# 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 2008 [Pittsburgh Steelers](https://www.edgepedia.org/pittsburgh-steelers) season was the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league) franchise's 75th season, in which the team finished 12-4, won its second consecutive [AFC North](https://www.edgepedia.org/afc-north) title under second-year head coach Mike Tomlin, and defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 to claim its sixth championship.[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/2008.htm) • [2](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/upload/league/f60ftapcsbynqgymw72q.pdf) • [3](https://pro-football-history.com/season/1309/2008-pittsburgh-steelers-schedule)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Record | 12-4-0, 1st in the AFC North; expected W-L of 11.8-4.2[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/2008.htm) |
| Scoring | 347 points scored (21.7 per game, 20th of 32); 223 allowed (13.9 per game, 1st of 32)[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/2008.htm) |
| Head coach | Mike Tomlin, 12-4 in his second season; only Steelers coach to win division crowns in each of his first two years[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/2008.htm) • [4](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/upload/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2022/PIT.pdf) |
| Coordinators | Bruce Arians (offense), Dick LeBeau (defense)[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/2008.htm) |
| Rushing defense | 62.8 rushing yards allowed per game (1,004 yards), a team record and the third-best total in NFL history since 1970[4](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/upload/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2022/PIT.pdf) |
| Playoffs | Beat San Diego 35-24 (divisional), Baltimore 23-14 (AFC Championship), Arizona 27-23 (Super Bowl XLIII)[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/2008.htm) |
| Super Bowl XLIII | February 1, 2009, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa; Tomlin became the youngest head coach (36 years, 323 days) to win a Super Bowl[2](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/upload/league/f60ftapcsbynqgymw72q.pdf) • [5](https://www.steelers.com/schedule/2008/) |
## Regular season
Pittsburgh opened with a 38-17 home win over Houston and a 10-6 win at Cleveland, then lost 6-15 at Philadelphia in Week 3, one of only four defeats all year.[5](https://www.steelers.com/schedule/2008/) A 23-20 Monday-night win over Baltimore in Week 4 began a stretch in which the Steelers won seven of eight, including a 38-10 win at [Cincinnati](https://www.edgepedia.org/cincinnati), a 23-6 win at Washington, and an 11-10 escape against San Diego in Week 11.[5](https://www.steelers.com/schedule/2008/)
**Late-season clinch.** After a 14-21 home loss to the [New York Giants](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-giants) on October 26 and a 20-24 loss to [Indianapolis](https://www.edgepedia.org/indianapolis), the Steelers closed with wins over Cincinnati (27-10), New England (33-10), and Dallas (20-13), then clinched the division with a 13-9 defensive struggle at Baltimore in Week 15.[5](https://www.steelers.com/schedule/2008/) They lost 14-31 at Tennessee in Week 16, a Titans victory that secured home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs for Tennessee, and finished with a 31-0 shutout of [Cleveland](https://www.edgepedia.org/cleveland).[5](https://www.steelers.com/schedule/2008/) • [6](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/titans/lp8cuwj8rj6ismvyfgyk.pdf)
The offense ranked 20th of 32 teams in points, so the season's identity was defense: the Steelers allowed the fewest points per game in the league at 13.9.[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/2008.htm) • [7](https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/nfl-defensive-rankings-by-year-2008) Linebacker James Harrison was named Defensive Player of the Year for a unit that wreaked havoc across the NFL.[8](https://www.smwwearena.com/files/19_football_outsiders_almanac.pdf) Tomlin, who arrived with a 4-3 background from his time with [Tampa Bay](https://www.edgepedia.org/tampa-bay) and Minnesota, kept [Dick LeBeau](https://www.edgepedia.org/dick-lebeau)'s 3-4 scheme in place, and the Steelers had the NFL's top-ranked defense for the second year in a row.[9](https://www.nfl.com/news/tomlin-shows-youth-can-prevail-in-taking-steelers-to-super-bowl-09000d5d80e5cdc3)
