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.

1989 Pittsburgh Steelers season
OwnerThe Rooney Family
General managerDick Haley
Head coachChuck Noll
Home fieldThree Rivers Stadium
Results
Record9–7
Division place3rd AFC Central
Playoff finishWon Wild Card Playoffs
(at Oilers) 26–23
Lost Divisional Playoffs
(at Broncos) 23–24
Pro Bowlers
2
AP All-ProsRod Woodson (1st team)
Team MVPLouis Lipps
Team ROYCarnell Lake

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 (missing in 1990 with an identical 9–7 record and again in 1991 at 7–9 despite a second-place finish that year), the season did set the tone for the team's return to prominence in the 1990s under his successor, Bill Cowher.

Until 2015, it was the last season the Steelers made the playoffs in a season the Super Bowl aired on CBS. Each of the next six such seasons (1991, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012) would see the team missing the playoffs.

Staff
1989 Pittsburgh Steelers staff
Front office
  • President – Daniel M. Rooney
  • Vice president – John R. McGinley
  • Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
  • Director of communications & business – Joe Gordon
  • Controller – Ralph Meacham
  • Chief negotiator – James A. Boston
  • Office manager – Stadium – Dan Ferens
  • Public relations director – Dan Edwards
  • Publicity director – Pat Hanlon
  • Director of ticket sales – Geraldine Glenn
  • Computer coordinator – Accounting – Jim Ellenberger
  • Director of player personnel – Dick Haley
  • Director of pro personnel & development – Tom Donahoe
  • College scouting coordinator – Tom Modrak
  • Talent scout – Bob Schmitz
  • Talent scout – Max McCartney
  • Talent scout – Charles Bailey

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Conditioning & training coordinator – Jon Kolb
  • Dentist – Dr. George P. Boucek
  • Ophthalmologist – Dr. Phillip Buzzelli
  • Physician, orthopedic – Dr. Thomas W. Cowan
  • Neurological surgery consultant – Dr. Joseph C. Maroon
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. Richard Rydze
  • Physician, consultant – Dr. Abraham J.Twerski
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. Anthony P. Yates
  • Trainer – Ralph Berlin
  • Trainer – Fran Feld
  • Equipment manager – Anthony Parisi
  • Field manager – Rodgers Freyvogel
  • Video & film director – Bob McCartney
  • Video assistant – Pat Dolan
  • Photographers – Mike Fabus, Bill Amatucci

[1]

Roster
1989 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists
  • 24 Rodney Carter RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 56 Vinson Smith LB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 43 Ray Wallace RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 42 Warren Williams RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)


Practice squad

[2] [3] [4]
Rookies in italics
 47 active, 4 inactive, 2 practice squad

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.

Preseason

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Game Site Kickoff (ET) TV Result Record
1 Sat. Aug. 12 Washington Redskins Three Rivers Stadium 8:00 p.m. ESPN L 21–14 0–1
2 Sat. Aug. 19 at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Municipal Stadium 7:30 p.m. WTAE W 24–21 1–1
3 Sat. Aug. 26 at Philadelphia Eagles Veterans Stadium 7:30 p.m. WTAE L 38–14 1–2
4 Sat. Sep. 2 at New York Giants Giants Stadium 8:00 p.m. WTAE W 13–10 2–2

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Game Site Kickoff (ET) TV Result Record
1 Sun. Sep. 10 Cleveland Browns Three Rivers Stadium 4:00 p.m. NBC L 51–0 0–1
2 Sun. Sep. 17 at Cincinnati Bengals Riverfront Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 41–10 0–2
3 Sun. Sep. 24 Minnesota Vikings Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. CBS W 27–14 1–2
4 Sun. Oct. 1 at Detroit Lions Pontiac Silverdome 1:00 p.m. NBC W 23–3 2–2
5 Sun. Oct. 8 Cincinnati Bengals Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 26–16 2–3
6 Sun. Oct. 15 at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Municipal Stadium 4:00 p.m. NBC W 17–7 3–3
7 Sun. Oct. 22 at Houston Oilers Astrodome 1:00 p.m. NBC L 27–0 3–4
8 Sun. Oct. 29 Kansas City Chiefs Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 23–17 4–4
9 Sun. Nov. 5 at Denver Broncos Mile High Stadium 4:00 p.m. NBC L 34–7 4–5
10 Sun. Nov. 12 Chicago Bears Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. CBS L 20–0 4–6
11 Sun. Nov. 19 San Diego Chargers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 20–17 5–6
12 Sun. Nov. 26 at Miami Dolphins Joe Robbie Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 34–14 6–6
13 Sun. Dec. 3 Houston Oilers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 23–16 6–7
14 Sun. Dec. 10 at New York Jets Giants Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 13–0 7–7
15 Sun. Dec. 17 New England Patriots Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 28–10 8–7
16 Sun. Dec. 24 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 31–22 9–7

