1995 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 1995 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 63rd season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.
This season saw the Steelers return to the Super Bowl for the first time in sixteen years. The team's 11–5 finish was good enough for the AFC Central championship and the second seed in the conference.
For the second consecutive season Pittsburgh hosted the AFC Championship Game at home by virtue of the Indianapolis Colts' that upset the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Steelers won the game, but lost to the 1995 Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl in a matchup of teams that were looking to join the San Francisco 49ers as the only other team to win five Super Bowls. It was the first time in three Super Bowl meetings that the Steelers had lost to the Cowboys. Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher became the youngest head coach to lead his team to the Super Bowl.
After the Super Bowl loss, quarterback Neil O'Donnell signed as a free agent with the New York Jets. The Steelers would not return to the Super Bowl for the next 10 seasons.
Offseason
NFL draft
Staff
Roster
Preseason
Schedule
Regular season
Schedule
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday September 3, 1995): vs. [Detroit Lions]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 78 °F
- Game attendance: 58,002
- Referee: Tom White
- TV announcers: Kevin Harlan, Jerry Glanville
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 39
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 47
- Detroit – Perriman 5 pass from Mitchell
- Detroit – FG Hanson 43
- Pittsburgh – Morris 5 run
- Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run
- Detroit – Moore 27 pass from Mitchell
- Detroit – FG Hanson 36
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 31
Week 2 (Sunday September 10, 1995): at [Houston Oilers]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: Dome
- Game attendance: 44,122
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers: Dan Hicks, Tunch Ilkin
- PIttsburgh – Hastings 72 punt return
- Houston – FG Del Greco 43
- PIttsburgh – Bruener 15 pass from Tomczak
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 43
- Pittsburgh – McAfee 22 run
- Houston – Chandler 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Lake 32 interception return
- Houston – Thomas 6 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 40
Week 3 (Monday September 18, 1995): at [Miami Dolphins]
- Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 72,874
- Referee: Larry Nemmers
- TV announcers: Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf, Lynn Swann
- Miami – FG Stoyanovich 37
- Miami – Parmalee 2 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 40
- Miami – Kirby 28 pass from Marino
- Miami – FG Stoyanovich 39
- Miami – FG Stoyanovich 21
- Pittsburgh – Mills 27 pass form Miller
Week 4 (Sunday September 24, 1995): vs. [Minnesota Vikings]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 63 °F
- Game attendance: 57,853
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- TV announcers: Kenny Albert, Anthony Muñoz
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 32
- Minnesota – R. Smith 58 run
- Minnesota – FG Reveiz 33
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 35
- Minnesota – Fuller 12 fumble return
- Minnesota – Carter 18 pass from Moon
- Minnesota – Thomas 45 lateral from Del Rio
- Minnesota – FG Reveiz 40
- Pittsburgh – Pegram 5 run
- Pittsburgh – Thigpen 42 pass from Miller
- Minnesota – Carter 22 pass from Moon
- Pittsburgh – Pegram 1 run
Week 5 (Sunday October 1, 1995): vs. [San Diego Chargers]
- Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 77 °F
- Game attendance: 57,012
- Referee: Gerald Austin
- TV announcers: Dick Enberg, Phil Simms & Paul Maguire
- Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run
- Pittsburgh – W. Williams 63 interception return
- Pittsburgh – Mays 32 interception return
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 25
- San Diego – Means 13 run
- Pittsburgh – Morris 2 run
- San Diego – Martin 19 pass from Humphries
- San Diego – FG Carney 28
Week 6 (Sunday October 8, 1995): at [Jacksonville Jaguars]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 72,042
- Referee: Mike Carey
- TV announcers: Don Criqui, Beasley Reece
- Jacksonville – Tillman 10 pass from Brunell
- Jacksonville – Stewart 6 run
- Pittsburgh – Avery 18 pass from O'Donnell
- Jacksonville – FG Hollis 53
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 41
- Jacksonville – FG Hollis 32
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 19
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 22
Week 7 (Sunday October 15, 1995): Bye Week
Week 8 (Thursday October 19, 1995): vs. [Cincinnati Bengals]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- Game time: 8:00 pm EDT
- Game weather: 63 °F
- Game attendance: 56,684
- Referee: Gary Lane
- TV announcers: Verne Lundquist, Pat Haden, Craig Sager
- Cincinnati – Scott 47 pass from Blake
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 25
- Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 31
- Cincinnati – To. McGee 12 pass from Blake
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 28
- Cincinnati – Pickens 41 pass from Blake
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 38
- Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 23
- Pittsburgh – O'Donnell To Thigpen 60 yard touchdown
Week 9 (Sunday October 29, 1995): vs. [Jacksonville Jaguars]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 48 °F
- Game attendance: 54,516
- Referee: Tom White
- TV announcers: Don Criqui, Beasley Reece
- Pittsburgh – Pegram 6 run
- Pittsburgh – Thigpen 15 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – Williams 6 pass from O'Donnell
- Jacksonville – Mitchell 16 pass from Brunell
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 36
Week 10 (Sunday November 5, 1995): at [Chicago Bears]
- Game time: 4:00 pm EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 61,838
- Referee: Howard Roe
- TV announcers: Dick Enberg, Phil Simms & Paul Maguire
- Chicago – FG Butler 40
- Pittsburgh – Pegram 1 run
- Chicago – Conway 6 pass from Kramer
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 40
- Pittsburgh – Pegram 7 pass from O'Donnell
- Chicago – Carter 12 pass from Kramer
- Chicago – Wetnight 14 pass from Kramer
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 46
