1977 Pittsburgh Steelers season

1977 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Head coach	Chuck Noll
Owner	Art Rooney
Home field	Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record	9–5
Division place	1st in AFC Central
Playoff finish	Lost Divisional Playoffs (Broncos) 34–21
Pro Bowlers	4 RB Franco Harris LB Jack Ham LB Jack Lambert WR Lynn Swann
AP All-Pros	4 Joe Greene (1st team) Jack Ham (1st team) Franco Harris (1st team) Lynn Swann (2nd team)
Team MVP	Terry Bradshaw

After what was considered the franchise's greatest season ever in 1976, the 1977 Pittsburgh Steelers won 9 games and appeared in the playoffs for their 6th straight season. The Steelers never as sharp as usual, as they won the AFC Central with a 9–5 record. They had a hard time for most of the season as their record hovered around .500. Even the Steel curtain seemed to have a little wear and tear allowing 243 points on the season, more than 100 more than the previous season. Lackluster play would catch up with them in the Divisional Playoffs when they are knocked off by the Broncos 34–21 in Denver.

Personnel

Staff

1977 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.
Public Relations Director – Ed Kiely
Traveling Secretary – James A. Boston
Publicity Director – Joe Gordon
Controller – Dennis P. Thimons
Ticket Manager – Joseph H. Carr
Ticket Office Coordinator – Geraldine Glenn
Director of Player Personnel – Dick Haley
Assistant Director of Player Personnel – Bill Nunn
Director of Professional Scouting – V. Timothy Rooney

Head coaches

Head Coach – Chuck Noll

Offensive coaches

Offensive Backfield – Dick Hoak
Receivers – Tom Moore
Offensive Line – Dan Radakovich

Defensive coaches

Defensive Coordinator – Bud Carson
Defensive Line – George Perles
Linebackers – Woody Widenhofer

Strength and conditioning

Strength – Louis Riecke
Flexibility – Paul Uram
Team Physician, M.D. – Dr. David S. Huber
Team Physician, Orthopedic – Dr. Paul B. Steele, Jr.
Team Dentist – Dr. George P. Boucek
Trainer – Ralph Berlin
Assistant Trainer – Robert Milie
Equipment Manager – Anthony Parisi
Field Manager – Jack Hart
Film Director – Bob McCartney
Photographer – Harry Homa

^[1]

Roster

1977 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster

Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

89 Bennie Cunningham
84 Randy Grossman

Offensive linemen

79 Larry Brown T
50 Jim Clack G/C
57 Sam Davis G
55 Jon Kolb T
72 Gerry Mullins G/T
66 Ted Petersen T/C
74 Ray Pinney T
52 Mike Webster C

Defensive linemen

76 John Banaszak DE (IR)
64 Steve Furness DT
75 Joe Greene DT
68 L.C. Greenwood DE
63 Ernie Holmes DT
78 Dwight White DE

Linebackers

56 Robin Cole OLB
60 Brad Cousino OLB
59 Jack Ham OLB
54 Dave LaCrosse OLB
58 Jack Lambert MLB
51 Loren Toews OLB
51 Dennis Winston MLB

Defensive backs

45 Jimmy Allen DB
47 Mel Blount CB
21 Tony Dungy S
27 Glen Edwards FS
29 Brent Sexton DB
31 Donnie Shell SS
24 J. T. Thomas CB

Special teams

52 Mike Webster LS
10 Roy Gerela K
39 Bobby Walden P/H (IR)
17 Rick Engles P/H

Reserve lists

65 Tom Beasley DT (IR)
83 Theo Bell WR (IR)
77 Steve Courson G (IR)
67 Gary Dunn DT (IR)
36 Wentford Gaines DB (IR)
23 Mike Wagner FS (IR)

Practice squad

18 Cliff Stoudt QB

^[2] ^[3] ^[4]

Rookies in italics
48 Active, 6 Inactive, 1 Practice squad

The Pittsburgh Steelers began the 1977 season looking to improve upon their 10–4 record in 1976; when they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Oakland Raiders.

While the Steelers once again won the AFC Central crown, they finished with one fewer win; going 9–5 and losing to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional playoff game at Denver.

