1971 Pittsburgh Steelers season | |
---|---|
Head coach | Chuck Noll |
Home field | Three Rivers Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 6–8 |
Division place | 2nd AFC Central |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | 2
|
AP All-Pros | None |
Team MVP | Andy Russell |
The 1971 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 39th in the National Football League. The Steelers showed improvement finishing in second place in the AFC Central Division with a 6–8 record. Terry Bradshaw struggled with turnovers in his second season throwing 22 interceptions to 13 touchdown passes. The Steelers that year drafted wide receiver Frank Lewis, Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Ham, guard Gerry Mullins, defensive end Dwight White, tight end/tackle Larry Brown, defensive tackle Ernie Holmes, and safety Mike Wagner, all key contributors during the Steelers Super Bowl teams of the 1970s.
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8 | Frank Lewis | WR | Grambling | |
2 | 34 | Jack Ham | LB | Penn State | |
3 | 60 | Steven Davis | RB | Delaware State | |
4 | 86 | Gerry Mullins | TE | USC | |
4 | 104 | Dwight White | DE | East Texas State | |
5 | 106 | Larry Brown | TE | Kansas | |
5 | 112 | Melvin Holmes | OT | North Carolina A&T | |
5 | 126 | Ralph Anderson | DB | West Texas State | |
5 | 128 | Fred Brister | LB | Mississippi | |
6 | 138 | Craig Hanneman | OT | Oregon State | |
7 | 164 | Worthy McClure | OT | Mississippi | |
8 | 184 | Larry Crowe | RB | Texas Southern | |
8 | 190 | Paul Rogers | PK | Nebraska | |
8 | 203 | Ernie Holmes | DT | Texas Southern | |
9 | 216 | Mike Anderson | LB | LSU | |
10 | 242 | Jim O'Shea | TE | Boston College | |
11 | 268 | Mike Wagner | DB | Western Illinois | |
13 | 320 | Alfred Young | WR | South Carolina State | |
14 | 346 | McKinney Evans | DB | New Mexico Highlands | |
15 | 372 | Ray Makin | OG | Kentucky | |
16 | 398 | Walter Huntley | DB | Trinity | |
17 | 424 | Danny Ehle | RB | Howard Payne |
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
|
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
|
Rookies in italics |
Week | Date | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1 | September 19, 1971 | at Chicago Bears | L 17–15 |
2 | September 26, 1971 | Cincinnati Bengals | W 21–10 |
3 | October 3, 1971 | San Diego Chargers | W 21–17 |
4 | October 10, 1971 | at Cleveland Browns | L 27–17 |
5 | October 18, 1971 | at Kansas City Chiefs | L 38–16 |
6 | October 24, 1971 | Houston Oilers | W 23–16 |
7 | October 31, 1971 | at Baltimore Colts | L 34–21 |
8 | November 7, 1971 | Cleveland Browns | W 26–9 |
9 | November 14, 1971 | at Miami Dolphins | L 24–21 |
10 | November 21, 1971 | New York Giants | W 17–13 |
11 | November 28, 1971 | Denver Broncos | L 22–10 |
12 | December 5, 1971 | at Houston Oilers | L 29–3 |
13 | December 12, 1971 | at Cincinnati Bengals | W 21–13 |
14 | December 19, 1971 | Los Angeles Rams | L 23–14 |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 15 |
Bears | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bengals | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
Steelers | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
Steelers | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
Steelers stop San Diego with a goal line stand preserving the 21–17 win.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
Browns | 10 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 9 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 16 |
Chiefs | 0 | 28 | 0 | 10 | 38 |
at the Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oilers | 7 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 16 |
Steelers | 3 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 23 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
Colts | 7 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 34 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Browns | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 9 |
Steelers | 10 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 26 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
Dolphins | 3 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
at Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Giants | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
Steelers | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 0 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 22 |
Steelers | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Oilers | 16 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 29 |
at the Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
Bengals | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 13 |
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rams | 13 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 23 |
Steelers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
AFC Central | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Cleveland Browns | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 5–1 | 7–4 | 285 | 273 | W5 |
Pittsburgh Steelers | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 4–2 | 5–6 | 246 | 292 | L1 |
Houston Oilers | 4 | 9 | 1 | .308 | 2–4 | 4–7 | 251 | 330 | W3 |
Cincinnati Bengals | 4 | 10 | 0 | .286 | 1–5 | 3–8 | 284 | 265 | L3 |
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
1971 Pittsburgh Steelers season | |
---|---|
Head coach | Chuck Noll |
Home field | Three Rivers Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 6–8 |
Division place | 2nd AFC Central |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | 2
|
AP All-Pros | None |
Team MVP | Andy Russell |
The 1971 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 39th in the National Football League. The Steelers showed improvement finishing in second place in the AFC Central Division with a 6–8 record. Terry Bradshaw struggled with turnovers in his second season throwing 22 interceptions to 13 touchdown passes. The Steelers that year drafted wide receiver Frank Lewis, Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Ham, guard Gerry Mullins, defensive end Dwight White, tight end/tackle Larry Brown, defensive tackle Ernie Holmes, and safety Mike Wagner, all key contributors during the Steelers Super Bowl teams of the 1970s.
