1977 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 1977 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 45th in the National Football League. After what was considered the franchise's greatest season ever in 1976, the 1977 Pittsburgh Steelers failed to improve on their 10-4 record from 1976 and finished with a 9-5 record, however they appeared in the playoffs for their 6th straight season and won the AFC Central again. 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. The sloppy plays would catch up with them in the Divisional Playoffs when they were knocked off by the Broncos 34–21 in Denver.
The 1977 season is remembered as one of the most turbulent in franchise history, as numerous players were involved with off-the-field issues. Defensive tackle Ernie Holmes was arrested for cocaine possession, and despite being found not guilty, lawsuits followed. Head coach Chuck Noll was also subject to a defamation lawsuit, as Oakland Raiders safety George Atkinson sued Noll and the Steelers for a disparaging comment in which Noll called Atkinson part of the "criminal element" in football. Though Atkinson lost the lawsuit, Noll was forced to bring Steelers cornerback Mel Blount into the suit, which upset Blount as he was one of many Steelers players engaged in a contract holdout, with others including linebacker Jack Lambert and safety Glen Edwards. Disputes between these players and Steelers owner Art Rooney were often publicized, and the overall drama played a significant part in the regression of the Steel Curtain defense.
Personnel
Staff
Roster
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
Game summaries
Week 1 (Monday September 19, 1977): vs. [San Francisco 49ers]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 69 F, wind 9 mph
- Game attendance: 48,046
- Referee: Bernie Ulman
- TV announcers: Frank Gifford, Don Meredith & Howard Cosell
- Pittsburgh – Harris 14 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 49
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 47
- Pittsburgh – Harris 7 run
- Pittsburgh – Stallworth 15 pass from Bradshaw
Week 2 (Sunday September 25, 1977): vs. [Oakland Raiders]
- Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 67 F, wind 9 mph
- Game attendance: 50,398
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers: Curt Gowdy, John Brodie
- Oakland – FG Mann 21
- Oakland – FG Mann 40
- Oakland – FG Mann 41
- Oakland – van Eeghen 8 run
- Pittsburgh – Cunningham 43 pass from Bradshaw
Week 3 (Sunday October 2, 1977): at [Cleveland Browns]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 55 F, wind 13 mph
- Game attendance: 80,588
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers: Curt Gowdy, Merlin Olsen
- Pittsburgh – Swann 5 pass from Bradshaw
- Cleveland – Logan 22 pass from Sipe
- Cleveland – Miller 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Lewis 65 pass from Bradshaw
- Pittsburgh – Swann 14 pass from Bradshaw
- Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 1 run
Week 4 (Sunday October 9, 1977): at [Houston Oilers]
- Game time: 2:00 pm EDT
- Game attendance: 49,226
- Referee: Dick Jorgensen
- TV announcers: Jack Buck, Jimmy Johnson
- Houston – Burrough 44 pass from Coleman
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 27
- Pittsburgh – Bleier 1 run
- Houston – FG Fritsch 27
- Houston – Johnson 51 pass from Pastorini
- Houston – Stemrick 5 fumble recovery return
- Houston – FG Fritsch 18
Week 5 (Monday October 17, 1977): vs. [Cincinnati Bengals]
- Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 39 F, wind 18 mph
- Game attendance: 47,950
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers: Frank Gifford, Don Meredith & Howard Cosell
- Pittsburgh – Bleier 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Bleier 2 run
- Cincinnati – Bujnoch 4 run
- Pittsburgh – Thornton 1 run
- Cincinnati – Williams recovered blocked punt in end zone
Week 6 (Sunday October 23, 1977): vs. [Houston Oilers]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 50 F, wind 12 mph
- Game attendance: 48,517
- Referee: Bernie Ulman
- TV announcers: Stu Nahan, Andy Russell
- Houston – Barber 5 pass from Pastorini
- Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Stallworth 49 pass from Bradshaw
- Houston – FG Fritsch 46
