Pittsburgh Steelers 66th US football season
The 1998 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 66th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League (NFL).
This season marked the first time since the 1991 season that the Steelers failed to make the playoffs. Pittsburgh finished 7–9 after starting the season 5–2, losing their last five games to lose a spot in the playoffs . It was Bill Cowher 's first losing record as head coach of the Steelers.
The season was marked by a controversial ending to the team's Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions , where Jerome Bettis claimed he called the coin toss in overtime as "tails" although referee Phil Luckett heard "heads." The Lions won 19–16 and started the Steelers' losing streak to finish the season.
The inept plays of Kordell Stewart was cited as another conflict, as the fans slowly began to turn on him. After their 11–5 1997 season , Pittsburgh lost two key offensive components: Chan Gailey , the offensive coordinator who went on to become head coach of the Dallas Cowboys , and their leading receiver, Yancey Thigpen , a Pro Bowler for Pittsburgh in 1997, who joined the Tennessee Oilers .
Offseason
NFL draft
Personnel
Staff
1998 Pittsburgh Steelers staff
Front office
President – Daniel M. Rooney
Vice president – John R. McGinley
Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
Vice president and general counsel – Arthur J. Rooney II
Administration advisor – Chuck Noll
Director of business – Mark Hart
Business relations coordinator – Dan Ferens
Business accounting coordinator – Jim Ellenberger
Office/ticket coordinator – Geraldine Glenn
Communications coordinator – Ron Wahl
Public relations/media manager – David Lockett
Marketing coordinator – Mark Fuhrman
Merchandising manager – Tim Carey
Assistant marketing manager – Lynne Molyneaux
Marketing assistant – Jill Sklar
Ticket manager – Brian Bonifate
Football operations
Director of football operations – Tom Donahoe
Personnel staff
Pro personnel coordinator – Charles Bailey
College scouting coordinator – Max McCartney
College scout – Mark Gorscak
College scout – Phil Kreidler
College scout – Bob Lane
College scout – Dan Rooney
College scout – Bill Scheider
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
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 – Rick Burkholder
Equipment manager – Rodgers Freyvogel
Field manager – Rich Baker
Field/equipment assistant – Paul Gallagher
Video coordinator – Bob McCartney
Player development coordinator – Anthony Griggs
Photographers – Mike Fabus, Bill Amatucci
[1]
Notable additions include Hines Ward, Alan Faneca and Deshea Townsend.
Roster
1998 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
Reserve lists
Practice squad
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
Rookies in italics
53 active, 4 inactive, 5 practice squad
Preseason
Schedule
Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday September 6, 1998): at Baltimore Ravens
1
2
3
4
Total
Steelers
3
0
10
7
20
Ravens
3
0
0
10
13
at Ravens Stadium , Baltimore, Maryland
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 27
Baltimore – FG Stover 41
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 49
Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run (N. Johnson kick)
Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 20 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)
Baltimore – FG Stover 25
Baltimore – J. Lewis 64 pass from Zeier (Stover kick)
Week 2 (Sunday September 13, 1998): vs. Chicago Bears
1
2
3
4
Total
Bears
0
9
0
3
12
Steelers
0
7
10
0
17
at Three Rivers Stadium , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
Chicago – Engram 54 pass from Kramer (kick failed)
Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run (N. Johnson kick)
Chicago – FG Jaeger 19
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 49
Pittsburgh – Coleman 13 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)
Chicago – FG Jaeger 36
Week 3 (Sunday September 20, 1998): at Miami Dolphins
1
2
3
4
Total
Steelers
0
0
0
0
0
Dolphins
0
14
7
0
21
at Pro Player Stadium , Miami, Florida
Scoring drives:
Miami – Abdul-Jabbar 3 run (Mare kick)
Miami – L. Thomas 8 pass from Marino (Mare kick)
