1984 Pittsburgh Steelers season

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1984 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Owner
AFC Championship
(at Dolphins) 28–45
Pro BowlersLB Robin Cole
WR Louis Lipps
LB Mike Merriweather
WR John Stallworth
C Mike Webster
AP All-ProsLouis Lipps (2nd team)
Team MVPJohn Stallworth
Team ROYLouis Lipps

The 1984 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 52nd season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.

Most of the stars from the 1970s had departed, but the Steelers showed signs of their past glory by amassing a 9–7 record to capture the AFC Central Title again. The highlight of the season was an October 14 win over the 49ers in San Francisco. It was the only loss the 49ers suffered all season. Also serving up highlights that season was WR Louis Lipps, who won the Offensive Rookie of the Year. In the playoffs, the Steelers stunned the Broncos 24–17 in Denver to earn a trip to the AFC Championship. However, the Steelers' season would end with a 45–28 thrashing at the hands of the Dolphins in Miami. This season was the last time the Steelers appeared in a playoff game until 1989, marking the end of the powerhouse Steel Curtain defense.

Personnel

Staff

1984 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
  • Publicity director – Joe Gordon
  • Assistant publicity director – John Evenson
  • Director of ticket sales – Geraldine Glenn
  • Assistant director of ticket sales – Jim Ellenberger
  • 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

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive coordinator – Tom Moore
  • Offensive backfield – Dick Hoak
  • Offensive Line: Tackles/Tight Ends – Ron Blackledge
  • Offensive Line: Centers/Guards – Bill Meyers
 Defensive coaches


Strength and conditioning

  • Conditioning coach – Jon Kolb
  • Assistant conditioning coach – Walt Evans
  • 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

1984 would prove to be somewhat of a transition year for the Steelers, as it would mark the final season of several key members of their 1970s dynasty—most notably

turf toe injury), but also Larry Brown and Craig Colquitt—as well as the retirement of Mel Blount in mid-March and the unexpected[2] retirement of Terry Bradshaw
in late July.

Additionally,

quadriplegic. Woodley would split time with Mark Malone
under center.

In addition to Bradshaw, 1984 would also mark another unexpected departure: Franco Harris. Unlike Bradshaw, this would be due to a pay dispute. As Harris was closing in on Jim Brown's rushing record alongside Chicago's Walter Payton, Harris felt that he deserved a pay raise. The Rooney family, feeling that Harris was near the end of his career, felt otherwise, and it led to Harris's release during training camp. Harris would sign with the Seattle Seahawks and play eight games for that team before retiring 192 yards short of Brown's record, which would be surpassed by Payton that season.

On a positive note, 1984 would mark the first year of wide receiver Louis Lipps, who would set many team records during his career and would retire in second place on the Steelers all-time receiving list behind teammate John Stallworth; Lipps is currently fourth behind Hines Ward, Stallworth and Antonio Brown.

1984 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists
  • 68
    IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 84
    IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 66
    IRTooltip Injured reserve)


Practice squad [1] [3] [4]
Rookies in italics
 57 active, 3 inactive

Offseason

Preseason

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Game Site Kickoff (
ET
) 		TV Result Record
1 Saturday, August 4 at Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Municipal Stadium
 7:30 p.m. WPXI W 31–14 1–0
2 Saturday, August 11 Philadelphia Eagles Three Rivers Stadium 6:00 p.m. WPXI W 20–17 (OT) 2–0
3 Thursday, August 16 at Dallas Cowboys Texas Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC W 20–10 3–0
4 Saturday, August 25 at New York Giants Giants Stadium 8:00 p.m. WPXI L 16–9 3–1

