The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some historic moments in the Super Bowl era. The Immaculate Reception might still be the best play in NFL history, but it wasn’t the only time the Steelers would be involved in one of the NFL’s greatest moments. Pittsburgh can claim several of the greatest plays in the league’s history. The fourth-quarter bomb by Terry Bradshaw to John Stallworth in Super Bowl XIV against the Los Angeles Rams when the Steelers trailed 19-17, and Santonio Holmes's toe tap to win Super Bowl XLIII were also very memorable.
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Pittsburgh Steelers WR Santonio Holmes makes an unbelievable toe-tap catch in Super Bowl XLIII.
These offensive highlights for the black and gold are burned into NFL history. The greatest defensive play in Super Bowl history also came courtesy of the Pittsburgh Steelers. In Super Bowl XLIII, just before halftime, the last defense to lead the league in points allowed and yards allowed were facing a game-altering drive from a Super Bowl legend in his own right, the Arizona Cardinals' Kurt Warner. James Harrison ignored his assignment and, 100 yards later, wrote himself into the history books.
NFL On NBC Super Bowl XLIII
Steelers' James Harrison anticipates Kurt Warner's pass for longest play in Super Bowl history.
Casey Hampton, who was on the sideline for the historic moment, joined 93.7 The Fan's Oh, Momma podcast and host Chris Mack for a look back at the 2008 season. Hampton was the Steelers' nose tackle for all three of their most recent Super Bowl appearances. The five-time Pro Bowler recounted his reaction to Harrison’s interception.
“When he first picked it off, I was going crazy,” Hampton recalls. “I really couldn’t see everything because everybody was going crazy. But as he’s running and I’m seeing him by Deshea [Townsend], and I’m thinking to myself like, 'Give the ball to Shay [Deshea].' Give the ball to Shay, like when Shay was trying to grab the ball in his hands.”
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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison, right, and nose tackle Casey Hampton (98) walk to the practice field during training camp in Latrobe, PA., Friday, July 29, 2011.
Steelers' Long-Time Impenetrable Force Casey Hampton Ignored Jabs
Harrison is a lot of things, but a speed demon is not one of them. Hampton was probably not the only Steelers player thinking that handing the ball to a defensive back instead of the massive Harrison holding onto the ball was a good idea. There was a lot of green grass in front of him, and Townsend initially tried to take the ball like a baton handoff in a relay race. The Steelers defensive back might have scored easily, but Harrison’s effort to break tackles and stay in bounds makes the play that much more memorable.
“When he went down the sideline, I can actually see the whole picture of it,” Hampton continued. “I was like, man, he really got action. He really got action when he was running down the sideline. I’m going crazy. When he got in that end zone, it was just like an unbelievable feeling. That was so huge of a turning point in the game. I couldn’t believe they let him get in the end zone on that play.”
The Steelers had dominated much of the first half, but were clinging to a 10-7 lead with :18 seconds left in the first half. Warner never saw the 2008 Defensive Player Of The Year when he dropped back to pass deep in the red zone. The game was very much on the line, and instead of going into the half trailing 14-10, Harrison’s play put the Steelers up 17-7.
Harrison barely reached the end zone during the longest play in Super Bowl history. Al Michaels and the legendary John Madden were initially shocked, then marveled at Harrison’s ability to stay in bounds and score as time expired in the half. Larry Fitzgerald nearly made the tackle at the goal line, preventing the touchdown, but ultimately provided a landing spot for the exhausted linebacker's knee.
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Steelers' James Harrison collapses in the end zone after a Super Bowl record 100-yard interception return.
The play loomed large in what turned out to be a narrow four-point winning margin for the Steelers. If Harrison had heard or heeded Hampton's advice to hand the ball to Townsend, Fitzgerald probably would not have caught the defensive back, and the Steelers probably still score on the interception. It would still be the longest play in Super Bowl history, but just a little less memorable without Harrison's exhausted collapse into the record book.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Should Harrison have handed the ball to Townsend near the goal line? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
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