39th season in franchise history
The 1971 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 39th in the National Football League . The Steelers showed improvement finishing in second place in the AFC Central Division with a 6–8 record. Terry Bradshaw struggled with turnovers in his second season throwing 22 interceptions to 13 touchdown passes. The Steelers that year drafted wide receiver Frank Lewis , Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Ham , guard Gerry Mullins , defensive end Dwight White , tight end/tackle Larry Brown , defensive tackle Ernie Holmes , and safety Mike Wagner , all key contributors during the Steelers Super Bowl teams of the 1970s.
Round
Pick
Player
Position
College
Notes
1
8
Frank Lewis
WR
Grambling
2
34
Jack Ham
LB
Penn State
3
60
Steven Davis
RB
Delaware State
4
86
Gerry Mullins
TE
USC
4
104
Dwight White
DE
East Texas State
5
106
Larry Brown
TE
Kansas
5
112
Melvin Holmes
OT
North Carolina A&T
5
126
Ralph Anderson
DB
West Texas State
5
128
Fred Brister
LB
Mississippi
6
138
Craig Hanneman
OT
Oregon State
7
164
Worthy McClure
OT
Mississippi
8
184
Larry Crowe
RB
Texas Southern
8
190
Paul Rogers
PK
Nebraska
8
203
Ernie Holmes
DT
Texas Southern
9
216
Mike Anderson
LB
LSU
10
242
Jim O'Shea
TE
Boston College
11
268
Mike Wagner
DB
Western Illinois
13
320
Alfred Young
WR
South Carolina State
14
346
McKinney Evans
DB
New Mexico Highlands
15
372
Ray Makin
OG
Kentucky
16
398
Walter Huntley
DB
Trinity
17
424
Danny Ehle
RB
Howard Payne
1971 Pittsburgh Steelers 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
Ticket manager – Joseph H. Carr
Traveling secretary – James A. Boston
Publicity director – Joe Gordon
Office manager – Terrence Jacobs
Ticket office assistant – Arthur Laughlin
Director of player personnel – Dick Haley
Assistant director of player personnel – Bill Nunn Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Strength and conditioning
Strength coach – Louis Riecke
Team physician, orthopedic – Dr. John Best
Team Physician, M.D. – Dr. David S. Huber
Team dentist – Dr. Robert Gray
Trainer – Ralph Berlin
Equipment manager – Anthony Parisi, Jack Hart [ 1]
1971 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
Rookies in italics 49 active, 0 inactive, 5 practice squad
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
1
September 19, 1971
at Chicago Bears
L 17–15
2
September 26, 1971
Cincinnati Bengals
W 21–10
3
October 3, 1971
San Diego Chargers
W 21–17
4
October 10, 1971
at Cleveland Browns
L 27–17
5
October 18, 1971
at Kansas City Chiefs
L 38–16
6
October 24, 1971
Houston Oilers
W 23–16
7
October 31, 1971
at Baltimore Colts
L 34–21
8
November 7, 1971
Cleveland Browns
W 26–9
9
November 14, 1971
at Miami Dolphins
L 24–21
10
November 21, 1971
New York Giants
W 17–13
11
November 28, 1971
Denver Broncos
L 22–10
12
December 5, 1971
at Houston Oilers
L 29–3
13
December 12, 1971
at Cincinnati Bengals
W 21–13
14
December 19, 1971
Los Angeles Rams
L 23–14
Game information
Second quarter
PIT – Preston Pearson fumble recovery in end zone (kick failed). Steelers 6–0. Drive:
CHI – Mac Percival 33-yard field goal. Steelers 6–3. Drive: Third quarter
PIT – Roy Gerela 32-yard field goal. Steelers 9–3. Drive:
PIT – Roy Gerela 29-yard field goal. Steelers 12–3. Drive: Fourth quarter
PIT – Roy Gerela 42-yard field goal. Steelers 15–3. Drive:
CHI – Ross Brupbacher 30-yard fumble return (Mac Percival kick). Steelers 15–10.
