The 1997 Pittsburgh Steelers entered the season with the daunting task of sustaining excellence under head coach Bill Cowher while transitioning to a new era at quarterback. Coming off consecutive playoff appearances, expectations remained high in Western Pennsylvania, prompting the front office to patch up the secondary by acquiring veteran cornerbacks Donnell Woolford and J.B. Brown in free agency, alongside drafting defensive back Chad Scott and linebacker Mike Vrabel. The roster retooled quickly enough to capture the AFC Central division title with an 11-5 regular-season record. Cowher guided his squad through a competitive conference landscape, securing a first-round bye and positioning the franchise for a deep postseason run that ultimately culminated in an appearance in the AFC Championship Game.

Everything about the 1997 offense revolved around the multi-dimensional abilities of quarterback Kordell Stewart, affectionately known as Slash, who took over full-time duties and threw for 3020 yards and 21 touchdowns while adding 476 yards and 11 scores on the ground. Stewart operated alongside the bruising Jerome Bettis, who anchored the league-best rushing attack with a massive 1665 yards and seven touchdowns. When Stewart did air it out, wide receiver Yancey Thigpen was a dominant force, hauling in 79 receptions for 1398 yards and seven touchdowns. This run-heavy attack proved highly effective, propelling Pittsburgh to a number seven rank in points scored with 372 (23.3 ppg) and a number six rank in total offensive yards.

Defensively, the Steelers maintained their trademark physical identity, finishing the season ranked eleventh in points allowed (19.2 ppg) and sixth in total yards surrendered. The unit was particularly impenetrable on the ground, matching the offense by ranking first in the NFL in rushing yards allowed by giving up just 1318 yards all season. Linebacker Levon Kirkland led the defense with a staggering 126 tackles and five sacks, while versatile defensive back Carnell Lake registered six sacks and three interceptions. Supported by nose tackle Joel Steed anchoring the line and veteran linebacker Greg Lloyd, Pittsburgh utilized an aggressive pass rush and a opportunistic secondary that forced 20 interceptions to stymie opposing game plans.

To say the season started with a thud would be an understatement, as the Steelers were thoroughly thrashed 37-7 by the Dallas Cowboys at home in week one. However, Cowher steadied the ship, and a five-game winning streak through October catapulted them into division contention. A critical turning point arrived in December during a brutal stretch against elite conference opponents. Pittsburgh statement win came in week fifteen, a 35-24 triumph over the Denver Broncos, followed immediately by a thrilling 24-21 overtime victory against the New England Patriots in week sixteen. These high-stakes victories proved the Steelers could go toe-to-toe with anyone in the AFC.

In the postseason, the Steelers squeaked past the Patriots 7-6 in a defensive Divisional slugfest before falling just short to the eventual Super Bowl champion Broncos in a 24-21 AFC Championship Game heartbreaker. Despite missing out on a Super Bowl appearance, the legacy of this squad remains significant as the peak of the Slash era, demonstrating how an elite rushing attack could blend with a versatile modern quarterback. The individual brilliance of the roster was recognized across the league, with Jerome Bettis, center Dermontti Dawson, Yancey Thigpen, Levon Kirkland, Carnell Lake, and Joel Steed all earning Pro Bowl honors for their standout contributions.