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1989 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Pittsburgh Steelers 57th US football season

Field	Value
team	Pittsburgh Steelers
year	1989
record	9–7
division_place	3rd AFC Central
coach	Chuck Noll
off_coach	Tom Moore
def_coach	Rod Rust
general manager	Dick Haley
owner	The Rooney Family
stadium	Three Rivers Stadium
playoffs	Won [Wild Card Playoffs](1989-90-nfl-playoffs)
(at [Oilers](1989-houston-oilers-season)) 26–23 (OT)
Lost [Divisional Playoffs](1989-90-nfl-playoffs)
(at [Broncos](1989-denver-broncos-season)) 23–24
pro bowlers	{{Collapsible list
framestyle	border:none; padding:0;
title	2
1	OT Tunch Ilkin
2	CB Rod Woodson
AP All-pros	Rod Woodson (1st team)
MVP	Louis Lipps
ROY	Carnell Lake
shortnavlink	Steelers seasons

(at Oilers) 26–23 (OT) Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Broncos) 23–24 | AP All-pros = Rod Woodson (1st team)

The 1989 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 57th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League. They were considered a rebuilding team filled with many young players, especially after the release of longtime center Mike Webster in the offseason. The young team showed its inexperience in the first game of the season, when they lost at home to the archrival Cleveland Browns 51–0. The loss marked the Steelers worst defeat in franchise history. The following week wasn't much better, losing 41–10 to another division rival, the defending AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals.

However, the Steelers clinched the final playoff spot in the last week in the season with a 9–7 record. Chuck Noll, in his 21st season as the team's head coach, was named the NFL's Coach of the Year for the only time in his coaching career.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Steelers would have a memorable come-from-behind overtime victory over the division-rival Houston Oilers 26–23, which saw Gary Anderson kick a game-winning, 50-yard field goal in the extra period. The following week, the Steelers nearly pulled off a major upset against the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium before losing 24–23 on a Melvin Bratton one-yard touchdown run with 2:22 remaining in the game.

Though the Steelers would not make the playoffs again under Chuck Noll (missing in 1990 with an identical 9–7 record and again in 1991 at 7–9 despite a second-place finish that year), the season did set the tone for the team's return to prominence in the 1990s under his successor, Bill Cowher.

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1989 NFL draft

Undrafted free agents

Player	Position	College
Owen Bartruff	Safety	Florida
Lester Brinkley	Defensive end	Ole Miss
Cammie Collins	Linebacker	Jackson State
Gene Cullinane	Center	Washburn
Charles Fryar	Cornerback	Nebraska
Fred Highsmith	Running back	Miami (FL)
Alvin Johnson	Wide receiver	Central Missouri State
Bob Kovach	Guard	West Virginia
John O'Neill	Tackle	Miami (FL)
Terry O'Shea	Tight end	California (PA)
Thane Ritchie	Tight end	Wheaton
Tracy Simien	Linebacker	TCU
John Stroia	Tackle	West Virginia
Fine Unga	Running back	Weber State
Steve Vandegrift	Nose tackle	Missouri
Eric Wilkerson	Running back	Kent State

Personnel

Staff / Coaches

President – Daniel M. Rooney
Vice president – John R. McGinley
Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
Director of communications & business – Joe Gordon
Controller – Ralph Meacham
Chief negotiator – James A. Boston
Office manager – Stadium – Dan Ferens
Public relations director – Dan Edwards
Publicity director – Pat Hanlon
Director of ticket sales – Geraldine Glenn
Computer coordinator – Accounting – Jim Ellenberger
Director of player personnel – Dick Haley
Director of pro personnel & development – Tom Donahoe
College scouting coordinator – Tom Modrak
Talent scout – Bob Schmitz
Talent scout – Max McCartney
Talent scout – Charles Bailey
Head coach – Chuck Noll
Offensive coordinator – Tom Moore
Offensive backfield – Dick Hoak
Receivers – Dwain Painter
Offensive line – Ron Blackledge
Defensive coordinator – Rod Rust
Defensive line – Joe Greene
Linebackers – Dave Brazil
Defensive backs – John Fox
Special teams coach – George Stewart
Conditioning & training coordinator – Jon Kolb
Dentist – Dr. George P. Boucek
Ophthalmologist – Dr. Phillip Buzzelli
Physician, orthopedic – Dr. Thomas W. Cowan
Neurological surgery consultant – Dr. Joseph C. Maroon
Physician, M.D. – Dr. Richard Rydze
Physician, consultant – Dr. Abraham J.Twerski
Physician, M.D. – Dr. Anthony P. Yates
Trainer – Ralph Berlin
Trainer – Fran Feld
Equipment manager – Anthony Parisi
Field manager – Rodgers Freyvogel
Video & film director – Bob McCartney
Video assistant – Pat Dolan
Photographers – Mike Fabus, Bill Amatucci

