A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
| 1947 Pittsburgh Steelers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Jock Sutherland |
| Home field | Forbes Field |
| Results | |
| Record | 8–4 |
| Division place | 2nd NFL Eastern |
| Playoff finish | Lost Divisional Playoffs (vs. Eagles) 0–21 |
The 1947 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 15th season in the National Football League (NFL). The team improved on its 1946 record by winning eight games and losing four. This record tied for the lead in the Eastern Division and qualified the Steelers for the franchise's first playoff berth.[1][2][3] It was the Steelers' only postseason appearance before 1972.
It was Jock Sutherland's second and final year as head coach; he died the following April[4][5] after being found wandering around in a field in Kentucky. Once flown back to Pittsburgh, he was diagnosed as having two brain tumors. He only lived a few more days.
Pre-Season Changes
In 1946, the Steeler offense and defense featured the NFL MVP in the person of Bill Dudley. The Virginia grad and Army veteran led the NFL in rushing, interceptions, punt returns and all-purpose yards. Despite being wildly popular with fans and fellow players, Dudley and Coach Sutherland could not get along. Ultimately, Dudley asked Art Rooney, Sr. to trade him and the owner reluctantly agreed.
Dudley was traded to the Detroit Lions for Bob Cifers and Paul White. Additionally, the Steelers received the Lions' 1948 first round draft pick. Both White and Cifers had a demonstrable positive effect on the team. Cifers played brilliantly and was one of the top punters in the NFL that year. [6]
Draft
| 1947 Pittsburgh Steelers draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Hub Bechtol | E | Texas | Signed with the Baltimore Colts (AAFC) |
| 3 | 16 | John Mastrangelo | T | Notre Dame | |
| 5 | 29 | Frank Wydo | T | Cornell | |
| 6 | 38 | Frank Aschenbrenner | RB | Northwestern | Returned to college |
| 7 | 49 | Bryant Meeks | C | South Carolina | |
| 8 | 58 | Jerry Shipkey * | LB | UCLA | Played beginning in 1948 |
| 9 | 69 | Bert Vander Clute | G | Wesleyan | |
| 10 | 78 | Paul Gibson | E | NC State | |
| 11 | 89 | Jack Medd | C | Wesleyan | |
| 12 | 98 | Jack Fitch | B | North Carolina | |
| 13 | 109 | Ara Parseghian | HB | Miami (OH) | Signed with the Cleveland Browns (AAFC) |
| 14 | 118 | Red Moore | G | Penn State | |
| 15 | 129 | Larry Bruno | B | Geneva | |
| 16 | 138 | Ralph Jenkins | C | Clemson | |
| 17 | 149 | Elbie Nickel * | E | Cincinnati | |
| 18 | 158 | Bill Cregar | G | Holy Cross | |
| 19 | 169 | Jerry Mulready | E | North Dakota State | Signed with the Chicago Rockets (AAFC) |
| 20 | 178 | Warren Smith | T | Kansas Wesleyan | |
| 21 | 189 | Fred Hamilton | T | Vanderbilt | |
| 22 | 198 | Fred Taylor | E | TCU | |
| 23 | 209 | Binks Bushmiaer | B | Vanderbilt | |
| 24 | 218 | Paul Davis | FB | Otterbein | |
| 25 | 229 | Tommy Kalmanir | HB | Nevada | Returned to college |
| 26 | 238 | Don Mohr | E | Baldwin Wallace | |
| 27 | 249 | Art Young | G | Dartmouth | |
| 28 | 258 | Ralph Sazio | T | William & Mary | |
| 29 | 269 | Dick Pitzer | E | Army | |
| 30 | 278 | Tom Stalloni | T | Delaware | |
| 31 | 287 | Vince DiFrancesca | G | Northwestern | |
| 32 | 294 | Warren Lahr * | DB | Case Western Reserve | Returned to college |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career | |||||