2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season | |
---|---|
Owner | The Rooney Family |
General manager | Kevin Colbert |
Head coach | Bill Cowher |
Home field | Heinz Field |
Results | |
Record | 13–3 |
Division place | 1st AFC Central |
Playoff finish | Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Ravens) 27–10 Lost AFC Championship (vs. Patriots) 17–24 |
Pro Bowlers | 6 |
AP All-Pros | 4
|
Team MVP | Kordell Stewart |
Team ROY | Kendrell Bell |
The 2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 69th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League (NFL). After finishing the previous three seasons a combined 22–26, the Steelers returned to the top seed in the AFC, rolling to a 13–3 record in their first playoff berth and AFC Central title since 1997 and playing at Heinz Field. The Steelers went 7–1 in their new home stadium, with the only loss coming to the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens (a loss the Steelers avenged in the divisional playoffs).
However, for the third time in Bill Cowher's coaching tenure, the Steelers fell in the AFC Championship Game at home. This time, the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots upset the top-seeded Steelers.
The Steelers ran the ball 580 times in 2001, the most in the NFL.