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1973 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Head Coach Chuck Noll
Home Field Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record 10–4
Place 2nd AFC Central
Playoff Finish Lost to the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Divisional playoff
Pro Bowlers
Team MVP Ronnie Shanklin
Timeline
Previous Season Next Season
1972 1974

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.

Recap[]

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).

The campaign was chronicled in Roy Blount Jr.'s 1974 book About Three Bricks Shy of a Load. The source of its title was Craig Hanneman whose endearing description of himself and his teammates after the regular season away victory over the Oakland Raiders was "We’re all about three bricks shy of a load."[2]

Personnel[]

Staff[]

1973 Pittsburgh Steelers final 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

Offensive Coaches

  • Offensive line – Bob Fry
  • Offensive backfield – Dick Hoak
  • Quarterbacks – Babe Parilli
  • Receivers – Lionel Taylor
  Defensive Coaches

Special Teams Coaches


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

[3]

Roster[]

1973 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

  • 85 Dave Davis
  • 43 Frank Lewis WR/RB/KR
  • 83 Barry Pearson
  • 25 Ron Shanklin
  • 82 Dave 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) Injury icon 2


Practice squad

  • 21 Glenn Scolnik WR

[3] [4] [5] [6]


Rookies in italics
46 Active, 1 Inactive, 1 Practice squad

Offseason[]

NFL Draft[]

Preseason[]

Schedule[]

Game summaries[]

Regular season[]

Schedule[]

Week Date Opponent Result Record Game Site
1 Sunday Sept. 16 Detroit W 24-10 1-0 Three Rivers Stadium
2 Sunday Sept. 23 Cleveland W 33-6 2-0 Three Rivers Stadium
3 Sunday Sept. 30 Houston W 36-7 3-0 Astrodome
4 Sunday Oct. 7 San Diego W 38-21 4-0 Three Rivers Stadium
5 Sunday Oct. 14 Cincinnati L 19-7 4-1 Riverfront Stadium
6 Sunday Oct. 21 NY Jets W 26-14 5-1 Three Rivers Stadium
7 Sunday Oct. 28 Cincinnati W 20-13 6-1 Three Rivers Stadium
8 Monday Nov. 5 Washington W 21-16 7-1 Three Rivers Stadium
9 Sunday Nov. 11 Oakland W 17-9 8-1 Oakland Coliseum
10 Sunday Nov. 18 Denver L 13-23 8-2 Three Rivers Stadium
11 Sunday Nov. 25 Cleveland L 16-21 8-3 Cleveland Stadium
12 Monday Oct. 3 Miami L 26-30 8-4 Miami Orange Bowl
13 Sunday Oct. 9 Houston W 33-7 9-4 Three Rivers Stadium
14 Saturday Oct. 15 San Francisco W 37-14 10-4 Candlestick Park

Game summaries[]

Week 1 (Sunday September 16): Detroit Lions[]

Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Lions 0 0 10 0 10
Steelers 0 3 7 14 24


at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 48,913
  • Referee: Fred Wyant
  • TV announcers:


'Scoring Drives:

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

Week 2 (Sunday September 23): Cleveland Browns[]

Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Browns 3 0 0 3 6
Steelers 10 6 10 7 33


at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 49,396
  • Referee: Tommy Bell
  • TV announcers:


'Scoring Drives:

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

Week 3 (Sunday September 30): Houston Oilers[]

Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 3 3 13 17 36
Oilers 0 7 0 0 7


at the Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 39,331
  • Referee: Jim Tunney
  • TV announcers:


'Scoring Drives:

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

Week 4 (Sunday October 7): San Diego Chargers[]

Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Chargers 0 0 0 21 21
Steelers 17 21 0 0 38


at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 48,795
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • TV announcers:


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

Week 5 (Sunday October 14): Cincinnati Bengals[]

Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 0 0 7 7
Bengals 6 3 7 3 19


at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 55,819
  • Referee: Dick Jorgensen
  • TV announcers:


'Scoring Drives:

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

Week 6 (Sunday October 21): New York Jets[]

Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Jets 7 7 0 0 14
Steelers 0 9 3 14 17


at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 48,682
  • Referee: John McDonough
  • TV announcers:


Scoring Drives:

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

Week 7 (Sunday October 28): Cincinnati Bengals[]

Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Bengals 0 6 0 7 13
Steelers 3 7 10 0 20


at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 45,761
  • Referee: Norm Schachter
  • TV announcers:


'Scoring Drives:

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

Week 8 (Monday November 5): Washington Redskins[]

Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Redskins 3 3 3 7 16
Steelers 7 7 0 7 21


at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Joe Gilliam (Jefferson Street) makes his Monday night debut.

'Scoring Drives:

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

Week 9 (Sunday November 11): Oakland Raiders[]

Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 7 7 3 17
Raiders 0 3 0 6 9


at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 47,535
  • Referee: Bernie Ulman
  • TV announcers:


'Scoring Drives:

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

Week 10 (Sunday November 18): Denver Broncos[]

Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Broncos 3 3 7 10 23
Steelers 3 3 0 7 13


at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 48,580
  • Referee: Fred Silva
  • TV announcers:


'Scoring Drives:

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

Week 11 (Sunday November 25): Cleveland Browns[]

Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 7 3 3 3 16
Browns 7 7 0 7 21


at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 67,773
  • Referee: Jim Tunney
  • TV announcers:


'Scoring Drives:

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

Week 12 (Monday December 3): Miami Dolphins[]

Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 3 7 16 26
Dolphins 20 10 0 0 30


at the Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 68,901
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • TV announcers: Howard Cosell,Don Meredith,Frank Gifford


'Scoring Drives:

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

Week 13 (Sunday December 9): Houston Oilers[]

Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Oilers 7 0 0 0 7
Steelers 3 14 10 6 33


at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 38,004
  • Referee: Bob Frederic
  • TV announcers:


'Scoring Drives:

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

Week 14 (Saturday December 15): San Francisco 49ers[]

Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 7 7 13 10 33
49ers 0 7 0 7 14


at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 52,252
  • Referee: Tommy Bell
  • TV announcers:

John Brodie's number was retired prior to game

'Scoring Drives:

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

Standings[]

AFC Central
W L T PCT PF PA STK
Cincinnati Bengals 10 4 0 .714 286 231 W-6
Pittsburgh Steelers 10 4 0 .714 347 210 W-2
Cleveland Browns 7 5 2 .571 234 255 L-2
Houston Oilers 1 13 0 .071 199 447 L-6

Postseason[]

Game summaries[]

Week 15 (Sunday December 23): Oakland Raiders[]

Team 1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 7 0 7 14
Raiders 7 3 13 10 33


at Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 50,094
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • TV announcers:
Game summary[]

'Scoring Drives:

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

References[]

  1. Cold Hard Football Facts: Shutdown! The greatest pass defenses in history
  2. Starkey, Joe. "The wildest Steelers season there ever was," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Saturday, December 30, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2020
  3. 3.0 3.1 1973 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide,. ISBN .
  4. 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide,. ISBN .
  5. About Three Bricks Shy... and the Load Filled Up,. ISBN .
  6. 1973 Pittsburgh Steelers.

External links[]

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