Pittsburgh Steelers

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Lore & Background

The 2019 campaign was defined by significant roster turnover and a dramatic mid-season turnaround. For the first time since 2009, star wide receiver Antonio Brown was absent after being traded to the Oakland Raiders on March 9 for third and fifth-round picks. Other key departures included Marcus Gilbert, Le'Veon Bell, and Jesse James, moves aimed at eliminating distractions following clashes with coaching staff and teammates like Ben Roethlisberger and JuJu Smith-Schuster. The team addressed the long-term absence of Ryan Shazier by drafting Devin Bush Jr., while Mason Rudolph stepped in after Roethlisberger's injury. Despite a 0–3 start, the Steelers won seven of their next eight games to reach an 8–5 record before collapsing in the final three weeks.

In Their Own Story

The season began with a crushing 33–3 defeat to the defending champion New England Patriots in Week 1. In Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, James Conner scored early, but backup quarterback Mason Rudolph had to lead a comeback after Ben Roethlisberger suffered a non-contact elbow injury. The Steelers lost that game 28–26 after Rudolph connected with Vance McDonald for two touchdowns but failed on conversions. A third loss came against the San Francisco 49ers, where Diontae Johnson caught a 39-yard pass to retake the lead before Jimmy Garoppolo found Dante Pettis for the winning score. The turning point arrived in Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals; after trailing 3–0, the Steelers scored 27 consecutive points to secure their first win and extend their streak over the Bengals to nine games.

Reader's Guide

Navigating the 2019 season required adapting to life without Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell. The schedule honored Pittsburgh native Fred Rogers with a video using the Neighborhood of Make-Believe theme, referencing division rivals as neighbors. On the field, the team relied on Chris Boswell for field goals and Mason Rudolph at quarterback after Week 2. Key performances included Diontae Johnson's 39-yard catch against San Francisco and James Conner's rushing touchdowns. The season ended with a loss to the New York Jets in Week 16, cementing an 8–8 record that tied their worst mark since 2003. The roster moves and draft selections, including trading up for Devin Bush Jr., were central strategies to fill gaps left by departed stars.

Did You Know?

• The Steelers started 1–4 for the first time since 2013.
• Antonio Brown was traded to the Oakland Raiders on March 9, 2019, marking his first absence from the roster since 2009.
• Ben Roethlisberger suffered a non-contact elbow injury in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks and missed the rest of the season.
• The team won seven out of their next eight games after falling to 1–4, reaching an 8–5 record by Week 14.
• The Steelers tied their worst record since 2003 with an 8–8 finish.