1982 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Pittsburgh Steelers 50th US football season

1982 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Steelers 50th Anniversary Logo
Owner	Art Rooney
General manager	Dick Haley
Head coach	Chuck Noll
Home field	Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record	6–3
Division place	4th AFC
Playoff finish	Lost Wild Card Playoffs (vs. Chargers) 28–31
Pro Bowlers	OT Larry Brown LB Jack Lambert S Donnie Shell WR John Stallworth C Mike Webster
AP All-Pros	Jack Lambert (1st team) Donnie Shell (1st team)
Team MVP	Dwayne Woodruff
← 1981 Steelers seasons 1983 →

The 1982 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 50th in the

AFC Central, one game behind defending AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals

.

The 1982 season is best remembered as the final seasons for

3–4 defense, a style still used by the team as of 2019

.

The Steelers would lose in the first round of the playoffs to the San Diego Chargers, in what would be the last home playoff game for the Steelers for the next ten years.

Personnel

Staff

1982 Pittsburgh Steelers staff

Front office Chairman of the board – Arthur J. Rooney President – Daniel M. Rooney Vice president – John R. McGinley Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr. Controller – Dennis P. Thimons Assistant controller – Dan Ferens Traveling secretary – James A. Boston Public relations director – Ed Kiely Publicity director – Joe Gordon Assistant publicity director – John Evenson Director of ticket sales – Geraldine Glenn Director of player personnel – Dick Haley Assistant director of player personnel – William Nunn, Jr. Pro talent scout – Tom Modrak Talent scout – West Coast – Bob Schmitz College talent scout – Joe Krupa Head coaches Head coach – Chuck Noll Assistant head coach – George Perles Offensive coaches Offensive line – Rollie Dotsch Offensive backfield – Dick Hoak Receivers – Tom Moore

Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Woody Widenhofer Defensive backfield – Tony Dungy Strength and conditioning Conditioning coach – Jon Kolb Physician, M.D. – Dr. David S. Huber Physician, M.D. – Dr. Anthony P. Yates Physician, orthopedic – Dr. Paul Steele Neurological surgery consultant – Dr. Joseph C. Maroon Dentist – Dr. George P. Boucek Ophthalmologist – Dr. Phillip Buzzelli Trainer – Ralph Berlin Assistant trainer – Gary Stragar Equipment manager – Anthony Parisi Field manager – Rodgers Freyvogel Film director – Bob McCartney Photographers – Harry Homa, Bill Amatucci [1]

Roster

1982 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster

	Quarterbacks 12 Terry Bradshaw 18 Cliff Stoudt 11 Jeff Quinn Running backs 34 Walter Abercrombie 45 Russell Davis 32 Franco Harris 27 Greg Hawthorne 39 Rick Moser 44 Frank Pollard Wide receivers 86 Jim Smith 82 John Stallworth 88 Lynn Swann 85 Calvin Sweeney 83 Willie Sydnor PR Tight ends 89 Bennie Cunningham 87 John Rodgers		Offensive linemen 71 Emil Boures C/T 79 Larry Brown T 77 Steve Courson G 55 Rick Donnalley C-G 62 Tunch Ilkin T 61 Tyrone McGriff G 66 Ted Petersen T 74 Ray Pinney G/T 52 Mike Webster C 73 Craig Wolfley G Defensive linemen 65 Tom Beasley DE/NT 67 Gary Dunn NT 95 John Goodman DE 90 Bob Kohrs DE/OLB 64 Edmund Nelson DE/NT 93 Keith Willis DE		Linebackers 54 Craig Bingham ILB 56 Robin Cole OLB 59 Jack Ham OLB 53 Bryan Hinkle OLB 58 Jack Lambert ILB 50 David Little ILB 57 Mike Merriweather OLB 36 Guy Ruff OLB 51 Loren Toews ILB Defensive backs 23 Fred Bohannon S/KR 47 Mel Blount CB 29 Ron Johnson FS 31 Donnie Shell SS 42 Anthony Washington DB 41 Sam Washington DB 49 Dwayne Woodruff CB 22 Rick Woods S/KR Special teams 52 Mike Webster LS  1 Gary Anderson K 17 John Goodson P/H		Reserve lists  5 IRTooltip Injured reserve) 72 IRTooltip Injured reserve) 20 IRTooltip Injured reserve) 16 Mark Malone QB (PUPTooltip Physically unable to perform) 97 IRTooltip Injured reserve) 60 IRTooltip Injured reserve) 38 IRTooltip Injured reserve) 37 IRTooltip Injured reserve) Practice squad [2] [3] [4] Rookies in italics 50 active, 8 inactive

Offseason

The 1982 offseason was the start of a slow transition period for the team, as the defensive line was hit with key retirements in

3–4 (three lineman & four linebackers). The Steelers would more than make a good transition to the 3–4, as many teams have since tried to copy the Steelers success with the 3–4 alignment, especially since 2001

, when the Steelers were the only team in the NFL with the alignment but led the league in defense.

