1980 Pittsburgh Steelers season

1980 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Head coach	Chuck Noll
General manager	Dick Haley
Owner	Art Rooney
Home field	Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record	9–7
Division place	3rd in AFC Central
Playoff finish	did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	5 LB Jack Ham RB Franco Harris LB Jack Lambert S Donnie Shell C Mike Webster
AP All-Pros	3 Jack Lambert (1st team) Donnie Shell (1st team) Mike Webster (1st team)
Team MVP	Donnie Shell
← 1979 Steelers seasons 1981 →

Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers

1 2 3 4 Total Oilers 0 0 17 0 17 • Steelers 17 0 0 14 31 Date: Sunday, September 7 Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 54,386 Referee: Dick Jorgensen TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen

Scoring summary 1 Steelers Sidney Thornton 29-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick) Steelers 7–0 1 Steelers Franco Harris 1-yard run (Matt Bahr kick) Steelers 14–0 1 Steelers Matt Bahr 27-yard field goal Steelers 17–0 3 Oilers Toni Fritsch 31-yard field goal Steelers 17–3 3 Oilers Billy Johnson 57-yard pass from Earl Campbell (Toni Fritsch kick) Steelers 17–10 3 Oilers Earl Campbell 1-yard run (Toni Fritsch kick) Tie 17–17 4 Steelers Terry Bradshaw 1-yard run (Matt Bahr kick) Steelers 24–17 4 Steelers John Stallworth 50-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick) Steelers 31–17

Scoring summary
1		Steelers	Sidney Thornton 29-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick)	Steelers 7–0
1		Steelers	Franco Harris 1-yard run (Matt Bahr kick)	Steelers 14–0
1		Steelers	Matt Bahr 27-yard field goal	Steelers 17–0
3		Oilers	Toni Fritsch 31-yard field goal	Steelers 17–3
3		Oilers	Billy Johnson 57-yard pass from Earl Campbell (Toni Fritsch kick)	Steelers 17–10
3		Oilers	Earl Campbell 1-yard run (Toni Fritsch kick)	Tie 17–17
4		Steelers	Terry Bradshaw 1-yard run (Matt Bahr kick)	Steelers 24–17
4		Steelers	John Stallworth 50-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick)	Steelers 31–17

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Colts

1 2 3 4 Total • Steelers 3 10 0 7 20 Colts 0 7 10 0 17 Date: Sunday, September 14 Location: Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland Game start: 2:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 54,914 Referee: Ben Dreith TV announcers: Charlie Jones and Len Dawson

Scoring summary 1 Steelers Matt Bahr 25-yard field goal Steelers 3–0 2 Steelers Matt Bahr 29-yard field goal Steelers 6–0 2 Colts Sanders Shiver 34-yard interception return (Steve Mike-Mayer kick) Colts 7–6 2 Steelers Franco Harris 10-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick) Steelers 13–7 3 Colts Ray Butler 15-yard pass from Bert Jones (Steve Mike-Mayer kick) Colts 14–13 3 Colts Steve Mike-Mayer 20-yard field goal Colts 17–13 4 Steelers Jim Smith 24-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick) Steelers 20–17

Scoring summary
1		Steelers	Matt Bahr 25-yard field goal	Steelers 3–0
2		Steelers	Matt Bahr 29-yard field goal	Steelers 6–0
2		Colts	Sanders Shiver 34-yard interception return (Steve Mike-Mayer kick)	Colts 7–6
2		Steelers	Franco Harris 10-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick)	Steelers 13–7
3		Colts	Ray Butler 15-yard pass from Bert Jones (Steve Mike-Mayer kick)	Colts 14–13
3		Colts	Steve Mike-Mayer 20-yard field goal	Colts 17–13
4		Steelers	Jim Smith 24-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick)	Steelers 20–17

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals

1 2 3 4 Total Steelers 0 14 7 7 28 • Bengals 10 3 0 17 30 Date: Sunday, September 21 Location: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 52,490 Referee: Red Cashion TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and John Brodie

Scoring summary 1 Bengals Ray Griffin 28-yard interception return (Ian Sunter kick) Bengals 7–0 1 Bengals Ian Sunter 27-yard field goal Bengals 10–0 2 Steelers Jim Smith 45-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick) Bengals 10–7 2 Steelers Lynn Swann 14-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick) Steelers 14–10 2 Bengals Ian Sunter 42-yard field goal Steelers 14–13 3 Steelers Lynn Swann 68-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick) Steelers 21–13 4 Bengals Isaac Curtis 18-yard pass from Jack Thompson (Ian Sunter kick) Steelers 21–20 4 Steelers Greg Hawthorne 4-yard run (Matt Bahr kick) Steelers 28–20 4 Bengals Don Bass 22-yard pass from Jack Thompson (Ian Sunter kick) Steelers 28–23 4 Bengals Ian Sunter 21-yard field goal Bengals 30–28

