1995 Pittsburgh Steelers season

The 1995 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 63rd season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League (NFL).

1995 Pittsburgh Steelers season
OwnerThe Rooney Family
General managerTom Donahoe
Head coachBill Cowher
Home fieldThree Rivers Stadium
Results
Record11–5
Division place1st AFC Central
Playoff finishWon Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Bills) 40–21
Won AFC Championship
(vs. Colts) 20–16
Lost Super Bowl XXX
(vs. Cowboys) 17–27
Pro Bowlers
5
AP All-Pros
3
  • Dermontti Dawson (1st team)
  • Greg Lloyd (1st team)
  • Carnell Lake (2nd team)
Team MVPNeil O'Donnell
Team ROYKordell Stewart

This season saw the Steelers return to the Super Bowl for the first time in sixteen years (Super Bowl XIV). The team's 11–5 finish was good enough for the AFC Central championship and the second seed in the conference.

For the second consecutive season, Pittsburgh hosted the AFC Championship game, by virtue of the Indianapolis Colts' upset of the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Steelers won the conference championship game, but lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl in a matchup of teams that were looking to join the San Francisco 49ers as the only other team (at the time) to win five Super Bowls. It was the first time in three Super Bowl meetings that the Steelers had lost to the Cowboys, and also their first Super Bowl loss overall. Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher became (at the time) the youngest head coach to lead his team to the Super Bowl.

After the Super Bowl loss, quarterback Neil O'Donnell signed as a free agent with the New York Jets. The Steelers would not return to the Super Bowl until ten years later.

Offseason

NFL draft
Main article: 1995 NFL draft
1995 Pittsburgh Steelers draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 27 Mark Bruener  Tight end Washington
2 60 Kordell Stewart *  Quarterback Colorado
3 91 Brenden Stai  Guard Nebraska
4 120 Oliver Gibson  Defensive tackle Notre Dame From New England
4 125 Donta Jones  Linebacker Nebraska
5 151 Lethon Flowers  Safety Georgia Tech From Chicago
5 161 Lance Brown  Safety Indiana
6 199 Barron Miles  Cornerback Nebraska
7 235 Henry Bailey  Wide receiver UNLV
7 247 Cole Ford  Placekicker USC
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Staff
1995 Pittsburgh Steelers staff
Front office
  • President – Daniel M. Rooney
  • Vice president – John R. McGinley
  • Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
  • Secretary & counsel – Arthur J. Rooney II
  • Administration advisor – Chuck Noll
  • Director of communications – Joe Gordon
  • Media relations coordinator – Rob Boulware
  • PR Assistant/Community Relations – Ron Miller
  • Entertainment manager – Lynne Balkovec Molyneaux
  • Controller – Mike Hagan
  • Assistant controller – Dan Ferens
  • Assistant controller – Jim Ellenberger
  • Ticket sales manager – Geraldine Glenn
  • Merchandising manager – Tim Carey
  • Football operations
  • Director of football operations – Tom Donahoe
  • Scouting staff
  • College personnel coordinator – Tom Modrak
  • Pro personnel coordinator – Charles Bailey
  • BLESTO College Scout – Mark Gorscak
  • College scout – Phil Kreidler
  • College scout – Bob Lane
  • College scout – Max McCartney

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Conditioning coordinator – Chet Fuhrman
  • Medical staff
  • Ophthalmologist – Dr. Randy Beatty
  • Physician, orthopedic – Dr. James P. Bradley
  • Neurological surgery consultant – 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 trainer – John Norwig
  • Assistant trainer – Rick Burkholder
  • Equipment manager – Anthony Parisi
  • Field manager – Rodgers Freyvogel
  • Field assistant – Rich Baker
  • Video coordinator – Bob McCartney
  • Video assistant – Pat Dolan
  • Player development coordinator – Anthony Griggs
  • Administrative assistant – Lou Spanos
  • Photographers – Mike Fabus, Bill Amatucci

[1]

Roster
1995 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists
  • 80 Johnnie Barnes WR (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 81 Charles Johnson WR (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 86 Damon Mays WR (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 49 Barron Miles CB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
 53 active, 4 inactive, 4 practice squad

[1] [2] [3]

Preseason

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Game site Kickoff (ET) TV Result Record
1 Fri. Aug. 4 at Buffalo Bills Rich Stadium 7:30 p.m. WPXI W 31–10 1–0
2 Sun. Aug. 13 Green Bay Packers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 36–13 1–1
3 Sat. Aug. 19 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Stadium 7:30 p.m. WPXI L 20–7 1–2
4 Thu. Aug. 24 Philadelphia Eagles Three Rivers Stadium 8:00 p.m. ESPN L 16–6 1–3

