Steelers' LaMarr Woodley Extremely Thankful Kurt Warner Threw At James Harrison Or Super Bowl XLIII Might've Turned Out Differently

Former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker, LaMarr Woodley is incredibly grateful that his partner, James Harrison, had the awareness and the stubbornness to ignore Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau's call in Super Bowl XLIII. Harrison would go on to make one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history against the Arizona Cardinals on February 2, 2009. Even though Harrison had only been a full-time starter for one more year than the second-year Woodley, he said that there was no way he was making a play like he did to secure an interception on Kurt Warner and cement himself in league history.

Woodley was drafted by the Steelers in 2007 in the first draft class with Mike Tomlin as the head coach, and after a solid rookie year in 2007, was elevated to a starting role in 2008. The University of Michigan alumnus joined Chris Mack of 93.7 The Fan on the Oh Momma Podcast to reminisce about that run by that incredible defense to winning the championship at the end of the 2008 season. Woodley said he never would've made the play Harrison did, but he's sure glad that his partner in sacking quarterbacks did. 

Pittsburgh had built an early 10-0 lead with Jeff Reed kicking a field goal in the first quarter and running back Gary Russell punching in a touchdown from the one-yard line in the second quarter. The Cardinals responded with a one-yard touchdown pass from Warner to tight end Ben Patrick. With the end of the first half approaching, the Cardinals were driving down the field with the ball on the five-yard line when Harrison decided instead of blitzing like his coach wanted to, that he was going to drop into coverage. 

"I'm glad they didn't set that play up on my side because I would've rushed and we never would've got that interception," he said. "I was too young to be making decisions and do what I want to do."  

Even though he had compiled a stellar first year as a starter with 11.5 sacks, an interception, and two forced fumbles, he didn't yet have the confidence to break away from what his coach had called. 

Woodley said that a lot of the credit for Harrison being able to get to the end zone goes to the Cardinals for ensuring that Larry Fitzgerald couldn't get to Harrison until it was too late and he helped push Harrison into the end zone. 

Steelers' Woodley Recalls His Role In Making The Play Happen 

Woodley said he didn't see Harrison pick the ball off, but once he heard the roar of the crowd and looked to see his teammate with the ball, his first thought was to go find someone to block. The first Cardinal he saw was Warner, but decided otherwise. 

"I thought about blocking him [Warner] and was like 'F***, he's too slow. He's not going to make the tackle," Woodley said. "He's not even f***ing worth blocking. So, I took off and found the running back [Tim Hightower] and I pushed him. I thought maybe James would've gone down and I look back and James is still running."

Next thing he knew, Harrison jumped over him and Tim Hightower on his way to the end zone. Woodley said that the push he gave Hightower as they both fell to the ground was all the gas he had left in the tank. The only thing left for him to do was cheer his teammate on. 

"I hope they call this a touchdown because we need it," Woodley recalled of his feelings at the time. "I was gassed."   

The Steelers went into the locker room at halftime with a 17-7 lead, but needed more magic on both sides of the ball to take home the victory. The Cardinals took the lead 23-20 after Warner found Fitzgerald for a 64-yard score and Pittsburgh's offense took over with 2:47 left to play. Ben Roethlisberger connected with Santonio Holmes for the go-ahead score, but the defense was needed to make one more play. Woodley strip-sacked Warner with :15 seconds to go and the rest as they say is history. 

What do remember about Woodley's play in that Super Bowl? Did he make the right call to bypass blocking Warner? Comment below!

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