Steelers fans, take a second to remember this date in the history books. Most of us had our eyes glued to the television screens and some of us lucky enough to be in Detroit, Michigan. Steeler Nation permeated throughout Ford Field, almost making it look like a standard home game in Pittsburgh. The 40th anniversary of the Super Bowl commemorated some of the known Super Bowl greats.
The broadcasters commented on it, the players could feel it, Steelers fans were ready to win, and the cheering could be heard from miles. Four Super Bowl wins in six years made it feel like another ring was deserved every year.
For one player, in particular, Super Bowl XL was his homecoming. Jermone Bettis was on the verge of retirement the year prior after the 41-27 loss to the New England Patriots. With a desire to change Bettis’ mind, a young, rookie Ben Roethlisberger made a bold statement.
Roethlisberger promised Bettis a Super Bowl if he stayed with the Steelers one more season. A promise that was easier said than done, Bettis said that the sound of winning it all in his hometown, Detriot, sounded really good. After the wild-card game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Roethlisberger reminded Bettis of the promise he intended to keep while he handed him the game ball.
The Steelers road to Super Bowl XL was no easy task, having to win their final four games of the regular season and three on-the-road playoff games, that team had a target to reach, and that was Detriot.
Head coach at the time, Bill Cowher knew he had a special team, a team that reminded him of a close-knit family.
“I think you realize in this business that the chemistry that you have on the team is more important than the talent that you have. We had good players, we had great players. We had a very special team. They were close to one another, they played for one another,” Cowher said while in Denver for the AFC Championship.
Remembering the journey with the team and the relationship between Roethlisberger and ‘The Bus’, the moments were special.
“Nothing was more evident of that than what they were able to do with Jerome at the forefront of that journey to Detriot. It was a great year. Our backs were against the wall with four games to go in the season and we go on to win eight straight games and win the championship. It was a very special journey,” Cowher said.
Following the win against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL, 21-10, Jerome Bettis walked out of the locker room as the Steelers’ beloved running back for the final time. That win made it a three-way tie with the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys with five Super Bowls. Watch the moments of February 5, 2006, unravel below.
