2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season

The 2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 69th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League. After finishing the previous three seasons a combined 22–26, the Steelers returned to the top seed in the AFC, rolling to a 13–3 record in their first playoff berth and AFC Central title since 1997 and playing at Heinz Field. The Steelers went 7–1 in their new home stadium, with the only loss coming to the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens (a loss the Steelers avenged in the divisional playoffs).

2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season
OwnerThe Rooney Family
General managerKevin Colbert
Head coachBill Cowher
Home fieldHeinz Field
Results
Record13–3
Division place1st AFC Central
Playoff finishWon Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Ravens) 27–10
Lost AFC Championship
(vs. Patriots) 17–24
Pro Bowlers
6
AP All-Pros
4
  • Alan Faneca (1st team)
  • Jason Gildon (1st team)
  • Kendrell Bell (2nd team)
  • Jeff Hartings (2nd team)
Team MVPKordell Stewart
Team ROYKendrell Bell

However, for the third time in Bill Cowher's coaching tenure, the Steelers fell in the AFC Championship Game at home. This time, the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots upset the top-seeded Steelers.

Offseason

NFL draft
Main article: 2001 NFL draft
2001 Pittsburgh Steelers draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 18 Casey Hampton *  Defensive tackle Texas from N. Y. Jets
2 39 Kendrell Bell *  Linebacker Georgia from New England
4 111 Mathias Nkwenti  Tackle Temple from N. Y. Jets
5 146 Chukky Okobi  Center Purdue
6 181 Rodney Bailey  Defensive end Ohio State from N. J. Jets
6 182 Roger Knight  Linebacker Wisconsin
7 218 Chris Taylor  Wide receiver Texas A&M
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel
2001 Pittsburgh Steelers staff
Front office
  • President – Daniel M. Rooney
  • Vice president & general counsel – Arthur J. Rooney II
  • Vice president – John R. McGinley
  • Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
  • Administration advisor – Chuck Noll
  • Director of business – Mark Hart
  • Business accounting coordinator – Jim Ellenberger
  • Human relations/office coordinator – Geraldine Glenn
  • Business coordinator – Omar Khan
  • Accounting manager – Jodie Spagnolli
  • Communications coordinator – Ron Wahl
  • Public relations/media manager – David Lockett
  • Network administrator – Scott Phelps
  • Marketing and merchandising
  • Director of marketing – Tony Quatrini
  • Marketing coordinator – Rick Giugliano
  • Merchandising manager – Tim Carey
  • Assistant merchandising manager – Sam Rogiero
  • Marketing assistant – John Wodarek
  • Producer/broadcasting manager – Rick Fairbend
  • Marketing/community relations manager – Lynne Molyneaux
  • Marketing assistant – John Simpson
  • Marketing assistant – Mike Marchinsky
  • Ticket operations
  • Ticket manager – Brian Bonifate
  • Football operations
  • Director of football operations – Kevin Colbert
  • College scouting coordinator – Bill Baker
  • Pro scouting coordinator – Doug Whaley
  • Pro/college scout – Phil Kreidler
  • College scout – Mark Gorscak
  • College scout – Bob Lane
  • College scout – Bruce McNorton
  • College scout – Dan Rooney
  • College scout – Bill Nunn
  • BLESTO Scout – Kelvin Fisher

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams – Jay Hayes

Strength and conditioning

  • Conditioning coach – Chet Fuhrman
  • Medical staff
  • Ophthalmologist – Dr. Randy Beatty
  • Physician, orthopedic – Dr. James P. Bradley
  • Neurological surgeon – Dr. Joseph Maroon
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. Richard Rydze
  • Physician, consultant – Dr. Abraham J. Twerski
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. Anthony P. Yates
  • Training staff
  • Head athletic trainer – John Norwig
  • Assistant athletic trainer – Ryan Grove
  • Football staff
  • Player development coordinator – Anthony Griggs
  • Equipment manager - Rodgers Freyvogel
  • Field manager – Rich Baker
  • Field/equipment assistant – Paul Gallagher
  • Video coordinator – Bob McCartney
  • Video assistant – Andy Lizanich
  • Video assistant – Rob Brakel
  • Photographers – Mike Fabus

[1]

Notable additions include Casey Hampton, Jeff Hartings and Kendrell Bell.

