1999 Pittsburgh Steelers season

1999 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Head coach	Bill Cowher
General manager	Tom Donahoe
Owner	The Rooney Family
Home field	Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record	6–10
Division place	4th in AFC Central
Playoff finish	did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	none
AP All-Pros	none
Team MVP	Levon Kirkland
Team ROY	Troy Edwards

For the second consecutive season the Steelers failed to make the playoffs after starting off the season by winning 5 of their first 8 games. Losing seven of the remaining eight dropped Pittsburgh to 6–10 for the year, their worst record under Bill Cowher.

Personnel

Staff

1999 Pittsburgh Steelers staff
	Front office President – Daniel M. Rooney Vice President and General Counsel – Arthur J. Rooney II Vice President – John R. McGinley Vice President – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr. Administration Advisor – Chuck Noll Director of Business – Mark Hart Business Relations Coordinator – Dan Ferens Business Accounting Coordinator – Jim Ellenberger Office/Ticket Coordinator – Geraldine Glenn Accounting Manager – Jodie Spagnolli Communications Coordinator – Ron Wahl Public Relations/Media Manager – David Lockett Website/Network Administrator – Kim Smith Marketing Coordinator – Mark Fuhrman Merchandising Manager – Tim Carey Marketing Manager – Lynne Molyneaux Luxury Suite Manager – Lisa Weinzetl Ticket Manager – Brian Bonifate Stadium Project Manager – Heidi Edwards Football Operations Director of Football Operations – Tom Donahoe College Scouting Coordinator – Max McCartney Pro Personnel Coordinator – Doug Whaley College Scout – Mark Gorscak College Scout – Phil Kreidler College Scout – Bob Lane College Scout – Dan Rooney College Scout – Bill Schieder Head coaches Head Coach – Bill Cowher Offensive coaches Offensive Coordinator – Kevin Gilbride Wide Receivers – Bob Bratkowski Running Backs – Dick Hoak Tight Ends – Mike Mularkey Offensive Line – Kent Stephenson			Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator – Jim Haslett Linebackers – Mike Archer Defensive Backs – Tim Lewis Defensive Line – John Mitchell Special teams coaches Special Teams – Jay Hayes Administrative Assistant – Lou Spanos Administrative Assistant – Mike Miller Strength and conditioning Conditioning Coordinator – Chet Fuhrman Medical Staff Ophthalmologist – Dr. Randy Beatty Physician, Orthopedic – Dr. James P. Bradley Neurological Surgery Consultant – Dr. Joseph Maroon Physician, M.D. – Dr. Richard Rydze Physician, Consultant – Dr. Abraham J. Twerski Physician, M.D. – Dr. Anthony P. Yates Training Staff Head Trainer – John Norwig Assistant Trainer – Ryan Grove Football Staff Player Development Coordinator – Anthony Griggs Equipment Manager - Rodgers Freyvogel Field Manager – Rich Baker Field/Equipment Assistant – Paul Gallagher Video Coordinator – Bob McCartney Video Assistant – Andy Lizanich Photographers – Mike Fabus, Mike Drazdzinski [1]

Notable additions include Joey Porter and Aaron Smith.