1982 did see the Steelers sign a rookie

waivers from Buffalo just before the start of the season. Anderson would stay in Pittsburgh for the next 13 season and play an additional 10 with four other teams to become the Steelers' all-time leading scorer. He retired after the 2004 season as the NFL's all-time leading scorer, a record since surpassed by Morten Andersen

.

Preseason

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue
1	August 14	vs. New England Patriots	W 24–20	1–0	Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, Tennessee)
2	August 21	at New York Giants	W 13–10	2–0	Giants Stadium
3	August 28	Baltimore Colts	W 37–15	3–0	Three Rivers Stadium
4	September 4	Philadelphia Eagles	W 27–24	4–0	Three Rivers Stadium

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Original week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue
1	1	September 13	at Dallas Cowboys	W 36–28	1–0	Texas Stadium
2	2	September 19	Cincinnati Bengals	W 26–20 (OT)	2–0	Three Rivers Stadium
—	3	September 26	New York Giants	Canceled	2–0	Three Rivers Stadium
—	4	October 3	at Denver Broncos			Mile High Stadium
—	5	October 11	Philadelphia Eagles			Three Rivers Stadium
—	6	October 17	at Washington Redskins			RFK Stadium
—	7	October 24	Cleveland Browns	Postponed		Three Rivers Stadium
—	8	October 31	at Cincinnati Bengals	Canceled		Riverfront Stadium
—	9	November 7	Houston Oilers			Three Rivers Stadium
—	10	November 14	New York Jets			Three Rivers Stadium
3	11	November 21	at Houston Oilers	W 24–10	3–0	Astrodome
4	12	November 28	at Seattle Seahawks	L 0–16	3–1	Kingdome
5	13	December 5	Kansas City Chiefs	W 35–14	4–1	Three Rivers Stadium
6	14	December 12	at Buffalo Bills	L 0–13	4–2	Rich Stadium
7	15	December 19	at Cleveland Browns	L 9–10	4–3	Cleveland Municipal Stadium
8	16	December 26	New England Patriots	W 37–14	5–3	Three Rivers Stadium
9	17	January 2	Cleveland Browns	W 37–21	6–3	Three Rivers Stadium
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1 at Cowboys

See also: 1982 Dallas Cowboys season

Week One: Pittsburgh Steelers (0–0) at Dallas Cowboys (0–0)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	6	7	17	6	36
Cowboys	7	7	0	14	28

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

• Date: September 13
• Game time: 9:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 84 °F (29 °C)
• Game attendance: 63,431
• Referee: Pat Haggerty
• TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith & Howard Cosell
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

First quarter PIT – John Stallworth 8-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (kick failed). Steelers 6–0. Drive: DAL – Rafael Septien kick). Cowboys 7–6. Drive: Second quarter PIT – Jim Smith 7-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Gary Anderson kick). Steelers 13–7. Drive: DAL – Doug Cosbie 12-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick). Cowboys 14–13. Drive: Third quarter PIT – Frank Pollard 1-yard run (Gary Anderson kick). Steelers 20–14. Drive: PIT – Jim Smith 15-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Gary Anderson kick). Steelers 27–14. Drive: PIT – Gary Anderson 26-yard field goal. Steelers 30–14. Drive: Fourth quarter PIT – Gary Anderson 43–yard field goal. Steelers 33–14. Drive: DAL – Tony Hill 45-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick). Steelers 33–21. Drive: DAL – Billy Joe DuPree 5-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick). Steelers 33–28. Drive: PIT – Gary Anderson 40-yard field goal. Steelers 36–28. Drive: Top passers PIT – Terry Bradshaw – 17/28, 246 yards, 3 TD DAL – Danny White – 25/36, 347 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Top rushers PIT – Franco Harris – 24 rushes, 103 yards DAL – Tony Dorsett – 11 rushes, 30 yards Top receivers PIT – John Stallworth – 7 receptions, 137 yards, TD DAL – Tony Hill – 6 receptions, 130 yards, TD

Week 2: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Period	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Bengals	0	3	7	10	0	20
Steelers	7	3	7	3	6	26

at

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Date: September 19
• Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
• Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C)
• Game attendance: 59,973
• Referee:
  Jim Tunney
• TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui & John Brodie

Game information
Pittsburgh – Stallworth 15 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Cincinnati – FG Breech 50 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25 Cincinnati – Johnson 1 run (Breech kick) Pittsburgh – Cunningham 2 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Cincinnati – Johnson 9 run (Breech kick) Cincinnati – FG Breech 31 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42 Pittsburgh – Stallworth 2 pass from Bradshaw

Week 3: vs. New York Giants

Cancelled due to

player's strike

.