CHI – George Farmer 8-yard pass from Kent Nix (Mac Percival kick). Bears 17–15. Drive:
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers
1
2
3
4
Total
Bengals
3
0
7
0
10
Steelers
7
0
7
7
21
at Three Rivers Stadium , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 48,448Referee: Norm Schachter TV announcers: Scoring drives:
Cincinnati – FG Muhlmann 33 – Bengals 3–0
Pittsburgh – Smity 16 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Steelers 7–3
Cincinnati – Parrish 14 fumble return (Muhlmann kick) – Bengals 10–7
Pittsburgh – Staggers 67 punt return (Gerela kick) – Steelers 14–10
Pittsburgh – Pearson 13 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Steelers 21–10
1
2
3
4
Total
Chargers
3
7
7
0
17
Steelers
7
0
7
7
21
at Three Rivers Stadium , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 44,339Referee: Jim Tunney TV announcers: Scoring drives:
San Diego – FG Partee 21 – Chargers 3–0
Pittsburgh – Fuqua 5 run (Gerela kick) – Steelers 7–3
San Diego – Parks 16 pass from Hadl (Partee kick) – Chargers 10–7
Pittsburgh – Fuqua 1 run (Gerela kick) – Steelers 14–10
San Diego – Garrett 4 run (Partee kick) – Chargers 17–14
Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 5 run (Gerela kick) – Steelers 21–17 Steelers stop San Diego with a goal line stand preserving the 21–17 win.
1
2
3
4
Total
Steelers
0
7
3
7
17
Browns
10
10
0
7
27
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium , Cleveland, Ohio
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 83,391Referee: Jack Vest TV announcers: Scoring drives:
Cleveland – FG Cockroft 25 – Browns 3–0
Cleveland – Morin 19 pass from Nelsen (Cockroft kick) – Browns 10–0
Cleveland – Scott 18 run (Cockroft kick) – Browns 17–0
Pittsburgh – D. Smith 22 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Browns 17–7
Cleveland – FG Cockroft 20 – Browns 20–7
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 33 – Browns 20–10
Pittsburgh – Shanklin 11 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Browns 20–17
Cleveland – Kelly 7 run (Cockroft kick) – Browns 27–17
1
2
3
4
Total
Steelers
9
0
0
7
16
Chiefs
0
28
0
10
38
at the Municipal Stadium , Kansas City, Missouri
Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 32 – Steelers 3–0
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 40 – Steelers 6–0
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 35 – Steelers 9–0
Kansas City – Taylor 5 pass from Dawson (Stenerud kick) – Steelers 9–7
Kansas City – Taylor 27 pass from Dawson (Stenerud kick) – Chiefs 14–9
Kansas City – Wright 5 pass from Dawson (Stenerud kick) – Chiefs 21–9
Kansas City – Podolak 1 run (Stenerud kick) – Chiefs 28–9
Kansas City – FG Stenerud 11 – Chiefs 31–9
Pittsburgh – Fuqua 1 run (Gerela kick) – Chiefs 31–16
Kansas City – Thomas 32 interception return (Stenerud kick) – Chiefs 38–16
1
2
3
4
Total
Oilers
7
3
6
0
16
Steelers
3
3
3
14
23
at Three Rivers Stadium , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 45,872Referee: Ben Dreith TV announcers: Scoring drives:
Houston – Dawkins 1 run (Moseley kick) – Oilers 7–0
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 28 – Oilers 7-3
Houston – FG Moseley 24 – Oilers 10-3
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 22 – Oilers 10-6
Houston – Dawkins 1 run (kick failed) – Oilers 16-6
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela – Oilers 16-9
Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 1 run (Gerela kick) – Tie 16–16
Pittsburgh – Fuqua 30 run (Gerela kick) – Steelers 23–16
1
2
3
4
Total
Steelers
0
7
7
7
21
Colts
7
20
7
0
34
at Memorial Stadium , Baltimore, Maryland
Game time: Game weather: 60,238Game attendance: Referee: Jack Reader TV announcers: Scoring drives:
Baltimore – Bulaich 1 run (O'Brien kick) – Colts 7–0
Baltimore – FG O'Brien 20 – Colts 10–0
Baltimore – FG O'Brien 9 – Colts 13–0
Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 3 run (Gerela kick) – Colts 13–7
Baltimore – Richardson 19 pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick) – Colts 20–7
Baltimore – Richardson 49 pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick) – Colts 27–7
Baltimore – Perkins 60 pass from Morrall (O'Brien kick) – Colts 34–7
