1973 Pittsburgh Steelers season

1973 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Head coach	Chuck Noll
Owner	Art Rooney
Home field	Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record	10–4
Division place	2nd AFC Central
Playoff finish	Lost Divisional Playoffs (Raiders) 33–14
Pro Bowlers	8 DT Joe Greene DE L. C. Greenwood LB Jack Ham RB Franco Harris LB Andy Russell WR Ronnie Shanklin G Bruce Van Dyke DE Dwight White
AP All-Pros	3 Joe Greene (1st team) Roy Gerela (2nd team) Jack Ham (2nd team)
Team MVP	Ronnie Shanklin

The 1973 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 41st season in the National Football League. The team finished second in the AFC Central division, but qualified for the postseason for the second consecutive season. The Steelers got off to a terrific start winning eight of their first nine games. However, a costly three game losing streak would put their playoff hopes in jeopardy. The Steelers would recover to win their last two games, but had to settle for a Wild Card berth with a 10-4 record. The Steelers would lose in the playoffs to the Oakland Raiders 33-14 in Oakland.

The 1973 Steelers' pass defense is arguably the greatest in the history of the NFL. Their defensive passer rating—the quarterback passer rating of all opposing quarterbacks throughout the season—was 33.1, an NFL record for the Super Bowl era.

According to Cold Hard Football Facts:^[1]

Pittsburgh's pass-defense numbers that year were stunning. Opposing passers compiled the following stat-line:

• 164 of 359 (45.7%) for 1,923 yards, 5.36 [yards-per-attempt], 11 [touchdowns] and 37 [interceptions]

The figure that leaps screaming off the sheet is the amazing 37 picks in 14 games. The 2009 Jets, by comparison, allowed a puny 8 TDs in 16 games, but hauled in just 17 picks.

Pittsburgh's all-time best pass defense was an equal-opportunity unit: Mike Wagner led the team with 8 INT, but 10 other guys recorded at least one pick. Amazing. Eleven defenders boasted at least one INT for Pittsburgh that season. The entire starting secondary recorded 24 picks alone, and Hall of Fame cornerback Mel Blount was last on the list: Wagner (8), safety Glen Edwards (6), cornerback John Rowser (6) and Blount (4).

Personnel

Staff

1973 Pittsburgh Steelers staff
	Front office President – Arthur J. Rooney Vice President – John R. McGinley Vice President – Daniel M. Rooney Vice President – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr. Public Relations Director – Ed Kiely Traveling Secretary – James A. Boston Controller – Robert P. Quinn Publicity Director – Joe Gordon Ticket Manager – Joseph H. Carr 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 Line – Bob Fry Offensive Backfield – Dick Hoak Quarterbacks – Babe Parilli Receivers – Lionel Taylor			Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator – Bud Carson Defensive Line – George Perles Defensive Assistant – Woody Widenhofer Strength and conditioning Strength – Louis Riecke Flexibility – Paul Uram Team Physician, Orthopedic – Dr. John Best Team Physician, M.D. – Dr. David S. Huber Team Dentist – Dr. Robert Gray Trainer – Ralph Berlin Assistant Trainer – Robert Milie Equipment Manager – Anthony Parisi Field Manager – Jack Hart [2]

Roster

1973 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster
	Quarterbacks 12 Terry Bradshaw 17 Joe Gilliam  5 Terry Hanratty Running backs 20 Rocky Bleier 35 Steve Davis 33 John Fuqua 32 Franco Harris 26 Preston Pearson Wide receivers 85 Dave Davis 43 Frank Lewis 83 Barry Pearson 25 Ron Shanklin 82 Dave L. Williams Tight ends 87 Larry Brown 89 John McMakin		Offensive linemen 50 Jim Clack C 57 Sam Davis G 71 Gordon Gravelle T 76 Glen Ray Hines T 77 Mel Holmes G 55 Jon Kolb T 56 Ray Mansfield C 72 Gerry Mullins G/T 66 Bruce Van Dyke G Defensive linemen 64 Steve Furness DT 75 Joe Greene DT 68 L.C. Greenwood DE 67 Craig Hanneman DE 63 Ernie Holmes DT 74 Tom Keating DT 78 Dwight White DE		Linebackers 38 Ed Bradley MLB 53 Henry Davis MLB 59 Jack Ham OLB 34 Andy Russell OLB 51 Loren Toews OLB 90 George Webster OLB Defensive backs 47 Mel Blount CB 29 John Dockery DB 27 Glen Edwards FS/PR 41 Dennis Meyer S 48 John Rowser CB 26 J. T. Thomas CB 23 Mike Wagner SS Special teams 56 Ray Mansfield LS/PK 55 Jon Kolb LS/P 10 Roy Gerela K 39 Bobby Walden P/H		Reserve lists     Chuck Dicus WR (IR) Practice squad 21 Glenn Scolnik WR [3] [4] [5] [6] Rookies in italics 46 Active, 1 Inactive, 1 Practice squad

