1985 Pittsburgh Steelers season

The 1985 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 53rd season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League. The Steelers challenged for the AFC Central most of the season, sitting at 6–5 after their first eleven games. However, losing 4 out of their final 5 games dropped the Steelers to a 7–9 overall record, their first season with a losing record in fourteen years.

1985 Pittsburgh Steelers season
OwnerArt Rooney
General managerDick Haley
Head coachChuck Noll
Home fieldThree Rivers Stadium
Results
Record7–9
Division place2nd AFC Central
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersPK Gary Anderson
WR Louis Lipps
LB Mike Merriweather
C Mike Webster
AP All-ProsLouis Lipps (2nd team)
Team MVPLouis Lipps
Team ROYHarry Newsome

Personnel edit

Staff edit

1985 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
  • 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
  • Talent scout – Midwest – Mike Butler
  • College talent scout – Joe Krupa

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches


Strength and conditioning

  • Conditioning coach – Walt Evans
  • Dentist – Dr. George P. Boucek
  • Ophthalmologist – Dr. Phillip Buzzelli
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. David S. Huber
  • Neurological surgery consultant – Dr. Joseph C. Maroon
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. Richard Rydze
  • Physician, orthopedic – Dr. Paul Steele
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. Anthony P. Yates
  • Trainer – Ralph Berlin
  • Trainer – Gary Stragar
  • Equipment manager – Anthony Parisi
  • Field manager – Rodgers Freyvogel
  • Film director – Bob McCartney
  • Photographers – Mike Fabus, Bill Amatucci

[1]

Roster edit

1985 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad [2][3][4]
Rookies in italics
54 active, 4 inactive

Offseason edit

Preseason edit

Schedule edit

Week Date Opponent Game Site Kickoff (ET) TV Result Record
1 Saturday, August 10 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Stadium 8:00 p.m. WTAE W 42–27 1–0
2 Saturday, August 17 at Minnesota Vikings Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 8:00 p.m. WTAE L 41–34 1–1
3 Friday, August 23 at St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium 8:30 p.m. WTAE L 14–6 1–2
4 Friday, August 30 New York Giants Three Rivers Stadium 7:30 p.m. WTAE L 24–14 1–3

Regular season edit

Schedule edit

Week Date Opponent Game Site Kickoff (ET) TV Result Record
1 Sunday, September 8 Indianapolis Colts Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 45–3 1–0
2 Monday, September 16 at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Municipal Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC L 17–7 1–1
3 Sunday, September 22 Houston Oilers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 20–0 2–1
4 Monday, September 30 Cincinnati Bengals Three Rivers Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC L 37–24 2–2
5 Sunday, October 6 at Miami Dolphins Miami Orange Bowl 1:00 p.m. NBC L 24–20 2–3
6 Sunday, October 13 at Dallas Cowboys Texas Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 27–13 2–4
7 Sunday, October 20 St. Louis Cardinals Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. CBS W 23–10 3–4
8 Sunday, October 27 at Cincinnati Bengals Riverfront Stadium 4:00 p.m. NBC L 26–21 3–5
9 Sunday, November 3 Cleveland Browns Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 10–9 4–5
10 Sunday, November 10 at Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 36–28 5–5
11 Sunday, November 17 at Houston Oilers Astrodome 1:00 p.m. NBC W 30–7 6–5
12 Sunday, November 24 Washington Redskins Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. CBS L 30–23 6–6
13 Sunday, December 1 Denver Broncos Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC L 31–23 6–7
14 Sunday, December 8 at San Diego Chargers Jack Murphy Stadium 9:00 p.m. ABC L 54–44 6–8
15 Sunday, December 15 Buffalo Bills Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 p.m. NBC W 30–24 7–8
16 Saturday, December 21 at New York Giants Giants Stadium 12:30 p.m. NBC L 28–10 7–9

Week 1: vs. Indianapolis Colts edit

Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 3 0 003
Steelers 7 17 71445

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: September 8, 1985
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 79 °F (26.1 °C), wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
  • Game attendance: 55,279
  • Referee: Red Cashion
  • TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph (play by play), Sam Rutigliano (color commentator)
  • [5]

Week 2: at Cleveland Browns edit

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 0 077
Browns 0 7 3717

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

  • Date: September 16, 1985
  • Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 57 °F (13.9 °C), wind 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h; 4.3 kn)
  • Game attendance: 79,042
  • Referee: Gene Barth
  • TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford (play by play), Joe Namath & O. J. Simpson (color commentators)
  • [6]

Week 3: vs. Houston Oilers edit

Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period 1 2 34Total
Oilers 0 0 000
Steelers 14 3 3020

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: September 22, 1985
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 69 °F (20.6 °C), wind 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h; 3.5 kn)
  • Game attendance: 58,752
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones (play by play), Sam Rutigliano (color commentator)
  • [7]

Week 4: vs. Cincinnati Bengals edit

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period 1 2 34Total
Bengals 0 14 71637
Steelers 0 10 14024

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: September 30, 1985
  • Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 62 °F (16.7 °C), wind 7 miles per hour (11 km/h; 6.1 kn)
  • Game attendance: 59,541
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford (play by play), Joe Namath and O. J. Simpson (color commentators)
  • [8]

Week 5: at Miami Dolphins edit

Pittsburgh Steelers at Miami Dolphins
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 17 0320
Dolphins 7 7 3724

at Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

  • Date: October 6, 1985
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 80 °F (26.7 °C), relative humidity 79%, wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
  • Game attendance: 72,820
  • Referee: Dick Jorgensen
  • TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert (play by play), Bob Griese (color commentator)
  • [9]

Week 6: at Dallas Cowboys edit

Pittsburgh Steelers at Dallas Cowboys
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 3 01013
Cowboys 0 10 10727

