1984 Pittsburgh Steelers season
1984 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 1984 season was the Steelers’ 52nd in the NFL and a year of big change. Terry Bradshaw was not on the opening day roster for the first time since 1969, and many 1970s stars had left. Jack Lambert dealt with turf toe injuries, Mel Blount retired, and Franco Harris was released after a pay dispute. Cliff Stoudt left for the USFL, leaving the team thinner at quarterback. The Steelers traded for David Woodley and shared playing time with Mark Malone.
Despite the turnover, Pittsburgh finished 9–7 and won the AFC Central, keeping their division title streak alive. The highlight was a memorable win on October 14 in San Francisco, where they defeated the eventual Super Bowl champions—the 49ers, who lost only this game all season.
Louis Lipps had a standout rookie year, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year. He and John Stallworth were the main receiving threats, and Lipps would later become one of the franchise’s top receivers. The team also featured Pro Bowlers Robin Cole, Mike Merriweather, and Mike Webster, with Lipps earning All-Pro honors (2nd team) and Stallworth named Team MVP.
In the playoffs, the Steelers upset the Denver Broncos 24–17 in Denver but were beaten by the Miami Dolphins 45–28 in the AFC Championship game. This would be Pittsburgh’s last playoff appearance until 1989, marking the end of the Steel Curtain era.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 20:08 (CET).