Roster

Offseason

The offseason was marked with the team deciding not to renew the contract of longtime center Mike Webster. Webster's release marked the end of the Super Bowl-era players on the team. Although Dwayne Woodruff was still with the Steelers and had won a Super Bowl ring during his rookie year, Webster had been the last member on the team that won all four Super Bowls. Webster would be succeeded at center with a young Dermontti Dawson, who was drafted the year before to be groomed as Webster's replacement, and like Webster would go on to an All-Pro career as one of the best at his position.

Meanwhile, the team drafted UCLA safety Carnell Lake in the second round of the 1989 draft. Lake would be a key member of the team's defense through the 1998 season, although his accomplishments would often be underlooked as opposed to his teammate, Rod Woodson.

Preseason

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Game Site	Kickoff (ET)	TV	Result
Sat. Aug. 12	Washington Redskins	Three Rivers Stadium	8:00 p.m.	ESPN	L 21–14	0–1
Sat. Aug. 19	at Cleveland Browns	Cleveland Municipal Stadium	7:30 p.m.	WTAE	W 24–21	1–1
Sat. Aug. 26	at Philadelphia Eagles	Veterans Stadium	7:30 p.m.	WTAE	L 38–14	1–2
Sat. Sep. 2	at New York Giants	Giants Stadium	8:00 p.m.	WTAE	W 13–10	2–2

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Game Site	Kickoff (ET)	TV	Result
Sun. Sep. 10	Cleveland Browns	Three Rivers Stadium	4:00 p.m.	NBC	L 51–0	0–1
Sun. Sep. 17	at Cincinnati Bengals	Riverfront Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	L 41–10	0–2
Sun. Sep. 24	Minnesota Vikings	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	CBS	W 27–14	1–2
Sun. Oct. 1	at Detroit Lions	Pontiac Silverdome	1:00 p.m.	NBC	W 23–3	2–2
Sun. Oct. 8	Cincinnati Bengals	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	L 26–16	2–3
Sun. Oct. 15	at Cleveland Browns	Cleveland Municipal Stadium	4:00 p.m.	NBC	W 17–7	3–3
Sun. Oct. 22	at Houston Oilers	Astrodome	1:00 p.m.	NBC	L 27–0	3–4
Sun. Oct. 29	Kansas City Chiefs	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	W 23–17	4–4
Sun. Nov. 5	at Denver Broncos	Mile High Stadium	4:00 p.m.	NBC	L 34–7	4–5
Sun. Nov. 12	Chicago Bears	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	CBS	L 20–0	4–6
Sun. Nov. 19	San Diego Chargers	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	W 20–17	5–6
Sun. Nov. 26	at Miami Dolphins	Joe Robbie Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	W 34–14	6–6
Sun. Dec. 3	Houston Oilers	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	L 23–16	6–7
Sun. Dec. 10	at New York Jets	Giants Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	W 13–0	7–7
Sun. Dec. 17	New England Patriots	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	W 28–10	8–7
Sun. Dec. 24	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Tampa Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	W 31–22	9–7

Game summaries

Week 1

;Browns

Bernie Kosar 16/25, 207 Yds
Mike Oliphant 6 Rush, 48 Yds, TD
Webster Slaughter 4 Rec, 75 Yds ;Steelers
Bubby Brister 10/22, 84 Yds, 3 INT
Tim Worley 10 Rush, 36 Yds
Derek Hill 2 Rec, 28 Yds

The Steelers and Chuck Noll faced off against their divisional rival Browns and former defensive coordinator Bud Carson in the season opener.

