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The 1963 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 31st in the National Football League (NFL). The Steelers won seven games, lost four, and tied three to finish fourth in the Eastern Conference. It was also their final season of splitting home games between Forbes Field and Pitt Stadium before moving all of their home games to the latter for the next six seasons.
| 1963 Pittsburgh Steelers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Buddy Parker |
| Home field | Forbes Field (four games) Pitt Stadium (three games) |
| Results | |
| Record | 7–4–3 |
| Division place | 4th NFL Eastern |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
In the second game of the season, the Steelers shut out the New York Giants 31–0 in the home opener at Pitt Stadium.[1] The Giants had won the conference title the previous two seasons and four of the last five, but were without hall of fame quarterback Y. A. Tittle.[1]
Because tie games were not included in NFL standings at the time (for winning percentage), the Steelers had a chance to win the conference title and advance to their first-ever NFL Championship Game. They needed to defeat the Giants at Yankee Stadium in the season finale,[2] but lost 33–17 and fell to fourth;[3][4] it was their last winning season until 1972.
This year marked the debut of the Steelers' trademark black helmets with their logo on one side of the helmet. They had used the logo previously on yellow helmets, but 1963 was the first season in which their now-signature look was used full-time in the regular season.[5]
Prior to the season in May, defensive tackle Big Daddy Lipscomb died of an overdose of heroin at age 31;[6][7][8][9] his final game was the Pro Bowl in January 1963, in which he was named the lineman of the game.[10][11]
Quarterbacks (QB)
Running backs (RB)
Wide receivers (WR)
Tight ends (TE)
|
Offensive linemen (OL)
Defensive linemen (DL)
|
Linebackers (LB)
Defensive backs (DB) {{{defensive_back}}}
|
|
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 15 | at Philadelphia Eagles | T 21–21 | 0–0–1 |
| 2 | September 22 | New York Giants | W 31–0 | 1–0–1 |
| 3 | September 29 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 23–10 | 2–0–1 |
| 4 | October 5 | at Cleveland Browns | L 23–35 | 2–1–1 |
| 5 | October 13 | at St. Louis Cardinals | L 23–24 | 2–2–1 |
| 6 | October 20 | Washington Redskins | W 38–27 | 3–2–1 |
| 7 | October 27 | Dallas Cowboys | W 27–21 | 4–2–1 |
| 8 | November 3 | at Green Bay Packers | L 14–33 | 4–3–1 |
| 9 | November 10 | Cleveland Browns | W 9–7 | 5–3–1 |
| 10 | November 17 | at Washington Redskins | W 34–28 | 6–3–1 |
| 11 | November 24 | Chicago Bears | T 17–17 | 6–3–2 |
| 12 | December 1 | Philadelphia Eagles | T 20–20 | 6–3–3 |
| 13 | December 8 | at Dallas Cowboys | W 24–19 | 7–3–3 |
| 14 | December 15 | at New York Giants | L 17–33 | 7–4–3 |
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday September 15, 1963): Philadelphia Eagles
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 0 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 21 |
| Eagles | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
at Franklin Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 58,205
- Referee: Bill Downes
- TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
- Philadelphia – McDonald 13 pass from Jurgensen (Clark kick)
- Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 38
- Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 50
- Philadelphia – Smith 6 pass from Jurgensen (Clark kick)
- Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 17
- Pittsburgh – Johnson 1 run (kick failed)
- Philadelphia – McDonald 75 pass from Jurgensen (Clark kick)
- Pittsburgh – Johnson 11 pass from Brown (kick failed)
Week 2 (Sunday September 22, 1963): New York Giants
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steelers | 0 | 10 | 0 | 21 | 31 |
at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 46,068
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
Week 3 (Sunday September 29, 1963): St. Louis Cardinals
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| Steelers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 23 |
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 28,225
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
Week 4 (Saturday October 5, 1963): Cleveland Browns
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 3 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
| Browns | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 42 |
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 84,684
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
- Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 18
- Cleveland – Brown 8 run (Groza kick)
- Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 8
- Pittsburgh – Dial 24 pass from Brown (Michaels kick)
- Cleveland – Collins 15 pass from Ryan (Groza kick)
- Pittsburgh – Dial 41 pass from Brown (Michaels kick)
- Cleveland – Ryan 13 run (Groza kick)
- Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 8
- Cleveland – Collins 20 pass from Ryan (Groza kick)
- Cleveland – Krietling 19 pass from Ryan (Groza kick)
Week 5 (Sunday October 13, 1963): St. Louis Cardinals
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 3 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
| Cardinals | 3 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 24 |
at Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 23,715
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
Week 6 (Sunday October 20, 1963): Washington Redskins
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redskins | 3 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
| Steelers | 7 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 38 |
at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 41,987
