2003 Pittsburgh Steelers season
OwnerThe Rooney Family
General managerKevin Colbert
Head coachBill Cowher
Home fieldHeinz Field
Results
Record6–10
Division place3rd AFC North
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers
AP All-ProsAlan Faneca (2nd team)
Hines Ward (2nd team)
Team MVPHines Ward
Team ROYTroy Polamalu

The 2003 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 71st season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.

Their season began with the team trying to improve on their 10–5–1 record from 2002 in which they lost to the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round of the playoffs.

With the team suffering through injuries as well as less reliance on the running game than normal, the Steelers stumbled to a 6–10 record, going the entire season without winning consecutive games. Since moving to Heinz Field in 2001, this was the Steelers' first season with a losing record and their first season missing the playoffs. The team's record is tied with that of the 1999 season as the worst for a season under head coach Bill Cowher.

In his final season with the team, linebacker Jason Gildon became the franchise's career sack leader during a game against the Arizona Cardinals on November 9.

Since then, this represents the most recent losing season for the Steelers.

Personnel

2003 Pittsburgh Steelers staff
Front office
  • Chairman – Daniel M. Rooney
  • President – Arthur J. Rooney II
  • Vice president – John R. McGinley
  • Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
  • Administration advisor – Chuck Noll
  • Director of business – Mark Hart
  • Business accounting coordinator – Jim Ellenberger
  • Human relations/office coordinator – Geraldine Glenn
  • Business operations – Omar Khan
  • Accounting manager – Jodie Spagnolli
  • Communications coordinator – Ron Wahl
  • Public relations/media manager – David Lockett
  • Website/network administrator – Scott Phelps
  • Marketing
  • Director of marketing – Tony Quatrini
  • Marketing coordinator – Rick Giugliano
  • Client services administrator – Amy Corbett
  • Marketing manager – John Wodarek
  • Producer/broadcasting manager – Rick Fairbend
  • Marketing/community relations manager – Lynne Molyneaux
  • Marketing assistant – John Simpson
  • Marketing assistant – Mike Marchinsky
  • Ticket operations
  • Ticket manager – Ben Lentz
  • Season ticket assistant – Libby Patcher
  • Football operations
  • Director of football operations – Kevin Colbert
  • College scouting coordinator – Ron Hughes
  • Pro scouting coordinator – Doug Whaley
  • Pro/college scout – Phil Kreidler
  • College scout – Mark Gorscak
  • College scout – Bob Lane
  • College scout – Bruce McNorton
  • College scout – Dan Rooney
  • College scout – Bill Nunn
  • BLESTO Scout – Kelvin Fisher

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Conditioning coach – Chet Fuhrman
  • Medical staff
  • Ophthalmologist – Dr. Randy Beatty
  • Physician, orthopedic – Dr. James P. Bradley
  • Neurological surgeon – Dr. Joseph Maroon
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. Richard Rydze
  • Physician, consultant – Dr. Abraham J. Twerski
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. Anthony P. Yates
  • Training staff
  • Head athletic trainer – John Norwig
  • Assistant athletic trainer – Ryan Grove
  • Assistant athletic trainer – Ariko Iso
  • Football staff
  • Player development coordinator – Anthony Griggs
  • Equipment manager – Rodgers Freyvogel
  • Field manager – Rich Baker
  • Field/equipment assistant – Kalvin Jones
  • Video coordinator – Bob McCartney
  • Video assistant – Andy Lizanich
  • Video assistant – Rob Brakel
  • Photographers – Mike Fabus

[1]

Notable additions include Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor.

Roster

2003 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] [5]
Rookies in italics
53 active, 5 inactive, 5 practice squad

Preseason

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Game Site NFL Recap
1 August 9 at Detroit Lions L 13–26 0–1 Ford Field
2 August 16 Philadelphia Eagles L 16–21 0–2 Heinz Field
3 August 21 Dallas Cowboys W 15–14 1–2 Heinz Field
4 August 29 at Carolina Panthers L 14–21 1–3 Bank of America Stadium