Week 2 (Sunday September 17, 1989): at [[Cincinnati Bengals]]

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati

Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
Game weather:
Game attendance: 53,885
Referee: Dick Jorgensen
TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Ahmad Rashad (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Cincinnati – FG Gallery 26
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 38
Cincinnati – Brown 27 pass from Esiason (Gallery kick)
Cincinnati – FG Gallery 47
Cincinnati – Woods 1 run (Gallery kick)
Pittsburgh – Hill 7 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
CIncinnati – Jennings 1 run (Gallery kick)
CIncinnati – Brooks 2 run (Gallery kick)
Cincinnati – Jennings 43 pass from Esiason (Gallery kick)

Week 3 (Sunday September 24, 1989): vs. [[Minnesota Vikings]]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
Game weather: 54 F (Cloudy)
Game attendance: 50,744
Referee: Dick Hantak
TV announcers: (CBS) Steve Zabriskie (play by play), Hank Stram (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – Mularkey 15 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
Minnesota – Wilson 1 run (Garcia kick)
Pittsburgh – Worley 8 run (Anderson kick)
Minnesota – Thomas 27 fumble return (Garcia kick)
Pittsburgh – Hoge 2 run (Anderson kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 38
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 44

Week 4 (Sunday October 1, 1989): at [[Detroit Lions]]

at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan

Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
Game weather: Dome
Game attendance: 43,804
Referee: Ben Dreith
TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Ahmad Rashad (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Detroit – FG Murray 37
Pittsburgh – Lipps 48 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20
Pittsburgh – Carter 1 run (Anderson kick)
Pittsburgh – Wallace 2 run (pass failed)

Week 5 (Sunday October 8, 1989): vs. [[Cincinnati Bengals]]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
Game weather: 43 F (Cloudy)
Game attendance: 52,785
Referee: Howard Roe
TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Paul Maguire (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – Carter 22 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
Cincinnati – FG Breech 24
Cincinnati – FG Breech 27
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 24
Cincinnati – Martin 7 pass from Esiason (Breech kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 40
Cincinnati – Brooks 13 run (kick failed)
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 34
Cincinnati – Brooks 65 run (Breech kick)

Week 6 (Sunday October 15, 1989): at [[Cleveland Browns]]

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
Game weather:
Game attendance: 78,840
Referee: Gene Barth
TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Paul Maguire (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 49
Pittsburgh – Carter 14 pass from Blackledge (Anderson kick)
Cleveland – Metcalf 2 run (Bahr kick)
Pittsburgh – Williams 1 run (Anderson kick)

Week 7 (Sunday October 22, 1989): at [[Houston Oilers]]

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
Game weather: Dome
Game attendance: 59,091
Referee: Jerry Markbreit
TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Joe Namath (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Houston – Highsmith 3 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
Houston – FG Zendejas 41
Houston – Duncan 51 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
Houston – Highsmith 5 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
Houston – FG Zendejas 51

Week 8 (Sunday October 29, 1989): vs. [[Kansas City Chiefs]]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 72 F (Mostly Cloudy)
Game attendance: 54,194
Referee: Tom Dooley
TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Paul Maguire (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 41
Pittsburgh – Lipps 16 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 47
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 29
Kansas City – FG Lowery 50
Kansas City – Mandley 8 pass from DeBerg (Lowery kick)
Kansas City – Maas 4 fumble return (Lowery kick)
Pittsburgh – Lipps 64 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)

Week 9 (Sunday November 5, 1989): at [[Denver Broncos]]

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

Game time: 4:00 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 74,739
Referee: Red Cashion
TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Denver – Humphrey 22 run (Treadwell kick)
Denver – FG Treadwell 26
Pittsburgh – Carter 15 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
Denver – FG Treadwell 26
Denver – Johnson 44 pass from Elway (Treadwell kick)
Denver – Elway 2 run (Treadwell kick)
Denver – Humphrey 12 run (Treadwell kick)

Week 10 (Sunday November 12, 1989): vs. [[Chicago Bears]]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 47 F (Partly Cloudy)
Game attendance: 56,505
Referee: Gordon McCarter
TV announcers: (CBS) Jim Nantz (play by play), Pat Haden (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Chicago – N. Anderson 2 run (Butler kick)
Chicago – FG Butler 39
Chicago – Muster 20 pass from Harbaugh (Butler kick)
Chicago – FG Butler 35

