The Pittsburgh Steelers and their fans hold a deep and enduring affection for James Harrison, their former linebacker. Harrison's formidable presence on the field, his unique personality off it, and his legendary workout routines have solidified his status as a lifelong Steeler and a beloved figure within Steeler Nation.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers former LB James Harrison stands on the field before a game.
This past Thursday, Harrison made an appearance on Not Just Football, a podcast hosted by Steelers defensive lineman and team captain, Cam Heyward. During the interview, Harrison was asked to reflect on a controversial moment in NFL history—the 2004 AFC Championship game, where many fans and players suspected foul play from the New England Patriots.
Harrison didn't hesitate to assert his belief that the Patriots had indeed cheated in that game, lending a voice to long-held suspicions and sparking further dialogue about one of the more contentious chapters in NFL playoff history.
“H*** yeah they was cheating. What do you mean? Man, they hit us on like, they only missed one blitz man. Previously, where we beat them in New England, I mean New England and uh Philly. Man they couldn’t see the broadsides of a barn man.”
Harrison shared a revealing insight about the Steelers' game against the Patriots, expressing that it felt as though the Patriots were preemptively aware of their plays. This sentiment has been echoed by several other Steelers players who participated in that contentious 2004 game, all suggesting that there were questionable circumstances.
Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, speaking on his podcast in 2023, explicitly stated his belief that the Patriots had cheated in that game. Similarly, Steelers legendary running back Jerome Bettis recounted a specific incident during the game: on a crucial fourth-and-one situation, the Patriots called a timeout and subsequently thwarted one of his runs. Bettis alleged that the Patriots had deciphered all of the Steelers' signals, which he felt played a significant role in New England securing a decisive 41-27 victory in that pivotal matchup.
Gene J. Puskar / ap photo
Former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger (left) and running back, Jerome Bettis (right) embrace each other after winning Super Bowl XL.
Following their controversial win over the Steelers, the Patriots continued their successful run and reached the Super Bowl, where they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21.
However, the Patriots' legacy has been marred by multiple accusations of cheating, not only from Steelers players. One of the most infamous incidents, known as Deflategate, involved Tom Brady and occurred during a 2014 playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts. In adverse weather conditions, the Patriots were accused of deflating footballs to gain an advantage, ultimately dominating the game from start to finish.
Earlier, in 2007, the Spygate scandal emerged during a regular season game against the New York Jets, where the Patriots were accused of stealing signals. The NFL confiscated their video equipment, and the Patriots later admitted to the wrongdoing.
Given this history of confirmed rule violations, Harrison's accusations that the Patriots had foreknowledge of the Steelers' plays in the 2004 AFC Championship adds further credibility to the claims of cheating. The pattern of behavior over the years makes it increasingly plausible that such tactics were employed during that critical game.
Steelers' Headsets Malfunctioned In 2015 Against The Patriots
This incident is somewhat murkier. During the 2015 season opener, the Steelers faced the Patriots on the road. Throughout the game, the Steelers' coaching staff experienced significant malfunctions with their headsets. They reported that their communication was intermittently disrupted by a New England radio broadcast, severely hampering their ability to communicate effectively during the game.
Arron Anastasia / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Mike Tomlin coaching during a game.
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin did not mince words after the game, suggesting that the Patriots might have been responsible for the interference. However, the NFL attributed the issue to adverse weather conditions and a technical glitch, not foul play. The Steelers opted not to file a formal complaint, and the matter did not escalate further. Nonetheless, this incident adds another layer of controversy to the Patriots' reputation, lending credence to Harrison's earlier claims of misconduct against them.
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