1996 Pittsburgh Steelers season

The 1996 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 64th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.
This was Bill Cowher's fifth season as head coach of the Steelers, which resulted in yet another trip to the playoffs for the team, as Pittsburgh won the AFC Central championship for the fourth time under Cowher.
The team's 10–6 record was not enough to earn the Steelers a first-round bye. In their first playoff game, a rematch of the previous year's AFC Championship Game, the Steelers defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 42–14. The following their season would come to a halt as the Steelers lost to the New England Patriots, 28–3.
This would be the final season that the team wore block numerals, the next year they would switch to rounded numerals where it has remained ever since.

Offseason

Undrafted free agents

Player	Position	College
Ricky Bell	Cornerback	North Carolina State
Lorenzo Green	Defensive tackle	Oklahoma State
Chris Jones	Wide receiver	Mississippi State
Cornell Parker	Cornerback	SMU
Lewis Tyree	Offensive linemen	Florida State

Personnel

Coaches / Staff

Notable additions include Jerome Bettis, Earl Holmes and Carlos Emmons.

Regular season

Game summaries

Week 1 (Sunday September 1, 1996): at [Jacksonville Jaguars]

at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, FloridaGame time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather: Game attendance: 70,210Referee: Bob McElweeTV announcers: Marv Albert, Sam Wyche
Scoring drives:

Jacksonville – Jackson 38 pass from Brunell
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 48
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 29
Jacksonville – McCardell 15 pass from Brunell
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 23
Jacksonville – FG Hollis 52
Jacksonville – J. Stewart 1 run

Week 2 (Sunday September 8, 1996): vs. [Baltimore Ravens]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather: Game attendance: 57,241Referee: Gerry AustinTV announcers: Marv Albert, Sam Wyche
Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – Woodson 43 interception return
Baltimore – Testaverde 6 run
Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run
Baltimore – Alexander 17 pass from Testaverde
Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 5 pass from Tomczak
Pittsburgh – Hastings 20 pass from Tomczak
Baltimore – FG Stover 29
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 35

Week 3 (Monday September 16, 1996): vs. [Buffalo Bills]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 9:00 pm EDTGame weather: Game attendance: 59,002Referee: Larry NemmersTV announcers: Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf
Scoring drives:

Buffalo – FG Christie 31
Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 30
Pittsburgh – Bettis 43 run
Pittsburgh – Lake 47 interception return
Buffalo – FG Christie 45

Week 5 (Sunday September 29, 1996): vs. [Houston Oilers]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather: Game attendance: 58,608Referee: Tom WhiteTV announcers: Don Criqui, Beasley Reece
Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – Stewart 16 pass from Tomczak
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 33
Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 62 pass from Tomczak
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 36
Houston – Davis 4 pass from Chandler
Houston – Lewis 36 interception return
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 36
Pittsburgh – Perry 13 interception return
Houston – Safety, Edge ran out of end zone

Week 6 (Monday October 7, 1996): at [Kansas City Chiefs]

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MissouriGame time: 9:00 pm EDTGame weather: Game attendance: 79,189Referee: Howard RoeTV announcers: Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf
Scoring drives:

Kansas City – Allen 6 run
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 21
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 32
Pittsburgh – Bettis 5 run
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 43

Week 7 (Sunday October 13, 1996): vs. [Cincinnati Bengals]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm EDTGame weather: Game attendance: 58,875Referee: Gary LaneTV announcers: Charlie Jones, Randy Cross
Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 33
Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 19
Pittsburgh – Stewart 32 pass from Tomczak
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 22
Pittsburgh – Woodson 42 fumble return
Cincinnati – Pickens 3 pass from Blake

Week 8 (Sunday October 20, 1996): at [Houston Oilers]

at Astrodome, Houston, TexasGame time: 4:00 pm EDTGame weather: DomeGame attendance: 50,337Referee: Red Cashion TV announcers: Don Criqui, Beasley Reece
Scoring drives:

Houston – FG Del Greco 22
Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 70 pass from Tomczak
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 26
Houston – FG Del Greco 32
Houston – FG Del Greco 48
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 29
Houston – W. Davis 34 pass from Chandler
Houston – George 2 run

Week 9 (Sunday October 27, 1996): at [Atlanta Falcons]

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GeorgiaGame time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: DomeGame attendance: 58,760Referee: Ron BlumTV announcers: Dan Hicks, Bob Trumpy
Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 27
Atlanta – Tobeck 1 pass from Hebert
Atlanta – FG Andersen 41
Pittsburgh – Hastings 112 pass from Tomczak
Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run
Atlanta – Emanuel 4 pass from Hebert
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 20

Week 10 (Sunday November 3, 1996): vs. [St. Louis Rams]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 58,148Referee: Jerry MarkbreitTV announcers: Joe Buck, Bill Maas
Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – Bettis 3 run
Pittsburgh – Bettis 50 run
Saint louis – FG Lohmiller 25
Pittsburgh – Stewart 7 run
Saint louis – FG Lohmiller 27
Pittsburgh- Pegram 91 kickoff return
Pittsburgh – Stewart 2 run
Pittsburgh – Pegram 17 run

