1982 Pittsburgh Steelers season

1982 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Steelers 50th Anniversary Logo
Owner	Art Rooney
General manager	Dick Haley
Head coach	Chuck Noll
Home field	Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record	6–3
Division place	4th AFC
Playoff finish	Lost First Round (Chargers) 31–28
Pro Bowlers	OT Larry Brown LB Jack Lambert S Donnie Shell WR John Stallworth C Mike Webster
AP All-Pros	Jack Lambert (1st team) Donnie Shell (1st team)
Team MVP	Dwayne Woodruff

Bradshaw setting up a play against the Chiefs during Week 13.

The 1982 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 50th in the National Football League. The steelers returned to the playoffs after missing the playoffs for two years. This was also the Steelers 50th Anniversary season. Although the season was shortened as a result of the 1982 strike, the Steelers finished a strong 6–3 record, good enough for fourth in the AFC as a whole. Although division standings were thrown out as a result of the strike, the Steelers unofficially finished second in the AFC Central, one game behind defending AFC Champion Cincinnati.

The 1982 season is best remembered as the final seasons for Hall of Famers Lynn Swann and Jack Ham and the "unofficial" final season of fellow Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw, who would miss much of the 1983 season due to injuries before retiring. On the flip side, it would also be the first year of placekicker Gary Anderson and the first year of the team using a 3-4 defense, a style still used by the team as of 2019.

The Steelers would lose in the first round of the playoffs to the San Diego Chargers, in what would be the last home playoff game for the Steelers for the next ten years.

Personnel

Staff

1982 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 Public Relations Director – Ed Kiely Publicity Director – Joe Gordon Assistant Publicity Director – John Evenson Director of Ticket Sales – Geraldine Glenn 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 Head Coach – Chuck Noll Assistant Head Coach – George Perles Offensive coaches Offensive Line – Rollie Dotsch Offensive Backfield – Dick Hoak Receivers – Tom Moore

Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator – Woody Widenhofer Defensive Backfield – Tony Dungy Strength and conditioning Conditioning Coach – Jon Kolb 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

Roster

1982 Pittsburgh Steelers roster

Quarterbacks (QB) 12 Terry Bradshaw 18 Cliff Stoudt 11 Jeff Quinn Running backs (RB) 34 Walter Abercrombie 45 Russell Davis 32 Franco Harris 27 Greg Hawthorne 39 Rick Moser 44 Frank Pollard Wide receivers (WR) 86 Jim Smith 82 John Stallworth 88 Lynn Swann 85 Calvin Sweeney 83 Willie Sydnor PR Tight ends (TE) 89 Bennie Cunningham 87 John Rodgers

Offensive linemen (OL) 71 Emil Boures 79 Larry Brown T 77 Steve Courson G 55 Rick Donnalley 62 Tunch Ilkin T 61 Tyrone McGriff G 66 Ted Petersen T 74 Ray Pinney G/T 52 Mike Webster C 73 Craig Wolfley G Defensive linemen (DL) 65 Tom Beasley 67 Gary Dunn NT 95 John Goodman DE 90 Bob Kohrs DE/OLB 64 Edmund Nelson 93 Keith Willis DE

Linebackers (LB) 54 Craig Bingham ILB 56 Robin Cole OLB 59 Jack Ham OLB 53 Bryan Hinkle OLB 58 Jack Lambert ILB 50 David Little ILB 57 Mike Merriweather OLB 36 Guy Ruff OLB 51 Loren Toews ILB Defensive backs (DB) 23 Fred Bohannon 47 Mel Blount CB 29 Ron Johnson FS 31 Donnie Shell SS 42 Anthony Washington DB 41 Sam Washington DB 49 Dwayne Woodruff CB 22 Rick Woods Special teams 52 Mike Webster LS  1 Gary Anderson K 17 John Goodson

Practice squad Reserve  5 Craig Colquitt P (IR) 72 Ken Dallafior T (IR) 20 Ernest French S (IR) 16 Mark Malone QB (PUP) 97 John Meyer DE (IR) 60 Sal Sunseri ILB (IR) 38 Sidney Thornton RB (IR) 37 Frank Wilson TE (IR) Rookies in italics 50 active, 8 reserve

