (color commentator)

Week 16 (Sunday December 30, 2001): at Cincinnati Bengals

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Steelers	14	3	6	0	0	23
Bengals	0	10	0	13	3	26

at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 20 °F (Cloudy)
Game attendance: 63,751
Referee: Jeff Triplette
TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)

Week 17 (Sunday January 6, 2002): vs. Cleveland Browns

	1	2	3	4	Total
Browns	7	0	0	0	7
Steelers	0	7	14	7	28

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 32 °F (Snow)
Game attendance: 59,189
Referee: Bernie Kukar
TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)

Playoffs

Schedule

Week	Date	Time (ET)	TV	Opponent	Result	Game Site	NFL Recap
Divisional	Sun. Jan. 20	12:30 p.m.	CBS	Baltimore Ravens	W 27–10	Heinz Field	Summary
Conference	Sun. Jan. 27	12:30 p.m.	CBS	New England Patriots	L 24–17	Heinz Field	Summary

Game summaries

AFC Divisional Playoff (Sunday January 20, 2002): vs. Baltimore Ravens

	1	2	3	4	Total
Ravens	0	3	7	0	10
Steelers	10	10	0	7	27

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 12:30 pm EST
Game weather: 30 °F (Mostly Cloudy)
Game attendance: 63,976
Referee: Tony Corrente
TV announcers: (CBS) Dick Enberg (play by play), Dan Dierdorf (color commentator)

AFC Championship Game (Sunday January 27, 2002): vs. New England Patriots

	1	2	3	4	Total
Patriots	7	7	7	3	24
Steelers	0	3	14	0	17

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 12:30 pm EST
Game weather: 57 °F (Mostly Cloudy)
Game attendance: 64,704
Referee: Ed Hochuli
TV announcers: (CBS) Greg Gumbel (play by play), Phil Simms (color commentator)

Honors and awards

Pro Bowl Representatives

See: 2002 Pro Bowl

No. 10 Kordell Stewart-Quarterback
No. 36 Jerome Bettis-Running Back
No. 66 Alan Faneca-Offensive Guard
No. 86 Hines Ward-Wide Receiver
No. 92 Jason Gildon-Outside Linebacker
No. 97 Kendrell Bell-Inside Linebacker (as "need" player)

References

↑ 2001 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
↑ 2001 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
↑ 2002 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
↑ "2001 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-12-27.

External links

Recap at NFL.com

Pittsburgh Pirates / Steelers seasons

1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Bold indicates Super Bowl victory Italics indicates Super Bowl appearance

Pittsburgh Steelers

Founded in 1933 Formerly the Pittsburgh Pirates (1933–1939) Based and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Franchise	History All-Time Team Seasons Logos and uniforms Coaches Players Starting quarterbacks First-round draft picks Statistics

Stadiums	Home fields: Forbes Field Pitt Stadium Three Rivers Stadium Heinz Field Training facilities: Rooney Field Point Stadium UPMC Sportsplex Chuck Noll Field

Culture	Football in Western PA Rooney family Myron Cope Steeler Nation Terrible Towel Steel Curtain Evening Shade "Right Here, Right Now" "Renegade" "Here We Go" "Black and Yellow" YinzCam

Lore	Steelers lore J.P. Rooneys Pennsylvania Keystoners Steagles Card-Pitt Steelerettes Immaculate Reception Black Sunday Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story 1995 AFC Championship Game The Chief

Rivalries	Baltimore Ravens Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Tennessee Titans Oakland Raiders Dallas Cowboys

Media	KDKA-TV WPCW-TV Root Sports Pittsburgh Charlie Batch Chris Hoke Bob Pompeani Radio Network WDVE-FM WBGG-AM Bill Hillgrove Tunch Ilkin Craig Wolfley

Division championships (21)	1972 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1983 1984 1992 1994 1995 1996 1997 2001 2002 2004 2007 2008 2010 2014

Conference championships (8)	1974 1975 1978 1979 1995 2005 2008 2010

League championships (6)	1974 (IX) 1975 (X) 1978 (XIII) 1979 (XIV) 2005 (XL) 2008 (XLIII)

Retired numbers	70 75

Hall of Fame members	Players: Bettis Blount Bradshaw Butler Dawson Dudley Greene Ham Harris Johnson Lambert Layne Stallworth Stautner Swann Webster Woodson Coaches and administration: Bell Kiesling Noll Art Rooney Dan Rooney

Current league affiliations	League: National Football League Conference: American Football Conference Division: North Division

Seasons (83)	1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Championship seasons in bold

2001 NFL season

East	Central	West	East	Central	West
Buffalo	Baltimore	Denver	Arizona	Chicago	Atlanta
Indianapolis	Cincinnati	Kansas City	Dallas	Detroit	Carolina
Miami	Cleveland	Oakland	NY Giants	Green Bay	New Orleans
New England	Jacksonville	San Diego	Philadelphia	Minnesota	St. Louis
NY Jets	Pittsburgh	Seattle	Washington	Tampa Bay	San Francisco
	Tennessee

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