1934 Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL) season

The 1934 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the team's second season following its formation during the previous year. The team, which would later be renamed the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1940, began the season with a new head coach, Luby DiMeolo. Despite the change in leadership, the Pirates once again finished in 5th place in the NFL's Eastern Division.

The Pirates endured a dismal 2–10 season, during which they were shut out in six games and scored more than 10 points in only two games.

A notable storyline from the season was the arrival of All-Pro and future Hall of Famer John McNally, who joined the team for one season after playing with the Green Bay Packers. However, McNally's time with the Pirates had little impact, and he returned to the Packers the following season.

Another defining feature of the 1934 Pirates was their "jailbird" uniforms. These uniforms, which featured horizontal stripes, were mocked by opponents and fans alike, as the team was frequently compared to convicts. While the modern-day Pittsburgh Steelers wore a throwback version of these uniforms from 2012 to 2016 (albeit with updated black and gold colors, leading to the "bumblebee" nickname), the original "jailbird" uniforms were only used during the 1934 season due to widespread ridicule.

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 14,164
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Pittsburgh – Clark 27 lateral from Sorlet after pass from Heller (Kelsch kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Kelsch 13
• Pittsburgh – FG Niccolai 13

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 17,171
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Boston – Malone 16 pass from Hokuf (Battles kick)

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 11,559
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Philadelphia – Hanson 16 run (Hanson kick)
• Philadelphia – Hanson 34 pass from Kirkman (Hajek kick)
• Philadelphia – FG Wiener 17

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 13,020
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• New York – Badgro 25 pass from Newman (Newman kick)
• Pittsburgh – Skladany 28 pass from Heller (kick failed)
• Pittsburgh – Heller 2 run (kick failed)
• New York – Strong 7 run (Newman kick)

at Baker Bowl, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 9,000
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Niccolai 28
• Pittsburgh – Brovelli 5 run (kick blocked)
• Philadelphia – Gonya 4 pass from Barnhardt (Kirkman kick)

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 19,386
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Chicago – Ronzani 6 pass from Burmbaugh (Manders kick)
• Chicago – Feathers 82 run (Manders kick)
• Chicago – Molesworth 2 run (Manders kick)
• Chicago – Johnsos 3 pass from Molesworth (Manders kick)

at Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 15,515
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Boston – Malone pass from Hokuf (kick failed)
• Boston – Battles run (Wright kick)
• Boston – Battles 19 run (kick failed)
• Boston – Wright 59 run (Wright kick)
• Boston – Pinckert run (kick failed)
• Boston – McPhail 14 fumble return (McPhail kick)

at Polo Grounds, New York, New York

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 11,000
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• New York – FG Strong 44
• New York – Strong 2 run (Strong kick)
• New York – Smith 3 run (Molenda kick)
• Pittsburgh – Sortet 21 pass from Vaughn (Kelsck kick)

at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 8,000
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Brooklyn – Grossman 72-yard punt return (Kercheval kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Niccolai 50 yards
• Brooklyn – Grossman 26-yard pass from Cagle (Kercheval kick)
• Brooklyn – Kercheval 15-yard pass from Montgomery (Kercheval kick)

This game was the first in NFL history in which neither team committed a single penalty.^[1]

at University of Detroit Stadium, Detroit, Michigan

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 6,000
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Pittsburgh – Skladany 62 pass from Vaughn (Niccolai kick)
• Detroit – F. Christensen 1 run (Clark kick)
• Detroit – Clark 45 run (kick failed)
• Detroit – Ebding 37 pass from Caddel (Clark kick)

at Sportsman's Park, St. Louis, Missouri

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 13,678
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• St. Louis – FG Senn 35
• St. Louis – FG Alford 12

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time:
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 9,087
• Referee:
• TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

• Brooklyn – Kercheval 23 pass from Cagle (Kercheval kick)
• Brooklyn – FG Kercheval 22