1953 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 1953 Pittsburgh Steelers season marked the franchise's 21st year in the National Football League. The club finished with a record of 6 wins and 6 losses, 4th place in the league's Eastern Conference.
Regular season
Schedule
| Game | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap | Sources |
| 1 | September 27 | at Detroit Lions | L 21–38 | 0–1 | ||||
| 2 | October 3 | [1953 1953 New York Giants season|New York Giants season|New York Giants] | W 24–14 | 1–1 | ||||
| 3 | October 11 | [1953 1953 Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals season|Chicago Cardinals] | W 31–28 | 2–1 | ||||
| 4 | October 17 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 7–23 | 2–2 | ||||
| 5 | October 24 | Green Bay Packers | W 31–14 | 3–2 | ||||
| 6 | November 1 | Philadelphia Eagles | L 7–35 | 3–3 | ||||
| 7 | November 8 | at Cleveland Browns | L 16–34 | 3–4 | ||||
| 8 | November 15 | at New York Giants | W 14–10 | 4–4 | ||||
| 9 | November 22 | Cleveland Browns | L 16–20 | 4–5 | ||||
| 10 | November 29 | Washington Redskins | L 9–17 | 4–6 | ||||
| 11 | December 6 | at Chicago Cardinals | W 21–17 | 5–6 | ||||
| 12 | December 13 | at Washington Redskins | W 14–13 | 6–6 |
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday September 27, 1953): [Detroit Lions]
at Briggs Stadium, Detroit, MichiganGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 20,675Referee: TV announcers:Scoring drives:
- Detroit – Carpenter 73 interception
- Pittsburgh – Nickel 14 pass from Finks
- Detroit – Gedman 1 run
- Detroit – FG Walker 40
- Pittsburgh – Mathews 1 fumble run
- Detroit – Hart 49 pass from Layne
- Detroit – Walker 8 pass from Hoernschmeyer
- Detroit – Hoernschemeyer 29 pass from Layne
- Pittsburgh – Nickel 15 pass from Marchibroda
Week 2 (Saturday October 3, 1953): [New York Giants]
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 31,500Referee: TV announcers:Scoring drives:
- New York Giants – Clay 2 pass from Conerly
- Pittsburgh – Chandnois 93 kick return
- New York Giants – Long 55 pass from Conerly
- Pittsburgh – FG Bolkovac 35
- Pittsburgh – Nickel 4 pass from Finks
- Pittsburgh – Bolkovac 14 fumble run
Week 3 (Sunday October 11, 1953): [Chicago Cardinals]
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 25,953Referee: TV announcers:Scoring drives:
- Chicago Cardinals – Olszewski 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Rogel 1 run
- Chicago Cardinals – Nagler 34 pass from Root
- Chicago Cardinals – Nagler 6 pass from Root
- Chicago Cardinals – Stonesifer 3 pass from Trippi
- Pittsburgh – Mathews 19 pass from Finks
- Pittsburgh – Rogel 4 run
- Pittsburgh – Barker 4 pass from Finks
- Pittsburgh – FG Bolkovac 28
Week 4 (Saturday October 17, 1953): [Philadelphia Eagles]
at Connie Mack Stadium, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 18,681Referee: TV announcers:Scoring drives:
- Philadelphia – Pihos 28 pass from Burk
- Pittsburgh – Mathews 23 pass from Finks
- Philadelphia – FG Walston 11
- Philadelphia – Giancanelli 16 pass from Thomason
- Philadelphia – Ziegler 1 run
Week 5 (Saturday October 24, 1953): [Green Bay Packers]
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 22,918Referee: TV announcers:Scoring Drives:
- Pittsburgh – Finks 4 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Bolkovac 40
- Pittsburgh – Chandnois 6 run
- Pittsburgh – Brandt 2 run
- PIttsburgh – Brandt 1 run
- Green Bay – Parilli 1 run
- Green Bay – Cone 5 pass from Rote
Week 6 (Sunday November 1, 1953): [Philadelphia Eagles]
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 27,547Referee: TV announcers:Scoring Drives:
- Philadelphia – Gianganelli 7 run
- Philadelphia – Williams 48 run
- Philadelphia – Walston 21 pass from Thomason
- Pittsburgh – Mathews 11 pass from Finks
- Philadelphia – Pihos 26 pass from Thomason
- Philadelphia – Giancanelli 8 pass from Thomason
Week 7 (Sunday November 8, 1953): [Cleveland Browns]
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, OhioGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 35,592Referee: TV announcers:Scoring Drives:
- Pittsburgh – FG Bolkovac 27
- Pittsburgh – Mathews 2 run
- Cleveland – Carpenter 7 run
- Cleveland – FG Groza 20
- Cleveland – Renfro 44 run
- Pittsburgh – Mathews 77 pass from Finks
- Cleveland – Renfro 79 blocked field goal return
- Cleveland – Lavelli 17 pass from Graham
- Cleveland – FG Groza 14
Week 8 (Sunday November 15, 1953): [New York Giants]
at Polo Grounds, New York, New YorkGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 20,411Referee: TV announcers:Scoring Drives:
- Pittsburgh – Dodrill 16 fumble run
- New York Giants – Gifford 6 pass from Conerly
- New York Giants – FG Clay 20
- Pittsburgh – Butler 33 pass from Finks
Week 9 (Sunday November 22, 1953): [Cleveland Browns]
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 32,904Referee: TV announcers:Scoring Drives:
- Cleveland – Renfro 54 pass from Graham
- Pittsburgh – Finks 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Safety, Lahr tackled in end zone by Mathews
- Cleveland – FG Groza 50
- Cleveland – Brewster 31 pass from Graham
- Cleveland – FG Groza 41
- Pittsburgh – Mathews 1 run
Week 10 (Sunday November 29, 1953): [Washington Redskins]
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 17,206Referee: TV announcers:Scoring Drives:
- Pittsburgh – Safety, Heath tackled by Ferry in end zone
- Washington – Taylor 5 pass from LeBaron
- Pittsburgh – Chandnois 5 run
- Washington – FG Dudley 41
- Washington – Rykovich 5 pass from LeBaron
Week 11 (Sunday December 6, 1953): [Chicago Cardinals]
at Comiskey Park, Chicago, IllinoisGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 14,138Referee: TV announcers:Scoring Drives:
- Chicago Cardinals – Olszewski 1 run
- Chicago Cardinals – FG Summerall 12
- Pittsburgh – Brandt 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Nickel 6 pass from Mackrides
- Pittsburgh – Mackrides 2 run
- Chicago Cardinals – Paul 5 pass from Romanik
Week 12 (Sunday December 13, 1953): [Washington Redskins]
at Griffith Stadium, Washington, DCGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 22,057Referee: TV announcers:Scoring Drives: