1977 Pittsburgh Steelers season

The 1977 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 45th in the National Football League. 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.

1977 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Owner	Art Rooney
Head coach	Chuck Noll
Home field	Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record	9–5
Division place	1st in AFC Central
Playoff finish	Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Broncos) 21–34
Pro Bowlers	4 RB Franco Harris LB Jack Ham LB Jack Lambert WR Lynn Swann
AP All-Pros	4 Joe Greene (1st team) Jack Ham (1st team) Franco Harris (1st team) Lynn Swann (2nd team)
Team MVP	Terry Bradshaw

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. This was also the first season that the Steelers wore black face masks on their helmets.

Personnel

Staff

1977 Pittsburgh Steelers staff

Front office Chairman of the board – Arthur J. Rooney President – Daniel M. Rooney Vice president – John R. McGinley Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr. Public relations director – Ed Kiely Traveling secretary – James A. Boston Publicity director – Joe Gordon Controller – Dennis P. Thimons Ticket manager – Joseph H. Carr Ticket office coordinator – Geraldine Glenn 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 backfield – Dick Hoak Receivers – Tom Moore Offensive line – Dan Radakovich

Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Bud Carson Defensive line – George Perles Linebackers – Woody Widenhofer Strength and conditioning Strength – Louis Riecke Flexibility – Paul Uram Team Physician, M.D. – Dr. David S. Huber Team physician, orthopedic – Dr. Paul B. Steele, Jr. Team dentist – Dr. George P. Boucek Trainer – Ralph Berlin Assistant trainer – Robert Milie Equipment manager – Anthony Parisi Field manager – Jack Hart Film director – Bob McCartney Photographer – Harry Homa

Roster

1977 Pittsburgh Steelers roster

Quarterbacks (QB) 12 Terry Bradshaw 15 Mike Kruczek 16 Neil Graff Running backs (RB) 20 Rocky Bleier 35 Jack Deloplaine 32 Franco Harris 46 Reggie Harrison 28 Alvin Maxson 37 Laverne Smith KR 38 Sidney Thornton Wide receivers (WR) 43 Frank Lewis 85 Ernie Pough 86 Jim Smith 82 John Stallworth 88 Lynn Swann Tight ends (TE) 89 Bennie Cunningham 84 Randy Grossman

Offensive linemen (OL) 79 Larry Brown T 50 Jim Clack G/C 57 Sam Davis G 55 Jon Kolb T 72 Gerry Mullins G/T 66 Ted Petersen 74 Ray Pinney T 52 Mike Webster C Defensive linemen (DL) 76 John Banaszak DE (IR) 64 Steve Furness DT 75 Joe Greene DT 68 L. C. Greenwood DE 63 Ernie Holmes DT 78 Dwight White DE

Linebackers (LB) 56 Robin Cole OLB 60 Brad Cousino OLB 59 Jack Ham OLB 54 Dave LaCrosse OLB 58 Jack Lambert MLB 51 Loren Toews OLB 53 Dennis Winston MLB Defensive backs (DB) 45 Jimmy Allen DB 47 Mel Blount CB 21 Tony Dungy S 27 Glen Edwards FS 29 Brent Sexton DB 31 Donnie Shell SS 24 J. T. Thomas CB Special teams 52 Mike Webster LS 10 Roy Gerela K 39 Bobby Walden (IR) 17 Rick Engles

Practice squad 18 Cliff Stoudt QB Reserve 65 Tom Beasley DT (IR) 83 Theo Bell WR (IR) 77 Steve Courson G (IR) 67 Gary Dunn DT (IR) 36 Wentford Gaines DB (IR) 23 Mike Wagner FS (IR) Rookies in italics 48 active, 6 reserve, 1 practice squad

