1987 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 1987 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 55th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League. The team improved from a 6–10 record from 1986 and finishing 8–7 record and fail to reach the playoffs for a third straight season. Noll was renowned as a stoic character, but in complete contrast was his reaction to Jerry Glanville, the head coach of the Oilers. After the Steelers second meeting, Noll in the postgame handshake grabbed Glanville and told him he'd better watch out or he'd get jumped on. This was in reaction to Glanville's earlier comments on how the Oilers field was the 'house of pain' and his prediction that his players would intentionally hurt the Steelers.
1987 would also mark a "bridging the eras" moment in Steelers history, as 1987 would mark the final seasons of [Pro Football Delton Hall|Hall of Fame|Hall of Famers] John Stallworth and Donnie Shell while also being the rookie season of another future Hall of Famer, Rod Woodson. Alongside fellow Hall of Famer Mike Webster, Stallworth and Shell were two of the final three players on the roster that had been part of all four Super Bowl-winning teams of the 1970s, while Woodson alongside fellow rookie Greg Lloyd would be key members of the Steelers return to prominence in the 1990s.
Offseason
NFL draft
The Steelers 1987 draft class, while not on the same level as their famous 1974 draft class, would turn out to be one of their better draft classes and by far their best in the 1980s.Although the Steelers wanted to draft Rod Woodson to help rebuild their secondary, the team expected Woodson to be drafted before their turn at tenth overall. Head coach Chuck Noll instructed defensive coordinator Tony Dungy not to bother with a scouting report on Woodson due to his expected unavailability. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers were able to draft Woodson after the Cleveland Browns traded for the San Diego Chargers' fifth overall pick and subsequently used selection to draft linebacker Mike Junkin, who was eventually a bust. The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Kelly Stouffer who ultimately never played for the Cardinals due to a contract dispute. The Buffalo Bills were the last likely team to draft Woodson, but instead used the eighth overall pick to draft linebacker Shane Conlan.
After the team lucked out on drafting Woodson, the team would get a solid starter in fellow corner Delton Hall, who would get more playing time than Woodson in 1987 due to the latter holding out for a bigger contract into the season. In addition to Woodson and Lloyd, the team also drafted future Pro Bowlers Thomas Everett and Hardy Nickerson, as well as fullback Merril Hoge, who would be a solid starter for several seasons and later gained fame as an analyst for ESPN. On the undrafted front, the team signed Dwight Stone, who would last 14 years in the NFL including eight in Pittsburgh.
Undrafted free agents
| Player | Position | College |
| Lyneal Alston | Wide receiver | Southern Miss |
| Eric Anderson | Wide receiver | UTEP |
| Steve Apke | Linebacker | Pittsburgh |
| Warren Bone | Defensive end | Texas Southern |
| Dennis Borcky | Nose tackle | Memphis State |
| Richard Bosselmann | Linebacker | Cal Poly |
| Ralph Britt | Tight end | NC State |
| George Cimadevilla | Punter | East Tennessee State |
| Spark Clark | Running Back | Akron |
| Mike Crow | Punter | Northwestern State |
| Moses Ford | Wide receiver | Fayetteville State |
| Corey Gilmore | Running back | San Diego State |
| James Hansen | Offensive tackle | Utah |
| Joe Pizzo | Quarterback | Mars Hill |
| Mike Russo | Nose tackle | Penn State |
| Vernon Stewart | Wide receiver | Akron |
| Albert Williams | Linebacker | UTEP |
Personnel
NFL replacement players
After the league decided to use replacement players during the NFLPA strike, the following team was assembled:Regular season
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday September 13, 1987): vs. [San Francisco 49ers]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 PM EDTGame weather: Game attendance: 55,735Referee: Gordon McCarterTV announcers: Jim Lampley, Ken Stabler- Pittsburgh – Hall 50 fumble return
- San Francisco – FG Wersching 43
- Pittsburgh – Gothard 2 pass from Malone
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 50
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 41
- San Francisco – Frank 1 pass from Montana
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 44
- Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 28 run
- San Francisco – Rice 3 pass from Montana
Week 2 (Sunday September 20, 1987): at [Cleveland Browns]
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, OhioGame time: 1:00 PM EDTGame weather: Game attendance: 79,543Referee: Gene BarthTV announcers: Marv Albert, Joe Namath- Cleveland – FG Jaeger 29
- Cleveland – Mack 1 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27
- PIttsburgh – Shell 19 fumble return
- Cleveland – McNeil 11 pass from Kosar
- Cleveland – FG Jaeger 23
- Cleveland – Matthews 26 interception return
- Cleveland – Weathers 37 pass from Kosar
Week 3 (Sunday September 27, 1987): vs. [New York Jets]
Cancelled due to player's strike.Week 4 (Sunday October 4, 1987): at [Atlanta Falcons]
at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, GeorgiaGame time: 1:00 PM EDTGame weather: Game attendance: 16,667Referee: Red CashionTV announcers: Mel Proctor, Reggie RuckerThis game was played with replacement players.
