2016 Pittsburgh Steelers season | |
---|---|
Owner | The Rooney family |
General manager | Kevin Colbert |
Head coach | Mike Tomlin |
Home field | Heinz Field |
Results | |
Record | 11–5 |
Division place | 1st AFC North |
Playoff finish | Won Wild Card Playoffs (vs. Dolphins) 30–12 Won Divisional Playoffs (at Chiefs) 18–16 Lost AFC Championship (at Patriots) 17–36 |
Pro Bowlers | |
AP All-Pros | 3
|
Team MVP | Le'Veon Bell |
Team ROY | Sean Davis |
Uniform | |
The 2016 season was the 84th in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League (NFL). It also marked the 17th season under leadership of general manager Kevin Colbert and the 10th under head coach Mike Tomlin. For the first time since 2004, tight end Heath Miller was not on the opening day roster, as he announced his retirement on February 19, 2016.
After going 4–5 in their first nine games, the Steelers ended their season on a high note, winning all of their last seven. The Steelers were the first team since the 2011 Green Bay Packers to play on both Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The Steelers won the AFC North for the second time in three years and made the playoffs for the third straight year. The team also improved upon their 10–6 record from 2015. Le'Veon Bell made his career first playoff appearance with the Steelers in the 2016–17 playoffs. The Steelers went on to defeat the Miami Dolphins in the Wild Card round and the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional round before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots 36–17 in the AFC Championship game. This was the Steelers' first appearance in the AFC Championship game since the 2010 NFL season. The team ranked 10th in both offense and defense.
This was also the final season under the ownership of Dan Rooney, as he died on April 13, 2017.[1]
As of 2023 this is the most recent season the Steelers have won a playoff game, having gone 0-5 (including the AFC Championship loss) since.