Scoring summary
1		Bengals	Ray Griffin 28-yard interception return (Ian Sunter kick)	Bengals 7–0
1		Bengals	Ian Sunter 27-yard field goal	Bengals 10–0
2		Steelers	Jim Smith 45-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick)	Bengals 10–7
2		Steelers	Lynn Swann 14-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick)	Steelers 14–10
2		Bengals	Ian Sunter 42-yard field goal	Steelers 14–13
3		Steelers	Lynn Swann 68-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick)	Steelers 21–13
4		Bengals	Isaac Curtis 18-yard pass from Jack Thompson (Ian Sunter kick)	Steelers 21–20
4		Steelers	Greg Hawthorne 4-yard run (Matt Bahr kick)	Steelers 28–20
4		Bengals	Don Bass 22-yard pass from Jack Thompson (Ian Sunter kick)	Steelers 28–23
4		Bengals	Ian Sunter 21-yard field goal	Bengals 30–28

Chicago Bears at Pittsburgh Steelers

1 2 3 4 Total Bears 3 0 0 0 3 • Steelers 7 17 7 7 38 Date: Sunday, September 28 Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 53,987 Referee: Jerry Seeman TV announcers (CBS): Frank Glieber and Roger Staubach

Scoring summary 1 Bears Bob Thomas 28-yard field goal Bears 3–0 1 Steelers Jim Smith 21-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick) Steelers 7–3 2 Steelers Matt Bahr 20-yard field goal Steelers 10–3 2 Steelers Jim Smith 29-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick) Steelers 17–3 2 Steelers Jim Smith 23-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick) Steelers 24–3 3 Steelers Bennie Cunningham 2-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick) Steelers 31–3 4 Steelers Franco Harris 9-yard pass from Cliff Stoudt (Matt Bahr kick) Steelers 38–3

Scoring summary
1		Bears	Bob Thomas 28-yard field goal	Bears 3–0
1		Steelers	Jim Smith 21-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick)	Steelers 7–3
2		Steelers	Matt Bahr 20-yard field goal	Steelers 10–3
2		Steelers	Jim Smith 29-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick)	Steelers 17–3
2		Steelers	Jim Smith 23-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick)	Steelers 24–3
3		Steelers	Bennie Cunningham 2-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick)	Steelers 31–3
4		Steelers	Franco Harris 9-yard pass from Cliff Stoudt (Matt Bahr kick)	Steelers 38–3

Pittsburgh Steelers at Minnesota Vikings

1 2 3 4 Total • Steelers 6 10 7 0 23 Vikings 3 0 0 14 17 Date: Sunday, October 5 Location: Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 47,583 Referee: Cal Lepore TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen

Scoring summary 1 Steelers Calvin Sweeney 21-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (kick failed) Steelers 6–0 1 Vikings Rick Danmeier 35-yard field goal Steelers 6–3 2 Steelers Franco Harris 4-yard run (Matt Bahr kick) Steelers 13–3 2 Steelers Matt Bahr 28-yard field goal Steelers 16–3 3 Steelers Terry Bradshaw 2-yard run (Matt Bahr kick) Steelers 23–3 4 Vikings Sammy White 21-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Rick Danmeier kick) Steelers 23–10 4 Vikings Tommy Kramer 4-yard run (Rick Danmeier kick) Steelers 23–17

The 1980 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 48th season in the National Football League.

In 1980, the Steelers struggled for the first time in many years. The aging defense was not as effective as it had been in the 1978 and '79 seasons, falling from 2nd to 15th in yards allowed. The Steelers also surrendered 313 points, ranked 15th in the league, compared to 262 points (5th in the league) the previous season. The Pittsburgh defense only garnered 18 quarterback sacks.

The offense was still plagued with 42 total turnovers, 42 total, but ranking 6th in total offense, and scoring 352 points.

Despite the team's troubles, the Steelers could have again obtained home field advantage throughout the playoffs had they not lost several close games, including games against Cincinnati and Cleveland in which they lost despite having large leads in the fourth quarter. Pittsburgh remained in the playoff hunt until a 28–13 loss to Buffalo in week 12 and then a 6–0 loss to Houston effectively eliminated Pittsburgh from the postseason.

To many, these two losses marked the end of the Steeler Dynasty. Several key players retired after the 1980 season and the team was never the same again. The 1980 season was the first in which the Steelers did not qualify for the playoffs since 1971.

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