1988 Pittsburgh Steelers Season

Season Summary: The 1988 Steelers had one of the bleakest seasons in franchise history. They stumbled to a 5-11 record, their worst since Chuck Noll's inaugural 1-13 season in 1969. The offense was a turnover factory, plagued by quarterback instability and the absence of key playmakers beyond Louis Lipps. The defense, once the pride of Pittsburgh, slipped badly, finishing dead last in the league in both yards and points allowed.

A few bright spots emerged. Rod Woodson showed flashes of becoming a superstar, Merril Hoge looked like a future workhorse, and Dwayne Woodruff provided veteran leadership. But overall, it was a year defined by frustration. The Steelers lost their final 5 games, a harsh reminder that the gap between the Steelers and the league's elite had never been wider.