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1986 Pittsburgh Steelers season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1986 Pittsburgh Steelers season
OwnerArt Rooney
General managerDick Haley
Head coachChuck Noll
Home fieldThree Rivers Stadium
Results
Record6–10
Division place3rd AFC Central
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersRB Earnest Jackson
LB Mike Merriweather
AP All-ProsNone
Team MVPBryan Hinkle
Team ROYAnthony Henton

The 1986 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise’s 54th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League. The Steelers failed to improve upon their 7–9 record from 1985: they instead finished 6–10 and failed to reach the playoffs for a second consecutive season.

Offseason

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NFL draft

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1986 Pittsburgh Steelers draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 9 John Rienstra  Guard Temple
2 36 Gerald Williams  Guard Auburn
3 67 Bubby Brister  Quarterback Northeast Louisiana
4 94 Bill Callahan  Safety Pittsburgh
5 122 Erroll Tucker  Cornerback Utah
5 135 Brent Jones *  Tight end Santa Clara
6 148 Domingo Bryant  Safety Texas A&M
7 175 Rodney Carter  Running back Purdue
8 207 Cap Boso  Tight end Illinois
9 234 Anthony Henton  Linebacker Troy State
10 260 Warren Seitz  Wide receiver Missouri
11 287 Larry Station  Linebacker Iowa
12 314 Mike Williams  Linebacker Tulsa
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents

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1986 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Andrew Baker Wide receiver Rutgers
Gary Barber Linebacker Youngstown State
Brian Blankenship Guard Nebraska
Eric Wycoff Running back Illinois

Personnel

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Staff

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1986 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.
  • Controller – Dennis P. Thimons
  • Assistant controller-management – Dan Ferens
  • Traveling secretary – James A. Boston
  • Publicity director – Joe Gordon
  • Assistant publicity director – Dan Edwards
  • Director of ticket sales – Geraldine Glenn
  • Assistant controller-tickets – Jim Ellenberger
  • Director of player personnel – Dick Haley
  • Assistant director of player personnel – William Nunn, Jr.
  • Pro talent scout – Tom Modrak
  • Talent scout – West Coast – Bob Schmitz
  • College talent scout – Joe Krupa
  • Talent scout – East – Tom Donahoe
  • Talent scout – Midwest – Jesse Kaye

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches


Strength and conditioning

  • Conditioning & training coach – Walt Evans
  • Dentist – Dr. George P. Boucek
  • Ophthalmologist – Dr. Phillip Buzzelli
  • Physician, orthopedic – Dr. Thomas W. Cowan
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. David S. Huber
  • Neurological surgery consultant – Dr. Joseph C. Maroon
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. Richard Rydze
  • Physician, consultant – Dr. Abraham J.Twerski
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. Anthony P. Yates
  • Trainer – Ralph Berlin
  • Trainer – Fran Feld
  • Equipment manager – Anthony Parisi
  • Field manager – Rodgers Freyvogel
  • Video & film director – Bob McCartney
  • Photographers – Mike Fabus, Bill Amatucci

[1]


Roster

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1986 Pittsburgh Steelers roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Practice squad

[2] [3] [4] Reserve

Rookies in italics
50 active, 9 reserve

Preseason

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Schedule

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Week Date Opponent Game site Kickoff (ET) TV Result Record
1 Saturday, August 9 Chicago Bears Three Rivers Stadium 7:00 p.m. WTAE L 23–13 0–1
2 Friday, August 15 at Washington Redskins RFK Stadium 8:00 p.m. WTAE L 27–24 (OT) 0–2
3 Friday, August 22 at Dallas Cowboys Texas Stadium 9:00 p.m. WTAE W 41–28 1–2
4 Saturday, August 30 at New York Giants Giants Stadium 8:00 p.m. WTAE L 17–3 1–3