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Time (ET)	TV	Result	Record	Game Site
1	Monday September 19	San Francisco 49ers	9:00 pm	ABC	W 27–0	1–0	Three Rivers Stadium
2	Sunday September 25	Oakland Raiders	4:00 pm	NBC	L 7-16	1–1	Three Rivers Stadium
3	Sunday October 2	Cleveland Browns	1:00 pm	NBC	W 28–14	2–1	Cleveland Municipal Stadium
4	Sunday October 9	Houston Oilers	2:00 pm	NBC	L 10-27	2–2	Astrodome
5	Monday October 17	Cincinnati Bengals	9:00 pm	ABC	W 20–14	3–2	Three Rivers Stadium
6	Sunday October 23	Houston Oilers	1:00 pm	NBC	W 27–10	4–2	Three Rivers Stadium
7	Sunday October 30	Baltimore Colts	4:00 pm	NBC	L 14-31	4–3	Memorial Stadium
8	Sunday November 6	Denver Broncos	4:00 pm	NBC	L 7-21	4–4	Mile High Stadium
9	Sunday November 13	Cleveland Browns	1:00 pm	NBC	W 35–31	5–4	Three Rivers Stadium
10	Sunday November 20	Dallas Cowboys	4:00 pm	CBS	W 28–13	6–4	Three Rivers Stadium
11	Sunday November 27	New York Jets	1:00 pm	NBC	W 23–20	7–4	Shea Stadium
12	Sunday December 4	Seattle Seahawks	1:00 pm	NBC	W 30–20	8–4	Three Rivers Stadium
13	Saturday December 10	Cincinnati Bengals	1:00 pm	NBC	L 10-17	8–5	Riverfront Stadium
14	Sunday December 18	San Diego Chargers	4:00 pm	NBC	W 10–9	9–5	San Diego Stadium

Game summaries

Week 1 (Monday September 19, 1977): vs. San Francisco 49ers

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	0	0	0	0
Steelers	0	10	3	14	27

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
Game weather:
Game attendance: 48,046
Referee: Bernie Ulman
TV announcers: (ABC) Frank Gifford (play by play), Don Meredith & Howard Cosell (color commentators)

Scoring Drives:

Pittsburgh – Harris 14 run (Gerela kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 49
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 47
Pittsburgh – Harris 7 run (Gerela kick)
Pittsburgh – Stallworth 15 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)

Week 2 (Sunday September 25, 1977): vs. Oakland Raiders

	1	2	3	4	Total
Raiders	0	9	0	7	16
Steelers	0	0	0	7	7

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
Game weather:
Game attendance: 50,398
Referee: Pat Haggerty
TV announcers: (NBC) Curt Gowdy (play by play), John Brodie (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Oakland – FG Mann 21
Oakland – FG Mann 40
Oakland – FG Mann 41
Oakland – van Eeghen 8 run (Mann kick)
Pittsburgh – Cunningham 43 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)

Week 3 (Sunday October 2, 1977): at Cleveland Browns

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	7	7	7	7	28
Browns	7	7	0	0	14

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
Game weather:
Game attendance: 80,588
Referee: Fred Silva
TV announcers: (NBC) Curt Gowdy (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Pittsburgh – Swann 5 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
Cleveland – Logan 22 pass from Sipe (Cockroft kick)
Cleveland – Miller 1 run (Cockroft kick)
Pittsburgh – Lewis 65 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
Pittsburgh – Swann 14 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 1 run (Gerela kick)

Week 4 (Sunday October 9, 1977): at Houston Oilers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	3	7	0	0	10
Oilers	7	0	10	10	27

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Game time: 2:00 pm EDT
Game weather:
Game attendance: 49,226
Referee: Dick Jorgensen
TV announcers: (NBC) Jack Buck (play by play), Jimmy Johnson (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Houston – Burrough 44 pass from Coleman (Fritsch kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 27
Pittsburgh – Bleier 1 run (Gerela kick)
Houston – FG Fritsch 27
Houston – Johnson 51 pass from Pastorini (Fritsch kick)
Houston – Stemrick 5 fumble recovery return (Fritsch kick)
Houston – FG Fritsch 18

Week 5 (Monday October 17, 1977): vs. Cincinnati Bengals

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bengals	0	7	0	7	14
Steelers	0	13	0	7	20

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
Game weather:
Game attendance: 47,950
Referee: Ben Dreith
TV announcers: (ABC) Frank Gifford (play by play), Don Meredith & Howard Cosell (color commentators)

Scoring Drives:

Pittsburgh – Bleier 1 run (Gerela kick)
Pittsburgh – Bleier 2 run (kick failed)
Cincinnati – Bujnoch 4 run (Bahr kick)
Pittsburgh – Thornton 1 run (Gerela kick)
Cincinnati – Williams recovered blocked punt in end zone (Bahr kick)

Week 6 (Sunday October 23, 1977): vs. Houston Oilers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Oilers	0	7	0	3	10
Steelers	0	7	6	14	27