Offseason

NFL Draft

Team Rd Pick Name Pos College PIT 1 24 J.T. Thomas DB Florida St. PIT 2 50 Ken Phares DB Mississippi St. PIT 3 76 Roger Bernhardt G Kansas PIT 4 102 Gail Clark LB Michigan St. PIT 5 128 Larry Clark LB Northern Illinois PIT 5 106 Dave Reavis T Arkansas PIT 6 154 Glenn Scolnik WR Indiana PIT 6 140 Ron Bell RB Illinois St. PIT 7 180 Nate Dorsey WR Miss. Valley St. PIT 8 206 Bill Janssen T Nebraska PIT 8 192 Loren Toews LB California PIT 9 232 Bracey Bonham G North Carolina Central PIT 10 258 Don Wunderly DT Arkansas PIT 11 284 Bob White DB Arizona PIT 12 310 Willie Lee RB Indiana St. PIT 13 336 Rick Fergerson WR Kansas St. PIT 14 362 Roger Cowan DE Stanford PIT 15 388 Charles Cross DB Iowa PIT 16 414 Glen Nardi DT Navy PIT 17 440 Mike Shannon DT Oregon St.

Regular season

Game summaries

Week 1

1 2 3 4 Total Lions 0 0 10 0 10 • Steelers 0 3 7 14 24 Date: September 16 Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Game attendance: 48,913 Referee: Fred Wyant

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 11 - Steelers 3–0
• Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 1 run (Gerela kick) - Steelers 10–0
• Detroit – Jessie 84 pass from Landry (Mann kick) - Steelers 10–7
• Detroit – FG Mann 40 - Tie 10–10
• Pittsburgh – McMakin 24 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) - Steelers 17–10
• Pittsburgh – Shanklin 6 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) - Steelers 24–10

Week 2

1 2 3 4 Total Browns 3 0 0 3 6 • Steelers 10 6 10 7 33 Date: September 23 Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Game attendance: 49,396 Referee: Tommy Bell

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 12 - Steelers 3–0
• Cleveland – FG Cockroft 43 - Tie 3–3
• Pittsburgh – Fuqua 4 run (Gerela kick) - Steelers 10–3
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 40 - Steelers 13–3
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 26 - Steelers 16–3
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 44 - Steelers 19–3
• Pittsburgh – Lewis 8 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) - Steelers 26–3
• Cleveland – FG Cockroft 28 - Steelers 26–6
• Pittsburgh – Lewis 53 pass from Hanratty (Gerela kick) - Steelers 33–6

Week 3

1 2 3 4 Total • Steelers 3 3 13 17 36 Oilers 0 7 0 0 7 Date: September 30 Location: Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas Game attendance: 39,331 Game weather: Indoors (dome) Referee: Jim Tunney

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 20 - Steelers 3–0
• Houston – Alston 7 pass from Pastorini (Butler kick) - Oilers 7–3
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 47 - Oilers 7–6
• Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 1 run (kick failed) - Steelers 12–7
• Pittsburgh – Russell 45 interception return (Gerela kick) - Steelers 19–7
• Pittsburgh – Shanklin 26 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) - Steelers 26–7
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 26 - Steelers 29–7
• Pittsburgh – Edwards 86 interception return (Gerela kick) - Steelers 36–7

Week 4

1 2 3 4 Total Chargers 0 0 0 21 21 • Steelers 17 21 0 0 38 Date: October 7 Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Game attendance: 48,795 Referee: Pat Haggerty

Game summary

Johnny Unitas playing for San Diego is knocked out of the game after completing only 3 of 15 passes for 24 yards and 3 interceptions.