Week 11 (Sunday November 10, 1996): at [Cincinnati Bengals]

at Cinergy Field, Cincinnati, OhioGame time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 57,265Referee: Mike CareyTV announcers: Don Criqui, Beasley Reece
Scoring drives:

Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 32
Pittsburgh- FG Johnson 46
Pittsburgh – Bettis 6 run
Cincinnati – Carter 1 run
Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run
Cincinnati – Dunn 90 kickoff return
Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run
Cincinnati – Bieniemy 33 run
Cincinnati – Carter 12 pass from Blake
Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 34

Week 12 (Sunday November 17, 1996): vs. [Jacksonville Jaguars]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 58,879Referee: Bernie KukarTV announcers: Jim Lampley, Bob Golic
Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – Thigpen 12 pass from Tomczak
Pittsburgh – Bettis 3 run
Jacksonville – FG Hollis 40
Pittsburgh – Lake 85 fumble return
Pittsburgh – Thigpen 28 pass from Tomczak

Week 13 (Monday November 25, 1996): at [Miami Dolphins]

at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, FloridaGame time: 9:00 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 73,849Referee: Walt ColemanTV announcers: Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf
Scoring drives:

Miami – McDuffie 2 pass from Marino
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 47
Miami – Jackson 61 interception return
Pittsburgh- Lester 5 run
Pittsburgh – Stewart 5 run
Miami – FG Nedney 41
Pittsburgh – Mills 20 pass from Tomczak

Week 14 (Sunday December 1, 1996): at [Baltimore Ravens]

at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, MarylandGame time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 51,882Referee: Red CashionTV announcers: Jim Lampley, Bob Golic
Scoring drives:

Baltimore – Ogden 1 pass from Testaverde
Pittsburgh – Hastings 30 pass from Tomczak
Pittsburgh- FG Johnson 22
Baltimore – Alexander 24 pass from Testaverd
Baltimore – Byner 7 run
Baltimore – FG Stover 40
Pittsburgh – Hastings 5 pass from Tomzak
Baltimore – Green 3 pass from Testaverde

Week 15 (Sunday December 8, 1996): vs. [San Diego Chargers]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 56,368Referee: Gerry AustinTV announcers: Tom Hammond, Bob Trumpy
Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 49
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 39
Pittsburgh – Hastings 11 pass from Tomzak
San Diego – FG Carney 25
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 21

Week 16 (Sunday December 15, 1996): vs. [San Francisco 49ers]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 59,823Referee: Bob McElweeTV announcers: Pat Summerall, John Madden
Scoring drives:

San Francisco – Rice 4 pass from S. Young
San Francisco – Safety, B. Young sacked Tomczak in end zone
San Francisco – Rice 4 pass from S. Young
San Francisco – Owens 20 pass from S. Young
Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run
San Francisco – FG Wilkins 22
Pittsburgh – Stewart 42 pass from Tomczak

Week 17 (Sunday December 22, 1996): at [Carolina Panthers]

at Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North CarolinaGame time: 1:00 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 72,217Referee: Dick HantakTV announcers: Don Criqui, Beasley Reece
Scoring drives:

Carolina – Walls 9 pass from Collins
Carolina – Safety, Tomczak intentional grounding in end zone
Pittsburgh – Hastings 6 pass from Tomczak
Pittsburgh – Stewart 80 run
Carolina – FG Kasay 35
Carolina – FG Kasay 30
Carolina – FG Kasay 29

Playoffs

Game summaries

AFC Wild Card Playoff (Sunday December 29, 1996): vs. [Indianapolis Colts]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: 12:30 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 58,078Referee: Ed HochuliTV announcers: Dick Enberg, Phil Simms & Paul Maguire
Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 29
Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 50
Indianapolis – Daniel 59 interception return
Indianapolis – Bailey 9 pass from Harbaugh
Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run
Pittsburgh- Bettis 1 run
Pittsburgh – Witman 31 run
Pittsburgh – Stewart 3 run

AFC Divisional Playoff (Sunday January 5, 1997): at [New England Patriots]

at Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, MassachusettsGame time: 12:30 pm ESTGame weather: Game attendance: 60,188Referee: Bernie KukarTV announcers: Marv Albert, Sam Wyche & Randy Cross
Scoring drives:

New England – Martin 2 run
New England – Byars 34 pass from Bledsoe
New England – Martin 78 run
Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 29
New England – Martin 23 run

Honors and awards

Pro Bowl Representatives

No. 26 Rod Woodson-Cornerback
No. 36 Jerome Bettis-Running Back
No. 37 Carnell Lake-Safety
No. 63 Dermontti Dawson-Center
No. 94 Chad Brown-Outside Linebacker
No. 99 Levon Kirkland-Inside Linebacker