Regular season

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Schedule

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Week Date Opponent Game site Kickoff (ET) TV Result Record
1 Sunday, September 7 at Seattle Seahawks Kingdome 4:00 p.m. NBC L 30–0 0–1
2 Monday, September 15 Denver Broncos Three Rivers Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC L 21–10 0–2
3 Sunday, September 21 at Minnesota Vikings Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 1:00 p.m. NBC L 31–7 0–3
4 Sunday, September 28 at Houston Oilers Astrodome 1:00 p.m. NBC W 22–16 (OT) 1–3
5 Sunday, October 5 Cleveland Browns Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 27–24 1–4
6 Monday, October 13 at Cincinnati Bengals Riverfront Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC L 24–22 1–5
7 Sunday, October 19 New England Patriots Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 34–0 1–6
8 Sunday, October 26 Cincinnati Bengals Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 30–9 2–6
9 Sunday, November 2 Green Bay Packers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. CBS W 27–3 3–6
10 Sunday, November 9 at Buffalo Bills Rich Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 16–12 3–7
11 Sunday, November 16 Houston Oilers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 21–10 4–7
12 Sunday, November 23 at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 37–31 (OT) 4–8
13 Sunday, November 30 at Chicago Bears Soldier Field 1:00 p.m. NBC L 13–10 (OT) 4–9
14 Sunday, December 7 Detroit Lions Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. CBS W 27–17 5–9
15 Saturday, December 13 at New York Jets Giants Stadium 12:30 p.m. NBC W 45–24 6–9
16 Sunday, December 21 Kansas City Chiefs Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 24–19 6–10

Week 1: at Seattle Seahawks

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Pittsburgh Steelers at Seattle Seahawks
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 0 000
Seahawks 0 6 101430

at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: September 7, 1986
  • Game time: 4:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Dome
  • Game attendance: 61,461
  • Referee: Jerry Seeman
  • TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond (play by play), Dave Rowe (color commentator)
  • [5]

Week 2 vs. Denver Broncos

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Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 7 7721
Steelers 0 0 3710

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: September 15, 1986
  • Game time: 9:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: 64 °F (17.8 °C), wind 7 miles per hour (11 km/h; 6.1 kn)
  • Game attendance: 57,305
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford (color commentator)
  • [6]

Week 3: at Minnesota Vikings

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Pittsburgh Steelers at Minnesota Vikings
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Steelers 7 0 007
Vikings 14 3 7731

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: September 21, 1986
  • Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Dome
  • Game attendance: 56,795
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
  • [7]

Week 4: at Houston Oilers

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Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Oilers
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Steelers 0 3 103622
Oilers 3 7 06016

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Week 5: vs. Cleveland Browns

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Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Browns 10 7 3727
Steelers 0 14 7324

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: October 5, 1986
  • Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: 61 °F (16.1 °C), wind 17 miles per hour (27 km/h; 15 kn)
  • Game attendance: 57,327
  • Referee: Dick Jorgensen
  • TV announcers: Charlie Jones (play by play), Jimmy Cefalo (color commentator)
  • [9]

This was Cleveland’s first win in Pittsburgh since 1969.

Week 6: at Cincinnati Bengals

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Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Steelers 7 2 10322
Bengals 7 7 01024

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Date: October 13, 1986
  • Game time: 9:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C), wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn)
  • Game attendance: 54,283
  • Referee: Bob Frederic
  • TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford (play by play), Lynn Swann (color commentator)
  • [10]

Week 7: vs. New England Patriots

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New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Patriots 10 14 7334
Steelers 0 0 000

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: October 19, 1986
  • Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: 43 °F (6.1 °C), wind 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h; 3.5 kn)
  • Game attendance: 54,743
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
  • [11]

Week 8: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

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Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bengals 0 3 339
Steelers 3 14 6730

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: October 26, 1986
  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game weather: 55 °F (12.8 °C), wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn)
  • Game attendance: 50,815
  • Referee: Jim Tunney
  • TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond (play by play), Reggie Rucker (color commentator)
  • [12]

Week 9: vs. Green Bay Packers

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Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Packers 0 3 003
Steelers 10 3 7727

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: November 2, 1986
  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game weather: 52 °F (11.1 °C), wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
  • Game attendance: 52,831
  • Referee: Chuck Heberling
  • TV announcers (CBS): Jim Hill (play by play), Johnny Morris (color commentator)
  • [13]