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Shanklin 12 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) - Steelers 7–0
• Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 1 run (Gerela kick) - Steelers 14–0
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 38 - Steelers 17–0
• Pittsburgh – Steve Davis 1 run (Gerela kick) - Steelers 24–0
• Pittsburgh – Wagner recovered blocked punt in end zone (Gerela kick) - Steelers 31–0
• Pittsburgh – Shanklin 37 pass from Hanratty (Gerela kick) - Steelers 38–0
• San Diego – LeVias 13 pass from Fouts (Wersching kick) - Steelers 38–7
• San Diego – Jones 3 run (Wersching kick) - Steelers 38–14
• San Diego – Holmes 1 run (Wersching kick) - Steelers 38–21

Week 5

1 2 3 4 Total Steelers 0 0 0 7 7 • Bengals 6 3 7 3 19 Date: October 14 Location: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio Game attendance: 55,819 Referee: Dick Jorgensen

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Cincinnati – FG Muhlmann 20 - Bengals 3–0
• Cincinnati – FG Muhlmann 19 - Bengals 6–0
• Cincinnati – FG Muhlmann 20 - Bengals 9–0
• Cincinnati – Clark 3 run (Muhlmann kick) - Bengals 16–0
• Cincinnati – FG Muhlmann 41 - Bengals 19–0
• Pittsburgh – P. Pearson 1 run (Gerela kick) - Bengals 19–7

Week 6

1 2 3 4 Total Jets 7 7 0 0 14 • Steelers 0 9 3 14 26 Date: October 21 Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Game attendance: 48,682 Referee: John McDonough

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• New York Jets – Riggins 1 run (Howfield kick) - Jets 7–0
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 27 - Jets 7–3
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 29 - Jets 7–6
• New York Jets – Caster 28 pass from Demory (Howfield kick) - Jets 14–6
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 36 - Jets 14–9
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 13 - Jets 14–12
• Pittsburgh – Shanklin 16 pass from Hanratty (Gerela kick) - Steelers 19–14
• Pittsburgh – Harris 2 run (Gerela kick) - Steelers 26–14

Week 7

1 2 3 4 Total Bengals 0 6 0 7 13 • Steelers 3 7 10 0 20 Date: October 28 Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Game attendance: 45,761 Referee: Norm Schachter

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 15 - Steelers 3–0
• Cincinnati – FG Muhlmann 17 - Tie 3–3
• Cincinnati – FG Muhlmann 41 - Bengals 6–3
• Pittsburgh – Shanklin 51 pass from Hanratty (Gerela kick) - Steelers 10–6
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 18 - Steelers 13–6
• Pittsburgh – Fuqua 1 run (Gerela kick) - Steelers 20–6
• Cincinnati – E. Johnson 16 pass from Anderson (Muhlmann kick) - Steelers 20–13

Week 8 (Monday November 5, 1973): Washington Redskins

1 2 3 4 Total Redskins 3 3 3 7 16 • Steelers 7 7 0 7 21 Date: November 5 Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Game attendance: 49,220 Referee: Tommy Bell TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, and Don Meredith

Game summary

Joe Gilliam makes his Monday night debut.

Scoring Drives:

• Washington – FG Knight 30 - Redskins 3–0
• Pittsburgh – P. Pearson 7 pass from Hanratty (Gerela kick) - Steelers 7–3
• Washington – FG Knight 12 - Steelers 7–6
• Pittsburgh – Shanklin 24 pass from Hanratty (Gerela kick) - Steelers 14–6
• Washington – FG Knight 16 - Steelers 14–9
• Pittsburgh – B. Pearson 46 pass from Gilliam (Gerela kick) - Steelers 21–9
• Washington – Brown 17 pass from Kilmer (Knight kick) - Steelers 21–16

Week 9

1 2 3 4 Total • Steelers 0 7 7 3 17 Raiders 0 3 0 6 9 Date: November 11 Location: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California Game attendance: 47,535 Referee: Bernie Ulman

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Shanklin 14 pass from Hanratty (Gerela kick) - Steelers 7–0
• Oakland – FG Blanda 40 - Steelers 7–3
• Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run (Gerela kick) - Steelers 14–3
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 17 - Steelers 17–3
• Oakland – Biletnikoff 27 pass from Lamonica (snap fumbled) - Steelers 17–9

Week 10

1 2 3 4 Total • Broncos 3 3 7 10 23 Steelers 3 3 0 7 13 Date: November 18 Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Game attendance: 48,580 Referee: Fred Silva

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Denver – FG Turner 32 - Broncos 3–0
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 15 - Tie 3–3
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 13 - Steelers 6–3
• Denver – FG Turner 11 - Tie 6–6
• Denver – Little 10 run (Turner kick) - Broncos 13–6
• Pittsburgh – Shanklin 42 pass from Hanratty (Gerela kick) - Tie 13–13
• Denver – FG Turner 46 - Broncos 16–13
• Denver – Odoms 2 pass from Johnson (Turner kick) - Broncos 23–13

