The 2003 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 71st season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the
National Football League.
Their season began with the team trying to improve on their 10–5–1 record from
2002 in which they lost to the
Tennessee Titans in the divisional round of the playoffs.
With the team suffering through injuries as well as less reliance on the running game than normal, the Steelers stumbled to a 6–10 record, going the entire season without winning consecutive games. Since moving to
Heinz Field in
2001, this was the Steelers' first season with a losing record and their first season missing the playoffs. The team's record is tied with that of the
1999 season as the worst for a season under head coach Bill Cowher.
In his final season with the team, linebacker
Jason Gildon became the franchise's career sack leader during a game against the
Arizona Cardinals on November 9.
Since then, this represents the most recent losing season for the Steelers.
The Steelers were the only team in the 2003 season to play on the road following a
Monday night road game. The
NFL at that time had typically given teams that traveled for a Monday night game either a home game or their
bye week the following week. Steelers head coach
Bill Cowher objected to the team playing a road game after a Monday night road game. Team president
Dan Rooney said that he would not pursue the matter with the NFL, noting that the second game was in Cleveland, only 112 miles (180 km) from Pittsburgh.[7]
The 2003 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 71st season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the
National Football League.
Their season began with the team trying to improve on their 10–5–1 record from
2002 in which they lost to the
Tennessee Titans in the divisional round of the playoffs.
With the team suffering through injuries as well as less reliance on the running game than normal, the Steelers stumbled to a 6–10 record, going the entire season without winning consecutive games. Since moving to
Heinz Field in
2001, this was the Steelers' first season with a losing record and their first season missing the playoffs. The team's record is tied with that of the
1999 season as the worst for a season under head coach Bill Cowher.
In his final season with the team, linebacker
Jason Gildon became the franchise's career sack leader during a game against the
Arizona Cardinals on November 9.
Since then, this represents the most recent losing season for the Steelers.
The Steelers were the only team in the 2003 season to play on the road following a
Monday night road game. The
NFL at that time had typically given teams that traveled for a Monday night game either a home game or their
bye week the following week. Steelers head coach
Bill Cowher objected to the team playing a road game after a Monday night road game. Team president
Dan Rooney said that he would not pursue the matter with the NFL, noting that the second game was in Cleveland, only 112 miles (180 km) from Pittsburgh.[7]