- Pittsburgh – Cunningham 2 pass from Bradshaw
- Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run
Week 7 (Sunday October 30, 1977): at [Baltimore Colts]
- Game time: 4:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 53 F, wind 8 mph
- Game attendance: 60,225
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers: Marv Albert, Len Dawson
- Baltimore – FG Linhart 24
- Baltimore – Leaks 26 pass from Jones
- Baltimore – Mitchell 13 pass from Jones
- Baltimore – Lee 25 run
- Pittsburgh – Swann 32 pass from Bradshaw
- Baltimore – Jones 6 run
- Pittsburgh – Harris 11 run
- Pittsburgh – Harris 3 run
Week 8 (Sunday November 6, 1977): at [Denver Broncos]
- Game time: 4:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 52 F, wind 7 mph
- Game attendance: 74,967
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV announcers: Jim Simpson, Merlin Olsen
- Denver – Lytle 1 run
- Denver – Upchurch 87 punt return
- Denver – Moses 20 pass from Morton
- Pittsburgh – Stallworth 4 pass from Bradshaw
Week 9 (Sunday November 13, 1977): vs. [Cleveland Browns]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 30 F, wind 13 mph
- Game attendance: 47,055
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers: Jim Simpson, Merlin Olsen
- Cleveland – FG Cockroft 44
- Pittsburgh – Swann 39 pass from Bradshaw
- Pittsburgh – Bleier 2 run
- Pittsburgh – Stallworth 38 pass from Bradshaw
- Pittsburgh – Harris 16 run
- Cleveland – Miller 5 run
- Pittsburgh – Stallworth 9 pass from Bradshaw
- Cleveland – Poole 5 pass from Mays
- Cleveland – Poole 13 pass from Mays
- Cleveland – Poole 3 pass from Mays
Week 10 (Sunday November 20, 1977): vs. [Dallas Cowboys]
- Game time: 4:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 48 F, wind 9 mph
- Game attendance: 49,761
- Referee: Bob Frederic
- TV announcers: Pat Summerall, Tom Brookshier
- Dallas – Dorsett 13 run
- Pittsburgh – Harris 61 run
- Dallas – Saldi 23 pass from Staubach
- Pittsburgh – Swann 9 pass from Bradshaw
- Pittsburgh – Stallworth 28 pass from Bradshaw
- Pittsburgh – Harris 2 run
Week 11 (Sunday, November 27, 1977): at [New York Jets]
Week 12 (Sunday December 4, 1977): vs. [Seattle Seahawks]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 33 F, wind 7 mph
- Game attendance: 45,429
- Referee: Cal Lepore
- TV announcers: Sam Nover, Mike Haffner
- Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 5 run
- Seattle – FG Leypoldt 20
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 22
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 28
- Seattle – McCullum 65 pass from Zorn
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 43
- Pittsburgh – Swann 22 pass from Bradshaw
- Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 3 run
- Seattle – Largent 30 pass from Zorn
Week 13 (Saturday December 10, 1977): at [Cincinnati Bengals]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 0° F, wind 12 mph
- Game attendance: 36,133
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers: Curt Gowdy, John Brodie
- Cincinnati – Parrish 47 interception return
- Pittsburgh – Harris 5 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 32
- Cincinnati – FG Bahr 24
- Cincinnati – McInally 43 pass from Anderson
Week 14 (Sunday December 18, 1977): at [San Diego Chargers]
- Game time: 4:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 63 F, wind 12 mph
- Game attendance: 50,727
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers: Charlie Jones, Andy Russell
- San Diego – C. Williams 2 run
- San Diego – FG Benirschke 38
- Pittsburgh – Thornton 1 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 27
Standings
Postseason
Game summary
AFC Divisional Playoff (Saturday December 24, 1977): at [Denver Broncos]
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado- Game time: 4:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 44 F, wind 17 mph
- Game attendance: 75,059
- Referee: Gene Barth
- TV announcers: Jim Simpson, Merlin Olsen
- Denver – Lytle 7 run
- Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 1 run
- Denver – Armstrong 10 run
- Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run
- Denver – Odoms 30 pass from Morton
- Pittsburgh – Brown 1 pass from Bradshaw
- Denver – FG Turner 44
- Denver – FG Turner 25
- Denver – Dolbin 34 pass from Morton