Roster

1999 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster
	Quarterbacks  7 Pete Gonzalez 10 Kordell Stewart WR 18 Mike Tomczak Running backs 36 Jerome Bettis 45 Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala 33 Richard Huntley KR 38 Jon Witman FB 21 Amos Zereoué Wide receivers 81 Troy Edwards PR/KR 88 Courtney Hawkins PR 83 Malcolm Johnson 82 Bobby Shaw 86 Hines Ward Tight ends 87 Mark Bruener 48 Tony Cline Jr. 80 Matt Cushing 85 Mitch Lyons		Offensive linemen 60 Anthony Brown T/G 78 Chris Conrad T 62 Roger Duffy C/G 65 Alan Faneca G/T 72 Wayne Gandy T 67 Shar Pourdanesh T 68 Brendan Stai G 66 Jim Sweeney C/G Defensive linemen 98 Ernest D. Brown DE 76 Kevin Henry DE 74 Nolan Harrison DE/DT 71 Orpheus Roye DT 91 Aaron Smith DE 94 Jeremy Staat DT 93 Joel Steed NT		Linebackers 51 Carlos Antoine Emmons OLB 57 John Fiala ILB 92 Jason Gildon OLB 50 Earl Holmes ILB 97 Chad Kelsay LB 99 Levon Kirkland ILB 55 Joey Porter OLB 56 Mike Vrabel OLB Defensive backs 29 Lance Brown DB 41 Lethon Flowers SS 27 Travis Davis S 24 Chris Oldham CB 30 Chad Scott CB 47 Scott Shields S 23 Jason Simmons S 26 Deshea Townsend CB 20 Dewayne Washington CB Special teams 54 Mike Schneck LS  3 Kris Brown K  4 Josh Miller P 18 Mike Tomczak H		Reserve lists 89 Will Blackwell WR (IR) 63 Dermontti Dawson C (IR) 71 Kris Farris T (IR) 84 Jerame Tuman TE (IR) Practice squad 46 Cory Geason TE 90 Reggie Lowe LB 64 Tony Orlandini G  2 Anthony Wright QB [2] [3] [4] Rookies in italics 52 Active, 4 Inactive, 4 Practice squad

Preseason

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Game Site	Time (ET)	TV	Result	Record
1	Fri. Aug. 13	Chicago Bears	Three Rivers Stadium	7:30 p.m.	KDKA	W 30–23	1–0
2	Fri. Aug. 20	at Carolina Panthers	Ericsson Stadium	8:00 p.m.	KDKA	L 20–13	1–1
3	Sat. Aug. 28	Washington Redskins	Three Rivers Stadium	7:30 p.m.	KDKA	L 27–14	1–2
4	Sat. Sep. 4	at Buffalo Bills	Ralph Wilson Stadium	7:30 p.m.	KDKA	L 16–14	1–3

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Game Site	Time (ET)	TV	Result	Record
1	Sun. Sep. 12	at Cleveland Browns	Cleveland Browns Stadium	8:20 p.m.	ESPN	W 43–0	1–0
2	Sun. Sep. 19	at Baltimore Ravens	PSInet Stadium	1:00 p.m.	CBS	W 23–20	2–0
3	Sun. Sep. 26	Seattle Seahawks	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	CBS	L 29–10	2–1
4	Sun. Oct. 3	Jacksonville Jaguars	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	CBS	L 17–3	2–2
5	Sun. Oct. 10	at Buffalo Bills	Ralph Wilson Stadium	1:00 p.m.	CBS	L 24–21	2–3
6	Sun. Oct. 17	at Cincinnati Bengals	Cinergy Field	1:00 p.m.	CBS	W 17–3	3–3
7	Mon. Oct. 25	Atlanta Falcons	Three Rivers Stadium	9:00 p.m.	ABC	W 13–9	4–3
8	Sun. Oct. 31	Bye
9	Sun. Nov. 7	at San Francisco 49ers	3Com Park	4:15 p.m.	CBS	W 27–6	5–3
10	Sun. Nov. 14	Cleveland Browns	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	CBS	L 16–15	5–4
11	Sun. Nov. 21	at Tennessee Titans	Adelphia Coliseum	1:00 p.m.	CBS	L 16–10	5–5
12	Sun. Nov. 28	Cincinnati Bengals	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	CBS	L 27–20	5–6
13	Thu. Dec. 2	at Jacksonville Jaguars	Alltel Stadium	8:20 p.m.	ESPN	L 20–6	5–7
14	Sun. Dec. 12	Baltimore Ravens	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	CBS	L 31–24	5–8
15	Sat. Dec. 18	at Kansas City Chiefs	Arrowhead Stadium	12:30 p.m.	CBS	L 35–19	5–9
16	Sun. Dec. 26	Carolina Panthers	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 p.m.	FOX	W 30–20	6–9
17	Sun. Jan. 2	Tennessee Titans	Three Rivers Stadium	4:15 p.m.	CBS	L 47–36	6–10

