The '38 Pirates welcomed back John McNally as head coach after finishing with a 4–10 record the previous year.
Art Rooney signed college phenom Byron "Whizzer" White for one season and was given a huge contract.
White led the league in rushing that year, and became the first player to do so whilst playing for a losing team.
The Pirates selected one of their best draft picks of that era in Byron "Whizzer" White from Colorado.
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Scoring Drives: During a second bye week, the Pirates scheduled a two-legged tie against the Los Angeles Bulldogs.