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

Week	Date	Opponent	Kickoff (ET)	TV	Result	Record	Game Site
1	Mon. Sep. 19	San Francisco 49ers	9:00 p.m.	ABC	W 27–0	1–0	Three Rivers Stadium
2	Sun. Sep. 25	Oakland Raiders	4:00 p.m.	NBC	L 7–16	1–1	Three Rivers Stadium
3	Sun. Oct. 2	at Cleveland Browns	1:00 p.m.	NBC	W 28–14	2–1	Cleveland Municipal Stadium
4	Sun. Oct. 9	at Houston Oilers	2:00 p.m.	NBC	L 10–27	2–2	Astrodome
5	Mon. Oct. 17	Cincinnati Bengals	9:00 p.m.	ABC	W 20–14	3–2	Three Rivers Stadium
6	Sun. Oct. 23	Houston Oilers	1:00 p.m.	NBC	W 27–10	4–2	Three Rivers Stadium
7	Sun. Oct. 30	at Baltimore Colts	4:00 p.m.	NBC	L 21–31	4–3	Memorial Stadium
8	Sun. Nov. 6	at Denver Broncos	4:00 p.m.	NBC	L 7–21	4–4	Mile High Stadium
9	Sun. Nov. 13	Cleveland Browns	1:00 p.m.	NBC	W 35–31	5–4	Three Rivers Stadium
10	Sun. Nov. 20	Dallas Cowboys	4:00 p.m.	CBS	W 28–13	6–4	Three Rivers Stadium
11	Sun. Nov. 27	at New York Jets	1:00 p.m.	NBC	W 23–20	7–4	Shea Stadium
12	Sun. Dec. 4	Seattle Seahawks	1:00 p.m.	NBC	W 30–20	8–4	Three Rivers Stadium
13	Sat. Dec. 10	at Cincinnati Bengals	1:00 p.m.	NBC	L 10–17	8–5	Riverfront Stadium
14	Sun. Dec. 18	at San Diego Chargers	4:00 p.m.	NBC	W 10–9	9–5	San Diego Stadium

Game summaries

Week 1 (Monday September 19, 1977): vs. San Francisco 49ers

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	0	0	0	0
Steelers	0	10	3	14	27

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
• Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C), wind 9 mph (14 km/h)
• Game attendance: 48,046
• Referee: Bernie Ulman
• TV announcers: (ABC) Frank Gifford (play by play), Don Meredith & Howard Cosell (color commentators)

Scoring drives:

• Pittsburgh – Harris 14 run (Gerela kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 49
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 47
• Pittsburgh – Harris 7 run (Gerela kick)
• Pittsburgh – Stallworth 15 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)

Week 2 (Sunday September 25, 1977): vs. Oakland Raiders

	1	2	3	4	Total
Raiders	0	9	0	7	16
Steelers	0	0	0	7	7

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
• Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C), wind 9 mph (14 km/h)
• Game attendance: 50,398
• Referee: Pat Haggerty
• TV announcers: (NBC) Curt Gowdy (play by play), John Brodie (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

• Oakland – FG Mann 21
• Oakland – FG Mann 40
• Oakland – FG Mann 41
• Oakland – van Eeghen 8 run (Mann kick)
• Pittsburgh – Cunningham 43 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)

Week 3 at Browns

See also: 1977 Cleveland Browns season

Week Three: Pittsburgh Steelers (1–1) at Cleveland Browns (2–0)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	7	7	7	7	28
Browns	7	7	0	0	14

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

• Date: October 2
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C)
• Game attendance: 80,588
• Referee: Fred Silva
• TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Merlin Olsen
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter PIT – Lynn Swann 5-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick). Steelers 7–0. Drive: CLE – Dave Logan 22-yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick). Tie 7–7. Drive: Second quarter CLE – Cleo Miller 1-yard run (Don Cockroft kick). Browns 14–7. Drive: PIT – Frank Lewis 65-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick). Tie 14–14. Drive: Third quarter PIT – Lynn Swann 14-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick). Steelers 21–14. Drive: Fourth quarter PIT – Terry Bradshaw 1-yard run (Roy Gerela kick). Steelers 28–14. Drive: Top passers PIT – Terry Bradshaw – 10/17, 143 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT CLE – Brian Sipe – 9/20, 81 yards, TD, INT Top rushers PIT – Franco Harris – 22 rushes, 72 yards CLE – Cleo Miller – 11 rushes, 49 yards, TD Top receivers PIT – Lynn Swann – 7 receptions, 71 yards, 2 TD CLE – Oscar Roan – 3 receptions, 43 yards

Week 4 (Sunday October 9, 1977): at Houston Oilers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	3	7	0	0	10
Oilers	7	0	10	10	27

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

• Game time: 2:00 pm EDT
• Game attendance: 49,226
• Referee: Dick Jorgensen
• TV announcers: (NBC) Jack Buck (play by play), Jimmy Johnson (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

• Houston – Burrough 44 pass from Coleman (Fritsch kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 27
• Pittsburgh – Bleier 1 run (Gerela kick)
• Houston – FG Fritsch 27
• Houston – Johnson 51 pass from Pastorini (Fritsch kick)
• Houston – Stemrick 5 fumble recovery return (Fritsch kick)
• Houston – FG Fritsch 18