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Game site Kickoff (ET) TV Result Record
1 Sun. Sep. 3 Detroit Lions Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. FOX W 23–20 1–0
2 Sun. Sep. 10 at Houston Oilers Astrodome 1:00 p.m. NBC W 34–17 2–0
3 Mon. Sep. 18 at Miami Dolphins Joe Robbie Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC L 23–10 2–1
4 Sun. Sep. 24 Minnesota Vikings Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. FOX L 44–24 2–2
5 Sun. Oct. 1 San Diego Chargers Three Rivers Stadium 4:00 p.m. NBC W 31–16 3–2
6 Sun. Oct. 8 at Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville Municipal Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 20–16 3–3
7 Sun. Oct. 15 Bye
8 Thu. Oct. 19 Cincinnati Bengals Three Rivers Stadium 8:00 p.m. TNT L 27–9 3–4
9 Sun. Oct. 29 Jacksonville Jaguars Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 24–7 4–4
10 Sun. Nov. 5 at Chicago Bears Soldier Field 4:00 p.m. NBC W 37–34 (OT) 5–4
11 Mon. Nov. 13 Cleveland Browns Three Rivers Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC W 20–3 6–4
12 Sun. Nov. 19 at Cincinnati Bengals Riverfront Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 49–31 7–4
13 Sun. Nov. 26 at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Municipal Stadium 4:00 p.m. NBC W 20–17 8–4
14 Sun. Dec. 3 Houston Oilers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 21–7 9–4
15 Sun. Dec. 10 at Oakland Raiders Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 4:00 p.m. NBC W 29–10 10–4
16 Sat. Dec. 16 New England Patriots Three Rivers Stadium 12:30 p.m. NBC W 41–27 11–4
17 Sun. Dec. 24 at Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field 1:00 p.m. NBC L 24–19 11–5

Standings
AFC Central
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(2) Pittsburgh Steelers 11 5 0 .688 407 327 L1
Cincinnati Bengals 7 9 0 .438 349 374 W1
Houston Oilers 7 9 0 .438 348 324 W2
Cleveland Browns 5 11 0 .313 289 356 L1
Jacksonville Jaguars 4 12 0 .250 275 404 W1

Week 1 (Sunday September 3, 1995): vs. Detroit Lions
1 2 3 4 Total
Lions 0 10 0 10 20
Steelers 3 3 7 10 23

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 78 °F (26 °C) (Sunny)
  • Game attendance: 58,002
  • Referee: Tom White
  • TV announcers: (FOX) Kevin Harlan (play by play), Jerry Glanville (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 39
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 47
  • Detroit – Perriman 5 pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick)
  • Detroit – FG Hanson 43
  • Pittsburgh – Morris 5 run (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run (Johnson kick)
  • Detroit – Moore 27 pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick)
  • Detroit – FG Hanson 36
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 31

Week 2 (Sunday September 10, 1995): at Houston Oilers
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 14 3 7 10 34
Oilers 3 0 7 7 17

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: Dome
  • Game attendance: 44,122
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Dan Hicks (play by play), Tunch Ilkin (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Week 3 (Monday September 18, 1995): at Miami Dolphins
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 3 0 7 10
Dolphins 3 14 3 3 23

at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida

Scoring drives:

Week 4 (Sunday September 24, 1995): vs. Minnesota Vikings
1 2 3 4 Total
Vikings 0 13 24 7 44
Steelers 0 6 0 18 24

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C) (Partly Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 57,853
  • Referee: Gordon McCarter
  • TV announcers: (FOX) Kenny Albert (play by play), Anthony Muñoz (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 32
  • Minnesota – R. Smith 58 run (Reveiz kick)
  • Minnesota – FG Reveiz 33
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 35
  • Minnesota – Fuller 12 fumble return (Reveiz kick)
  • Minnesota – Carter 18 pass from Moon (Reveiz kick)
  • Minnesota – Thomas 45 lateral from Del Rio (Reveiz kick)
  • Minnesota – FG Reveiz 40
  • Pittsburgh – Pegram 5 run (run failed)
  • Pittsburgh – Thigpen 42 pass from Miller (pass failed)
  • Minnesota – Carter 22 pass from Moon (Reveiz kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Pegram 1 run (run failed)

Week 5 (Sunday October 1, 1995): vs. San Diego Chargers
1 2 3 4 Total
Chargers 0 6 7 3 16
Steelers 21 10 0 0 31

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – W. Williams 63 interception return (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Mays 32 interception return (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 25
  • San Diego – Means 13 run (pass failed)
  • Pittsburgh – Morris 2 run (Johnson kick)
  • San Diego – Martin 19 pass from Humphries (Carney kick)
  • San Diego – FG Carney 28

Week 6 (Sunday October 8, 1995): at Jacksonville Jaguars
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 7 6 3 16
Jaguars 7 10 3 0 20

at Alltell Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

Scoring drives:

Week 8 (Thursday October 19, 1995): vs. Cincinnati Bengals
1 2 3 4 Total
Bengals 0 10 14 3 27
Steelers 0 3 3 3 9

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 8:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C) (Clear)
  • Game attendance: 56,684
  • Referee: Gary Lane
  • TV announcers: (TNT) Verne Lundquist (play by play), Pat Haden (color commentator), Craig Sager (sideline reporter)