## Playoffs
Earning a first-round bye, [Pittsburgh](https://www.edgepedia.org/pittsburgh) beat the [San Diego Chargers](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-diego-chargers) 35-24 in the divisional round at home on January 11, then defeated the [Baltimore Ravens](https://www.edgepedia.org/baltimore-ravens) 23-14 in the AFC Championship Game on January 18.[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/2008.htm) • [5](https://www.steelers.com/schedule/2008/) Tomlin had eased the physical tone of practice in 2008 after players wore down late in his first season, and the bye combined with fewer full-pads workouts left the team fresh for the playoff run.[9](https://www.nfl.com/news/tomlin-shows-youth-can-prevail-in-taking-steelers-to-super-bowl-09000d5d80e5cdc3)
## Super Bowl XLIII
In [Super Bowl XLIII](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl-xliii) at [Raymond James Stadium](https://www.edgepedia.org/raymond-james-stadium) in Tampa, Arizona took its only lead late in the game on a two-play drive ending in [Larry Fitzgerald](https://www.edgepedia.org/larry-fitzgerald)'s catch-and-run touchdown, putting the Cardinals ahead 23-20.[10](https://www.nfl.com/news/tomlin-s-ability-to-listen-manage-personalities-leads-to-super--09000d5d80e8a9eb) Pittsburgh answered on its final drive, with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger connecting with Santonio Holmes on the winning touchdown catch, a play the NFL describes as one of the most memorable game-winning plays in league history.[10](https://www.nfl.com/news/tomlin-s-ability-to-listen-manage-personalities-leads-to-super--09000d5d80e8a9eb) • [11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmkgOMsyUXo) Holmes was named the game's Most Valuable Player.[10](https://www.nfl.com/news/tomlin-s-ability-to-listen-manage-personalities-leads-to-super--09000d5d80e8a9eb)
Holmes's role carried a story from the regular season: Tomlin had deactivated him for the October 26 loss to the Giants over concerns about his level of professionalism, a decision safety Troy Polamalu credited with raising accountability across the team.[10](https://www.nfl.com/news/tomlin-s-ability-to-listen-manage-personalities-leads-to-super--09000d5d80e8a9eb)
## The Tomlin milestone
At 36 years and 323 days, Tomlin became the youngest head coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl, accomplishing it in his 36th NFL game, and he was the seventh coach to win a Super Bowl within his first two seasons.[2](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/upload/league/f60ftapcsbynqgymw72q.pdf) • [12](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/steelers/kzaa97nczbcay7sictby.pdf) • [9](https://www.nfl.com/news/tomlin-shows-youth-can-prevail-in-taking-steelers-to-super-bowl-09000d5d80e5cdc3) The title was the franchise's sixth, and the third of the three head coaches the team employed since 1969, Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Tomlin, had now won a Super Bowl.[10](https://www.nfl.com/news/tomlin-s-ability-to-listen-manage-personalities-leads-to-super--09000d5d80e8a9eb)
## References
1. [2008 Pittsburgh Steelers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Pro-Football-Reference.com](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/2008.htm)
2. [Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL Record & Fact Book](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/upload/league/f60ftapcsbynqgymw72q.pdf)
3. [2008 Pittsburgh Steelers, Pro Football History.com](https://pro-football-history.com/season/1309/2008-pittsburgh-steelers-schedule)
4. [Pittsburgh Steelers media guide (Tomlin and 2008 team records)](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/upload/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2022/PIT.pdf)
5. [Steelers Historical 2008 Schedule, Steelers.com](https://www.steelers.com/schedule/2008/)
6. [Tennessee Titans Historical Highlights](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/titans/lp8cuwj8rj6ismvyfgyk.pdf)
7. [NFL Defensive Rankings By Year 2008, StatMuse](https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/nfl-defensive-rankings-by-year-2008)
8. [Football Outsiders Almanac (Steelers chapter)](https://www.smwwearena.com/files/19_football_outsiders_almanac.pdf)
9. [Tomlin shows youth can prevail in taking Steelers to Super Bowl, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/tomlin-shows-youth-can-prevail-in-taking-steelers-to-super-bowl-09000d5d80e5cdc3)
10. [Tomlin's ability to listen, manage personalities leads to Super success, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/tomlin-s-ability-to-listen-manage-personalities-leads-to-super--09000d5d80e8a9eb)
11. [Super Bowl XLIII Recap: Steelers vs. Cardinals, NFL on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmkgOMsyUXo)
12. [Pittsburgh Steelers communications notes](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/steelers/kzaa97nczbcay7sictby.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › National Football League › NFL teams and franchises › NFL team seasons 2010 to 2019*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license