Miami – Z. Thomas 17 interception return (Mare kick)
Week 4 (Sunday September 27, 1998): vs. Seattle Seahawks
1
2
3
4
Total
Seahawks
0
7
3
0
10
Steelers
3
7
3
0
13
at Three Rivers Stadium , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 4:05 pm EDT
Game weather: 83 °F (28 °C) (Partly sunny)
Game attendance: 58,413
Referee: Johnny Grier
TV announcers: (CBS) Kevin Harlan (play by play), Sam Wyche (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 33
Seattle – Fauria 14 pass from Moon (Peterson kick)
Pittsburgh – Fuamatu-Ma'afala 10 run (N. Johnson kick)
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 25
Seattle – FG Peterson 47
Week 5 (Sunday October 4, 1998): Bye Week
Week 6 (Sunday October 11, 1998): at Cincinnati Bengals
1
2
3
4
Total
Steelers
0
10
7
3
20
Bengals
0
9
3
13
25
at Cinergy Field , Cincinnati
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
Game weather:
Game attendance: 59,979
Referee: Tom White
TV announcers: (CBS) Don Criqui (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 40
Pittsburgh – Bettis 13 run (N. Johnson kick)
Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 44
Cincinnati – Scott 44 pass from O'Donnell (pass failed)
Pittsburgh – Huntley 9 run (N. Johnson kick)
Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 48
Cincinnati – Scott 30 pass from O'Donnell (pass failed)
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 40
Cincinnati – Pickens 25 pass from O'Donnell (Pelfrey kick)
Week 7 (Sunday October 18, 1998): vs. Baltimore Ravens
1
2
3
4
Total
Ravens
3
3
0
0
6
Steelers
3
0
7
6
16
at Three Rivers Stadium , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C) (Partly sunny)
Game attendance: 58,620
Referee: Ron Blum
TV announcers: (CBS) Kevin Harlan (play by play), Sam Wyche (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 41
Baltimore – FG Stover 41
Baltimore – FG Stover 40
Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 55 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 42
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 40
Week 8 (Monday October 26, 1998): at Kansas City Chiefs
1
2
3
4
Total
Steelers
7
3
3
7
20
Chiefs
3
3
7
0
13
at Arrowhead Stadium , Kansas City, Missouri
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – McAfee recovered blocked punt in end zone (N. Johnson kick)
Kansas City – FG Stoyanovich 20
Kansas City – FG Stoyanovich 28
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 34
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 22
Kansas City – Rison 2 pass from Grbac (Stoyanovich kick)
Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 5 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)
Week 9 (Sunday November 1, 1998): vs. Tennessee Oilers
1
2
3
4
Total
Oilers
3
14
10
14
41
Steelers
0
7
0
24
31
at Three Rivers Stadium , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C) (Cloudy)
Game attendance: 58,222
Referee: Mike Carey
TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Mark May (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Tennessee – FG Del Greco 43
Tennessee – Wycheck 2 pass from McNair (Del Greco kick)
Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 9 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)
Tennessee – Dyon 6 pass from McNair (Del Greco kick)
Tennessee – FG Del Greco 32
Tennessee – George 37 run (Del Greco kick)
Tennessee – Davis 29 pass from McNair (Del Greco kick)
Pittsburgh – Hawkins 3 pass from Stewart (C. Johnson pass from Stewart)
Tennessee – Marts 27 interception return (Del Greco kick)
Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 37 pass from Tomczak (C. Johnson pass from Tomczak)
Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 2 pass from Tomczak (Blackwell pass from Tomczak)
Week 10 (Monday November 9, 1998): vs. Green Bay Packers
1
2
3
4
Total
Packers
0
0
3
17
20
Steelers
14
10
3
0
27
at Three Rivers Stadium , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 8 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)
Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run (N. Johnson kick)
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 45
Pittsburgh – Fuamatu-Ma'afala 5 run (N. Johnson kick)
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 21
Green Bay – FG Longwell 42