Scoring drives:

  • Cincinnati – Scott 47 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 25
  • Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 31
  • Cincinnati – To. McGee 12 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 28
  • Cincinnati – Pickens 41 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 38
  • Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 23
  • Pittsburgh – O'Donnell To Thigpen 60 yard touchdown

Week 9 (Sunday October 29, 1995): vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
1 2 3 4 Total
Jaguars 0 0 7 0 7
Steelers 7 14 0 3 24

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C) (Partly Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 54,516
  • Referee: Tom White
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Week 10 (Sunday November 5, 1995): at Chicago Bears
1 2 3 4OT Total
Steelers 0 17 3 143 37
Bears 3 7 14 100 34

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Game time: 4:00 pm EST
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 61,838
  • Referee: Howard Roe
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators)

Scoring drives:

  • Chicago – FG Butler 40
  • Pittsburgh – Pegram 1 run (Johnson kick)
  • Chicago – Conway 6 pass from Kramer (Butler kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 40
  • Pittsburgh – Pegram 7 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
  • Chicago – Carter 12 pass from Kramer (Butler kick)
  • Chicago – Wetnight 14 pass from Kramer (Butler kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 46
  • Chicago – FG Butler 27
  • Pittsburgh – Pegram 6 run (Johnson kick)
  • Chicago – Minter 2 interception return (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Mills 11 pass form O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 24

Week 11 (Monday November 13, 1995): vs. Cleveland Browns
1 2 3 4 Total
Browns 0 3 0 0 3
Steelers 0 7 6 7 20

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Scoring drives:

Week 12 (Sunday November 19, 1995): at Cincinnati Bengals
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 3 10 15 21 49
Bengals 14 10 7 0 31

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Scoring drives:

  • Cincinnati – Scott 4 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 50
  • Cincinnati – Blake 1 run (Pelfrey kick)
  • Cincinnati – Pickens 1 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Mills 42 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
  • Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 27
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 26
  • Cincinnati – McGee 20 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Hastings 15 pass from O'Donnell (Pegram run)
  • Pittsburgh – Stewart 71 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Morris 3 run (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Morris 8 run (Johnson kick)

Week 13 (Sunday November 26, 1995): at Cleveland Browns
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 10 7 0 3 20
Browns 0 10 7 0 17

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Scoring drives:

Week 14 (Sunday December 3, 1995): vs. Houston Oilers
1 2 3 4 Total
Oilers 0 7 0 0 7
Steelers 7 7 0 7 21

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C) (Light Rain)
  • Game attendance: 56,013
  • Referee: Red Cashion
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Cris Collinsworth (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Week 15 (Sunday December 10, 1995): at Oakland Raiders
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 7 13 3 6 29
Raiders 0 7 3 0 10

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Mills 37 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 41
  • Oakland – Bruce 1 interception return (Jaeger kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 35
  • Pittsburgh – Mills 14 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
  • Oakland – FG Jaeger 39
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 32
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 20
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 22

Week 16 (Saturday December 16, 1995): vs. New England Patriots
1 2 3 4 Total
Patriots 3 3 6 15 27
Steelers 17 7 17 0 41

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 12:30 pm EST
  • Game weather: 38 °F (3 °C) (Sunny)
  • Game attendance: 57,158
  • Referee: Bernie Kukar
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Week 17 (Sunday December 24, 1995): at Green Bay Packers
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 10 3 6 19
Packers 0 14 7 3 24

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Scoring drives:

  • Green Bay – Bennett 9 run (Jacke kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 33
  • Green Bay – Brooks 19 pass from Favre (Jacke kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Mills 8 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
  • Green Bay – Chmura 1 pass from Favre (Jacke kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 25
  • Green Bay – FG Jacke 47
  • Pittsburgh – Lester 2 run (pass failed)

Playoffs

AFC Divisional Playoff (Saturday January 6, 1996): vs. Buffalo Bills
1 2 3 4 Total
Bills 0 7 7 7 21
Steelers 7 16 3 14 40

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Scoring drives:

AFC Championship game (Sunday January 14, 1996): vs. Indianapolis Colts
Main article: 1995 AFC Championship game
1 2 3 4 Total
Colts 3 3 3 7 16
Steelers 3 7 3 7 20

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Scoring drives:

  • Indianapolis – FG Blanchard 34
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 31
  • Indianapolis – FG Blanchard 36
  • Pittsburgh – Stewart 5 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
  • Indianapolis – FG Blanchard 37
  • Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 36
  • Indianapolis – Turner 47 pass from Harbaugh (Blanchard kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run (Johnson kick)

Super Bowl XXX (Sunday January 28, 1996): vs. Dallas Cowboys
1 2 3 4 Total
Cowboys 10 3 7 7 27
Steelers 0 7 0 10 17

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

Scoring drives:

Honors and awards

Pro Bowl Representatives

See: 1996 Pro Bowl

References
  1. 1995 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  2. 1996 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  3. "1995 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
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