Pittsburgh – Shanklin 31 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Colts 34–14
Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 1 run (Gerela kick) – Colts 34–21
1
2
3
4
Total
Browns
0
2
7
0
9
Steelers
10
6
0
10
26
at Three Rivers Stadium , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 50,202Referee: Fred Wyant TV announcers: Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 45 – Steelers 3–0
Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 1 run (Gerela kick) – Steelers 10–0
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 23 – Steelers 13–0
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 17 – Steelers 16–0
Cleveland – Safety, Houston tackled Walden in end zone – Steelers 16–2
Cleveland – Scott 1 run (Cockroft kick) – Steelers 16–9
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 13 – Steelers 19–9
Pittsburgh – Smith 40 pass from Hanratty (Gerela kick) – Steelers 26–9
1
2
3
4
Total
Steelers
14
7
0
0
21
Dolphins
3
14
7
0
24
at Miami Orange Bowl , Miami, Florida
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 66,435Referee: Bob FredericTV announcers: Scoring drives:
1
2
3
4
Total
Giants
7
6
0
0
13
Steelers
3
7
7
0
17
at Three Rivers Stadium , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 50,008Referee: Fred Silva TV announcers: Scoring drives:
New york giants – Houston 26 pass from Tarkenton (Gogolak kick) – Giants 7–0
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 25 – Giants 7–3
New york giants – FG Gogolak 25 – Giants 10–3
Pittsburgh – Rowser 70 interception return (Gerela kick) – Tie 10–10
New york giants – FG Gogolak 29 – Giants 13–10
Pittsburgh – Shanklin 4 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Steelers 17–13
1
2
3
4
Total
Broncos
0
10
0
12
22
Steelers
0
0
10
0
10
at Three Rivers Stadium , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 39,710Referee: Tommy Bell TV announcers: Scoring drives:
Denver – Little 3 run (J. Turner kick) – Broncos 7–0
Denver – FG J. Turner 32 – Broncos 10–0
Pittsburgh – Pearson 8 pass from Hanratty (Gerela kick) – Broncos 10–7
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 19 – Tie 10–10
Denver – Little 16 run (Turner kick) – Broncos 17–10
Denver – Safety, Lynch tackled Walden in end zone – Broncos 19–10
Denver – FG J. Turner 12 – Broncos 22–10
1
2
3
4
Total
Steelers
0
3
0
0
3
Oilers
16
6
0
7
29
at the Houston Astrodome , Houston, Texas
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 37,778Referee: Fred Swearingen TV announcers: Scoring drives:
Houston – Reed 27 pass from Pastorini (Moseley kick) – Oilers 7–0
Houston – FG Moseley 25 – Oilers 10–0
Houston – Campbell 8 run (kick blocked) – Oilers 16–0
Houston – FG Moseley 37 – Oilers 19–0
Houston – FG Moseley 25 – Oilers 22–0
Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 15 – Oilers 22–3
Houston – Holmes 4 run (Moselely kick) – Oilers 29–3
1
2
3
4
Total
Steelers
7
0
14
0
21
Bengals
0
7
6
0
13
at Riverfront Stadium , Cincinnati
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 60,022Referee: Jack Vest TV announcers: Scoring drives:
Pittsburgh – Hanratty 3 run (Gerela kick) – Steelers 7–0
Cincinnati – Coslet 43 pass from Carter (Muhlmann kick) – Tie 7–7
Cincinnati – FG Muhlmann 22 – Bengals 10–7
Cincinnati – FG Muhlmann 18 – Bengals 13–7
Pittsburgh – Fuqua 40 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Steelers 14–13
Pittsburgh – Shanklin 5 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Steelers 21–13
1
2
3
4
Total
Rams
13
3
7
0
23
Steelers
0
7
7
0
14
at Three Rivers Stadium , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 45,233Referee: Pat Haggerty TV announcers: Scoring drives:
Los Angeles – FG Ray 15 – Rams 3–0
Los Angeles – FG Ray 15 – Rams 6–0
Los Angeles – Snow 20 pass from Gabriel (Ray kick) – Rams 13–0
Pittsburgh – L. Brown 3 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Rams 13–7
Los Angeles – FG Ray 15 – Rams 16–7
Pittsburgh – Shanklin 2 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) – Rams 16–14
Los Angeles – L. Smith 1 run (Ray kick) – Rams 23–14 Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
^ 1971 Pittsburgh Steelers Preseason Prospectus .
Formerly the Pittsburgh Pirates (1933–1939)
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