Roster
2001 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists
  • 89 Will Blackwell WR/KR (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 87 Mark Bruener TE (IRTooltip Injured reserve)


Practice squad

  • 18 Tim Baker WR
  • 19 Demetrius Brown WR
  • 95 Rameel Connor DE
  • 76 Chris Hoke DE
  • 43 Payton Williams CB

[2] [3] [4]
Rookies in italics
 53 active, 2 inactive, 5 practice squad

Preseason

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue
1 August 3 at Atlanta Falcons W 17–16 1–0 Georgia Dome
2 August 16 at Minnesota Vikings L 10–24 1–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
3 August 25 Detroit Lions W 20–7 2–1 Heinz Field
4 August 30 Buffalo Bills W 20–0 3–1 Heinz Field

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 9 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 3–21 0–1 Alltel Stadium Recap
2[upper-alpha 1] Bye
3 September 30 at Buffalo Bills W 20–3 1–1 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap
4 October 7 Cincinnati Bengals W 16–7 2–1 Heinz Field Recap
5 October 14 at Kansas City Chiefs W 20–17 3–1 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
6 October 21 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 17–10 4–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap
7 October 29 Tennessee Titans W 34–7 5–1 Heinz Field Recap
8 November 4 Baltimore Ravens L 10–13 5–2 Heinz Field Recap
9 November 11 at Cleveland Browns W 15–12 (OT) 6–2 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap
10 November 18 Jacksonville Jaguars W 20–7 7–2 Heinz Field Recap
11 November 25 at Tennessee Titans W 34–24 8–2 Adelphia Coliseum Recap
12 December 2 Minnesota Vikings W 21–16 9–2 Heinz Field Recap
13 December 9 New York Jets W 18–7 10–2 Heinz Field Recap
14 December 16 at Baltimore Ravens W 26–21 11–2 PSINet Stadium Recap
15 December 23 Detroit Lions W 47–14 12–2 Heinz Field Recap
16 December 30 at Cincinnati Bengals L 23–26 (OT) 12–3 Paul Brown Stadium Recap
17[upper-alpha 1] January 6 Cleveland Browns W 28–7 13–3 Heinz Field Recap

Standings
AFC Central
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(1) Pittsburgh Steelers 1330.813352212W1
(5) Baltimore Ravens 1060.625303265W1
Cleveland Browns 790.438285319L1
Tennessee Titans 790.438336388L2
Jacksonville Jaguars 6100.375294286L2
Cincinnati Bengals 6100.375226309W2

Week 1 (Sunday September 9, 2001): at Jacksonville Jaguars
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 3 0 0 3
Jaguars 0 21 0 0 21

at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 83 °F (28 °C) (sunny and rain)
  • Game attendance: 63,785
  • Referee: Mack Gentry
  • TV announcers: (CBS) Don Criqui (play by play), Craig James (color commentator), Beasley Reece (sideline reporter)

- (Sunday September 16, 2001): vs. Cleveland Browns

Due to the September 11th attacks the National Football League postponed all games. It was played after the rest of the scheduled season had been completed.

Week 3 (Sunday September 30, 2001): at Buffalo Bills
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 7 3 0 10 20
Bills 0 3 0 0 3

at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C) (sunny)
  • Game attendance: 72,874
  • Referee: Tom White
  • TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)

Week 4 (Sunday October 7, 2001): vs. Cincinnati Bengals
1 2 3 4 Total
Bengals 0 0 0 7 7
Steelers 0 10 0 6 16

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C) (Partly Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 62,335
  • Referee: Larry Nemmers
  • TV announcers: (CBS) Bill Macatee (play by play), Trevor Matich (color commentator)

This was the first game at Heinz Field. Also Jerome Bettis passed 10,000 yards rushing for his career.