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

  • Date: October 13, 1985
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 79 °F (26.1 °C), relative humidity 68%, wind 15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn)
  • Game attendance: 62,932
  • Referee: Tom Dooley
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)
  • [10]

Week 7: vs. St. Louis Cardinals edit

St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 3 0 0710
Steelers 14 3 6023

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: October 20, 1985
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 56 °F (13.3 °C), wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn)
  • Game attendance: 56,478
  • Referee: Jim Tunney
  • TV announcers (CBS): Tom Brookshier (play by play), Dick Vermiel (color commentator)
  • [11]

Week 8: at Cincinnati Bengals edit

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 7 01421
Bengals 3 14 9026

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati

  • Date: October 27, 1985
  • Game time: 4:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C), wind 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h; 3.5 kn)
  • Game attendance: 55,241
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
  • [12]

Week 9: vs. Cleveland Browns edit

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period 1 2 34Total
Browns 0 6 039
Steelers 0 0 7310

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: November 3, 1985
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C), wind 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
  • Game attendance: 51,976
  • Referee: Bob Frederic
  • TV announcers (NBC): Len Berman (play by play), Reggie Rucker (color commentator)
  • [13]

Week 10: at Kansas City Chiefs edit

Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 10 17 3636
Chiefs 7 7 01428

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 10, 1985
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 36 °F (2.2 °C), wind 13 miles per hour (21 km/h; 11 kn), wind chill 27 °F or −2.8 °C
  • Game attendance: 46,126
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert (play by play), Bob Griese (color commentator)
  • [14]

Week 11: at Houston Oilers edit

Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Oilers
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 3 7 13730
Oilers 0 0 707

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

  • Date: November 17, 1985
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: Dome
  • Game attendance: 45,977
  • Referee: Red Cashion
  • TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond (play by play), Jimmy Cefalo (color commentator)
  • [15]

Week 12: vs. Washington Redskins edit

Washington Redskins at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period 1 2 34Total
Redskins 14 6 7330
Steelers 3 14 0623

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: November 24, 1985
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 38 °F (3.3 °C), wind 8 miles per hour (13 km/h; 7.0 kn)
  • Game attendance: 59,293
  • Referee: Gordon McCarter
  • TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan (play by play), Johnny Morris (color commentator)
  • [16]

Week 13: vs. Denver Broncos edit

Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period 1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 10 02131
Steelers 0 6 31423

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: December 1, 1985
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 52 °F (11.1 °C), wind 12 miles per hour (19 km/h; 10 kn)
  • Game attendance: 56,797
  • Referee: Gene Barth
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy & Paul Zimmerman (color commentators)
  • [17]

Week 14: at San Diego Chargers edit

Pittsburgh Steelers at San Diego Chargers
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 7 13 141044
Chargers 21 13 71354

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: December 8, 1985
  • Game time: 9:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 56 °F (13.3 °C), wind 7 miles per hour (11 km/h; 6.1 kn)
  • Game attendance: 52,098
  • Referee: Jerry Seeman
  • TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford (play by play), Joe Namath & O. J. Simpson (color commentators)
  • [18]

Week 15: vs. Buffalo Bills edit

Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period 1 2 34Total
Bills 7 14 0324
Steelers 0 14 61030

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: December 15, 1985
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 17 °F (−8.3 °C), wind 14 miles per hour (23 km/h; 12 kn), wind chill 3 °F or −16.1 °C
  • Game attendance: 35,953
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • TV announcers (NBC): Phil Stone (play by play), Sam Rutigliano (color commentator)
  • [19]

Week 16: at New York Giants edit

Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 3 7010
Giants 7 21 0028

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: December 21, 1985
  • Game time: 12:30 pm EST
  • Game weather: 27 °F (−2.8 °C), wind 15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn), wind chill 15 °F or −9.4 °C
  • Game attendance: 66,785
  • Referee: Jerry Markbreit
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)
  • [20]

Standings edit

AFC Central
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Cleveland Browns(3) 8 8 0 .500 4–2 7–5 287 294 L1
Cincinnati Bengals 7 9 0 .438 4–2 5–7 441 437 L2
Pittsburgh Steelers 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 379 355 L1
Houston Oilers 5 11 0 .313 1–5 4–8 284 412 L4

References edit

  1. ^ 1985 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  2. ^ 1985 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  3. ^ 1986 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  4. ^ "1985 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  5. ^ Pro Football Reference; Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers – September 8th, 1985
  6. ^ Pro Football Reference; Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns – September 16th, 1985
  7. ^ Pro Football Reference; Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers – September 22nd, 1985
  8. ^ Pro Football Reference; Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers – September 30th, 1985
  9. ^ Pro Football Reference; Pittsburgh Steelers at Miami Dolphins – October 6th, 1985
  10. ^ Pro Football Reference; Pittsburgh Steelers at Dallas Cowboys – October 13th, 1985
  11. ^ Pro Football Reference; St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Steelers – October 20th, 1985
  12. ^ Pro Football Reference; Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals – October 27th, 1985
  13. ^ Pro Football Reference; Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers – November 3rd, 1985
  14. ^ Pro Football Reference; Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs – November 10th, 1985
  15. ^ Pro Football Reference; Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Oilers – November 17th, 1985
  16. ^ Pro Football Reference; Washington Redskins at Pittsburgh Steelers – November 24th, 1985
  17. ^ Pro Football Reference; Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers – December 1st, 1985
  18. ^ Pro Football Reference; Pittsburgh Steelers at San Diego Chargers – December 8th, 1985
  19. ^ Pro Football Reference; Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers – December 15th, 1985
  20. ^ Pro Football Reference; Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants – December 21st, 1985

External links edit