Offseason

The 1982 offseason was the start of a slow transition period for the team, as the defensive line was hit with key retirements in "Mean Joe" Greene and L. C. Greenwood. Partially due to the team losing two key players and partially due to the need to go up against a more wide-open NFL, head coach Chuck Noll switched from the traditional 4–3 defensive alignment (four lineman & three linebackers) to the 3–4 (three lineman & four linebackers). The Steelers would more than make a good transition to the 3–4, as many teams have since tried to copy the Steelers success with the 3–4 alignment, especially since 2001, when the Steelers were the only team in the NFL with the alignment but led the league in defense.

1982 did see the Steelers sign a rookie placekicker from Syracuse named Gary Anderson, claiming him off waivers from Buffalo just before the start of the season. Anderson would stay in Pittsburgh for the next 13 season and play an additional 10 with four other teams to become the Steelers' all-time leading scorer. He retired after the 2004 season as the NFL's all-time leading scorer, a record since surpassed by Morten Andersen.

Preseason

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Game Site	Kickoff (ET)	TV	Result	Record
1	Sat. Aug. 14	vs. New England Patriots	Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, Tennessee)	7:30 p.m.	WPXI	W 24–20	1–0
2	Sat. Aug. 21	at New York Giants	Giants Stadium	8:00 p.m.	WPXI	W 13–10	2–0
3	Sat. Aug. 28	Baltimore Colts	Three Rivers Stadium	6:00 p.m.	WPXI	W 37–15	3–0
4	Sat. Sep. 4	Philadelphia Eagles	Three Rivers Stadium	6:00 p.m.	WPXI	W 27–24	4–0

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Game Site	Kickoff (ET)	TV	Result	Record
1	Mon. Sep. 13	at Dallas Cowboys	Texas Stadium	9:00 p.m.	ABC	W 36–28	1–0
2	Sun. Sep. 19	Cincinnati Bengals	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	W 26–20 (OT)	2–0
3	Sun. Sep. 26	New York Giants	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	CBS	Cancelled	2–0
4	Sun. Oct. 3	at Denver Broncos	Mile High Stadium	4:00 p.m.	NBC	Cancelled	2–0
5	Mon. Oct. 11	Philadelphia Eagles	Three Rivers Stadium	9:00 p.m.	ABC	Cancelled	2–0
6	Sun. Oct. 17	at Washington Redskins	RFK Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	Cancelled	2–0
7	Sun. Oct. 24	Cleveland Browns	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	Postponed	2–0
8	Sun. Oct. 31	at Cincinnati Bengals	Riverfront Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	Cancelled	2–0
9	Sun. Nov. 7	Houston Oilers	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	Cancelled	2–0
10	Sun. Nov. 14	New York Jets	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	Cancelled	2–0
11	Sun. Nov. 21	at Houston Oilers	Astrodome	1:00 p.m.	NBC	W 24–10	3–0
12	Sun. Nov. 28	at Seattle Seahawks	Kingdome	4:00 p.m.	NBC	L 16–0	3–1
13	Sun. Dec. 5	Kansas City Chiefs	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	W 35–14	4–1
14	Sun. Dec. 12	at Buffalo Bills	Rich Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	L 13–0	4–2
15	Sun. Dec. 19	at Cleveland Browns	Cleveland Municipal Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	L 10–9	4–3
16	Sun. Dec. 26	New England Patriots	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	W 37–14	5–3
17	Sun. Jan. 2	Cleveland Browns	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	NBC	W 37–21	6–3

Game summaries

Week 1 at Cowboys

See also: 1982 Dallas Cowboys season

Week One: Pittsburgh Steelers (0–0) at Dallas Cowboys (0–0)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	6	7	17	6	36
Cowboys	7	7	0	14	28

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

• Date: September 13
• Game time: 9:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 84 °F (29 °C)
• Game attendance: 63,431
• Referee: Pat Haggerty
• TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith & Howard Cosell
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

First quarter PIT – John Stallworth 8-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (kick failed). Steelers 6–0. Drive: DAL – Drew Pearson 4-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick). Cowboys 7–6. Drive: Second quarter PIT – Jim Smith 7-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Gary Anderson kick). Steelers 13–7. Drive: DAL – Doug Cosbie 12-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick). Cowboys 14–13. Drive: Third quarter PIT – Frank Pollard 1-yard run (Gary Anderson kick). Steelers 20–14. Drive: PIT – Jim Smith 15-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Gary Anderson kick). Steelers 27–14. Drive: PIT – Gary Anderson 26-yard field goal. Steelers 30–14. Drive: Fourth quarter PIT – Gary Anderson 43–yard field goal. Steelers 33–14. Drive: DAL – Tony Hill 45-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick). Steelers 33–21. Drive: DAL – Billy Joe DuPree 5-yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick). Steelers 33–28. Drive: PIT – Gary Anderson 40-yard field goal. Steelers 36–28. Drive: Top passers PIT – Terry Bradshaw – 17/28, 246 yards, 3 TD DAL – Danny White – 25/36, 347 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Top rushers PIT – Franco Harris – 24 rushes, 103 yards DAL – Tony Dorsett – 11 rushes, 30 yards Top receivers PIT – John Stallworth – 7 receptions, 137 yards, TD DAL – Tony Hill – 6 receptions, 130 yards, TD

Week 2: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Bengals	0	3	7	10	0	20
Steelers	7	3	7	3	6	26

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Date: Sunday, September 19
• Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
• Game weather: 55°F
• Game attendance: 59,973
• Referee: Jim Tunney
• TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui & John Brodie

Game information
Pittsburgh – Stallworth 15 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Cincinnati – FG Breech 50 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25 Cincinnati – Johnson 1 run (Breech kick) Pittsburgh – Cunningham 2 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Cincinnati – Johnson 9 run (Breech kick) Cincinnati – FG Breech 31 Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42 Pittsburgh – Stallworth 2 pass from Bradshaw

Week 3: vs. New York Giants

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 4: at Denver Broncos

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 5: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 6: at Washington Redskins

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 7: vs. Cleveland Browns

Postponed due to player's strike.

Week 8: at Cincinnati Bengals

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 9: vs. Houston Oilers

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 10: vs. New York Jets

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 11: at Houston Oilers

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	3	7	7	7	24
Oilers	0	3	7	0	10

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

• Date: Sunday, November 21
• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather: indoors (dome)
• Game attendance: 42,338
• Referee: Dick Jorgensen
• TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph & John Brodie

Game information
Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 48 Pittsburgh – Hawthorne 17 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Houston – FG Kempf 31 Houston – Casper 9 pass from Nielsen (Kempf kick) Pittsburgh – Cunningham 17 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Smith 27 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick)

Week 12: at Seattle Seahawks

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	0	0	0	0
Seahawks	3	6	7	0	16

at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

• Date: Sunday, November 28
• Game time: 4:00 pm EST
• Game weather: indoors (dome)
• Game attendance: 55,553
• Referee: Fred Silva
• TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones & Len Dawson

Game information
Seattle – FG N. Johnson 35 Seattle – FG N. Johnson 48 Seattle – FG N. Johnson 29 Seattle – Johns 11 pass from Zorn (N. Johnson kick)

Week 13: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Chiefs	0	7	0	7	14
Steelers	14	14	0	7	35

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Date: Sunday, December 5
• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 58°F
• Game attendance: 52,090
• Referee: Red Cashion
• TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph & Bob Griese

Game information
Pittsburgh – Stallworth 3 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Stallworth 74 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Hawthorne 5 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Kansas City – B. Jackson 1 run (Lowery kick) Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run (Anderson kick) Kansas City – Scott 3 pass from Fuller (Lowery kick) Pittsburgh – Thornton 2 run (Anderson kick)

Week 14: at Buffalo Bills

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	0	0	0	0
Bills	0	10	3	0	13

at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

• Date: Sunday, December 12
• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 20°F, wind chill 8°F
• Game attendance: 58,391
• Referee: Pat Haggerty
• TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui & John Brodie

Game information
Buffalo – Leaks 1 run (Herrera kick) Buffalo – FG Herrera 34 Buffalo – FG Herrera 19

Week 15: at Cleveland Browns

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	7	0	2	9
Browns	3	0	7	0	10

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio''

• Date: Sunday, December 19
• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 35°F, wind chill 26°F
• Game attendance: 67,139
• Referee: Jerry Markbreit
• TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg & Merlin Olsen
• Box Score

Game information
Cleveland – FG Bahr 44 Pittsburgh – Stallworth 6 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Cleveland – Davis 1 run (Bahr kick) Pittsburgh – Safety, Cox ran out of end zone

Week 16: vs. New England Patriots

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Patriots	0	0	7	7	14
Steelers	10	10	0	17	37

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Date: Sunday, December 26
• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 51°F
• Game attendance: 50,515
• Referee: Tom Dooley
• TV announcers (NBC): Bob Costas & Bob Trumpy

Game information

Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 21 Pittsburgh – Pollard 1 run (Anderson kick) PIttsburgh – Stallworth 9 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25 New England – Dawson 23 pass from Cavanaugh (J. Smith kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 44 New England – Morgan 75 pass from Cavanaugh (J. Smith kick) Pittsburgh – Hawthorne 46 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 1 run (Anderson kick)

Week 17: vs. Cleveland Browns

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Browns	0	7	0	14	21
Steelers	7	6	7	17	37

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Date: Sunday, January 2
• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 31°F, wind chill 26°F
• Game attendance: 53,312
• Referee: Ben Dreith
• TV announcers (NBC): Bob Costas & Bob Trumpy
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

Pittsburgh – Pinney 3 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Cleveland – Feacher 1 pass from McDonald (Bahr kick) Pittsburgh – Rodgers 18 blocked punt return (run failed) Pittsburgh – Harris 6 run (Anderson kick) Pittsburgh – Smith 38 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick) Cleveland – Logan 8 pass from McDonald (Bahr kick) Cleveland – Feacher 12 pass from McDonald (Bahr kick) Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 34 Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 1 run (Anderson kick) Browns Paul McDonald 22/47, 313 Yds, 3 TD, 4 INT Mike Pruitt 11 Rush, 30 Yds Ozzie Newsome 9 Rec, 123 Yds Steelers Terry Bradshaw 14/24, 269 Yds, 2 TD, 2 INT Franco Harris 23 Rush, 120 Yds, TD Lynn Swann 5 Rec, 114 Yds

Standings

AFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Cincinnati Bengals(3)	7	2	0	.778	3–1	6–2	232	177	W2
Pittsburgh Steelers(4)	6	3	0	.667	3–1	5–3	204	146	W2
Cleveland Browns(8)	4	5	0	.444	2–2	4–3	140	182	L1
Houston Oilers	1	8	0	.111	0–4	1–5	136	245	L7

AFC
#	Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
Seeded postseason qualifiers
1	Los Angeles Raiders	8	1	0	.889	260	200	W5
2	Miami Dolphins	7	2	0	.778	198	131	W3
3	Cincinnati Bengals	7	2	0	.778	232	177	W2
4	Pittsburgh Steelers	6	3	0	.667	204	146	W2
5	San Diego Chargers	6	3	0	.667	288	221	L1
6	New York Jets	6	3	0	.667	245	166	L1
7	New England Patriots	5	4	0	.556	143	157	W1
8	Cleveland Browns	4	5	0	.444	140	182	L1
Did not qualify for the postseason
9	Buffalo Bills	4	5	0	.444	150	154	L3
10	Seattle Seahawks	4	5	0	.444	127	147	W1
11	Kansas City Chiefs	3	6	0	.333	176	184	W1
12	Denver Broncos	2	7	0	.222	148	226	L3
13	Houston Oilers	1	8	0	.111	136	245	L7
14	Baltimore Colts	0	8	1	.056	113	236	L2
Tiebreakers

Postseason

Game summary

First Round/Wild Card: vs. San Diego Chargers

This playoff game against the Chargers, played on Jan. 9, 1983 at Three Rivers Stadium, will go down in history as one of the greatest games of Bradshaw’s Hall of Fame career as well as one of the most bitter defeats in franchise history.

In 1979, the San Diego Chargers went into the AFC Playoffs as the No. 1 seed, but a loss to the Houston Oilers in the Divisional Round prevented them from even getting a shot at the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. In 1981 the Chargers had made that step, but they lost in Cincinnati in a game played in temperatures even polar bears would consider on the chilly side. The 1982 San Diego Chargers were still explosive offensively, having ranked No. 1 in the NFL in points scored and passing yards, while their defense depended upon sacks (19) and takeaways (25) during the course of the nine-game regular season. These Chargers finished with the same 6-3 record as the Steelers, but they entered the AFC Tournament having won five of their previous six games.

The game opened with Steelers linebacker Guy Ruff recovering a Chargers fumble of the opening kickoff in the end zone for a quick touchdown, and then for the next three-and-a-half quarters the game belonged to Bradshaw. At one point he completed 15 passes in a row, and he finished the game with 28 completions in 39 attempts for 335 yards, with two touchdowns. But Bradshaw also threw two interceptions, the second of which served as a turning point in the game.

In the moments just before that turnover, the Steelers were holding a 28-17 lead with 11 minutes remaining in a game of which they were in complete control. Facing a third down situation, Bradshaw dropped back to pass, and after he escaped the contain of the Chargers pass rush he had a clear path to run for the first down. But instead of running, Bradshaw tried to depend on his right arm once again, but this time the pass was intercepted by Jeff Allen and returned to the Steelers 29-yard line.

In another of the examples of the 1982 Steelers defense being more opportunistic than impregnable, Mel Blount answered with an interception of Dan Fouts, but the play was nullified by a holding penalty on the Steelers. With new life, Fouts moved the Chargers offense down the field for a touchdown that came on an 8-yard pass to tight end Kellen Winslow and closed the Steelers’ lead to 28-24.

On their ensuing offensive possession, the Steelers offense was able to grind out a couple of first downs to get close to midfield before John Goodson had to come on to punt. But instead of pinning the Chargers deep, Goodson, a barefoot punter, shanked one for only 20 yards to the Chargers 36-yard line.

Fouts moved the offense down the field methodically, and with one minute to play, he threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Winslow, and the Steelers had been eliminated from the Tournament, 31-28.[1]

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Chargers	3	14	0	14	31
Steelers	14	0	7	7	28

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Date: Sunday, January 9, 1983
• Game time: 12:30 pm EST
• Game weather: 32°F, wind chill 23°F
• Game attendance: 53,546
• Referee: Bob Frederic
• TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg & Merlin Olsen
• Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

First quarter PIT – Guy Ruff recovered fumble in end zone (Gary Anderson kick) SD – Rolf Benirschke 25-yard field goal PIT – Terry Bradshaw 1-yard run (Gary Anderson kick) Second quarter SD – James Brooks 18-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick) SD – Eric Sievers 10-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick) Third quarter PIT – Bennie Cunningham 2-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Gary Anderson kick) Fourth quarter PIT – John Stallworth 14-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Gary Anderson kick) SD – Kellen Winslow 8-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick) SD – Kellen Winslow 12-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Rolf Benirschke kick) Chargers Dan Fouts 27/42, 333 Yds, 3 TD Chuck Muncie 25 Rush, 126 Yds Wes Chandler 9 Rec, 124 Yds Steelers Terry Bradshaw 28/39, 325 Yds, 2 TD, 2 INT Franco Harris 10 Rush, 35 Yds John Stallworth 8 Rec, 116 Yds, TD

External links

• 50th season news feature