Week 1
See also: 1989 Cleveland Browns season and Browns–Steelers rivalry
Cleveland Browns (0–0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (0–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Browns 17 13 14751
Steelers 0 0 000

at Three Rivers Stadium • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

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
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 3 0 7 0 10
Bengals 3 17 7 14 41

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati

Scoring drives:

  • Cincinnati – FG Gallery 26
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 38
  • Cincinnati – Brown 27 pass from Esiason (Gallery kick)
  • Cincinnati – FG Gallery 47
  • Cincinnati – Woods 1 run (Gallery kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Hill 7 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
  • CIncinnati – Jennings 1 run (Gallery kick)
  • CIncinnati – Brooks 2 run (Gallery kick)
  • Cincinnati – Jennings 43 pass from Esiason (Gallery kick)

Week 3 (Sunday September 24, 1989): vs. Minnesota Vikings
1 2 3 4 Total
Vikings 7 7 0 0 14
Steelers 7 14 0 6 27

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C) (Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 50,744
  • Referee: Dick Hantak
  • TV announcers: (CBS) Steve Zabriskie (play by play), Hank Stram (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Mularkey 15 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
  • Minnesota – Wilson 1 run (Garcia kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Worley 8 run (Anderson kick)
  • Minnesota – Thomas 27 fumble return (Garcia kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 2 run (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 38
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 44

Week 4 (Sunday October 1, 1989): at Detroit Lions
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 10 7 6 23
Lions 3 0 0 0 3

at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: Dome
  • Game attendance: 43,804
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Ahmad Rashad (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

  • Detroit – FG Murray 37
  • Pittsburgh – Lipps 48 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20
  • Pittsburgh – Carter 1 run (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Wallace 2 run (pass failed)

Week 5 (Sunday October 8, 1989): vs. Cincinnati Bengals
1 2 3 4 Total
Bengals 0 13 0 13 26
Steelers 7 3 3 3 16

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 43 °F (6 °C) (Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 52,785
  • Referee: Howard Roe
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Paul Maguire (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Carter 22 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
  • Cincinnati – FG Breech 24
  • Cincinnati – FG Breech 27
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 24
  • Cincinnati – Martin 7 pass from Esiason (Breech kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 40
  • Cincinnati – Brooks 13 run (kick failed)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 34
  • Cincinnati – Brooks 65 run (Breech kick)

Week 6 (Sunday October 15, 1989): at Cleveland Browns
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 3 0 7 7 17
Browns 0 0 0 7 7

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 49
  • Pittsburgh – Carter 14 pass from Blackledge (Anderson kick)
  • Cleveland – Metcalf 2 run (Bahr kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Williams 1 run (Anderson kick)

Week 7 (Sunday October 22, 1989): at Houston Oilers
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 0 0 0 0
Oilers 7 17 3 0 27

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Scoring drives:

  • Houston – Highsmith 3 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
  • Houston – FG Zendejas 41
  • Houston – Duncan 51 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
  • Houston – Highsmith 5 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
  • Houston – FG Zendejas 51

Week 8 (Sunday October 29, 1989): vs. Kansas City Chiefs
1 2 3 4 Total
Chiefs 0 3 14 0 17
Steelers 10 6 7 0 23

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C) (Mostly Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 54,194
  • Referee: Tom Dooley
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Paul Maguire (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 41
  • Pittsburgh – Lipps 16 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 47
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 29
  • Kansas City – FG Lowery 50
  • Kansas City – Mandley 8 pass from DeBerg (Lowery kick)
  • Kansas City – Maas 4 fumble return (Lowery kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Lipps 64 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)

Week 9 (Sunday November 5, 1989): at Denver Broncos
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 7 0 0 7
Broncos 10 3 7 14 34

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

  • Game time: 4:00 pm EST
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 74,739
  • Referee: Red Cashion
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

  • Denver – Humphrey 22 run (Treadwell kick)
  • Denver – FG Treadwell 26
  • Pittsburgh – Carter 15 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
  • Denver – FG Treadwell 26
  • Denver – Johnson 44 pass from Elway (Treadwell kick)
  • Denver – Elway 2 run (Treadwell kick)
  • Denver – Humphrey 12 run (Treadwell kick)

Week 10 (Sunday November 12, 1989): vs. Chicago Bears
1 2 3 4 Total
Bears 7 13 0 0 20
Steelers 0 0 0 0 0

