Shiner's big break came on May 14, 1968, when the Browns traded Shiner, a draft choice to be named later and defensive tackle Frank Parker to the Pittsburgh Steelers for another quarterback, Bill Nelsen, and safety Jim Bradshaw, with both quarterbacks getting more playing chances with their new teams. Shiner took over as the starting quarterback for the Steelers in week 4 from Kent Nix, in a game in Cleveland against the Browns, facing Nelsen. Shiner started the rest of the season. He went on to start nine games for the 1969 Steelers (the first season in which Chuck Noll served as Steelers head coach), including their Opening Day win over the Detroit Lions. That first win was the only one of the season, with the Steelers going 1–13 on the year, with a defense that gave up the most points in the NFL—an average of nearly 29 points per game. Fittingly, the final play of the 1969 season saw Shiner sacked by the New Orleans Saints' Doug Atkins on the final play of Atkins' Hall of Fame career.