Steelers 31st US football season
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.
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] 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] [ 3] [ 4] 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] Pro Bowl in January 1963, in which he was named the lineman of the game.[ 10] [ 11]
Roster
Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
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: 58,205Referee: Bill DownesTV 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)
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: 46,068Referee: TV announcers: Scoring Drives:
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: 28,225Referee: TV announcers: Scoring Drives:
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: 84,684Referee: TV announcers: Scoring Drives:
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: 23,715Referee: TV announcers: Scoring Drives:
1
2
3
4
Total
Redskins
3
14
7
3
27
Steelers
7
10
7
14
38
at Pitt Stadium , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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: 19,047Referee: 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]
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)
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: 54,497Referee: TV announcers: Scoring Drives:
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: 42,219Referee: TV announcers: Scoring Drives:
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: 36,465Referee: TV announcers: Scoring Drives:
Chicago – Galimore 1 run (Jencks kick)
Pittsburgh – Hoak 6 run (Michaels kick)
Chicago – Bull 1 run (Jencks kick)
Pittsburgh – Curry 31 pass from Brown (Michaels kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 11
Chicago – FG Leclerc 18
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: 15,721Referee: 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
1
2
3
4
Total
Steelers
0
17
0
7
24
Cowboys
9
0
10
0
19
at Cotton Bowl , Dallas, Texas
Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 24,136Referee: TV announcers: Scoring Drives:
Dallas – FG Baker 53
Dallas – Meredith 2 run (kick failed)
Pittsburgh – Dial 55 pass from Brown (Michaels kick)
Pittsburgh – Carpenter 28 pass from Brown (Michaels kick)
Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 24
Dallas – FG Baker 46
Dallas – Meredith 4 run (Baker kick)
Pittsburgh – Sapp 24 run (Michaels kick)
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: 63,240Referee: 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
Standings
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
References
^ a b Sell, Jack (September 23, 1963). "Steelers shut out Giants, 31-0" . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . p. 1. ^ Livingston, Pat (December 15, 1963). "Steelers battle Giants for title" . Pittsburgh Press . p. 1, sports. ^ Sell, Jack (December 16, 1963). "Giants end Steeler hopes, 33-17" . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . p. 1. ^ Livingston, Pat (December 16, 1963). "Gifford turns tide for Giants" . Pittsburgh Press . p. 35. ^ "1963 NFL season at Gridiron Uniform Database" . Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013 .^ "Grid star Lipscomb dies, narcotics use suspected" . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Associated Press. May 11, 1963. p. 1.^ "Lipscomb dies under mysterious circumstances" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). Associated Press. May 10, 1963. p. 2B.^ "Heroin caused Lipscomb death" . Pittsburgh Press . UPI. May 15, 1963. p. 1.^ "New law may result in freedom" . Baltimore Afro-American ^ "East stars score 30-20 upset in Pro Bowl" . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Associated Press. January 14, 1963. p. 22.^ "Jim Brown helps Sherman defeat Lombardi" . Reading Eagle . (Pennsylvania). UPI. January 14, 1963. p. 14.^ Dallas Cowboys at Pittsburgh Steelers - October 27th, 1963
External links
Formerly the Pittsburgh Pirates (1933–1939)
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Media Division championships (24) Conference championships (8) League championships (6) Retired numbers Hall of Fame members Current league affiliations