Week 11 (Sunday November 19, 1989): vs. [[San Diego Chargers]]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 31 F (Cloudy)
Game attendance: 44,203
Referee: Bob McElwee
TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Paul Maguire (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 49
San Diego – A. Miller 20 pass from McMahon (Bahr kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 28
San Diego – FG Bahr 27
Pittsburgh – Woodson 84 kickoff return (Anderson kick)
San Diego – A. Miller 18 pass from McMahon (Bahr kick)
Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run (Anderson kick)

Week 12 (Sunday November 26, 1989): at [[Miami Dolphins]]

at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 59,936
Referee: Dick Jorgensen
TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Steelers get first ever win against the Dolphins in Miami. This game was played in a driving rain storm.

Scoring drives:

Miami – Smith 1 run (Stoyanovich kick)
Miami – Clayton 66 pass from Marino (Stoyanovich kick)
Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run (Anderson kick)
Pittsburgh – Woodruff 21 with lateral after Lake 2 fumble return (Anderson kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27
Pittsburgh – Hoge 5 run (Anderson kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42
Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run (Anderson kick)

Week 13 (Sunday December 3, 1989): vs. [[Houston Oilers]]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 22 F (Light Snow Showers)
Game attendance: 40,541
Referee: Ben Dreith
TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Donovan (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 18
Pittsburgh – Hoge 4 run (Anderson kick)
Houston – Duncan 18 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
Houston – Hill 27 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37
Houston – Safety, McDowell tackled Newsome in end zone
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 18
Houston – White 1 run (Zendejas kick)

Week 14 (Sunday December 10, 1989): at [[New York Jets]]

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 41,037
Referee: Johnny Grier
TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Joe Namath (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – Worley 35 run (Anderson kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 45

Week 15 (Sunday December 17, 1989): vs. [[New England Patriots]]

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 5 F (Cloudy)
Game attendance: 26,594
Referee: Tom Dooley
TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Donovan (play by play), Jimmy Cefalo (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – Worley 8 run (Anderson kick)
New England – FG Staurovsky 20
Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run (Anderson kick)
Pittsburgh – Lipps 58 run (Anderson kick)
Pittsburgh – Hoge 2 run (Anderson kick)
New England – C. Jones 12 pass from Wilson (Staurovsky kick)

Week 16 (Sunday December 24, 1989): at [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]]

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 29,690
Referee: Jerry Seeman
TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Paul Maguire (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – Worley 1 run (Anderson kick)
Tampa Bay – Carrier 7 pass from Ferguson (Igwebuike kick)
Pittsburgh – Lipps 79 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
Tampa Bay – FG Igwebuike 45
Pittsburgh – Lipps 12 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 32
Tampa Bay – FG Igwebuike 24
Pittsburgh – Worley 1 run (Anderson kick)
Tampa Bay – Safety Cocroft blocked punt out of end zone
Tampa Bay – Carrier 39 pass from Ferguson (Igwebuike kick)

Standings

Playoffs

Game summaries

AFC Wild Card Playoff (Sunday December 31, 1989): at [[Houston Oilers]]

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Game time: 4:00 pm EST
Game weather: Dome
Game attendance: 58,306
Referee: Pat Haggerty
TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – Worley 9 run (Anderson kick)
Houston – FG Zendejas 26
Houston – FG Zendejas 35
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25
Houston – FG Zendejas 26
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 30
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 48
Houston – Givins 18 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
Houston – Givins 9 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
Pittsburgh – Hoge 2 run (Anderson kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 50

AFC Divisional Playoff (Sunday January 7, 1990): at [[Denver Broncos]]

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

Game time: 4:00 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 75,868
Referee: Gene Barth
TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Bill Walsh (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 32
Pittsburgh – Hoge 7 run (Anderson kick)
Denver – Bratton 1 run (Treadwell kick)
Pittsburgh – Lipps 9 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
Denver – FG Treadwell 43
Denver – Johnson 37 pass from Elway (Treadwell kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 35
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 32
Denver – Bratton 1 run (Treadwell kick)

Awards and honors

Tunch Ilkin, AFC Pro Bowl
Carnell Lake, Steelers Rookie of the Year
Rod Woodson, AFC Pro Bowl

References

"1989 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide".
"1989 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide".
"1990 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide".
"1989 Pittsburgh Steelers".

Info: Wikipedia Source

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