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Location Kickoff (
ET
) 		TV Result Record
1 Sunday, September 2 Kansas City Chiefs Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 37–27 0–1
2 Thursday, September 6 at New York Jets Giants Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC W 23–17 1–1
3 Sunday, September 16 Los Angeles Rams Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. CBS W 24–14 2–1
4 Sunday, September 23 at Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Municipal Stadium
 1:00 p.m. NBC L 20–10 2–2
5 Monday, October 1 Cincinnati Bengals Three Rivers Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC W 38–17 3–2
6 Sunday, October 7 Miami Dolphins Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 31–7 3–3
7 Sunday, October 14 at San Francisco 49ers Candlestick Park 4:00 p.m. NBC W 20–17 4–3
8 Sunday, October 21 at Indianapolis Colts
Hoosier Dome
 1:00 p.m. NBC L 17–16 4–4
9 Sunday, October 28 Atlanta Falcons Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. CBS W 35–10 5–4
10 Sunday, November 4 Houston Oilers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 35–7 6–4
11 Sunday, November 11 at Cincinnati Bengals Riverfront Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 22–20 6–5
12 Monday, November 19 at New Orleans Saints
Louisiana Superdome
 9:00 p.m. ABC L 27–24 6–6
13 Sunday, November 25 San Diego Chargers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 52–24 7–6
14 Sunday, December 2 at Houston Oilers Astrodome 1:00 p.m. NBC L 23–20 (OT) 7–7
15 Sunday, December 9 Cleveland Browns Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 23–20 8–7
16 Sunday, December 16 at Los Angeles Raiders Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 4:00 p.m. NBC W 13–7 9–7

Week 1: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 17 13037
Steelers 3 14 3727

at

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: September 2, 1984
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 84 °F or 28.9 °C (Partly Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 56,709
  • Referee: Jerry Seeman
  • TV announcers (NBC): Bill Wilkerson (play by play), Dave Rowe (color commentator)
  • [5]

Mark Malone and David Woodley combined for 419 passing yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions, while the Chiefs won despite putting up just 264 yards of total offense.

Week 2: at New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 7 6 7323
Jets 0 7 10017

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: September 6, 1984
  • Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 62 °F (16.7 °C), wind 15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn)
  • Game attendance: 70,564
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford (play by play), Don Meredith (color commentator)
  • [6]

After coughing up four turnovers to the Chiefs, the Steelers picked off Pat Ryan three times and forced a fumble; they also bullied the Jets into eleven penalties for 115 yards.

Week 3: vs. Los Angeles Rams

Los Angeles Rams at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 7 0 7014
Steelers 0 14 3724

at

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: September 16, 1984
  • Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 63 °F or 17.2 °C (Mostly Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 58,104
  • Referee:
    Jim Hill (play by play), John Dockery (color commentator)
  • [7]

The Steelers limited Eric Dickerson to 49 rushing yards and forced two Rams fumbles.

Week 4: at Cleveland Browns

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 7 3010
Browns 0 0 101020

at

Cleveland, Ohio

  • Date: September 23, 1984
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 70 °F (21.1 °C), wind 12 miles per hour (19 km/h; 10 kn)
  • Game attendance: 77,312
  • Referee: Dick Jorgensen
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)
  • [8]

Week 5: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period 1 2 34Total
Bengals 0 10 0717
Steelers 0 14 101438

at

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: October 1, 1984
  • Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 50 °F or 10 °C (Light Rain)
  • Game attendance: 57,098
  • Referee:
    Tom Dooley
  • TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford (play by play), Don Meredith and O. J. Simpson (color commentators)
  • [9]

Week 6: vs. Miami Dolphins

Week 7 (Sunday, October 14, 1984): at San Francisco 49ers

[11]