Week 11

1 2 3 4 Total Steelers 7 3 3 3 16 • Browns 7 7 0 7 21 Date: November 25 Location: Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio Game attendance: 67,773 Referee: Jim Tunney

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Shanklin 9 pass from Gilliam (Gerela kick) - Steelers 7–0
• Cleveland – Phipps 1 run (Cockroft kick) - Tie 7–7
• Cleveland – Pruitt 15 pass from Phipps (Cockroft kick) – Browns 14-7
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 24 – Browns 14-10
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 14 – Browns 14-13
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 20 - Steelers 16–14
• Cleveland – Pruitt 19 run (Cockroft kick) - Browns 21–16

Week 12 (Monday December 3, 1973): Miami Dolphins

1 2 3 4 Total Steelers 0 3 7 16 26 • Dolphins 20 10 0 0 30 Date: December 3 Location: Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida Game attendance: 68,901 Referee: Ben Dreith TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, and Don Meredith

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Miami – Anderson 27 interception return (Yepremian kick) - Dolphins 7–0
• Miami – FG Yepremian 28 - Dolphins 10–0
• Miami – FG Yepremian 46 - Dolphins 13–0
• Miami – Mandich 2 pass from Griese (Yepremian kick) - Dolphins 20–0
• Miami – Anderson 38 interception return (Yepremian kick) - Dolphins 27–0
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 37 - Dolphins 27–3
• Miami – FG Yepremian 14 - Dolphins 30–3
• Pittsburgh – P. Pearson 5 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) - Dolphins 30–10
• Pittsburgh – Harris 21 run (Gerela kick) - Dolphins 30–17
• Pittsburgh – B. Pearson 17 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) - Dolphins 30–24
• Pittsburgh – Safety, White tackled Griese in end zone - Dolphins 30–26

Week 13

1 2 3 4 Total Oilers 7 0 0 0 7 • Steelers 3 14 10 6 33 Date: December 9 Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Game attendance: 38,004 Referee: Bob Frederic

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 49 - Steelers 3–0
• Houston – Alston 11 pass from Pastorini (Butler kick) - Oilers 7–3
• Pittsburgh – B. Pearson 15 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) - Steelers 10–7
• Pittsburgh – Steve Davis 3 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) - Steelers 17–7
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 31 - Steelers 20–7
• Pittsburgh – Ham recovered fumble in end zone (Gerela kick) - Steelers 27–7
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 20 - Steelers 30–7
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 42 - Steelers 33–7

Week 14

1 2 3 4 Total • Steelers 7 7 13 10 37 49ers 0 7 0 7 14 Date: December 15 Location: Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California Game attendance: 52,252 Referee: Tommy Bell

Game summary

John Brodie's number was retired prior to game

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Rowser 71 interception return (Gerela kick) - Steelers 7–0
• San Francisco – Hall recovered blocked punt in end zone (Gossett kick) - Tie 7–7
• Pittsburgh – P. Pearson 1 run (Gerela kick) - Steelers 14–7
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 27 - Steelers 17–7
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 27 - Steelers 20–7
• Pittsburgh – Lewis 50 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) - Steelers 27–7
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 35 - Steelers 30–7
• Pittsburgh – Steve Davis 1 run (Gerela kick) - Steelers 37–7
• San Francisco – Atkins 3 run (Gossett kick) - Steelers 37–14

Standings

AFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Cincinnati Bengals	10	4	0	.714	4–2	8–3	286	231	W6
Pittsburgh Steelers	10	4	0	.714	4–2	7–4	347	210	W2
Cleveland Browns	7	5	2	.571	4–2	6–3–2	234	255	L2
Houston Oilers	1	13	0	.071	0–6	1–10	199	447	L6

Postseason

Game summaries

Divisional

1 2 3 4 Total Steelers 0 7 0 7 14 • Raiders 7 3 13 10 33 Date: December 23 Location: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California Game attendance: 50,094 Referee: Pat Haggerty

Game summary

Scoring Drives:

• Oakland – Hubbard 1 run (Blanda kick) - Raiders 7–0
• Oakland – FG Blanda 25 - Raiders 10–0
• Pittsburgh – B. Pearson 4 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick - Raiders )10–7
• Oakland – FG Blanda 31 - Raiders 13–7
• Oakland – FG Blanda 22 - Raiders 16–7
• Oakland – Brown 54 interception return (Blanda kick) - Raiders 23–7
• Oakland – FG Blanda 10 - Raiders 26–7
• Pittsburgh – Lewis 26 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) - Raiders 26–14
• Oakland – Hubbard 1 run (Blanda kick) - Raiders 33–14

References