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8 | Frank Lewis | WR | Grambling | |
2 | 34 | Jack Ham | LB | Penn State | |
3 | 60 | Steven Davis | RB | Delaware State | |
4 | 86 | Gerry Mullins | TE | USC | |
4 | 104 | Dwight White | DE | East Texas State | |
5 | 106 | Larry Brown | TE | Kansas | |
5 | 112 | Melvin Holmes | OT | North Carolina A&T | |
5 | 126 | Ralph Anderson | DB | West Texas State | |
5 | 128 | Fred Brister | LB | Mississippi | |
6 | 138 | Craig Hanneman | OT | Oregon State | |
7 | 164 | Worthy McClure | OT | Mississippi | |
8 | 184 | Larry Crowe | RB | Texas Southern | |
8 | 190 | Paul Rogers | PK | Nebraska | |
8 | 203 | Ernie Holmes | DT | Texas Southern | |
9 | 216 | Mike Anderson | LB | LSU | |
10 | 242 | Jim O'Shea | TE | Boston College | |
11 | 268 | Mike Wagner | DB | Western Illinois | |
13 | 320 | Alfred Young | WR | South Carolina State | |
14 | 346 | McKinney Evans | DB | New Mexico Highlands | |
15 | 372 | Ray Makin | OG | Kentucky | |
16 | 398 | Walter Huntley | DB | Trinity | |
17 | 424 | Danny Ehle | RB | Howard Payne |
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
|
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
|
Rookies in italics |
Week | Date | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1 | September 19, 1971 | at Chicago Bears | L 17–15 |
2 | September 26, 1971 | Cincinnati Bengals | W 21–10 |
3 | October 3, 1971 | San Diego Chargers | W 21–17 |
4 | October 10, 1971 | at Cleveland Browns | L 27–17 |
5 | October 18, 1971 | at Kansas City Chiefs | L 38–16 |
6 | October 24, 1971 | Houston Oilers | W 23–16 |
7 | October 31, 1971 | at Baltimore Colts | L 34–21 |
8 | November 7, 1971 | Cleveland Browns | W 26–9 |
9 | November 14, 1971 | at Miami Dolphins | L 24–21 |
10 | November 21, 1971 | New York Giants | W 17–13 |
11 | November 28, 1971 | Denver Broncos | L 22–10 |
12 | December 5, 1971 | at Houston Oilers | L 29–3 |
13 | December 12, 1971 | at Cincinnati Bengals | W 21–13 |
14 | December 19, 1971 | Los Angeles Rams | L 23–14 |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 15 |
Bears | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bengals | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
Steelers | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
Steelers | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
Steelers stop San Diego with a goal line stand preserving the 21–17 win.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
Browns | 10 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 9 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 16 |
Chiefs | 0 | 28 | 0 | 10 | 38 |
at the Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oilers | 7 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 16 |
Steelers | 3 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 23 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
Colts | 7 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 34 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Browns | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 9 |
Steelers | 10 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 26 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
Dolphins | 3 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
at Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Giants | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
Steelers | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 0 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 22 |
Steelers | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Oilers | 16 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 29 |
at the Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
Bengals | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 13 |
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati
Scoring drives:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rams | 13 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 23 |
Steelers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
AFC Central | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Cleveland Browns | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 5–1 | 7–4 | 285 | 273 | W5 |
Pittsburgh Steelers | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 4–2 | 5–6 | 246 | 292 | L1 |
Houston Oilers | 4 | 9 | 1 | .308 | 2–4 | 4–7 | 251 | 330 | W3 |
Cincinnati Bengals | 4 | 10 | 0 | .286 | 1–5 | 3–8 | 284 | 265 | L3 |
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.