The 2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 69th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League (NFL). After finishing the previous three seasons a combined 22âÂÂ26, the Steelers returned to the top seed in the AFC, rolling to a 13âÂÂ3 record in their first playoff berth and AFC Central title since 1997 and playing at Heinz Field. The Steelers went 7âÂÂ1 in their new home stadium, with the only loss coming to the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens (a loss the Steelers avenged in the divisional playoffs).
However, for the third time in Bill Cowher's coaching tenure, the Steelers fell in the AFC Championship Game at home. This time, the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots upset the top-seeded Steelers.
The Steelers ran the ball 580 times in 2001, the most in the NFL.
Offseason
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
Personnel
Notable additions include Casey Hampton, Jeff Hartings and Kendrell Bell.
Roster
Preseason
Schedule
Regular season
Schedule
Standings
Game summaries
at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: (sunny and rain)
- Game attendance: 63,785
- Referee: Mack Gentry
- TV announcers: (CBS) Don Criqui (play by play), Craig James (color commentator), Beasley Reece (sideline reporter)
- (Sunday September 16, 2001): vs. Cleveland Browns
Due to the September 11th attacks the National Football League postponed all games. It was played after the rest of the scheduled season had been completed.
Week 2 (Sunday September 23, 2001): Bye Week
Week 3 (Sunday September 30, 2001): at Buffalo Bills
at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: (sunny)
- Game attendance: 72,874
- Referee: Tom White
- TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)
Week 4 (Sunday October 7, 2001): vs. Cincinnati Bengals
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
This was the first game at Heinz Field. Also Jerome Bettis passed 10,000 yards rushing for his career.
Week 5 (Sunday October 14, 2001): at Kansas City Chiefs
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: (sunny)
- Game attendance: 78,413
- Referee: Ron Blum
- TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)
at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Week 7 (Monday October 29, 2001): vs. Tennessee Titans
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Week 8 (Sunday November 4, 2001): vs. Baltimore Ravens
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Week 9 (Sunday November 11, 2001): at Cleveland Browns
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: (cloudy)
- Game attendance: 73,218
- Referee: Dick Hantak
- TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time: 4:05 pm EST
- Game weather: (Mostly Cloudy)
- Game attendance: 62,644
- Referee: Ron Winter
- TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)
Week 11 (Sunday November 25, 2001): at Tennessee Titans
at Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee
Week 12 (Sunday December 2, 2001): vs. Minnesota Vikings
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Week 13 (Sunday December 9, 2001): vs. New York Jets
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Week 14 (Sunday December 16, 2001): at Baltimore Ravens
at PSINet Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Week 15 (Sunday December 23, 2001): vs. Detroit Lions
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Week 16 (Sunday December 30, 2001): at Cincinnati Bengals
at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: (Partly Cloudy)
- Game attendance: 63,751
- Referee: Jeff Triplette
- TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)
Week 17 (Sunday January 6, 2002): vs. Cleveland Browns
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: (Rain & Snow)
- Game attendance: 59,189
- Referee: Bernie Kukar
- TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)
Playoffs
Schedule
Game summaries
AFC Divisional Playoff (Sunday January 20, 2002): vs. Baltimore Ravens
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
AFC Championship Game (Sunday January 27, 2002): vs. New England Patriots
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Honors and awards
Pro Bowl Representatives
See: 2002 Pro Bowl
Notes
References
External links