Week 7: Pittsburgh Steelers at San Francisco 49ers
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers (4–3) 7 3 01020
49ers (6–1) 0 7 01017

at

San Francisco, California

  • Date: October 14, 1984
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 60 °F (15.6 °C), wind 15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn)
  • Game attendance: 59,110
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • TV announcers (NBC Game only aired in the Pittsburgh markets due to NBC airing Game 5 of the World Series): Jay Randolph (play by play) and Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
  • [12]
Team Category Player Statistics
PIT Passing Mark Malone 11/18, 156 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Rich Erenberg 11 CAR, 44 YDS, 1 TD
Receiving John Stallworth 6 REC, 78 YDS, 1 TD
SF Passing Joe Montana 24/34, 241 YDS, 1 INT
Rushing Wendell Tyler 11 CAR, 59 YDS, 1 TD
Receiving Roger Craig 7 REC, 43 YDS
  • Point spread: 49ers by 8
  • Over/Under: 42.0 (under)
  • Time of Game:
Steelers Game Statistics 49ers
23 First downs 22
47–175 Rushes–yards 20–117
156 Passing yards 241
11–18–1 Passes 24–35–1
1–7 Sacked–yards 0–0
149 Net passing yards 241
324 Total yards 358
106 Return yards 131
2–41.0 Punts 3–30.7
1–0 Fumbles–lost 1–0
11–68 Penalties–yards 8–57
34:45 Time of Possession 25:15

This game was not on many NBC stations, since game 5 of the World Series was being broadcast at the same time. However, that game would prove the last Sunday afternoon World Series game. This was the solitary game the eventual Super Bowl champion 49ers lost during the 1984 season.

Week 8: at Indianapolis Colts

Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 3 10 0316
Colts 0 0 01717

at

Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: October 21, 1984
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: Dome
  • Game attendance: 60,026
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • TV announcers (NBC): Gary Gerould (play by play), Dave Rowe (color commentator
  • [13]

This game was particularly frustrating to Steeler fans. One week previously, the Steelers beat the 49ers in San Francisco – becoming the solitary team to achieve this as the 49ers finished 15-1 on the way to winning the Super Bowl. Then coming back east to play one of the worst teams of the season, the Indianapolis Colts – who had only two wins at that point and were to win just four games for the season – they lost on a last minute improbable play after leading throughout the game. The Colts’ third-string quarterback, Mike Pagel, came off the bench in the third quarter and was leading a final minute drive from their 20. On the Colts 40 with 34 seconds left, Pagel avoided a near sack, scrambled right and threw down the middle of the field to WR Bernard Henry. The ball however went directly to the hands of Steeler CB Sam Washington who bobbled the ball. Between Washington and a few other Steeler defenders, WR Ray Butler burst through the gap, snatched the ball in the air and ran untouched 54 yards for the touchdown. The extra point sealed the game.[14]

And that’s why they play the game.

Week 9: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 3 0710
Steelers 7 7 14735

at

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: October 28, 1984
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 72 °F or 22.2 °C (Light Rain)
  • Game attendance: 55,971
  • Referee:
    Jim Hill (play by play), John Dockery (color commentator)
  • [15]

Week 10 vs. Houston Oilers

The Steelers limited Warren Moon and Oliver Luck to 224 yards; the Oilers fumbled four times.

Week 11: at Cincinnati Bengals

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 13 0720
Bengals 3 0 12722

at

Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Date: November 11, 1984
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 43 °F (6.1 °C), wind 17 miles per hour (27 km/h; 15 kn)
  • Game attendance: 52,497
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones (play by play), Bob Griese (color commentator)
  • [17]

Week 12: at New Orleans Saints

Pittsburgh Steelers at New Orleans Saints
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 14 01024
Saints 3 10 01427

at

New Orleans, Louisiana

The Saints won their first Monday Night game in seven tries, and also avenged a 1974 Monday Night loss to the Steelers at

AFL-NFL merger
.

Former Steelers linebacker Dennis Winston played for the Saints in this game. It was also a homecoming for Lipps, who played at nearby East St. John High School.

Week 13: vs. San Diego Chargers

San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 10 7724
Steelers 3 21 21752

at

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: November 25, 1984
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 54 °F or 12.2 °C (Sunny)
  • Game attendance: 55,586
  • Referee:
    Gene Washington (color commentator)
  • [18]