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Game Site NFL Recap
1 September 7 Baltimore Ravens W 34–15 1–0 Heinz Field Summary
2 September 14 at Kansas City Chiefs L 20–41 1–1 Arrowhead Stadium Summary
3 September 21 at Cincinnati Bengals W 17–10 2–1 Paul Brown Stadium Summary
4 September 28 Tennessee Titans L 13–30 2–2 Heinz Field Summary
5 October 5 Cleveland Browns L 13–33 2–3 Heinz Field Summary
6 October 12 at Denver Broncos L 14–17 2–4 Invesco Field at Mile High Summary
7 Bye
8 October 26 St. Louis Rams L 21–33 2–5 Heinz Field Summary
9 November 2 at Seattle Seahawks L 16–23 2–6 Seahawks Stadium Summary
10 November 9 Arizona Cardinals W 28–15 3–6 Heinz Field Summary
11 November 17 at San Francisco 49ers L 14–30 3–7 San Francisco Stadium Summary
12 November 23 at Cleveland Browns W 13–6 4–7 Cleveland Browns Stadium Summary
13 November 30 Cincinnati Bengals L 20–24 4–8 Heinz Field Summary
14 December 7 Oakland Raiders W 27–7 5–8 Heinz Field Summary
15 December 14 at New York Jets L 0–6 5–9 Giants Stadium Summary
16 December 21 San Diego Chargers W 40–24 6–9 Heinz Field Summary
17 December 28 at Baltimore Ravens L 10–13 (OT) 6–10 M&T Bank Stadium Summary

Note: Intra-divisional opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1

Week One: Baltimore Ravens (0–0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (0–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
Ravens 0 0 7815
Steelers 6 7 14734

at Heinz FieldPittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

Pittsburgh won their season opener for the first time since 1999.[6]

Week 2

1 234Total
Steelers 17 300 20
Chiefs 7 2077 41

Week 3

1 234Total
Steelers 0 773 17
Bengals 0 037 10

Week 4

1 234Total
Titans 0 1677 30
Steelers 3 1000 13
  • Date: September 28
  • Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 63,244
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C) (Cloudy)
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • TV announcers (CBS): Gus Johnson and Brent Jones

Week 5

1 234Total
Browns 10 1373 33
Steelers 0 1030 13

Week 6

1 234Total
Steelers 3 308 14
Broncos 0 7010 17

Week 8

1 234Total
Rams 7 10106 33
Steelers 7 770 21
  • Date: October 26
  • Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 62,665
  • Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C) (Light Rain)
  • Referee: Johnny Grier
  • TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen & Bill Maas

This was the 1,000th game in Steelers history.

Week 9

1 234Total
Steelers 0 3310 16
Seahawks 3 3314 23

Week 10

1 234Total
Cardinals 0 366 15
Steelers 0 7210 28
  • Date: November 9
  • Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 59,520
  • Game weather: 41 °F (5 °C) (Sunny)
  • Referee: Jeff Triplette
  • TV announcers (Fox): Ron Pitts & Tim Ryan, and Alby Oxenreiter

Week 11

1 234Total
Steelers 0 077 14
49ers 7 3146 30

Week 12

1 234Total
Steelers 0 1003 13
Browns 3 300 6

The Steelers were the only team in the 2003 season to play on the road following a Monday night road game. The NFL at that time had typically given teams that traveled for a Monday night game either a home game or their bye week the following week. Steelers head coach Bill Cowher objected to the team playing a road game after a Monday night road game. Team president Dan Rooney said that he would not pursue the matter with the NFL, noting that the second game was in Cleveland, only 112 miles (180 km) from Pittsburgh.[7]

Week 13

1 234Total
Bengals 7 7010 24
Steelers 0 3710 20
  • Date: November 30
  • Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 58,797
  • Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C) (Sunny)
  • Referee: Bernie Kukar
  • TV announcers (CBS): Don Criqui & Steve Tasker

Week 14

1 234Total
Raiders 7 000 7
Steelers 0 1773 27
  • Date: December 7
  • Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 53,079
  • Game weather: 30 °F (−1 °C) (Partly Cloudy)
  • Referee: Johnny Grier
  • TV announcers (CBS): Gus Johnson & Brent Jones

Week 15

1 234Total
Steelers 0 000 0
Jets 3 300 6

Week 16

1 234Total
Chargers 0 1077 24
Steelers 14 7712 40
  • Date: December 21
  • Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Game start: 4:05 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 52,527
  • Game weather: 37 °F (3 °C) (Sunny)
  • Referee: Bill Carollo
  • TV announcers (CBS): Don Criqui & Steve Tasker

Week 17

1 234OTTotal
Steelers 0 01000 10
Ravens 7 0033 13
  • Date: December 28
  • Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
  • Game start: 8:30 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 70,001
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, Paul Maguire & Suzy Kolber

Standings

AFC North
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(4) Baltimore Ravens 10 6 0 .625 4–2 7–5 391 281 W2
Cincinnati Bengals 8 8 0 .500 3–3 6–6 346 384 L2
Pittsburgh Steelers 6 10 0 .375 3–3 5–7 300 327 L1
Cleveland Browns 5 11 0 .313 2–4 3–9 254 322 W1

Honors and awards

References

  1. 2003 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  2. 2003 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  3. 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  4. "2003 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  5. "2004 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  6. ESPN.com. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  7. "Cowher says NFL scheduling puts team in bad spot for next 2 weeks". old.post-gazette.com. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
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