Week 4: at Denver Broncos

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 5: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 6: at

Washington Redskins

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 7: vs. Cleveland Browns

Postponed due to player's strike.

Week 8: at Cincinnati Bengals

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 9: vs. Houston Oilers

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 10: vs. New York Jets

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 11: at Houston Oilers

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	3	7	7	7	24
Oilers	0	3	7	0	10

at

Houston, Texas

• Date: November 21
• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather: indoors (dome)
• Game attendance: 42,338
• Referee: Dick Jorgensen
• TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph & John Brodie

Game information
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 48 Pittsburgh – Hawthorne 17 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Houston – FG Kempf 31 Houston – Casper 9 pass from Nielsen (Kempf kick) Pittsburgh – Cunningham 17 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Smith 27 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick)

Week 12: at Seattle Seahawks

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	0	0	0	0
Seahawks	3	6	7	0	16

at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

• Date: November 28
• Game time: 4:00 pm EST
• Game weather: indoors (dome)
• Game attendance: 55,553
• Referee: Fred Silva
• TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones & Len Dawson

Game information
Seattle – FG N. Johnson 35 Seattle – FG N. Johnson 48 Seattle – FG N. Johnson 29 Seattle – Johns 11 pass from Zorn (N. Johnson kick)

Week 13: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Chiefs	0	7	0	7	14
Steelers	14	14	0	7	35

at

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Date: December 5
• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C)
• Game attendance: 52,090
• Referee: Red Cashion
• TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph & Bob Griese

Game information
Pittsburgh – Stallworth 3 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Stallworth 74 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Hawthorne 5 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Kansas City – B. Jackson 1 run (Lowery kick) Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run (Anderson kick) Kansas City – Scott 3 pass from Fuller (Lowery kick) Pittsburgh – Thornton 2 run (Anderson kick)

Week 14: at Buffalo Bills

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	0	0	0	0
Bills	0	10	3	0	13

at

Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

• Date: December 12
• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 20 °F (−7 °C), wind chill 8 °F (−13 °C)
• Game attendance: 58,391
• Referee: Pat Haggerty
• TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui & John Brodie

Game information
Buffalo – Leaks 1 run (Herrera kick) Buffalo – FG Herrera 34 Buffalo – FG Herrera 19

Week 15: at Cleveland Browns

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	7	0	2	9
Browns	3	0	7	0	10

at

Cleveland, Ohio

• Date: December 19
• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 35 °F (2 °C), wind chill 26 °F (−3 °C)
• Game attendance: 67,139
• Referee: Jerry Markbreit
• TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg & Merlin Olsen
• Box Score

Game information
Cleveland – FG Bahr 44 Pittsburgh – Stallworth 6 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Cleveland – Davis 1 run (Bahr kick) Pittsburgh – Safety, Cox ran out of end zone

Week 16: vs. New England Patriots

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Patriots	0	0	7	7	14
Steelers	10	10	0	17	37

at

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Date: December 26
• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 51 °F (11 °C)
• Game attendance: 50,515
• Referee:
  Tom Dooley
• TV announcers (NBC): Bob Costas & Bob Trumpy

Game information

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 21 Pittsburgh – Pollard 1 run (Anderson kick) PIttsburgh – Stallworth 9 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25 New England – Dawson 23 pass from Cavanaugh (J. Smith kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 44 New England – Morgan 75 pass from Cavanaugh (J. Smith kick) Pittsburgh – Hawthorne 46 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 1 run (Anderson kick)

Week 17: vs. Cleveland Browns

Standings

Postseason

Game summary

First Round/Wild Card: vs. San Diego Chargers

The Pittsburgh Steelers wildcard match-up against the San Diego Chargers at Three Rivers Stadium on January 9, 1983, would go down in history as one of the greatest post season games of Bradshaw’s Hall of Fame career, as well as one of the most bitter defeats in franchise history.

The game began with Chargers RB-James Brooks dropping the opening kickoff at the 3-yard line. Brooks frantically struggled to get control of the ball that was bouncing around on the cold turf as the Steelers special teams was quickly advancing towards him. Unfortunately, for Brooks and the Chargers the ball was recovered by Steelers LB-Gary Ruff in the end zone to give Pittsburgh a quick 7–0 lead after only 12-seconds into the contest. On the ensuing Steelers kickoff, Brooks dropped another return in almost the exact same manner as the first, except this time Brooks was able to recover his fumble after diving on top of the loose ball at the 2-yard line, like it was a live hand grenade.