Green Bay – McKenzie 88 fumble return (pass failed)
Green Bay – Harris 2 run (Freeman pass from Favre)
Green Bay – FG Longwell 37
Week 11 (Sunday November 15, 1998): at Tennessee Oilers
1
2
3
4
Total
Steelers
0
14
0
0
14
Oilers
3
10
0
10
23
at Vanderbilt Stadium , Nashville, Tennessee
Scoring drives:
Tennessee – FG Del Greco 46
Pittsburgh – Bruener 10 pass from Stewart (George kick)
Tennessee – Davis 25 pass from McNair (Del Greco kick)
Pittsburgh – Fuamatu-Ma'afala 26 pass from Stewart (George kick)
Tennessee – FG Del Greco 24
Tennessee – FG Del Greco 22
Tennessee – Roan recovered fumble in end zone (Del Greco kick)
1
2
3
4
Total
Jaguars
0
0
7
8
15
Steelers
7
6
3
14
30
at Three Rivers Stadium , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C) (Mostly sunny)
Game attendance: 59,124
Referee: Walt Coleman
TV announcers: (CBS) Kevin Harlan (play by play), Sam Wyche (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – Washington 52 interception return (N. Johnson kick)
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 38
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 29
Jacksonville – Taylor 2 run (Hollis kick)
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 41
Pittsburgh – Bruener 9 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)
Jacksonville – J. Smith 33 pass from Brunell (McCardell pass from Brunell)
Pittsburgh – Washington 78 interception return (N. Johnson kick)
Week 13 (Thursday November 26, 1998): at Detroit Lions
1
2
3
4 OT
Total
Steelers
0
6
7
3 0
16
Lions
0
3
3
10 3
19
at Pontiac Silverdome , Pontiac, Michigan
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 30
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 38
Detroit – FG Hanson 45
Pittsburgh – Blackwell 24 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)
Detroit – FG Hanson 52
Detroit – Moore 21 pass from Batch (Hanson kick)
Detroit – FG Hanson 35
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 25
Detroit – FG Hanson 42
1
2
3
4
Total
Patriots
3
10
0
10
23
Steelers
6
3
0
0
9
at Three Rivers Stadium , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring drives:
New England – FG Vinatieri 21
New England – FG Vinatieri 29
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 49
New England – Glenn 86 pass from Bledsoe (Vinatieri kick)
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 26
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 43
New England – FG Vinatieri 35
New England – Edwards 4 run (Vinatieri kick)
1
2
3
4
Total
Steelers
3
0
0
0
3
Buccaneers
3
3
7
3
16
at Raymond James Stadium , Tampa, Florida
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 27
Tampa Bay – FG Husted 39
Tampa Bay – FG Husted 37
Tampa Bay – Alstott 3 run (Husted kick)
Tampa Bay – FG Husted 21
Week 16 (Sunday December 20, 1998): vs. Cincinnati Bengals
1
2
3
4
Total
Bengals
3
13
6
3
25
Steelers
0
7
14
3
24
at Three Rivers Stadium , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: 1:00 pm EST
Game weather: 42 °F (6 °C) (Cloudy)
Game attendance: 52,017
Referee: Bernie Kukar
TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Mark May (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 33
Cincinnati – Shade 55 fumble return (Pelfrey kick)
Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 37
Pittsburgh – Lake 15 interception return (N. Johnson kick)
Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 43
Pittsburgh – Oldham 54 fumble return (N. Johnson kick)
Pittsburgh – Bettis 4 run (N. Johnson kick)
Cincinnati – Scott 61 pass from Blake (bad snap)
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 22
Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 21
1
2
3
4
Total
Steelers
0
3
0
0
3
Jaguars
0
14
7
0
21
at Alltel Stadium , Jacksonville, Florida
Scoring drives
Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 24
Jacksonville – Quinn 15 run (Hollis kick)
Jacksonville – Taylor 9 pass from Quinn (Hollis kick)
Jacksonville – Taylor 12 run (Hollis kick)
Standings
[5]
References
External links
Formerly the Pittsburgh Pirates (1933–1939)
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Media Division championships (24) Conference championships (8) League championships (6) Retired numbers Hall of Fame members Current league affiliations