- Chicago – FG Butler 27
- Pittsburgh – Pegram 6 run
- Chicago – Minter 2 interception return
- Pittsburgh – Mills 11 pass form O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 24
Week 11 (Monday November 13, 1995): vs. [Cleveland Browns]
- Game time: 9:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 34 °F
- Game attendance: 58,675
- Referee: Ron Blum
- TV announcers: Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf, Lynn Swann
- Pittsburgh – Mills 2 pass from Stewart
- Cleveland – FG Stover 29
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 38
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 34
- Pittsburgh – Thigpen 9 pass from O'Donnell
Week 12 (Sunday November 19, 1995): at [Cincinnati Bengals]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 54,636
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers: Dick Enberg, Phil Simms & Paul Maguire
- Cincinnati – Scott 4 pass from Blake
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 50
- Cincinnati – Blake 1 run
- Cincinnati – Pickens 1 pass from Blake
- Pittsburgh – Mills 42 pass from O'Donnell
- Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 27
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 26
- Cincinnati – McGee 20 pass from Blake
- Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Hastings 15 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 71 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – Morris 3 run
- Pittsburgh – Morris 8 run
Week 13 (Sunday November 26, 1995): at [Cleveland Browns]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 67,269
- Referee: Dick Hantak
- TV announcers: Marv Albert, Phil Simms & Paul Maguire
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 33
- Pittsburgh – Bruener 12 pass from O'Donnell
- Cleveland – FG Stover 44
- Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run
- Cleveland – Jackson 11 pass from Testaverde
- Cleveland – Testaverde 1 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 27
Week 14 (Sunday December 3, 1995): vs. [Houston Oilers]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather: 52 °F
- Game attendance: 56,013
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers: Marv Albert, Cris Collinsworth
- PIttsburgh – Thigpen 33 pass from O'Donnell
- Houston – Sanders 76 pass from Chandler
- Pittsburgh – Bruener 7 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – Morris 30 run
Week 15 (Sunday December 10, 1995): at [Oakland Raiders]
- Game time: 4:00 pm EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 53,516
- Referee: Larry Nemmers
- TV announcers: Dick Enberg, Phil Simms & Paul Maguire
- Pittsburgh – Mills 37 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 41
- Oakland – Bruce 1 interception return
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 35
- Pittsburgh – Mills 14 pass from O'Donnell
- Oakland – FG Jaeger 39
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 32
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 20
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 22
Week 16 (Saturday December 16, 1995): vs. [New England Patriots]
- Game time: 12:30 pm EST
- Game weather: 38 °F
- Game attendance: 57,158
- Referee: Bernie Kukar
- TV announcers: Tom Hammond, Bob Trumpy
- New England – FG Bahr 23
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 32
- New England – FG Bahr 22
- Pittsburgh – Thigpen 14 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – Buckner 46 fumble return
- New England – Coates 6 pass from Bledsoe
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 22 run
- New England – Coates 6 pass from Bledsoe
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 32
- New England – Martin 22 pass from Bledsoe
- Pittsburgh – Mills 62 pass from O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – Oldham 23 fumble return
Week 17 (Sunday December 24, 1995): at [Green Bay Packers]
- Game time: 1:00 pm EST
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 60,649
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers: Charlie Jones, Randy Cross
- Green Bay – Bennett 9 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 33
- Green Bay – Brooks 19 pass from Favre
- Pittsburgh – Mills 8 pass from O'Donnell
- Green Bay – Chmura 1 pass from Favre
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 25
- Green Bay – FG Jacke 47
- Pittsburgh – Lester 2 run
Playoffs
Game summaries
AFC Divisional Playoff (Saturday January 6, 1996): vs. [Buffalo Bills]
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania- Game time: 12:30 pm EST
- Game weather: 18 °F
- Game attendance: 59,072
- Referee: Larry Nemmers
- TV announcers: Marv Albert, Cris Collinsworth, Jim Gray
- Pittsburgh – Williams 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Mills 10 pass form O'Donnell
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 45
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 38
- Buffalo – Thomas 1 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 34
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 39
- Buffalo – Cline 2 pass from Van Pelt
- Buffalo – Thomas 9 pass from Kelly
- Pittsburgh – Morris 13 run
- Pittsburgh – Morris 2 run
AFC Championship Game (Sunday January 14, 1996): vs. [Indianapolis Colts]
- Game time: 12:30 pm EST
- Game weather: 44 °F
- Game attendance: 61,062
- Referee: Bernie Kukar
- TV announcers: Dick Enberg, Phil Simms & Paul Maguire, Jim Gray & Will McDonough
- Indianapolis – FG Blanchard 34
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 31
- Indianapolis – FG Blanchard 36
- Pittsburgh – Stewart 5 pass from O'Donnell
- Indianapolis – FG Blanchard 37
- Pittsburgh – FG Johnson 36
- Indianapolis – Turner 47 pass from Harbaugh
- Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run
[Super Bowl XXX] (Sunday January 28, 1996): vs. [Dallas Cowboys]
- Game time: 6:20 pm EST/4:20 pm PST
- Game weather: 68 °F
- Game attendance: 76,347
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers: Dick Enberg, Phil Simms & Paul Maguire, Jim Gray & Will McDonough
- Dallas – FG Boniol 42
- Dallas – Novacek 3 pass from Aikman
- Dallas – FG Boniol 35
- Pittsburgh – Thigpen 6 pass from O'Donnell
- Dallas – E. Smith 1 run
- Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson
- Pittsburgh – Morris 1 run
- Dallas – E. Smith 4 run
Honors and awards
Pro Bowl Representatives
See: 1996 Pro Bowl- No. 37 Carnell Lake-Cornerback/Safety
- No. 63 Dermontti Dawson-Center
- No. 82 Yancey Thigpen-Wide Receiver
- No. 91 Kevin Greene-Outside Linebacker
- No. 95 Greg Lloyd-Outside Linebacker