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C) (Partly Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 56,505
  • Referee: Gordon McCarter
  • TV announcers: (CBS) Jim Nantz (play by play), Pat Haden (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

  • Chicago – N. Anderson 2 run (Butler kick)
  • Chicago – FG Butler 39
  • Chicago – Muster 20 pass from Harbaugh (Butler kick)
  • Chicago – FG Butler 35

Week 11 (Sunday November 19, 1989): vs. San Diego Chargers
1 2 3 4 Total
Chargers 0 7 10 0 17
Steelers 3 3 7 7 20

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 31 °F (−1 °C) (Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 44,203
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Paul Maguire (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 49
  • San Diego – A. Miller 20 pass from McMahon (Bahr kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 28
  • San Diego – FG Bahr 27
  • Pittsburgh – Woodson 84 kickoff return (Anderson kick)
  • San Diego – A. Miller 18 pass from McMahon (Bahr kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run (Anderson kick)

Week 12 (Sunday November 26, 1989): at Miami Dolphins
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 17 17 0 34
Dolphins 14 0 0 0 14

at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida

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 (Stoyanovich kick)
  • Miami – Clayton 66 pass from Marino (Stoyanovich kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Woodruff 21 with lateral after Lake 2 fumble return (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 5 run (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run (Anderson kick)

Week 13 (Sunday December 3, 1989): vs. Houston Oilers
1 2 3 4 Total
Oilers 0 14 2 7 23
Steelers 3 7 3 3 16

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 22 °F (−6 °C) (Light Snow Showers)
  • Game attendance: 40,541
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Donovan (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 18
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 4 run (Anderson kick)
  • Houston – Duncan 18 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
  • Houston – Hill 27 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37
  • Houston – Safety, McDowell tackled Newsome in end zone
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 18
  • Houston – White 1 run (Zendejas kick)

Week 14 (Sunday December 10, 1989): at New York Jets
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 7 0 0 6 13
Jets 0 0 0 0 0

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Worley 35 run (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 45

Week 15 (Sunday December 17, 1989): vs. New England Patriots
1 2 3 4 Total
Patriots 3 0 0 7 10
Steelers 7 7 7 7 28

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 5 °F (−15 °C) (Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 26,594
  • Referee: Tom Dooley
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Donovan (play by play), Jimmy Cefalo (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Worley 8 run (Anderson kick)
  • New England – FG Staurovsky 20
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Lipps 58 run (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 2 run (Anderson kick)
  • New England – C. Jones 12 pass from Wilson (Staurovsky kick)

Week 16 (Sunday December 24, 1989): at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 7 17 7 0 31
Buccaneers 7 3 3 9 22

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Worley 1 run (Anderson kick)
  • Tampa Bay – Carrier 7 pass from Ferguson (Igwebuike kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Lipps 79 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
  • Tampa Bay – FG Igwebuike 45
  • Pittsburgh – Lipps 12 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 32
  • Tampa Bay – FG Igwebuike 24
  • Pittsburgh – Worley 1 run (Anderson kick)
  • Tampa Bay – Safety Cocroft blocked punt out of end zone
  • Tampa Bay – Carrier 39 pass from Ferguson (Igwebuike kick)

Standings
AFC Central
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Cleveland Browns(2) 9 6 1 .594 3–3 6–5–1 334 254 W2
Houston Oilers(4) 9 7 0 .563 3–3 6–6 365 412 L2
Pittsburgh Steelers(5) 9 7 0 .563 1–5 6–6 265 326 W3
Cincinnati Bengals 8 8 0 .500 5–1 6–6 404 285 L1

Playoffs

AFC Wild Card Playoff (Sunday December 31, 1989): at Houston Oilers
1 2 3 4OT Total
Steelers 7 3 3 103 26
Oilers 0 6 3 140 23

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

  • Game time: 4:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: Dome
  • Game attendance: 58,306
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Worley 9 run (Anderson kick)
  • 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 (Zendejas kick)
  • Houston – Givins 9 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 2 run (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 50

AFC Divisional Playoff (Sunday January 7, 1990): at Denver Broncos
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 3 14 3 3 23
Broncos 0 10 7 7 24

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

  • Game time: 4:00 pm EST
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 75,868
  • Referee: Gene Barth
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Bill Walsh (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 32
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 7 run (Anderson kick)
  • Denver – Bratton 1 run (Treadwell kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Lipps 9 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
  • Denver – FG Treadwell 43
  • Denver – Johnson 37 pass from Elway (Treadwell kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 35
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 32
  • Denver – Bratton 1 run (Treadwell kick)

Awards and honors

References
  1. 1989 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  2. 1989 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  3. 1990 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  4. "1989 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
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