Week 5 (Sunday October 14, 2001): at Kansas City Chiefs
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 6 14 0 20
Chiefs 0 2 0 15 17

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C) (sunny)
  • Game attendance: 78,413
  • Referee: Ron Blum
  • TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)

Week 6 (Sunday October 21, 2001): at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 7 10 0 17
Buccaneers 0 3 0 7 10

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Week 7 (Monday October 29, 2001): vs. Tennessee Titans
1 2 3 4 Total
Titans 0 7 0 0 7
Steelers 7 10 10 7 34

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Week 8 (Sunday November 4, 2001): vs. Baltimore Ravens
1 2 3 4 Total
Ravens 0 7 0 6 13
Steelers 3 7 0 0 10

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Week 9 (Sunday November 11, 2001): at Cleveland Browns
1 2 3 4OT Total
Steelers 3 3 3 33 15
Browns 9 0 3 00 12

at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 42 °F (6 °C) (cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 73,218
  • Referee: Dick Hantak
  • TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)

Week 10 (Sunday November 18, 2001): vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
1 2 3 4 Total
Jaguars 0 0 7 0 7
Steelers 3 3 7 7 20

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 4:05 pm EST
  • Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C) (Mostly Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 62,644
  • Referee: Ron Winter
  • TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)

Week 11 (Sunday November 25, 2001): at Tennessee Titans
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 3 7 14 10 34
Titans 7 7 3 7 24

at Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee

Week 12 (Sunday December 2, 2001): vs. Minnesota Vikings
1 2 3 4 Total
Vikings 3 0 0 13 16
Steelers 0 7 14 0 21

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Week 13 (Sunday December 9, 2001): vs. New York Jets
1 2 3 4 Total
Jets 0 7 0 0 7
Steelers 3 9 0 6 18

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Week 14 (Sunday December 16, 2001): at Baltimore Ravens
1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 3 10 0 13 26
Ravens 0 7 0 14 21

at PSINet Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

Week 15 (Sunday December 23, 2001): vs. Detroit Lions
1 2 3 4 Total
Lions 7 7 0 0 14
Steelers 14 13 10 10 47

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Week 16 (Sunday December 30, 2001): at Cincinnati Bengals
1 2 3 4OT Total
Steelers 14 3 6 00 23
Bengals 0 10 0 133 26

at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 20 °F (−7 °C) (Partly Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 63,751
  • Referee: Jeff Triplette
  • TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)

Week 17 (Sunday January 6, 2002): vs. Cleveland Browns
1 2 3 4 Total
Browns 7 0 0 0 7
Steelers 0 7 14 7 28

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 32 °F (0 °C) (Rain & Snow)
  • Game attendance: 59,189
  • Referee: Bernie Kukar
  • TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)

Playoffs

Schedule
Week Date Kickoff (ET) TV Opponent Result Game Site NFL Recap
Divisional Sun. Jan. 20 12:30 p.m. CBS Baltimore Ravens W 27–10 Heinz Field Summary
Conference Sun. Jan. 27 12:30 p.m. CBS New England Patriots L 17–24 Heinz Field Summary

AFC Divisional Playoff (Sunday January 20, 2002): vs. Baltimore Ravens
1 2 3 4 Total
Ravens 0 3 7 0 10
Steelers 10 10 0 7 27

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

AFC Championship Game (Sunday January 27, 2002): vs. New England Patriots
1 2 3 4 Total
Patriots 7 7 7 3 24
Steelers 0 3 14 0 17

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Honors and awards

Pro Bowl Representatives

See: 2002 Pro Bowl

Notes
  1. The Steelers were originally scheduled to host the Cleveland Browns during Week 2 of the original NFL schedule (September 16) at Heinz Field. However, due to the September 11 attacks, the game was re-scheduled to Week 17.

References
  1. 2001 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  2. 2001 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  3. 2002 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  4. "2001 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
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