Week 5 (Monday October 17, 1977): vs. Cincinnati Bengals

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bengals	0	7	0	7	14
Steelers	0	13	0	7	20

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
• Game weather: 39 °F (4 °C), wind 18 mph (29 km/h)
• Game attendance: 47,950
• Referee: Ben Dreith
• TV announcers: (ABC) Frank Gifford (play by play) and Don Meredith (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

• Pittsburgh – Bleier 1 run (Gerela kick)
• Pittsburgh – Bleier 2 run (kick failed)
• Cincinnati – Bujnoch 4 run (Bahr kick)
• Pittsburgh – Thornton 1 run (Gerela kick)
• Cincinnati – Williams recovered blocked punt in end zone (Bahr kick)

Week 6 (Sunday October 23, 1977): vs. Houston Oilers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Oilers	0	7	0	3	10
Steelers	0	7	6	14	27

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
• Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C), wind 12 mph (19 km/h)
• Game attendance: 48,517
• Referee: Bernie Ulman
• TV announcers: (NBC) Stu Nahan (play by play), Andy Russell (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

• Houston – Barber 5 pass from Pastorini (Fritsch kick)
• Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run (Gerela kick)
• Pittsburgh – Stallworth 49 pass from Bradshaw (kick failed)
• Houston – FG Fritsch 46
• Pittsburgh – Cunningham 2 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
• Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run (Gerela kick)

Week 7 (Sunday October 30, 1977): at Baltimore Colts

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	0	7	14	21
Colts	3	14	7	7	31

at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

• Game time: 4:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C), wind 8 mph (13 km/h)
• Game attendance: 60,225
• Referee: Red Cashion
• TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Len Dawson (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

• Baltimore – FG Linhart 24
• Baltimore – Leaks 26 pass from Jones (Linhart kick)
• Baltimore – Mitchell 13 pass from Jones (Linhart kick)
• Baltimore – Lee 25 run (Linhart kick)
• Pittsburgh – Swann 32 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
• Baltimore – Jones 6 run (Linhart kick)
• Pittsburgh – Harris 11 run (Gerela kick)
• Pittsburgh – Harris 3 run (Gerela kick)

Week 8 (Sunday November 6, 1977): at Denver Broncos

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	0	7	0	7
Broncos	14	7	0	0	21

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

• Game time: 4:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C), wind 7 mph (11 km/h)
• Game attendance: 74,967
• Referee: Fred Wyant
• TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Simpson (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

• Denver – Lytle 1 run (Turner kick)
• Denver – Upchurch 87 punt return (Turner kick)
• Denver – Moses 20 pass from Morton (Turner kick)
• Pittsburgh – Stallworth 4 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)

Week 9 (Sunday November 13, 1977): vs. Cleveland Browns

	1	2	3	4	Total
Browns	3	0	7	21	31
Steelers	7	21	0	7	35

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 30 °F (−1 °C), wind 13 mph (21 km/h)
• Game attendance: 47,055
• Referee: Pat Haggerty
• TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Simpson (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

• Cleveland – FG Cockroft 44
• Pittsburgh – Swann 39 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
• Pittsburgh – Bleier 2 run (Gerela kick)
• Pittsburgh – Stallworth 38 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
• Pittsburgh – Harris 16 run (Gerela kick)
• Cleveland – Miller 5 run (Cockroft kick)
• Pittsburgh – Stallworth 9 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
• Cleveland – Poole 5 pass from Mays (Cockroft kick)
• Cleveland – Poole 13 pass from Mays (Cockroft kick)
• Cleveland – Poole 3 pass from Mays (Cockroft kick)

Week 10 (Sunday November 20, 1977): vs. Dallas Cowboys

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cowboys	6	7	0	0	13
Steelers	0	14	14	0	28

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 4:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C), wind 9 mph (14 km/h)
• Game attendance: 49,761
• Referee: Bob Frederic
• TV announcers: (CBS) Pat Summerall (play by play), Tom Brookshier (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

• Dallas – Dorsett 13 run (kick blocked)
• Pittsburgh – Harris 61 run (Gerela kick)
• Dallas – Saldi 23 pass from Staubach (Herrera kick)
• Pittsburgh – Swann 9 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
• Pittsburgh – Stallworth 28 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
• Pittsburgh – Harris 2 run (Gerela kick)