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
- Pittsburgh – Brown 1 run (Michaels kick)
- Washington – FG Khayat 49
- Pittsburgh – Hoak 8 run (Michaels kick)
- Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 9
- Washington – Snead 1 run (Khayat kick)
- Washington – James 36 pass from Snead (Khayat kick)
- Washington – James 5 run (Khayat kick)
- Pittsburgh – Hoak 1 run (Michaels kick)
- Washington – FG Khayat 15
- Pittsburgh – Haley 24 interception return (Michaels kick)
- Pittsburgh – Dial 4 pass from Brown (Michaels kick)
Week 7 (Sunday October 27, 1963): Dallas Cowboys
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Steelers | 0 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 27 |
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 19,047
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
- Dallas – Clarke 5 pass from Meredith (Baker kick)
- Dallas – Folkins 35 pass from Meredith (Baker kick)
- Pittsburgh – Dial 83 pass from Browns (kick failed)
- Dallas – Howton 13 pass from Meredith (Baker kick)
- Pittsburgh – Dial 25 pass from Brown (Tracy kick)
- Pittsburgh – Dial 14 pass from Brown (Tracy kick)
- Pittsburgh – Mack 85 pass from Brown (Michaels kick)[12]
Week 8 (Sunday November 3, 1963): Green Bay Packers
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Packers | 3 | 6 | 14 | 10 | 33 |
at Milwaukee County Stadium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance:
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
- Pittsburgh – Hoak 2 run (Michaels kick)
- Green Bay – FG Kramer 23
- Green Bay – FG Kramer 36
- Green Bay – FG Kramer 12
- Green Bay – Taylor 1 run (Kramer kick)
- Green Bay – Pitts 2 run (Kramer kick)
- Green Bay – FG Kramer 37
- Pittsburgh – Mack 33 pass from Brown (Michaels kick)
- Green Bay – Pitts 1 run (Kramer kick)
Week 9 (Sunday November 10, 1963): Cleveland Browns
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browns | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 54,497
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
Week 10 (Sunday November 17, 1963): Washington Redskins
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 7 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 34 |
| Redskins | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
at D.C. Stadium, Washington, DC
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 42,219
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
- Washington – Crabb 53 interception return (Khayat kick)
- Pittsburgh – Johnson 3 run (Michaels kick)
- Washington – Mitchell 19 pass from Snead (Khayat kick)
- Pittsburgh – Ballman 67 pass from Brown (Khayat kick)
- Pittsburgh – Johnson 1 run (Michaels kick)
- Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 27
- Washington – Mitchell 20 pass from Barnes (Khayat kick)
- Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 18
- Washington – Richter 21 pass from Snead (Khayat kick)
- Pittsburgh – Ballman 92 kickoff return (Michaels kick)
Week 11 (Sunday November 24, 1963): Chicago Bears
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
| Steelers | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 36,465
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
Week 12 (Sunday December 1, 1963): Philadelphia Eagles
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagles | 0 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 20 |
| Steelers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 20 |
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 15,721
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
- Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 10
- Philadelphia – Retzlaff 24 pass from Hill (Clark kick)
- Philadelphia – Brown 14 run (Clark kick)
- Philadelphia – FG Clark 23
- Pittsburgh – Ballman 57 pass from Brown (Michaels kick)
- Philadelphia – FG Clark 40
- Pittsburgh – Ballman 8 pass from Brown (Michaels kick)
- Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 24
Week 13 (Sunday December 8, 1963): Dallas Cowboys
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 0 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
| Cowboys | 9 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 19 |
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 24,136
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
Week 14 (December 15, 1963): New York Giants
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 17 |
| Giants | 9 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 33 |
at Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 63,240
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
- New York Giants – FG Chandler 34
- New York Giants – Shotner 41 pass from Tittle (kick failed)
- New York Giants – Morrison 3 pass from Tittle (Chandler kick)
- Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 27
- Pittsburgh – Ballman 21 pass from Brown (Michaels kick)
- New York Giants – Morrison 22 pass from Tittle (Chandler kick)
- New York Giants – Morrison 1 run (Chandler kick)
- Pittsburgh – Dial 40 pass from Brown (Michaels kick)
- New York Giants – FG Chandler 41
| NFL Eastern Conference | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | CONF | PF | PA | STK | ||
| New York Giants | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 9–3 | 448 | 280 | W3 | |
| Cleveland Browns | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 9–3 | 343 | 262 | W1 | |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 8–4 | 341 | 283 | L1 | |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 7 | 4 | 3 | .636 | 7–3–2 | 321 | 295 | L1 | |
| Dallas Cowboys | 4 | 10 | 0 | .286 | 3–9 | 305 | 378 | W1 | |
| Washington Redskins | 3 | 11 | 0 | .214 | 2–10 | 279 | 398 | L3 | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2 | 10 | 2 | .167 | 2–8–2 | 242 | 381 | L2 | |
- Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
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