Week 10: at Buffalo Bills

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Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 0 12012
Bills 6 7 0316

at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

  • Date: November 9, 1986
  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game weather: 55 °F (12.8 °C), wind 27 miles per hour (43 km/h; 23 kn)
  • Game attendance: 72,000
  • Referee: Gordon McCarter
  • TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph (play by play), Reggie Rucker (color commentator)
  • [14]

Week 11: vs. Houston Oilers

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Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Oilers 7 3 0010
Steelers 14 7 0021

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: November 16, 1986
  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game weather: 39 °F (3.9 °C), wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
  • Game attendance: 49,724
  • Referee: Red Cashion
  • TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond (play by play), Reggie Rucker (color commentator)
  • [15]

Week 12: at Cleveland Browns

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Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Steelers 7 7 710031
Browns 0 21 73637

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

  • Date: November 23, 1986
  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game weather: 40 °F (4.4 °C), wind 13 miles per hour (21 km/h; 11 kn)
  • Game attendance: 76,452
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
  • [16]

Week 13: at Chicago Bears

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Pittsburgh Steelers at Chicago Bears
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Steelers 0 3 70010
Bears 3 0 07313

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: November 30, 1986
  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game weather: 40 °F (4.4 °C), wind 19 miles per hour (31 km/h; 17 kn)
  • Game attendance: 61,425
  • Referee: Jerry Seeman
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones (play by play), Jimmy Cefalo (color commentator)
  • [17]

Week 14: vs. Detroit Lions

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Detroit Lions at Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Lions 0 10 7017
Steelers 3 7 14327

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania''

  • Date: December 7, 1986
  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game weather: 40 °F (4.4 °C), wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
  • Game attendance: 45,042
  • Referee: Bob Frederic
  • TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist (play by play), Dick Vermeil (color commentator)
  • [18]

Week 15 at Jets

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Week Fifteen: Pittsburgh Steelers (5–9) at New York Jets (10–4)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 17 02845
Jets 0 14 3724

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Game information

Week 16: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

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Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 17 0024
Steelers 0 6 7619

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania''

  • Date: December 21, 1986
  • Game time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Game weather: 32 °F (0 °C), wind 7 miles per hour (11 km/h; 6.1 kn), wind chill 25 °F or −3.9 °C
  • Game attendance: 47,150
  • Referee: Gene Barth
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
  • [19]

Standings

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AFC Central
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Cleveland Browns(1) 12 4 0 .750 5–1 10–2 391 310 W5
Cincinnati Bengals 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 409 394 W1
Pittsburgh Steelers 6 10 0 .375 3–3 4–8 307 336 L1
Houston Oilers 5 11 0 .313 1–5 3–9 274 329 W2

References

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  1. ^ 1986 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  2. ^ 1986 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  3. ^ 1987 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  4. ^ "1986 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  5. ^ Pro Football Reference; Pittsburgh Steelers at Seattle Seahawks – September 7th, 1986
  6. ^ Pro Football Reference; Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers - September 15th, 1986
  7. ^ Pro Football Reference; Pittsburgh Steelers at Minnesota Vikings – September 21st, 1986
  8. ^ Pro Football Reference; Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Oilers – September 28th, 1986
  9. ^ Pro Football Reference; Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers – October 5th, 1986
  10. ^ Pro Football Reference; Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals – October 13th, 1986
  11. ^ Pro Football Reference; New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers – October 19th, 1986
  12. ^ Pro Football Reference; Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers – October 26th, 1986
  13. ^ Pro Football Reference; Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers – November 2nd, 1986
  14. ^ Pro Football Reference; Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills - November 9th, 1986
  15. ^ Pro Football Reference; Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers – November 16th, 1986
  16. ^ Pro Football Reference; Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns – November 23rd, 1986
  17. ^ Pro Football Reference; Pittsburgh Steelers at Chicago Bears – November 30th, 1986
  18. ^ Pro Football Reference; Detroit Lions at Pittsburgh Steelers – December 7th, 1986
  19. ^ Pro Football Reference; Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers – December 21st, 1986
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