1993 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 1993 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 61st season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.
The Steelers looked to continue the progress made under second year head coach Bill Cowher. However, the team would take a slight step backwards, finishing 9–7. Despite that, the Steelers clinched a wild card spot, making the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The team would lose to the Kansas City Chiefs 27–24 in overtime in the AFC Wild Card Round of the playoffs, in what is considered one of the best playoff games in NFL history even though the Steelers were on the losing end.
In the second week of the season, the Steelers suffered a shutout loss to the [1993 1993 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams] 27–0, in the team's penultimate visit to the Los Angeles area until 2019. The day was highlighted by the emergence of Rams rookie Jerome Bettis running over the Steelers defense. Though no one knew it at the time, it would foreshadow what was to come with Bettis' career—as a member of the Steelers, who would acquire Bettis in a draft day trade with the Rams three years later.
1993 was also the season in which the Steelers began their policy of "blacking out" regular season contract negotiations. Early in the season the Steelers had reached contract extensions with Rod Woodson and Barry Foster and continued negotiations with other players. However, this led to discord in the locker room, and management felt that contract talk was taking the team's focus off of winning. At mid-season the Steelers broke off all contract negotiations and have refused to negotiate contracts during the regular season since.
Offseason
Undrafted free agents
| Player | Position | College |
| Reggie Barnes | Linebacker | Oklahoma |
| Randy Cuthbert | Running back | Duke |
| Boris Graham | Linebacker | West Virginia |
| Martin Houston | Fullback | Alabama |
| Toby Lawrence | Guard | Kansas State |
| Gary Reid | Defensive linemen | Cincinnati |
| Tim Samec | Center | Virginia |
| Ricky Sutton | Defensive linemen | Auburn |
Personnel
Coaches / Staff
Notable additions include Chad Brown, Kevin Greene and Willie WilliamsRegular season
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday September 5, 1993): vs. [San Francisco 49ers]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather: Game attendance: 57,502Referee: Gordon McCarterTV announcers: Dick Stockton, Dan FoutsScoring drives:
- San Francisco – FG Cofer 37
- San Francisco – Rice 5 pass from Young
- San Francisco – Rice 6 pass from Young
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 29
- Pittsburgh – Foster 5 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 39
- San Francisco – B. Jones 5 pass from Young
Week 2 (Sunday September 12, 1993): at [Los Angeles Rams]
at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, CaliforniaGame time: 4:00 pm EDTGame weather: Game attendance: 50,588Referee: Dick HantakTV announcers: Dan Hicks, Joe GibbsScoring drives:
- Los Angeles Rams – Drayton 22 pass from Everett
- Los Angeles Rams – Gary 6 run
- Los Angeles Rams – FG Zendejas 54
- Los Angeles Rams – FG Zendejas 50
- Los Angeles Rams – Bettis 29 run
Week 3 (Sunday September 19, 1993): vs. [Cincinnati Bengals]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather: Game attendance: 53,682Referee: Gerald AustinTV announcers: Tom Hammond, Cris CollinsworthScoring drives:
- PIttsburgh – Mills 3 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 33
- Cincinnati – Pickens 15 pass from Klingler
- Pittsburgh – Thigpen 18 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 34
- Pittsburgh – Stone 9 pass from O'Donnell
- PIttsburgh – Stone 38 run
Week 4 (Monday September 27, 1993): at [Atlanta Falcons]
at Georgia Dome, AtlantaGame time: 9:00 pm EDTGame weather: DomeGame attendance: 65,477Referee: Bob McElweeTV announcers: Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan DierdorfScoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – Foster 30 run
- Atlanta – T. Smith 97 kickoff return
- Atlanta – Clark 46 fumble return
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 21
- Atlanta – FG N. Johnson 49
- Pittsburgh – Foster 7 run
- Pittsburgh – Stone 4 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – Thigpen 7 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – Foster 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Davidson 18 fumble return
Week 6 (Sunday October 10, 1993): vs. [San Diego Chargers]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 4:00 pm EDTGame weather: Game attendance: 55,264Referee: Gary LaneTV announcers: Dan Hicks, Dan HamptonScoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 34
- San Diego – FG Carney 33
- Pittsburgh – Kirkland 16 fumble return
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 35
Week 7 (Sunday October 17, 1993): vs. [New Orleans Saints]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather: Game attendance: 56,056Referee: Howard RoeTV announcers: Tim Ryan, Matt MillenScoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – Woodson 63 interception return
- Pittsburgh – Foster 20 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 40
- Pittsburgh – Foster 1 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 22
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 29
- Pittsburgh – Green 26 pass from Tomczak
- New Orleans – Small 3 pass from Buck
- New Orleans – Early 63 pass from Buck
Week 8 (Sunday October 24, 1993): at [Cleveland Browns]
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, OhioGame time: 4:00 pm EDTGame weather:Game attendance: 78,118Referee: Tom WhiteTV announcers: Tom Hammond, Cris CollinsworthScoring drives:
