2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season
2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season | |
---|---|
Owner | The Rooney Family |
General manager | Kevin Colbert |
Head coach | Bill Cowher |
Home field | Heinz Field |
Results | |
Record | 13–3 |
Division place | 1st AFC Central |
Playoff finish | Won Divisional Playoffs (Ravens) 27–10 Lost AFC Championship (Patriots) 17–24 |
Pro Bowlers | 6 |
AP All-Pros | 4
|
Team MVP | Kordell Stewart |
Team ROY | Kendrell Bell |
Uniform | |
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The 2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 69th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League. After finishing the previous three seasons a combined 22–26, the Steelers returned to the top seed in the AFC, rolling to a 13–3 record in their first season since 1997 and playing at Heinz Field. The Steelers went 7–1 in their new home stadium, with the only loss coming to the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens (a loss the Steelers avenged in the divisional playoffs).
However, for the third time in Bill Cowher's coaching tenure, the Steelers fell in the AFC Championship Game at home. This time, the eventual champion New England Patriots defeated the top-seeded Steelers.
Offseason
NFL draft
2001 Pittsburgh Steelers draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 18 | Casey Hampton * | Defensive Tackle | Texas | |
2 | 39 | Kendrell Bell * | Linebacker | Georgia | |
Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career |
Personnel
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
Notable additions include Casey Hampton, Jeff Hartings and Kendrell Bell.
Roster
Preseason
Schedule
Week | Date | Kickoff (ET) | TV | Opponent | Result | Record | Game Site | NFL Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Fri. Aug. 3 | 7:30 p.m. | KDKA | at Atlanta Falcons | W 17–16 | 1–0 | Georgia Dome | Recap |
2 | Thu. Aug. 16 | 8:00 p.m. | KDKA | at Minnesota Vikings | L 24–10 | 1–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | Recap |
3 | Sat. Aug. 25 | 1:00 p.m. | KDKA | Detroit Lions | W 20–7 | 2–1 | Heinz Field | Recap |
4 | Thu. Aug. 30 | 7:30 p.m. | KDKA | Buffalo Bills | W 20–0 | 3–1 | Heinz Field | Recap |
Regular season
Schedule
The Steelers did not play in their home stadium for the entire month of September. Their Week 2 game against the archrival Cleveland Browns was canceled due to the events of September 11, and was rescheduled for the end of the year. Week 3 was their bye week.
Week | Date | Kickoff (ET) | TV | Opponent | Result | Record | Game Site | NFL Recap | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sun. Sep. 9 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS | at Jacksonville Jaguars | L 3–21 | 0–1 | Alltel Stadium | Summary | |
2 | Sun. Sep. 23 | Bye Week | |||||||
3 | Sun. Sep. 30 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS | at Buffalo Bills | W 20–3 | 1–1 | Ralph Wilson Stadium | Summary | |
4 | Sun. Oct. 7 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS | Cincinnati Bengals | W 16–7 | 2–1 | Heinz Field | Summary | |
5 | Sun. Oct. 14 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS | at Kansas City Chiefs | W 20–17 | 3–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | Summary | |
6 | Sun. Oct. 21 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 17–10 | 4–1 | Raymond James Stadium | Summary | |
7 | Mon. Oct. 29 | 9:00 p.m. | ABC | Tennessee Titans | W 34–7 | 5–1 | Heinz Field | Summary | |
8 | Sun. Nov. 4 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS | Baltimore Ravens | L 10–13 | 5–2 | Heinz Field | Summary | |
9 | Sun. Nov. 11 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS | at Cleveland Browns | W 15–12 (OT) | 6–2 | Cleveland Browns Stadium | Summary | |
10 | Sun. Nov. 18 | 4:15 p.m. | CBS | Jacksonville Jaguars | W 20–7 | 7–2 | Heinz Field | Summary | |
11 | Sun. Nov. 25 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS | at Tennessee Titans | W 34–24 | 8–2 | Adelphia Coliseum | Summary | |
12 | Sun. Dec. 2 | 1:00 p.m. | Fox | Minnesota Vikings | W 21–16 | 9–2 | Heinz Field | Summary | |
13 | Sun. Dec. 9 | 4:15 p.m. | CBS | New York Jets | W 18–7 | 10–2 | Heinz Field | Summary | |
14 | Sun. Dec. 16 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN | at Baltimore Ravens | W 26–21 | 11–2 | PSINet Stadium | Summary | |
15 | Sun. Dec. 23 | 1:00 p.m. | Fox | Detroit Lions | W 47–14 | 12–2 | Heinz Field | Summary | |
16 | Sun. Dec. 30 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 23–26 (OT) | 12–3 | Paul Brown Stadium | Summary | |
17 | Sun. Jan. 6 | 1:00 p.m. | CBS | Cleveland Browns | W 28–7 | 13–3 | Heinz Field | Summary |
Standings
AFC Central | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |||
(1) Pittsburgh Steelers | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 352 | 212 | W1 | ||
(5) Baltimore Ravens | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 303 | 265 | W1 | ||
Cleveland Browns | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 285 | 319 | L1 | ||
Tennessee Titans | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 336 | 388 | L2 | ||
Jacksonville Jaguars | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 294 | 286 | L2 | ||
Cincinnati Bengals | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 226 | 309 | W2 |
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday September 9, 2001): at Jacksonville Jaguars
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Jaguars | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 63,785
- Referee: Mack Gentry
- TV announcers: (CBS) Don Criqui (play by play), Craig James (color commentator)
- (Sunday September 16, 2001): vs. Cleveland Browns
Due to the September 11th attacks the National Football League postponed all games. It was played after the rest of the scheduled season had been completed.