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
Game weather:
Game attendance: 48,517
Referee: Bernie Ulman
TV announcers: (NBC) Stu Nahan (play by play), Andy Russell (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Houston – Barber 5 pass from Pastorini (Fritsch kick)
Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run (Gerela kick)
Pittsburgh – Stallworth 49 pass from Bradshaw (kick failed)
Houston – FG Fritsch 46
Pittsburgh – Cunningham 2 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run (Gerela kick)

Week 7 (Sunday October 30, 1977): at Baltimore Colts

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	0	7	14	21
Colts	3	14	7	7	31

at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

Game time: 4:00 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 60,225
Referee: Red Cashion
TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Len Dawson (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Baltimore – FG Linhart 24
Baltimore – Leaks 26 pass from Jones (Linhart kick)
Baltimore – Mitchell 13 pass from Jones (Linhart kick)
Baltimore – Lee 25 run (Linhart kick)
Pittsburgh – Swann 32 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
Baltimore – Jones 6 run (Linhart kick)
Pittsburgh – Harris 11 run (Gerela kick)
Pittsburgh – Harris 3 run (Gerela kick)

Week 8 (Sunday November 6, 1977): at Denver Broncos

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	0	7	0	7
Broncos	14	7	0	0	21

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

Game time: 4:00 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 74,967
Referee: Fred Wyant
TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Simpson (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Denver – Lytle 1 run (Turner kick)
Denver – Upchurch 87 punt return (Turner kick)
Denver – Moses 20 pass from Morton (Turner kick)
Pittsburgh – Stallworth 4 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)

Week 9 (Sunday November 13, 1977): vs. Cleveland Browns

	1	2	3	4	Total
Browns	3	0	7	21	31
Steelers	7	21	0	7	35

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 47,055
Referee: Pat Haggerty
TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Simpson (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Cleveland – FG Cockroft 44
Pittsburgh – Swann 39 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
Pittsburgh – Bleier 2 run (Gerela kick)
Pittsburgh – Stallworth 38 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
Pittsburgh – Harris 16 run (Gerela kick)
Cleveland – Miller 5 run (Cockroft kick)
Pittsburgh – Stallworth 9 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
Cleveland – Poole 5 pass from Mays (Cockroft kick)
Cleveland – Poole 13 pass from Mays (Cockroft kick)
Cleveland – Poole 3 pass from Mays (Cockroft kick)

Week 10 (Sunday November 20, 1977): vs. Dallas Cowboys

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cowboys	6	7	0	0	13
Steelers	0	14	14	0	28

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 4:00 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 49,761
Referee: Bob Frederic
TV announcers: (CBS) Pat Summerall (play by play), Tom Brookshier (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Dallas – Dorsett 13 run (kick blocked)
Pittsburgh – Harris 61 run (Gerela kick)
Dallas – Saldi 23 pass from Staubach (Herrera kick)
Pittsburgh – Swann 9 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
Pittsburgh – Stallworth 28 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
Pittsburgh – Harris 2 run (Gerela kick)

Week 11: at New York Jets

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Steelers	6	14	0	3	23
Jets	6	7	0	7	20

Date: November 27
Location: Shea Stadium • Flushing, New York
Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game attendance: 47,385
Game weather: 31°F, wind 22 mph
Referee: Jerry Markbreit
TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson & Merlin Olsen

Scoring summary

1	NYJ	Pat Leahy 33 yard field goal	Jets 3–0

1	PIT	John Stallworth 37 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (kick blocked)	Steelers 7–3

1	NYJ	Pat Leahy 47 yard field goal	Steelers 7–6

2	PIT	Lynn Swan 5 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)	Steelers 14–6

2	NYJ	Scott Dierking 5 yard pass from Matt Robinson (Pat Leahy kick)	Steelers 14–13

2	PIT	Franco Harris 1 yard run (Roy Gerela kick)	Steelers 21–13

4	PIT	Roy Gerela 37 yard field goal	Steelers 24–13

4	NYJ	Bruce Harper 4 yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick)	Steelers 24–20

Week 12 (Sunday December 4, 1977): vs. Seattle Seahawks

	1	2	3	4	Total
Seahawks	0	3	10	7	20
Steelers	7	6	0	17	30

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 45,429
Referee: Cal Lepore
TV announcers: (NBC) Sam Nover (play by play), Mike Haffner (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 5 run (Gerela kick)
Seattle – FG Leypoldt 20
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 22
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 28
Seattle – McCullum 65 pass from Zorn (Leypoldt kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 43
Pittsburgh – Swann 22 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 3 run (Gerela kick)
Seattle – Largent 30 pass from Zorn (Leypoldt kick)

