The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without future Hall of Fame quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger for the first time in 18 years as the 2022 season begins Sunday. Roethlisberger seems to be enjoying retirement and he recently started a podcast with his friend, Spencer Te'o. It is named "Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger" and will give fans an in-depth look at the former quarterback's knowledge of football and he will talk a ton about the Steelers. Episode two was released Saturday morning and they talked about one of the organization's greatest undrafted free agents of all-time, James Harrison.
Current franchise sack leader for the Pittsburgh Steelers, James Harrison (#92). | Heavy.com
One of the main takeaways of the episode was Roethlisberger putting Harrison's record-breaking pick-6 in Super Bowl XLV ahead of the game-winning drive and touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes. He even believes it could be the best play in the history of the NFL.
"Probably one of the greatest, if not the greatest, football plays of all time in the Super Bowl," said Roethlisberger. "That Super Bowl we won against Arizona in Tampa, throwing the touchdown pass was so special and it was a great play, but that play that he made at the end of the half was one of the most iconic plays. It was truly remarkable what he was able to do on that play. That changed the game and probably won it for us."
Roethlisberger continued discussing the play, describing how just an interception to hold of the Arizona Cardinals from scoring the end of the half would have sufficed.
"It's an interception. It's a great play because it stops them from scoring, right? That's a seven-point play. But, now you score and it's a 14-point play. It's one thing if a defensive back, safety, something like that does that, a guy with speed, but you're talking about a dude who's 275, I don't even know how big he was. He's huge. And he goes all the way. Now, he had help from the boys giving him a little bit of an escort."
James Harrison helped the Steelers beat the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. | 2009 FILE/MARK HUMPHREY/ASSOCIATED PRESS
The future Hall of Famer talked more about Harrison and his intimidating nature.
"James Harrison is one of the scariest dudes you'll ever meet in your life, but you know what, he's also a big teddy bear and he's going to get mad at me for saying that," Roethlisberger joked. "He won't come on [the podcast] because he'll want to put on a persona of being like, too touch, but James is an awesome dude."
The former Steelers quarterback talked at length about Harrison's work ethic and his ability to always outwork everyone else around him.
"After games, he would go to work out. He'd go to the weight room before games. Dude was a freak, so good at what he did," Roethlisberger said. "That man was one of the hardest working guys that I've ever been around."
He went on to describe one of the things that made him such a great football player.
"His low center of gravity, not a tall dude but a big dude. He'd get underneath guys and he was so strong and would push on them."
ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: James Farrior #51, James Harrison #92 and Brett Keisel #99 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrate a defensive play against the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The two former Steelers players competed with each other in Pittsburgh for 13 years and won two Super Bowls together. They were vital pieces to the team's successes from 2004 until both of their retirements. Roethlisberger is a surefire Hall of Fame quarterback, but Harrison deserves a look too.
Do you think the former Steelers' linebacker has a case to make for best football play of all-time? Let us know in the comments below!
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