Game summaries

Week 1 (Sunday September 12, 1999): at Cleveland Browns

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	7	13	6	17	43
Browns	0	0	0	0	0

at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

• Game time: 8:20 PM EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 73,138
• Referee: Bob McElwee
• TV announcers: (ESPN) Mike Patrick (play by play), Joe Theismann & Paul Maguire (color commentators), Solomon Wilcots (sideline reporter)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run (Brown kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 18
• Pittsburgh – Huntley 5 pass from Stewart (Brown kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 28
• Pittsburgh – Huntley 3 run (kick blocked)
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 19
• Pittsburgh – Huntley 21 pass from Tomczak (Brown kick)
• Pittsburgh – Ward 1 pass from Tomczak (Brown kick)

Week 2 (Sunday September 19, 1999): at Baltimore Ravens

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	7	7	3	6	23
Ravens	7	3	0	10	20

at PSINet Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

• Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 68,965
• Referee: Gerald Austin
• TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Mark May (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Stewart 8 run (Brown kick)
• Baltimore – Rhett 2 run (Stover kick)
• Pittsburgh – Huntley 17 run (Brown kick)
• Baltimore – FG Stover 45
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 32
• Baltimore – FG Stover 28
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 28
• Baltimore – Ismail 19 pass from Case (Stover kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 36

Week 3 (Sunday September 26, 1999): vs. Seattle Seahawks

	1	2	3	4	Total
Seahawks	17	9	0	3	29
Steelers	0	0	0	10	10

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
• Game weather: 78°F (Sunny)
• Game attendance: 57,881
• Referee: Phil Luckett
• TV announcers: (CBS) Kevin Harlan (play by play), Sam Wyche (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Seattle – Hanks 23 interception return (Peterson kick)
• Seattle – Rogers 94 punt return (Peterson kick)
• Seattle – FG Peterson 45
• Seattle – FG Peterson 51
• Seattle – FG Peterson 41
• Seattle – FG Peterson 26
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 33
• Seattle – FG Peterson 38
• Pittsburgh – Edwards 16 pass from Tomczak (Brown kick)

Week 4 (Sunday October 3, 1999): vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

	1	2	3	4	Total
Jaguars	0	7	3	7	17
Steelers	0	3	0	0	3

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
• Game weather: 59°F (Partly Sunny)
• Game attendance: 57,308
• Referee: Dick Hantak
• TV announcers: (CBS) Verne Lundquist (play by play), Dan Dierdorf (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Jacksonville – McCardell 7 pass from Brunell (Hollis kick)
• PIttsburgh – FG Brown 48
• Jacksonville – FG Hollis 27
• Jacksonville – FG Hollis 41
• Jacksonville – Safety, Stewart fumbled ball out of end zone
• Jacksonville – Safety, Smeenge sacked Stewart in end zone

Week 5 (Sunday October 10, 1999): at Buffalo Bills

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	7	7	0	7	21
Bills	7	10	7	0	24

at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

• Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 71,038
• Referee: Ed Hochuli
• TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Mark May (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Ward 12 pass from Stewart (Brown kick)
• Buffalo – Gash 2 pass from Flutie (Christie kick)
• Buffalo – Moulds 49 pass from Flutie (Christie kick)
• Buffalo – FG Christie 29
• Pittsburgh – Edwards 17 pass from Stewart (Brown kick)
• Buffalo – Riemersma 8 pass from Flutie (Christie kick)
• Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run (Brown kick)

Week 6 (Sunday October 17, 1999): at Cincinnati Bengals

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

at Cinergy Field, Cincinnati, Ohio

• Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 59,669
• Referee: Jeff Triplette
• TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run (Brown kick)
• Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 37
• Pittsburgh – Bettis 5 run (Brown kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 43