- Cleveland – Jackson 62 pass from Testaverde
- Cleveland – Metcalf 91 punt return
- Pittsburgh – Foster 4 run
- Pittsburgh – Foster 1 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 30
- Cleveland – Wolfey 4 pass from Testaverde
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 46
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 30
- Cleveland – Metcalf 75 punt return
Week 10 (Sunday November 7, 1993): at [Cincinnati Bengals]
at Riverfront Stadium, CincinnatiGame time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather:Game attendance: 51,202Referee: Johnny GrierTV announcers: Drew Goodman, Dan HamptonScoring drives:
- Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 32
- Cincinnati – Williams 97 interception return
- Cincinnati – Query 7 pass from Schroeder
- Pittsburgh – Green 71 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – Hoge 9 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – Foster 1 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 23
Week 11 (Monday November 15, 1993): vs. [Buffalo Bills]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 9:00 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 60,265Referee: Ed HochuliTV announcers: Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan DierdorfScoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – [Leroy Leroy Thompson (running back)|Thompson (running back)|Thompson] 9 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37
- Pittsburgh – Green 1 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 19
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 31
Week 12 (Sunday November 21, 1993): at [Denver Broncos]
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, ColoradoGame time: 4:00 pm ESTGame weather:Game attendance: 74,840Referee: Gordon McCarterTV announcers: Bob Costas, Joe GibbsScoring drives:
- Denver – FG Elam 48
- Denver – Delpino 1 run
- Denver – Russell fumble recovery in end zone
- Denver – FG Elam 27
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37
- Denver – Delpino 1 run
- Denver – V. Johnson 13 pass from Elway
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 38
- Denver – FG Elam 28
- Pittsburgh – Thigpen 39 pass from Tomczak
Week 13 (Sunday November 28, 1993): at [Houston Oilers]
at Astrodome, Houston, TexasGame time: 8:00 pm ESTGame weather: DomeGame attendance: 61,238Referee: Gerald AustinTV announcers: Mike Patrick, Joe TheismannScoring drives:
- Houston – FG Del Greco 43
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42
- Houston – Brown 3 run
- Houston – Jeffires 66 pass from Moon
- Houston – FG Del Greco 21
- Houston – FG Del Greco 28
Week 14 (Sunday December 5, 1993): vs. [New England Patriots]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 51,358Referee: Ron BlumTV announcers: Don Criqui, Paul MaguireScoring drives:
- New England – Coates 3 pass from Bledsoe
- New England – Russell 3 run
- Pittsburgh – Hoge 5 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 35
- Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 pass from O'Donnell
Week 15 (Monday December 13, 1993): at [Miami Dolphins]
at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, FloridaGame time: 9:00 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 70,232Referee: Jerry MarkbreitTV announcers: Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan DierdorfScoring drives:
- Miami – FG Stoyanovich 22
- Pittsburgh – Thompson 3 run
- Pittsburgh – Hoge 2 pass from O'Donnell
- Miami – K. Jackson 3 pass from DeBerg
- Miami – McDuffie 72 punt return
Week 16 (Sunday December 19, 1993): vs. [Houston Oilers]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 57,592Referee: Bernie KukarTV announcers: Tom Hammond, Cris CollinsworthScoring drives:
- Houston – G. Brown 38 pass from Moon
- Houston – Orlando 38 interception return
- Houston – FG Del Greco 34
- Houston – FG Del Greco 22
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 26
- Houston – FG Del Greco 33
- Pittsburgh – Green 36 pass from O'Donnell
- Houston – FG Del Greco 21
- Pittsburgh – Hoge 5 run
Week 17 (Sunday December 26, 1993): at [Seattle Seahawks]
at Kingdome, Seattle, WashingtonGame time: 4:00 pm ESTGame weather: DomeGame attendance: 51,814Referee: Bob McElweeTV announcers: Charlie Jones, Todd ChristensenScoring drives:
- Seattle – Green 2 pass from Mirer
- Seattle – FG Kasay 32
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42
- Seattle – FG Kasay 48
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43
- Seattle – FG Kasay 35
Week 18 (Sunday January 2, 1994): vs. [Cleveland Browns]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 49,208Referee: Dick HantakTV announcers: Marv Albert, Paul MaguireScoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 36
- Cleveland – FG Stover 36
- Cleveland – FG Stover 47
- Cleveland – FG Stover 44
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 38
- Pittsburgh – Green 14 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 26
Playoffs
Game summary
AFC Wild Card Playoff (Saturday January 8, 1994): at [Kansas City Chiefs]
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MissouriGame time: 12:30 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 75,868Referee: Gary LaneTV announcers: Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan DierdorfScoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – Cooper 10 pass from O'Donnell
- Kansas City – Birden 23 pass from Krieg
- Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 30
- Pittsburgh – Mills 26 pass form O'Donnell
- Kansas City – FG Lowery 23
- Kansas City – Allen 2 run
- Pittsburgh – Green 22 pass from O'Donnell
- Kansas City – Barnett 7 pass from Montana
- Kansas City – FG Lowery 32