From there, the Chargers began to turn their misfortunes around by mostly passing the ball for 77-yards on 12-plays and putting some points on the scoreboard after future Chargers Hall of Fame kicker Rolf Benirschke booted a 25-yard field goal to make it a manageable 7–3 game after a disastrous start for the Chargers. However, the Steelers immediately responded with a long touchdown drive of their own that ended with a 1-yard plunge by QB-Terry Bradshaw to give the Steelers their biggest lead of the game 14–3.

Now down by 11-points with 5-minutes left in the 1st-quarter, the Chargers finally handled the kick return without a major incident occurring, then drove the ball down the field resulting in James Brooks self-redeeming 18-yard rushing touchdown early in the 2nd-quarter to make it a 14–10 game, and once again pulling within just 4-points of the Steelers. Then, after a quick Steelers possession and a punt, the Chargers put together a long time consuming offensive drive that came to a disappointing end after CB-Mel Blount recovered a fumble by TE-Kellen Winslow at the Pittsburgh 7-yard line.

With the ball back, Bradshaw drove the Steelers offense to the Chargers 29-yard line, until he threw a long pass that sailed way over the head of a leaping WR-Lynn Swann. The Chargers SS-Bruce Laired intercepted Bradshaw's over thrown pass at the 3-yard line and returned it to their own 35, where San Diego's offense went back to work with 2-minutes left in the half. After Dan Fouts connected with WR-Wes Chandler for a 33-yard reception giving the Chargers a 1st-and-10 at the Steelers 23-yard line. Two plays later, Fouts connected with WR-Scott Fitzkee for a 10-yard TD pass that gave the Chargers a surprising 17–14 half-time lead.

Despite the shocking 1st-half turn of events, the 2nd-half belonged almost entirely to Bradshaw and the Steelers. At one point Bradshaw completed 15 passes in a row, threw 2-TD passes that put the Steelers back in the lead with a commanding 28–17 score early in the 4th-quarter after hitting WR-John Stallworth on a 3rd-and-9 for a 14-yard touchdown. Bradshaw finished his last playoff appearance with 28-completions in 39-attempts for 335-yards, 1-rushing and 2-passing TD's. But, Bradshaw also threw two interceptions, which shifted all the games momentum back to the Chargers who responded with a touchdown each time.

Just prior to Bradshaw throwing his 2nd interception, the Steelers were solidly holding on to a 28–17 lead with 11-minutes remaining in the game. However, when Pittsburgh faced a 3rd-and-8 at their own 20-yrd line, predictably Bradshaw dropped back to pass. Then, after escaping the Chargers aggressive pass rush by moving up into the pocket before scrambling outside to his right where there was no one within 10-yards of him in either direction, and he could've run forward for the 1st-down. However, instead of running for it, Bradshaw slung the ball wildly back across the field toward a well covered Lynn Swann. The pass was easily intercepted by Chargers CB-Jeff Allen and returned to the Steelers 29-yard line.

Despite Bradshaw's reckless 4th-quarter interception, Mel Blount appeared to have saved the Steelers season after intercepting Dan Fouts 19-yard pass attempt into the end zone. However, Blount's 2nd-defensive turnover of the game was nullified by a holding penalty against the defense. With new life, Fouts moved the Chargers offense down the field for their 1st-score in the 2nd-half that came on an 8-yard TD pass to Winslow with 8:50 left in the game, that once again cut the Steelers seemingly insurmountable 11-point lead to within 4-points.

Now feeling the pressure of holding on to a tenuous 28–24 lead, the Steelers needed a solid offensive possession and score to finally secure the win. While the Steelers were able to grind out a few time consuming 1st-downs to get close to midfield, John Goodson, an eighth-round draft pick who replaced veteran Craig Colquitt after he suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason, had to come on to punt. But instead of pinning the Chargers deep, Goodson (a barefoot punter) shanked one for only 20 yards to the Chargers 36-yard line.

With just under 4-minutes remaining and 64-yards away from the end zone, Fouts combined both the Chargers formidable passing attack with a balanced rushing attack (which featured RB-Chuck Muncie) to methodically move the ball down the field against the once legendary "Steel Curtain" defense that was now an aging and tired relic of their former glory. Then, with 1-minute left to play, Fouts threw a 12-yard screen-pass to Winslow for the winning touchdown, making the final score 31–28, and eliminating the Steelers from the tournament.[1]

References

External links

• 1982 Pittsburgh Steelers season at Profootballreference.com
• 1982 Pittsburgh Steelers season statistics at jt-sw.com
• 50th season news feature