1989 Pittsburgh Steelers season


The 1989 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 57th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League. They were considered a rebuilding team filled with many young players, especially after the release of longtime center Mike Webster in the offseason. The young team showed its inexperience in the first game of the season, when they lost at home to the archrival Cleveland Browns 51–0. The loss marked the Steelers worst defeat in franchise history. The following week wasn't much better, losing 41–10 to another division rival, the defending AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals.
However, the Steelers clinched the final playoff spot in the last week in the season with a 9–7 record. Chuck Noll, in his 21st season as the team's head coach, was named the NFL's Coach of the Year for the only time in his coaching career.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Steelers would have a memorable come-from-behind overtime victory over the division-rival Houston Oilers 26–23, which saw Gary Anderson kick a game-winning, 50-yard field goal in the extra period. The following week, the Steelers nearly pulled off a major upset against the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium before losing 24–23 on a Melvin Bratton one-yard touchdown run with 2:22 remaining in the game.
Though the Steelers would not make the playoffs again under Chuck Noll, the season did set the tone for the team's return to prominence in the 1990s under his successor, Bill Cowher.

Offseason

Undrafted free agents

PlayerPositionCollege
Owen BartruffSafetyFlorida
Lester BrinkleyDefensive endOle Miss
Cammie CollinsLinebackerJackson State
Gene CullinaneCenterWashburn
Charles FryarCornerbackNebraska
Fred HighsmithRunning backMiami (FL)
Alvin JohnsonWide receiverCentral Missouri State
Bob KovachGuardWest Virginia
John O'NeillTackleMiami
Terry O'SheaTight endCalifornia (PA)
Thane RitchieTight endWheaton
Tracy SimienLinebackerTCU
John StroiaTackleWest Virginia
Fine UngaRunning backWeber State
Steve VandegriftNose tackleMissouri
Eric WilkersonRunning backKent State

Offseason

The offseason was marked with the team deciding not to renew the contract of longtime center Mike Webster. Webster's release marked the end of the Super Bowl-era players on the team. Although Dwayne Woodruff was still with the Steelers and had won a Super Bowl ring during his rookie year, Webster had been the last member on the team that won all four Super Bowls. Webster would be succeeded at center with a young Dermontti Dawson, who was drafted the year before to be groomed as Webster's replacement, and like Webster would go on to an All-Pro career as one of the best at his position.
Meanwhile, the team drafted UCLA safety Carnell Lake in the second round of the 1989 draft. Lake would be a key member of the team's defense through the 1998 season, although his accomplishments would often be underlooked as opposed to his teammate, Rod Woodson.

Regular season

Game summaries

Week 1

The Steelers and Chuck Noll faced off against their divisional rival Browns and former defensive coordinator Bud Carson in the season opener.

Week 2 (Sunday September 17, 1989): at [Cincinnati Bengals]

at Riverfront Stadium, CincinnatiGame time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather:Game attendance: 53,885Referee: Dick JorgensenTV announcers: Don Criqui, Ahmad Rashad
Scoring drives:
  • Cincinnati – FG Gallery 26
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 38
  • Cincinnati – Brown 27 pass from Esiason
  • Cincinnati – FG Gallery 47
  • Cincinnati – Woods 1 run
  • Pittsburgh – Hill 7 pass from Brister
  • CIncinnati – Jennings 1 run
  • CIncinnati – Brooks 2 run
  • Cincinnati – Jennings 43 pass from Esiason

Week 3 (Sunday September 24, 1989): vs. [Minnesota Vikings]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather: Game attendance: 50,744Referee: Dick HantakTV announcers: Steve Zabriskie, Hank Stram
Scoring drives:
  • Pittsburgh – Mularkey 15 pass from Brister
  • Minnesota – Wilson 1 run
  • Pittsburgh – Worley 8 run
  • Minnesota – Thomas 27 fumble return
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 2 run
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 38
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 44

Week 4 (Sunday October 1, 1989): at [Detroit Lions]

at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, MichiganGame time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather: DomeGame attendance: 43,804Referee: Ben DreithTV announcers: Don Criqui, Ahmad Rashad
Scoring drives:
  • Detroit – FG Murray 37
  • Pittsburgh – Lipps 48 pass from Brister
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20
  • Pittsburgh – Carter 1 run
  • Pittsburgh – Wallace 2 run

Week 5 (Sunday October 8, 1989): vs. [Cincinnati Bengals]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather: Game attendance: 52,785Referee: Howard RoeTV announcers: Joel Meyers, Paul Maguire
Scoring drives:
  • Pittsburgh – Carter 22 pass from Brister
  • Cincinnati – FG Breech 24
  • Cincinnati – FG Breech 27
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 24
  • Cincinnati – Martin 7 pass from Esiason
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 40
  • Cincinnati – Brooks 13 run
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 34
  • Cincinnati – Brooks 65 run

Week 6 (Sunday October 15, 1989): at [Cleveland Browns]

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, OhioGame time: 4:00 pm EDTGame weather:Game attendance: 78,840Referee: Gene BarthTV announcers: Joel Meyers, Paul Maguire
Scoring drives:
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 49
  • Pittsburgh – Carter 14 pass from Blackledge
  • Cleveland – Metcalf 2 run
  • Pittsburgh – Williams 1 run

Week 7 (Sunday October 22, 1989): at [Houston Oilers]

at Astrodome, Houston, TexasGame time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather: DomeGame attendance: 59,091Referee: Jerry MarkbreitTV announcers: Tom Hammond, Joe Namath
Scoring drives:
  • Houston – Highsmith 3 pass from Moon
  • Houston – FG Zendejas 41
  • Houston – Duncan 51 pass from Moon
  • Houston – Highsmith 5 pass from Moon
  • Houston – FG Zendejas 51