Week 2 (Sunday September 23, 2001): Bye Week
Week 3 (Sunday September 30, 2001): at Buffalo Bills
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
Bills | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 72,874
- Referee: Tom White
- TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)
Week 4 (Sunday October 7, 2001): vs. Cincinnati Bengals
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bengals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Steelers | 0 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 46 °F (Partly Cloudy)
- Game attendance: 62,335
- Referee: Larry Nemmers
- TV announcers: (CBS) Bill Macatee (play by play), Trevor Matich (color commentator)
This was the first game at Heinz Field.
Week 5 (Sunday October 14, 2001): at Kansas City Chiefs
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 20 |
Chiefs | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 17 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 78,413
- Referee: Ron Blum
- TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)
Week 6 (Sunday October 21, 2001): at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
Buccaneers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 65,588
- Referee: Ed Hochuli
- TV announcers: (CBS) Dick Enberg (play by play), Dan Dierdorf (color commentator)
Week 7 (Monday October 29, 2001): vs. Tennessee Titans
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Titans | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Steelers | 7 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 34 |
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time: 9:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 51 °F (Cloudy)
- Game attendance: 63,763
- Referee: Terry McAulay
- TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Dan Fouts & Dennis Miller (color commentators), Eric Dickerson & Melissa Stark (sideline reporters)
Week 8 (Sunday November 4, 2001): vs. Baltimore Ravens
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ravens | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
Steelers | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 63 °F (Partly Cloudy)
- Game attendance: 62,906
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers: (CBS) Dick Enberg (play by play), Dan Dierdorf (color commentator)
Week 9 (Sunday November 11, 2001): at Cleveland Browns
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 15 |
Browns | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 73,218
- Referee: Dick Hantak
- TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)
Week 10 (Sunday November 18, 2001): vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jaguars | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Steelers | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time: 4:05 pm EST
- Game weather: 57 °F (Mostly Cloudy)
- Game attendance: 62,644
- Referee: Ron Winter
- TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)
Week 11 (Sunday November 25, 2001): at Tennessee Titans
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 3 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 34 |
Titans | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
at Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 68,801
- Referee: Bill Leavy
- TV announcers: (CBS) Dick Enberg (play by play), Dan Dierdorf (color commentator)
Week 12 (Sunday December 2, 2001): vs. Minnesota Vikings
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vikings | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 16 |
Steelers | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 48 °F (Sunny)
- Game attendance: 62,661
- Referee: Tony Corrente
- TV announcers: (Fox) Dick Stockton (play by play), Troy Aikman & Daryl Johnston (color commentators)
Week 13 (Sunday December 9, 2001): vs. New York Jets
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jets | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Steelers | 3 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 18 |
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time: 4:15 pm EST
- Game weather: 41 °F (Cloudy)
- Game attendance: 62,884
- Referee: Terry McAulay
- TV announcers: (CBS) Greg Gumbel (play by play), Phil Simms (color commentator)
Week 14 (Sunday December 16, 2001): at Baltimore Ravens
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 3 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 26 |
Ravens | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
at PSINet Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Game time: 8:30 pm EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 69,506
- Referee: Tom White
- TV announcers: (ESPN) Mike Patrick (play by play), Joe Theismann & Paul Maguire (color commentators), Suzy Kolber (sideline reporter)
Week 15 (Sunday December 23, 2001): vs. Detroit Lions
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lions | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Steelers | 14 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 47 |
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 43 °F (Light Rain)
- Game attendance: 62,809
- Referee: Johnny Grier
- TV announcers: (Fox) Kenny Albert (play by play), Tim Green (color commentator)
Week 16 (Sunday December 30, 2001): at Cincinnati Bengals
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 14 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
Bengals | 0 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 26 |
at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 20 °F (Cloudy)
- Game attendance: 63,751
- Referee: Jeff Triplette
- TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)
Week 17 (Sunday January 6, 2002): vs. Cleveland Browns
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Browns | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Steelers | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 32 °F (Snow)
- Game attendance: 59,189
- Referee: Bernie Kukar
- TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)
Playoffs
Schedule
Week | Date | Kickoff (ET) | TV | Opponent | Result | Game Site | NFL Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Divisional | Sun. Jan. 20 | 12:30 p.m. | CBS | Baltimore Ravens | W 27–10 | Heinz Field | Summary |
Conference | Sun. Jan. 27 | 12:30 p.m. | CBS | New England Patriots | L 24–17 | Heinz Field | Summary |
Game summaries
AFC Divisional Playoff (Sunday January 20, 2002): vs. Baltimore Ravens
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ravens | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
Steelers | 10 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time: 12:30 pm EST
- Game weather: 30 °F (Mostly Cloudy)
- Game attendance: 63,976
- Referee: Tony Corrente
- TV announcers: (CBS) Dick Enberg (play by play), Dan Dierdorf (color commentator)
AFC Championship Game (Sunday January 27, 2002): vs. New England Patriots
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Patriots | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
Steelers | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 17 |
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time: 12:30 pm EST
- Game weather: 57 °F (Mostly Cloudy)
- Game attendance: 64,704
- Referee: Ed Hochuli
- TV announcers: (CBS) Greg Gumbel (play by play), Phil Simms (color commentator)
Honors and awards
Pro Bowl Representatives
See: 2002 Pro Bowl
- No. 10 Kordell Stewart-Quarterback
- No. 36 Jerome Bettis-Running Back
- No. 66 Alan Faneca-Offensive Guard
- No. 86 Hines Ward-Wide Receiver
- No. 92 Jason Gildon-Outside Linebacker
- No. 97 Kendrell Bell-Inside Linebacker (as "need" player)
References
- ^ 2001 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
- ^ 2001 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
- ^ 2002 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
- ^ "2001 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-12-27.
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