Week 7 (Monday October 25, 1999): vs. Atlanta Falcons

	1	2	3	4	Total
Falcons	0	0	0	9	9
Steelers	7	6	0	0	13

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 9:00 PM EDT
• Game weather: 48°F (Clear)
• Game attendance: 58,141
• Referee: Ron Winter
• TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Boomer Esiason (color commentator), Lesley Visser (sideline reporter)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Huntley 13 pass from Stewart (Brown kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 51
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 25
• Atlanta – Mathis 5 pass from Chandler (Andersen kick)
• Atlanta – Safety, Miller stepped out of end zone

Week 9 (Sunday November 7, 1999): at San Francisco 49ers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	14	3	3	7	27
49ers	3	3	0	0	6

at 3Com Park, San Francisco, California

• Game time: 4:15 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 68,657
• Referee: Tom White
• TV announcers: (CBS) Greg Gumbel (play by play), Phil Simms (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run (Brown kick)
• San Francisco – FG Richey 19
• Pittsburgh – Ward 13 pass from Stewart (Brown kick)
• PIttsburgh – FG Brown 28
• San Francisco – FG Richey 20
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 38
• Pittsburgh – Bettis 22 run (Brown kick)

Week 10 (Sunday November 14, 1999): vs. Cleveland Browns

	1	2	3	4	Total
Browns	7	0	0	9	16
Steelers	3	0	9	3	15

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather: 53°F (Partly Sunny)
• Game attendance: 58,213
• Referee: Johnny Grier
• TV announcers: (CBS) Craig Bolerjack (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Cleveland – K. Johnson 35 pass from Couch (Dawson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 41
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 32
• Pittsburgh – Huntley 5 run (run failed)
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 47
• Cleveland – Edwards 5 pass from Couch (run failed)
• Cleveland – FG Dawson 39

Week 11 (Sunday November 21, 1999): at Tennessee Titans

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	7	0	0	3	10
Titans	14	0	2	0	16

at Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 66,619
• Referee: Mike Carey
• TV announcers: (CBS) Don Criqui (play by play), Steve Tasker (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Tennessee – McNair 2 run (Del Greco kick)
• Pittsburgh – Edwards 15 pass from Stewart (Brown kick)
• Tennessee – McNair 3 run (Del Greco kick)
• Tennessee – Safety, Stewart penalized for intentional grounding in end zone
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 24

Week 12 (Sunday November 28, 1999): vs. Cincinnati Bengals

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bengals	14	10	3	0	27
Steelers	3	10	7	0	20

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather: 45°F (Mostly Sunny)
• Game attendance: 50,907
• Referee: Walt Coleman
• TV announcers: (CBS) Bill Macatee (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Cincinnati – Scott 76 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)
• Cincinnati – Blake 4 run (Pelfrey kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 35
• Cincinnati – Heath 58 interception return (Pelfrey kick)
• Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 29
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 33
• Pittsburgh – Shaw 15 pass from Tomczak (Brown kick)
• Pittsburgh – Ward 34 pass from Tomczak (Brown kick)
• Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 29

Week 13 (Thursday December 2, 1999): at Jacksonville Jaguars

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	3	0	3	0	6
Jaguars	0	6	7	7	20

at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

• Game time: 8:20 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 68,806
• Referee: Bill Carollo
• TV announcers: (ESPN) Mike Patrick (play by play), Joe Theismann & Paul Maguire (color commentators), Solomon Wilcots (sideline reporter)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 40
• Jacksonville – FG Hollis 25
• Jacksonville – FG Hollis 32
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 39
• Jacksonville – Smith 27 pass from Brunell (Hollis kick)
• Jacksonville – Stewart 1 run (Hollis kick)