Week 8 (Sunday October 29, 1989): vs. [Kansas City Chiefs]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 54,194Referee: Tom DooleyTV announcers: Joel Meyers, Paul Maguire
Scoring drives:
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 41
  • Pittsburgh – Lipps 16 pass from Brister
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 47
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 29
  • Kansas City – FG Lowery 50
  • Kansas City – Mandley 8 pass from DeBerg
  • Kansas City – Maas 4 fumble return
  • Pittsburgh – Lipps 64 pass from Brister

Week 9 (Sunday November 5, 1989): at [Denver Broncos]

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, ColoradoGame time: 4:00 pm ESTGame weather:Game attendance: 74,739Referee: Red CashionTV announcers: Marv Albert, Bob Trumpy
Scoring drives:
  • Denver – Humphrey 22 run
  • Denver – FG Treadwell 26
  • Pittsburgh – Carter 15 pass from Brister
  • Denver – FG Treadwell 26
  • Denver – Johnson 44 pass from Elway
  • Denver – Elway 2 run
  • Denver – Humphrey 12 run

Week 10 (Sunday November 12, 1989): vs. [Chicago Bears]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 56,505Referee: Gordon McCarterTV announcers: Jim Nantz, Pat Haden
Scoring drives:
  • Chicago – N. Anderson 2 run
  • Chicago – FG Butler 39
  • Chicago – Muster 20 pass from Harbaugh
  • Chicago – FG Butler 35

Week 11 (Sunday November 19, 1989): vs. [San Diego Chargers]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 44,203Referee: Bob McElweeTV announcers: Joel Meyers, Paul Maguire
Scoring drives:
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 49
  • San Diego – A. Miller 20 pass from McMahon
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 28
  • San Diego – FG Bahr 27
  • Pittsburgh – Woodson 84 kickoff return
  • San Diego – A. Miller 18 pass from McMahon
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run

Week 12 (Sunday November 26, 1989): at [Miami Dolphins]

at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, FloridaGame time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather:Game attendance: 59,936Referee: Dick JorgensenTV announcers: Marv Albert, Bob Trumpy
Steelers get first ever win against the Dolphins in Miami. This game was played in a driving rain storm.
Scoring drives:
  • Miami – Smith 1 run
  • Miami – Clayton 66 pass from Marino
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run
  • Pittsburgh – Woodruff 21 with lateral after Lake 2 fumble return
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 5 run
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run

Week 13 (Sunday December 3, 1989): vs. [Houston Oilers]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 40,541Referee: Ben DreithTV announcers: Jim Donovan, Bob Trumpy
Scoring drives:
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 18
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 4 run
  • Houston – Duncan 18 pass from Moon
  • Houston – Hill 27 pass from Moon
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37
  • Houston – Safety, McDowell tackled Newsome in end zone
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 18
  • Houston – White 1 run

Week 14 (Sunday December 10, 1989): at [New York Jets]

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New JerseyGame time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather:Game attendance: 41,037Referee: Johnny GrierTV announcers: Tom Hammond, Joe Namath
Scoring drives:
  • Pittsburgh – Worley 35 run
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 45

Week 15 (Sunday December 17, 1989): vs. [New England Patriots]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 26,594Referee: Tom DooleyTV announcers: Jim Donovan, Jimmy Cefalo
Scoring drives:
  • Pittsburgh – Worley 8 run
  • New England – FG Staurovsky 20
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run
  • Pittsburgh – Lipps 58 run
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 2 run
  • New England – C. Jones 12 pass from Wilson

Week 16 (Sunday December 24, 1989): at [Tampa Bay Buccaneers]

Game time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather:Game attendance: 29,690Referee: Jerry SeemanTV announcers: Joel Meyers, Paul Maguire
Scoring drives:
  • Pittsburgh – Worley 1 run
  • Tampa Bay – Carrier 7 pass from Ferguson
  • Pittsburgh – Lipps 79 pass from Brister
  • Tampa Bay – FG Igwebuike 45
  • Pittsburgh – Lipps 12 pass from Brister
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 32
  • Tampa Bay – FG Igwebuike 24
  • Pittsburgh – Worley 1 run
  • Tampa Bay – Safety Cocroft blocked punt out of end zone
  • Tampa Bay – Carrier 39 pass from Ferguson

Playoffs

Game summaries

AFC Wild Card Playoff (Sunday December 31, 1989): at [Houston Oilers]

at Astrodome, Houston, TexasGame time: 4:00 pm ESTGame weather: DomeGame attendance: 58,306Referee: Pat HaggertyTV announcers: Marv Albert, Bob Trumpy
Scoring drives:
  • Pittsburgh – Worley 9 run
  • Houston – FG Zendejas 26
  • Houston – FG Zendejas 35
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25
  • Houston – FG Zendejas 26
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 30
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 48
  • Houston – Givins 18 pass from Moon
  • Houston – Givins 9 pass from Moon
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 2 run
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 50

AFC Divisional Playoff (Sunday January 7, 1990): at [Denver Broncos]

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, ColoradoGame time: 4:00 pm ESTGame weather:Game attendance: 75,868Referee: Gene BarthTV announcers: Dick Enberg, Bill Walsh
Scoring drives:
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 32
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 7 run
  • Denver – Bratton 1 run
  • Pittsburgh – Lipps 9 pass from Brister
  • Denver – FG Treadwell 43
  • Denver – Johnson 37 pass from Elway
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 35
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 32
  • Denver – Bratton 1 run

Awards and honors