The Pittsburgh Steelers did the impossible in the 2005 season. They got into the big dance as the AFC's 6th seed and went on to win Super Bowl XL against the Seattle Seahawks, 21-10. It was the Steelers' first Super Bowl win since 1980, which made it that much sweeter.
What made that Steelers Super Bowl win possible? A strong defense and a team effort. A part of that incredibly strong defensive effort in the 2005 season was former inside linebacker and arguably the greatest Steelers free agent pickup to date, James Farrior.
Chaz Palla / Tribune-Review
In an interview reposted due to the dead time that is now, before training camp opens on July 26th in Latrobe, Steelers.com opened up their “Time Machine,” to give us a little insight on Farrior’s playing days with the team.
Farrior sat down with Stan Savran of Steelers Nation Radio to discuss many topics including that special 2005 season, the journey to Super Bowl XL, and the celebration that ensued thereafter.
Savran asked Farrior if the loss the year before in 2004 to the New England Patriots at then, Heinz Field, "served as a springboard" for the team going into that 2005 season?
"Yes, I think looking back on it, we didn't know it at the time," Farrior reminisced in the interview. "Everybody was really disappointed in the loss. We had great expectations. We were 15-1, and nobody thought we could lose. And we got our butts beat pretty bad that weekend. And I think from that moment on, I think we kind of bonded even closer. I think that brought us together even more, and I think we were all determined and had the same focus that next year going into it that year."
Action shot of linebacker James Farrior #51 during his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Steelers.com)
You can recall the determination and will of that 2005 team. The Steelers went on to win three straight road games against the NFL's top offenses in the 2005 playoffs, before getting to Super Bowl XL, to take on another top ranked offense in the Seahawks.
What was said when the Steelers fell to 7-5 in that 2005 season and then proceeded to go on one of biggest runs in NFL History?
"It wasn't really too much to say at that point," Farrior answered Savran's question. "We were riding high like you said, we were 7-2 at one point and then we lose three straight and that was very frustrating, disappointing. And I think our backs were against the wall. We couldn't lose another game or we weren't going to make it to the playoff. So I think we all had the mindset that our playoffs have started now and it started in the last four games and we went boom, boom, boom, step by step. And by the time we made it to the playoffs, we were all hitting on all full cylinders and it was amazing."
It was an amazing run to watch unfold and it will forever be engrained in my mind as well as the minds of the rest of Steeler Nation.
Action shot of linebacker James Farrior #51 during his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Steelers.com)
Savran asked Farrior to recall what he felt after the final ticks of the clock in Super Bowl XL expired and the team became Super Bowl Champions.
"Oh, man, words can't even describe how I felt," Farrior remembered the win. "I was just so overwhelmed. It didn't feel real, it was like a dream come true. I didn't really know what to say, what to expect and how to react. And what's funny is right after the game, I got escorted off the field right away to the media session. So I didn't really get to be a part of all the celebrations after the game, the confetti and everybody, your family down on the field. I didn't really get to be a part of that.And that was one thing that I was very disappointed in, because when I came back from the interviews, everything was over. So that was one thing I learned from the Super Bowl, that I didn't want to make that mistake the second time or if I ever got back again, I did it the next time."
Fortunately, Farrior got another chance to celebrate a Super Bowl victory as the Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII 27-23 in 2009. Check out the entire interview here!
What are yinz thoughts on Farrior's comments on everything that encompasses the Steelers' Super Bowl XL win? Sound off in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!
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