- Atlanta – FG Davis 27
- Pittsburgh – Jackson 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Hairston 5 pass from Bono
- Atlanta – Safety, Bono penalized for intentional grounding in end zone
- Pittsburgh – Bono 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Clinkscales 11 pass from Collier
- Atlanta – Barney 19 pass from Van Raaphorst
Week 5 (Sunday October 11, 1987): at [Los Angeles Rams]
at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, CaliforniaGame time: 4:00 PM EDTGame weather: Game attendance: 20,219Referee: Bob FredericTV announcers: Fred Roggin, Dave LaphamThis game was played with replacement players.
- Los Angeles Rams – Jackson recovered blocked punt in end zone
- Pittsburgh – Alston 22 pass from Bono
- Pittsburgh – Carter 10 pass from Bono
- Los Angeles Rams – White 2 run
- Los Angeles Rams – McDonald 1 pass from Dils
- Los Angeles Rams – Moore 11 pass from Dils
- Los Angeles Rams – FG Lansford 29
- Pittsburgh – Alston 42 pass from Collier
Week 6 (Sunday October 18, 1987): vs. [Indianapolis Colts]
This game was played with replacement players.Week 7 (Sunday October 25, 1987): vs. [Cincinnati Bengals]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 PM ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 53,692Referee: Fred WyantTV announcers: Don Criqui, Bob Trumpy- Cincinnati – Kinnebrew 2 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 45
- Cincinnati – Martin 41 pass from Esiason
- Pittsburgh – Hall 25 run with lateral after Hinkle interception
- Cincinnati – Jennings 9 pass from Esiason
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 21
- Pittsburgh – Stallworth 12 pass from Malone
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20
Week 8 (Sunday November 1, 1987): at [Miami Dolphins]
at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, FloridaGame time: 1:00 PM ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 52,578Referee: Bob McElweeTV announcers: Sam Nover, Michael Jackson- Pittsburgh – Lockett 10 pass from Malone
- Pittsburgh – Shell 50 interception return
- Miami – Hardy 2 pass from Marino
- Pittsburgh – Pollard 1 run
- Miami – Clayton 41 pass from Marino
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43
- Miami – Duper 50 pass from Marino
- Miami – Clayton 33 pass from Marino
- Miami – Stradford 5 run
Week 9 (Sunday November 8, 1987): at [Kansas City Chiefs]
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MissouriGame time: 1:00 PM ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 45,249Referee: Jim TunneyTV announcers: Tom Hammond, Michael Jackson- Kansas City – Maas 6 fumble return
- Pittsburgh – Carter 4 pass from Malone
- Kansas City – FG Lowery 41
- Pittsburgh – Carter 26 pass from Malone
- Kansas City – FG Lowery 27
- Kansas City – FG Lowery 38
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 44
Week 10 (Sunday November 15, 1987): vs. [Houston Oilers]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 PM ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 56,177Referee: Jerry SeemanTV announcers: Marv Albert, Joe Namath- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 22
- Houston – FG Zendejas 34
- Houston – Duncan 14 pass from Moon
- Houston – D. Hill 42 pass from Moon
- Houston – FG Zendejas 20
- Houston – FG Zendejas 40
Week 11 (Sunday November 22, 1987): at [Cincinnati Bengals]
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, OhioGame time: 1:00 PM ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 59,910Referee: Fred SilvaTV announcers: Mel Proctor, Sam Rutigliano- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43
- Cincinnati – FG Breech 35
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 52
- Pittsburgh – Woodson 45 interception return
- Cincinnati – FG Breech 38
- Cincinnati – FG Breech 41
- Pittsburgh – Thompson 14 pass from Malone
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 46
- CIncinnati – Kinnebrew 2 run
- Pittsburgh – Malone 42 run
Week 12 (Sunday November 29, 1987): vs. [New Orleans Saints]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 PM ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 47,896Referee: Fred WyantTV announcers: Tim Brant, Hank Stram- New Orleans – FG Andersen 25
- Pittsburgh – Woodruff 33 interception return
- Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 5 run
- New Orleans – Mayes 5 run
- New Orleans – Martin 19 pass from Hebert
- New Orleans – FG Andersen 32
- Pittsburgh – Safety, Hansen ran out of end zone
Week 13 (Sunday December 6, 1987): vs. [Seattle Seahawks]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 PM ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 48,881Referee: Gordon McCarterTV announcers: Tom Hammond, Michael Jackson- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37
- Seattle – FG Johnson 33
- Seattle – Largent 12 pass from Krieg
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 24
- Pittsburgh – Pollard 11 run
Week 14 (Sunday December 13, 1987): at [San Diego Chargers]
at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, CaliforniaGame time: 4:00 PM ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 51,605Referee: Jim TunneyTV announcers: Don Criqui, Bob Trumpy- San Diego – Brandon recovered blocked punt in end zone
- San Diego – Safety, Ehin tackled Malone in end zone
- Pittsburgh – Pollard 8 run
- Pittsburgh – Malone 7 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 33
- San Diego – James 15 pass from Fouts
Week 15 (Sunday December 20, 1987): at [Houston Oilers]
at Astrodome, Houston, TexasGame time: 1:00 PM ESTGame weather: DomeGame attendance: 36,683Referee: Tom DooleyTV announcers: Tom Hammond, Sam Rutigliano- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 35
- Houston – Hill 52 pass from Moon
- Houston – FG Zendejas 34
- Pittsburgh – Malone 1 run
- Houston – Pinkett 5 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20
- Houston – Hill 30 pass from Moon