Week 11 at Jets

See also: 1977 New York Jets season

Week Eleven: Pittsburgh Steelers (6–4) at New York Jets (2–8)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	6	14	0	3	23
Jets	6	7	0	7	20

at Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York

• Date: November 27
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• Game weather: 31 °F (−1 °C)
• Game attendance: 47,385
• Referee: Jerry Markbreit
• TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson and Merlin Olsen
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter NYJ – Pat Leahy 33-yard field goal. Jets 3–0. Drive: PIT – John Stallworth 37-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (kick blocked). Steelers 6–3. Drive: NYJ – Pat Leahy 47-yard field goal. Tie 6–6. Drive: Second quarter PIT – Lynn Swann 5-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick). Steelers 13–6. Drive: NYJ – Scott Dierking 5-yard pass from Matt Robinson (Pat Leahy kick). Tie 13–13. Drive: PIT – Franco Harris 1-yard run (Roy Gerela kick). Steelers 20–13. Drive: Third quarter No scoring Fourth quarter PIT – Roy Gerela 37-yard field goal. Steelers 23–13. Drive: NYJ – Bruce Harper 4-yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick). Steelers 23–20. Drive: Top passers PIT – Terry Bradshaw – 10/28, 143 yards, 2 TD, INT NYJ – Matt Robinson – 7/19, 80 yards, TD, 3 INT Top rushers PIT – Franco Harris – 21 rushes, 83 yards, TD NYJ – Scott Dierking – 23 rushes, 107 yards Top receivers PIT – Lynn Swann – 4 receptions, 54 yards, TD NYJ – Scott Dierking – 3 receptions, 26 yards, TD

Week 12 (Sunday December 4, 1977): vs. Seattle Seahawks

	1	2	3	4	Total
Seahawks	0	3	10	7	20
Steelers	7	6	0	17	30

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 33 °F (1 °C), wind 7 mph (11 km/h)
• Game attendance: 45,429
• Referee: Cal Lepore
• TV announcers: (NBC) Sam Nover (play by play), Mike Haffner (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

• Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 5 run (Gerela kick)
• Seattle – FG Leypoldt 20
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 22
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 28
• Seattle – McCullum 65 pass from Zorn (Leypoldt kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 43
• Pittsburgh – Swann 22 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
• Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 3 run (Gerela kick)
• Seattle – Largent 30 pass from Zorn (Leypoldt kick)

Week 13 (Saturday December 10, 1977): at Cincinnati Bengals

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	10	0	0	10
Bengals	7	0	10	0	17

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati

• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C), wind 12 mph (19 km/h)
• Game attendance: 36,133
• Referee: Jim Tunney
• TV announcers: (NBC) Curt Gowdy (play by play), John Brodie (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

• Cincinnati – Parrish 47 interception return (Bahr kick)
• Pittsburgh – Harris 5 run (Gerela kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 32
• Cincinnati – FG Bahr 24
• Cincinnati – McInally 43 pass from Anderson (Bahr kick)

Week 14 (Sunday December 18, 1977): at San Diego Chargers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	0	10	0	10
Chargers	6	3	0	0	9

at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California

• Game time: 4:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C), wind 12 mph (19 km/h)
• Game attendance: 50,727
• Referee: Ben Dreith
• TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Andy Russell (color commentator)

Scoring drives:

• San Diego – C. Williams 2 run (kick failed)
• San Diego – FG Benirschke 38
• Pittsburgh – Thornton 1 run (Gerela kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 27

Standings

AFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Pittsburgh Steelers(3)	9	5	0	.643	4–2	7–5	276	243	W1
Houston Oilers	8	6	0	.571	3–3	6–6	299	230	W2
Cincinnati Bengals	8	6	0	.571	3–3	6–5	238	235	L1
Cleveland Browns	6	8	0	.429	2–4	5–7	269	267	L4

Postseason

Game summary

AFC Divisional Playoff (Saturday December 24, 1977): at Denver Broncos

	1	2	3	4	Total
Steelers	0	14	0	7	21
Broncos	7	7	7	13	34

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

• Game time: 4:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 44 °F (7 °C), wind 17 mph (27 km/h)
• Game attendance: 75,059
• Referee: Gene Barth
• TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Simpson (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)
• Denver – Lytle 7 run (Turner kick)
• Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 1 run (Gerela kick)
• Denver – Armstrong 10 run (Turner kick)
• Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run (Gerela kick)
• Denver – Odoms 30 pass from Morton (Turner kick)
• Pittsburgh – Brown 1 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
• Denver – FG Turner 44
• Denver – FG Turner 25
• Denver – Dolbin 34 pass from Morton (Turner kick)

See also

• List of NFL teams affected by internal conflict

External links

• 1977 Pittsburgh Steelers season at Profootballreference.com
• 1977 Pittsburgh Steelers season statistics at jt-sw.com