Week 13 (Saturday December 10, 1977): at Cincinnati Bengals

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	10	0	0	10
Bengals	7	0	10	0	17

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 36,133
Referee: Jim Tunney
TV announcers: (NBC) Curt Gowdy (play by play), John Brodie (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Cincinnati – Parrish 47 interception return (Bahr kick)
Pittsburgh – Harris 5 run (Gerela kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 32
Cincinnati – FG Bahr 24
Cincinnati – McInally 43 pass from Anderson (Bahr kick)

Week 14 (Sunday December 18, 1977): at San Diego Chargers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	0	10	0	10
Chargers	6	3	0	0	9

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California

Game time: 4:00 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 50,727
Referee: Ben Dreith
TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Andy Russell (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

San Diego – C. Williams 2 run (kick failed)
San Diego – FG Benirschke 38
Pittsburgh – Thornton 1 run (Gerela kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 27

Standings

AFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Pittsburgh Steelers⁽³⁾	9	5	0	.643	4–2	7–5	283	243	W1
Houston Oilers	8	6	0	.571	3–3	6–6	299	230	W2
Cincinnati Bengals	8	6	0	.571	3–3	6–5	238	235	L1
Cleveland Browns	6	8	0	.429	2–4	5–7	269	267	L4

Postseason

Game summary

AFC Divisional Playoff (Saturday December 24, 1977): at Denver Broncos

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	14	0	7	21
Broncos	7	7	7	13	34

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

Game time: 4:00 pm EST
Game weather:
Game attendance: 75,059
Referee: Gene Barth
TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Simpson (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)
Denver – Lytle 7 run (Turner kick)
Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 1 run (Gerela kick)
Denver – Armstrong 10 run (Turner kick)
Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run (Gerela kick)
Denver – Odoms 30 pass from Morton (Turner kick)
Pittsburgh – Brown 1 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
Denver – FG Turner 44
Denver – FG Turner 25
Denver – Dolbin 34 pass from Morton (Turner kick)

References

↑ 1977 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
↑ 1977 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
↑ 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
↑ "1977 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-12-17.

Pittsburgh Steelers seasons

1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Bold indicates Super Bowl victory Italics indicates Super Bowl appearance

Pittsburgh Steelers

Formerly the Pittsburgh Pirates Founded in 1933 Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Franchise	History All-Time Team Seasons Logos and uniforms Coaches Players Quarterbacks First-round draft picks Statistics

Stadiums	Home fields Forbes Field Pitt Stadium Three Rivers Stadium Heinz Field Training facilities Rooney Field Point Stadium UPMC Sportsplex Chuck Noll Field

Culture	Football in Western PA Rooney family Myron Cope Steeler Nation Terrible Towel Steel Curtain Evening Shade Right Here, Right Now Renegade Right Here We Go Black and Yellow YinzCam

Lore	Steelers lore J.P. Rooneys Pennsylvania Keystoners Steagles Card-Pitt Steelerettes Immaculate Reception Black Sunday Fighting Back 1995 AFC Championship Game The Chief

Rivalries	Baltimore Ravens Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Tennessee Titans Oakland Raiders Dallas Cowboys

Media	KDKA-TV WPCW-TV Root Sports Pittsburgh Charlie Batch Chris Hoke Bob Pompeani Radio Network WDVE-FM WBGG-AM Bill Hillgrove Tunch Ilkin Craig Wolfley

Division championships (21)	1972 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1983 1984 1992 1994 1995 1996 1997 2001 2002 2004 2007 2008 2010 2014

Super Bowl appearances (8)	IX X XIII XIV XXX XL XLIII XLV

League championships (6)	1974 1975 1978 1979 2005 2008

Retired numbers	70 75

Numbers no longer issued	1 12 32 36 47 52 58 59 63 86

Hall of Fame members	Players Bettis Blount Bradshaw Butler Dawson Dudley Greene Ham Harris Johnson Lambert Layne Stallworth Stautner Swann Webster Woodson Coaches and administration Bell Kiesling Noll Art Rooney Dan Rooney

Current league affiliations	League National Football League Conference American Football Conference Division North Division

Seasons (83)	1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

1977 NFL season

East	Central	West	East	Central	West
Baltimore	Cincinnati	Denver	Dallas	Chicago	Atlanta
Buffalo	Cleveland	Kansas City	NY Giants	Detroit	Los Angeles
Miami	Houston	Oakland	Philadelphia	Green Bay	New Orleans
New England	Pittsburgh	San Diego	St. Louis	Minnesota	San Francisco
NY Jets		Seattle	Washington	Tampa Bay

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