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).

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

1995 Expansion Draft

NFL draft

Undrafted free agents

Staff

Roster

^[1]^[2]^[3]

Preseason

Schedule

Regular season

Schedule

Standings

Game summaries

Week 1 (Sunday September 3, 1995): vs. Detroit Lions

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

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:

Pittsburgh – Hastings 72 punt return (Johnson kick)
Houston – FG Del Greco 43
Pittsburgh – Bruener 15 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 43
Pittsburgh – McAfee 22 run (Johnson kick)
Houston – Chandler 1 run (Del Greco kick)
Pittsburgh – Lake 32 interception return (Johnson kick)
Houston – Thomas 6 run (Del Greco kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 40

Week 3 (Monday September 18, 1995): at Miami Dolphins

at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida

Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
Game weather:
Game attendance: 72,874
Referee: Larry Nemmers
TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf (color commentators), Lynn Swann (sideline reporter)

Scoring drives:

Miami – FG Stoyanovich 37
Miami – Parmalee 2 run (Stoyanovich kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 40
Miami – Kirby 28 pass from Marino (Stoyanovich kick)
Miami – FG Stoyanovich 39
Miami – FG Stoyanovich 21
Pittsburgh – Mills 27 pass form Miller (Johnson kick)

Week 4 (Sunday September 24, 1995): vs. Minnesota Vikings

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

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C) (Sunny)
Game attendance: 57,012
Referee: Gerald Austin
TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators)

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

at Alltell Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
Game weather:
Game attendance: 72,042
Referee: Mike Carey
TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Jacksonville – Tillman 10 pass from Brunell (Hollis kick)
Jacksonville – Stewart 6 run (Hollis kick)
Pittsburgh – Avery 18 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
Jacksonville – FG Hollis 53
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 41
Jacksonville – FG Hollis 32
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 19
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 22

Week 7 (Sunday October 15, 1995): Bye Week

Week 8 (Thursday October 19, 1995): vs. Cincinnati Bengals

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

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:

Pittsburgh – Pegram 6 run (Johnson kick)
Pittsburgh – Thigpen 15 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
Pittsburgh – Williams 6 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
Jacksonville – Mitchell 16 pass from Brunell (Hollis kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 36

Week 10 (Sunday November 5, 1995): at Chicago Bears

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

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 9:00 pm EST
Game weather: 34 °F (1 °C) (Fog)
Game attendance: 58,675
Referee: Ron Blum
TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf (color commentators), Lynn Swann (sideline reporter)

Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – Mills 2 pass from Stewart (Johnson kick)
Cleveland – FG Stover 29
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 38
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 34
Pittsburgh – Thigpen 9 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)

Week 12 (Sunday November 19, 1995): at Cincinnati Bengals

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 54,636
Referee: Bob McElwee
TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators)

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

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game time: 4:00 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 67,269
Referee: Dick Hantak
TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators)

Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 33
Pittsburgh – Bruener 12 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
Cleveland – FG Stover 44
Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run (Johnson kick)
Cleveland – Jackson 11 pass from Testaverde (Stover kick)
Cleveland – Testaverde 1 run (Stover kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 27

Week 14 (Sunday December 3, 1995): vs. Houston Oilers

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:

PIttsburgh – Thigpen 33 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
Houston – Sanders 76 pass from Chandler (Del Greco kick)
Pittsburgh – Bruener 7 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
Pittsburgh – Morris 30 run (Johnson kick)

Week 15 (Sunday December 10, 1995): at Oakland Raiders

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

Game time: 4:00 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 53,516
Referee: Larry Nemmers
TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators)

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

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:

New England – FG Bahr 23
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 32
New England – FG Bahr 22
Pittsburgh – Thigpen 14 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
Pittsburgh – Buckner 46 fumble return (Johnson kick)
New England – Coates 6 pass from Bledsoe (run failed)
Pittsburgh – Stewart 22 run (Johnson kick)
New England – Coates 6 pass from Bledsoe (run failed)
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 32
New England – Martin 22 pass from Bledsoe (Meggett pass from Bledsoe)
Pittsburgh – Mills 62 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
Pittsburgh – Oldham 23 fumble return (Johnson kick)

Week 17 (Sunday December 24, 1995): at Green Bay Packers

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 60,649
Referee: Jerry Markbreit
TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Randy Cross (color commentator)

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

Game summaries

AFC Divisional Playoff (Saturday January 6, 1996): vs. Buffalo Bills

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 12:30 pm EST
Game weather: 18 °F (−8 °C) (Cloudy)
Game attendance: 59,072
Referee: Larry Nemmers
TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Cris Collinsworth (color commentator), Jim Gray (sideline reporter)

Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – Williams 1 run (Johnson kick)
Pittsburgh – Mills 10 pass form O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 45
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 38
Buffalo – Thomas 1 run (Christie kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 34
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 39
Buffalo – Cline 2 pass from Van Pelt (Christie kick)
Buffalo – Thomas 9 pass from Kelly (Christie kick)
Pittsburgh – Morris 13 run (Johnson kick)
Pittsburgh – Morris 2 run (Johnson kick)

AFC Championship game (Sunday January 14, 1996): vs. Indianapolis Colts

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 12:30 pm EST
Game weather: 44 °F (7 °C) (Sunny)
Game attendance: 61,062
Referee: Bernie Kukar
TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators), Jim Gray & Will McDonough (sideline reporters)

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

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

Game time: 6:20 pm EST/4:20 pm PST
Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C) (Sunny)
Game attendance: 76,347
Referee: Red Cashion
TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators), Jim Gray & Will McDonough (sideline reporters)

Scoring drives:

Dallas – FG Boniol 42
Dallas – Novacek 3 pass from Aikman (Boniol kick)
Dallas – FG Boniol 35
Pittsburgh – Thigpen 6 pass from O'Donnell (Johnson kick)
Dallas – E. Smith 1 run (Boniol kick)
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson
Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run (Johnson kick)
Dallas – E. Smith 4 run (Boniol kick)

Honors and awards

Pro Bowl Representatives

See: 1996 Pro Bowl

No. 37 Carnell Lake-Cornerback/Safety
No. 63 Dermontti Dawson-Center
No. 82 Yancey Thigpen-Wide Receiver
No. 91 Kevin Greene-Outside Linebacker
No. 95 Greg Lloyd-Outside Linebacker

References

^ a b 1995 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
^ 1996 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
^ "1995 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 24, 2014.

External links

1995 Pittsburgh Steelers season at Pro Football Reference
1995 Pittsburgh Steelers season statistics at jt-sw.com