Week 14 (Sunday December 12, 1999): vs. Baltimore Ravens

	1	2	3	4	Total
Ravens	7	3	21	0	31
Steelers	10	0	7	7	24

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather: 42°F (Partly Sunny)
• Game attendance: 46,715
• Referee: Jeff Triplette
• TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Mark May (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Ward 21 pass from Bettis (Brown kick)
• Baltimore – Holmes 64 run (Stover kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 31
• Baltimore – FG Stover 19
• Baltimore – Ismail 54 pass from Banks (Stover kick)
• Pittsburgh – Edwards 6 pass from Tomczak (Brown kick)
• Baltimore – Ismail 59 pass from Banks (Stover kick)
• Baltimore – Ismail 76 pass from Banks (Stover kick)
• Pittsburgh – Stewart 11 pass from Tomczak (Brown kick)

Week 15 (Saturday December 18, 1999): at Kansas City Chiefs

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	10	3	0	6	19
Chiefs	7	14	7	7	35

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

• Game time: 12:30 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 78,697
• Referee: Larry Nemmers
• TV announcers: (CBS) Verne Lundquist (play by play), Dan Dierdorf (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – T. Edwards 12 pass from Tomczak (Brown kick)
• Kansas City – Gonzales 15 pass from Grbac (Stoyanovich kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 42
• Kansas City – D. Edwards 28 interception return (Stoyanovich kick)
• Kansas City – Gonzales 2 pass from Grbac (Stoyanovich kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 47
• Kansas City – Alexander 82 run (Stoyanovich kick)
• Kansas City – Morris 10 run (Stoyanovich kick)
• Pittsburgh – Shaw 11 pass from Tomczak (pass failed)

Week 16 (Sunday December 26, 1999): vs. Carolina Panthers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	7	13	0	0	20
Steelers	10	13	0	7	30

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather: 30°F (Light Snow)
• Game attendance: 39,428
• Referee: Bob McElwee
• TV announcers: (FOX) Ray Bentley (play by play), Ron Pitts (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Brown 46
• Pittsburgh – Davis 102 fumble return (Brown kick)
• Carolina – Lane 41 run (Kasay kick)
• Pittsburgh – Huntley 25 run (fumbled snap)
• Carolina – Jeffers 88 pass from Beuerlein (kick failed)
• Pittsburgh – Ward 9 pass from Tomczak (Brown kick)
• Carolina – Jeffers 43 pass from Beuerlein (Kasay kick)
• Pittsburgh – Bettis 8 run (Brown kick)

Week 17 (Sunday January 2, 2000): vs. Tennessee Titans

	1	2	3	4	Total
Titans	7	24	9	7	47
Steelers	7	0	22	7	36

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 4:15 PM EST
• Game weather: 66°F (Mostly Cloudy)
• Game attendance: 48,025
• Referee: Tom White
• TV announcers: (CBS) Don Criqui (play by play), Steve Tasker (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Tennessee – Wycheck 9 pass from McNair (Del Greco kick)
• Pittsburgh – Huntley 8 run (Brown kick)
• Tennessee – Thomas 11 run (Del Greco kick)
• Tennessee – Wycheck 26 pass from O'Donnell (Del Greco kick)
• Tennessee – Kearse 14 fumble return (Del Greco kick)
• Tennessee – FG Del Greco 42
• Pittsburgh – Ward 15 pass from Tomczak (Ward pass from Tomczak)
• Tennessee – Safety, Thorton sacked Tomczak in end zone
• Tennessee – Roan 24 pass from O'Donnell (Del Greco kick)
• Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run (Brown kick)
• Pittsburgh – Porter 46 fumble return (Brown kick)
• Tennessee – Walker 83 fumble return (Del Greco kick)
• Pittsburgh – Shaw 35 pass from Tomczak (Brown kick)

Standings

AFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
^(1) Jacksonville Jaguars	14	2	0	.875	396	217	W1
^(4) Tennessee Titans	13	3	0	.813	392	324	W4
Baltimore Ravens	8	8	0	.500	324	277	L1
Pittsburgh Steelers	6	10	0	.375	317	320	L1
Cincinnati Bengals	4	12	0	.250	283	460	L2
Cleveland Browns	2	14	0	.125	217	437	L6

^[5]

References

1. 1999 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
2. 1999 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
3. 2000 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
4. "1999 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
5. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2

• Steelers on Pro Football Reference