1946 Pittsburgh Steelers season

The 1946 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 14th season in the National Football League (NFL). The team finished the season with a record of 5–5–1. This season marked the first of two seasons played with Jock Sutherland as head coach.

1946 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Head coachJock Sutherland
Home fieldForbes Field
Results
Record5–5–1
Division place3rd (tied) NFL Eastern
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Off Season Changes

When the 1945 season ended, Jock Sutherland returned from service in World War II and signed a head coaching contract with team owner Art Rooney, Sr. on December 29, 1945 in front of local reporters. Sutherland's fame as a college coach caused a great deal of excitement among Steelers fans and ticket sales for the 1946 season set records.

Additionally, fan favorite Bill Dudley was set to return for his first full season since serving in World War II. Dudley had only played in 4 games in 1945. By the end of the season, Dudley's play was so exceptional, he was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player.[1]

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record
1 September 20 Chicago Cardinals W 14–7 1–0
2 September 29 Washington Redskins T 14–14 1–0–1
3 October 6 New York Giants L 14–17 1–1–1
4 October 13 Boston Yanks W 16–7 2–1–1
5 October 20 at Green Bay Packers L 7–17 2–2–1
6 October 27 at Boston Yanks W 33–7 3–2–1
7 November 3 Washington Redskins W 14–7 4–2–1
8 November 10 at Detroit Lions L 7–17 4–3–1
9 November 17 Philadelphia Eagles W 10–7 5–3–1
10 November 24 at New York Giants L 0–7 5–4–1
11 December 1 at Philadelphia Eagles L 7–10 5–5–1

Week 1 (Friday September 20, 1946): Chicago Cardinals
1 2 3 4 Total
Cardinals 0 0 7 0 7
Steelers 7 7 0 0 14

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 32,951
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Seabright 8 pass from Dudley (Dudley kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Compagno 1 run (Dudley kick)
  • Chicago Cardinals – Goldberg 8 pass from Mallouf (Cuff kick)

Week 2 (Monday September 29, 1946): Washington Redskins
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 0 0 14 14
Redskins 7 7 0 0 14

at Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 33,620
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Washington – Saenz 1 run (Poillon kick)
  • Washington – Todd 23 pass from Baugh (Poillon kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Jansante 17 pass from Clement (Dudley kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Dudley 1 run (Dudley kick)

Week 3 (Sunday October 6, 1946): New York Giants
1 2 3 4 Total
Giants 0 17 0 0 17
Steelers 0 0 7 7 14

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 33,702
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • New York – Hapes 2 run (Strong kick)
  • New York – Filchock 70 run (Strong kick)
  • New York – FG Strong 23
  • Pittsburgh – Garnaas 30 pass from Dudley (Dudley kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Clement 2 run (Dudley kick)

Week 4 (Sunday October 13, 1946): Boston Yanks
1 2 3 4 Total
Yanks 0 0 0 7 7
Steelers 0 16 0 0 16

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 34,297
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Lach 1 run (kick blocked)
  • Pittsburgh – Lach 5 run (Dudley kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Dudley 34
  • Boston – Scollard 6 fumble run (Scollard kick)

Week 5 (Sunday October 20, 1946): Green Bay Packers
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 7 0 0 7
Packers 0 3 0 14 17

at East Stadium, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 22,588
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Green Bay – FG Fritsch 38
  • Pittsburgh – Dudley 31 run (Dudley kick)
  • Green Bay – Luhn, 19 pass from Comp (Fritsch kick)
  • Green Bay – Schlinkman 2 run (Fritsch kick)

Week 6 (Sunday October 27, 1946): Boston Yanks
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 6 0 14 13 33
Yanks 0 7 0 0 7

at Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 13,797
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Condit 18 run (kick failed)
  • Boston – Dimancheff 26 pass from Governali (Scollard kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Dudley 23 lateral from Compagno (Dudley kick)
  • Pittsburgh – R. Davis 29 fumble run (Dudley kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Dudley – 80 pass from Condit (Condit kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Dutton 38 run (kick failed)

Week 7 (Sunday November 3, 1946): Washington Redskins
1 2 3 4 Total
Redskins 0 0 0 7 7
Steelers 7 0 0 7 14

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 36,995
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Dudley 80 interception (Dudley kick)
  • PIttsburgh – Lach 5 run (Dudley kick)
  • Washington – Baugh 1 run (Poillon kick)

Week 8 (Sunday November 10, 1946): Detroit Lions
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 0 0 7 7
Lions 0 10 0 7 17

at Briggs Stadium, Detroit, Michigan

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 13,621
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Detroit – FG Helms 35
  • Detroit – DeCorrevont 72 pass from Ryan (DeShane kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Dutton 12 run (Dudley kick)
  • Detroit – Greene 88 pass from Ryan (DeShane kick)

Week 9 (Sunday November 17, 1946): Philadelphia Eagles
1 2 3 4 Total
Eagles 7 7 0 14 28
Steelers 7 14 7 0 28

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 38,882
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Philadelphia – Zimmerman 1 run (Zimmerman kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Lach 1 run (Condit kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Dudley 14

Week 10 (Sunday November 24, 1946): New York Giants
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 0 0 0 0
Giants 0 7 0 0 7

at Polo Grounds, New York, New York

Scoring Drives:

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 45,346
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • New York – Paschal 4 run (Strong kick)

Week 11 (Sunday December 1, 1946): Philadelphia Eagles
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 0 7 0 7
Eagles 7 3 0 0 10

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 29,943
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Philadelphia – Pritchard 58 run (Lio kick)
  • Philadelphia – FG Lio 15
  • Pittsburgh – Lach 7 run (Dudley kick)

Standings
NFL Eastern Division
W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
New York Giants 7 3 1 .700 5–2–1 236 162 W1
Philadelphia Eagles 6 5 0 .545 5–3 231 220 W2
Pittsburgh Steelers 5 5 1 .500 4–3–1 136 117 L2
Washington Redskins 5 5 1 .500 4–3–1 171 191 L2
Boston Yanks 2 8 1 .200 0–7–1 189 273 L1

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972. [2]

References
  1. Starless: The 1947 Pittsburgh Steelers, Steve Massey, 2018
  2. 1946 Steelers at Pro Football Reference
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