1946 Pittsburgh Steelers season

NFL team season November 2013 March 2026 1946-Steelers-mediaguide.jpg Pittsburgh Steelers 1946 5–5–1 3rd (tied) NFL Eastern Jock Sutherland Forbes Field Did not qualify Steelers seasons The 1946 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 14th season in the National Football League (NFL). The team finished the season with a record of 5–5–1. This season marked the first of two seasons played with Jock Sutherland as head coach. Off Season Changes When the 1945 season ended, Jock Sutherland returned from service in World War II and signed a head coaching contract with team owner Art Rooney, Sr. on December 29, 1945 in front of local reporters. Sutherland's fame as a college coach caused a great deal of excitement among Steelers fans and ticket sales for the 1946 season set records. Additionally, fan favorite Bill Dudley was set to return for his first full season since serving in World War II. Dudley had only played in 4 games in 1945. By the end of the season, Dudley's play was so exceptional, he was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player.Steve Massey, Starless: The 1947 Pittsburgh Steelers. NC: Steve Massey, 2018. Regular season Schedule Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources 1 September 20 Chicago Cardinals W 14–7 1–0 Forbes Field 32,951 Recap 2 September 29 at Washington Redskins T 14–14 1–0–1 Griffith Stadium 33,620 Recap 3 October 6 New York Giants L 14–171–1–1 Forbes Field33,702 Recap 4 October 13 Boston Yanks W 16–72–1–1 Forbes Field34,297 Recap 5 October 20 at Green Bay Packers L 7–172–2–1 City Stadium22,588 Recap 6 October 27 at Boston Yanks W 33–73–2–1 Fenway Park13,797 Recap 7 November 3 Washington Redskins W 14–74–2–1 Forbes Field36,995 Recap 8 November 10 at Detroit Lions L 7–174–3–1 Briggs Stadium13,621 Recap 9 November 17 Philadelphia Eagles W 10–75–3–1 Forbes Field 38,882 Recap 10 November 24 at New York Giants L 0–75–4–1 Polo Grounds45,347 Recap 11 December 1 at Philadelphia Eagles L 7–105–5–1 Shibe Park29,943 Recap Game summaries Game 1 (Friday September 20, 1946): Chicago Cardinals Cardinals 0 0 7 0 Steelers 7 7 0 0 at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 32,951 Referee: Scoring Drives: Pittsburgh – Seabright 8 pass from Dudley (Dudley kick) Pittsburgh – Compagno 1 run (Dudley kick) Chicago Cardinals – Goldberg 8 pass from Mallouf (Cuff kick) Game 2 (Monday September 29, 1946): Washington Redskins Steelers 0 0 0 14 Redskins 7 7 0 0 at Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 33,620 Referee: Scoring Drives: Washington – Saenz 1 run (Poillon kick) Washington – Todd 23 pass from Baugh (Poillon kick) Pittsburgh – Jansante 17 pass from Clement (Dudley kick) Pittsburgh – Dudley 1 run (Dudley kick) Game 3 (Sunday October 6, 1946): New York Giants Giants 0 17 0 0 Steelers 0 0 7 7 at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 33,702 Referee: Scoring Drives: New York – Hapes 2 run (Strong kick) New York – Filchock 70 run (Strong kick) New York – FG Strong 23 Pittsburgh – Garnaas 30 pass from Dudley (Dudley kick) Pittsburgh – Clement 2 run (Dudley kick) Game 4 (Sunday October 13, 1946): Boston Yanks Yanks 0 0 0 7 Steelers 0 16 0 0 at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 34,297 Referee: Scoring Drives: Pittsburgh – Lach 1 run (kick blocked) Pittsburgh – Lach 5 run (Dudley kick) Pittsburgh – FG Dudley 34 Boston – Scollard 6 fumble run (Scollard kick) Game 5 (Sunday October 20, 1946): Green Bay Packers Steelers 0 7 0 0 Packers 0 3 0 14 at East Stadium, Green Bay, Wisconsin Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 22,588 Referee: Scoring Drives: Green Bay – FG Fritsch 38 Pittsburgh – Dudley 31 run (Dudley kick) Green Bay – Luhn, 19 pass from Comp (Fritsch kick) Green Bay – Schlinkman 2 run (Fritsch kick) Game 6 (Sunday October 27, 1946): Boston Yanks Steelers 6 0 14 13 Yanks 0 7 0 0 at Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 13,797 Referee: Scoring Drives: Pittsburgh – Condit 18 run (kick failed) Boston – Dimancheff 26 pass from Governali (Scollard kick) Pittsburgh – Dudley 23 lateral from Compagno (Dudley kick) Pittsburgh – R. Davis 29 fumble run (Dudley kick) Pittsburgh – Dudley – 80 pass from Condit (Condit kick) Pittsburgh – Dutton 38 run (kick failed) Game 7 (Sunday November 3, 1946): Washington Redskins Redskins 0 0 0 7 Steelers 7 0 0 7 at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 36,995 Referee: Scoring Drives: Pittsburgh – Dudley 80 interception (Dudley kick) PIttsburgh – Lach 5 run (Dudley kick) Washington – Baugh 1 run (Poillon kick) Game 8 (Sunday November 10, 1946): Detroit Lions Steelers 0 0 0 7 Lions 0 10 0 7 at Briggs Stadium, Detroit, Michigan Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 13,621 Referee: Scoring Drives: Detroit – FG Helms 35 Detroit – DeCorrevont 72 pass from Ryan (DeShane kick) Pittsburgh – Dutton 12 run (Dudley kick) Detroit – Greene 88 pass from Ryan (DeShane kick) Game 9 (Sunday November 17, 1946): Philadelphia Eagles Eagles 7 7 0 14 Steelers 7 14 7 0 at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 38,882 Referee: Scoring Drives: Philadelphia – Zimmerman 1 run (Zimmerman kick) Pittsburgh – Lach 1 run (Condit kick) Pittsburgh – FG Dudley 14 Game 10 (Sunday November 24, 1946): New York Giants Steelers 0 0 0 0 Giants 0 7 0 0 at Polo Grounds, New York, New York Scoring Drives: Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 45,346 Referee: Scoring Drives: New York – Paschal 4 run (Strong kick) Game 11 (Sunday December 1, 1946): Philadelphia Eagles Steelers 0 0 7 0 Eagles 7 3 0 0 at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Game time: Game weather: Game attendance: 29,943 Referee: Scoring Drives: Philadelphia – Pritchard 58 run (Lio kick) Philadelphia – FG Lio 15 Pittsburgh – Lach 7 run (Dudley kick) Roster 1946 Pittsburgh Steelers final roster Backs  0 Johnny Clement RB/P 44 Tony Compagno LB/FB 42 Merl Condit CB/RB/K 35 Bill Dudley RB/CB/P/K 16 Bill Dutton RB/CB 30 Bill Garnaas RB 20 Walt Gorinski FB/S 73 Max Kielbasa RB 37 Steve Lach FB/LB 27 John Patrick FB/S 25 Jim Reynolds RB/CB 33 Charley Seabright S/FB 17 Andy Tomasic RB/CB Ends/Receivers 85 Tony Bova 28 Bob Davis 23 Sam Gray 54 Val Jansante 55 Charley Mehelich Linemen/Linebackers 45 Art Brandau C/LB 64 Ray Bucek G/LB 21 Chuck Cherundolo C/LB 50 Joe Coomer T/DT 26 Ralph Fife MG/G 40 Earl Klapstein T/DT 92 Frank Mattioli G/MG 48 Art McCaffray T/DT 36 Elmer Merkovsky T/DT 22 John Perko G/MG 38 Joe Repko T/DT 12 Nick Skorich G/MG 43 George Titus C/LB 75 Jack Wiley DT/T Rookies in italics Standings References Further reading Steve Massey, Starless: The 1947 Pittsburgh Steelers. NC: Steve Massey, 2018. Category:Pittsburgh Steelers seasons Pittsburgh Steelers Pitts