The Pittsburgh Steelers delivered one of the most stressful yet exciting Super Bowl victories when they defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. It was the franchise's sixth Super Bowl victory and a remarkable achievement for a young Steelers Head Coach in Mike Tomlin, early in his career in Pittsburgh.
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Late Steelers owner Dan Rooney along side Head Coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after a victorious Super Bowl XLIII.
That Super Bowl was wild and filled with many unforgettable moments. It is often said that football is a game of inches, and on that day, that sentiment could not have been more true. The game started with Pittsburgh scoring first, going up 3-0 in the first quarter on an 18-yard field goal kicked by Jeff Reed. In the second quarter, the Steelers scored another touchdown, going up 10-0, but the Cardinals punched back with a touchdown of their own.
Right before halftime, with the score at 10-7, the Cardinals were poised to tie the game or take the lead. It was first and goal on the three-yard line with 18 seconds left when Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner dropped back to throw a touchdown pass.
When James Harrison made one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history 🏆pic.twitter.com/8y7tFRwnt9
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Warner threw the football, but James Harrison stepped in and intercepted it. The next minute or so was one of the most exciting moments in Steelers history. Harrison ran the ball back 100 yards like a freight train, evading Cardinals players and scoring just before halftime, giving Pittsburgh a 17-7 lead at the half. It was a huge momentum shift for Pittsburgh and demoralizing for the Cardinals.
Former Steelers Offensive Quality Control Coach Mike Miller, was the wide receivers coach for the Cardinals during the Super Bowl. In the book Facing the Pittsburgh Steelers: Players Recall the Glory Years of the Black and Gold, he revealed surprising insights. Miller disclosed that the Cardinals coaches were acutely aware that the play could spell trouble.
“The mistake with the interception return or mistakes that would not be obvious from just watching the game. You wish you didn't make those mistakes. There are some things that took place that we were aware of before the play. We tried to get it corrected.”
Miller detailed that the Cardinals staff knew Harrison was supposed to blitz. However, Harrison quickly realized this might not be the best idea and dropped back into coverage instead. Recognizing the potential for trouble, the Cardinals coaches attempted to correct it, but their efforts failed. Harrison went on to deliver one of the most incredible plays in Super Bowl history.
“As we read the play, James Harrison was supposed to blitz. But James apparently thought that was a mistake, so rather than blitz, he dropped at the last second, we did not think he would be there. He was able to step in and make a play on the ball. Then, we just had missed tackles the other way and he was able to go 100 yards for a touchdown.”
That play was a massive turning point in the game. Early on, it seemed like Pittsburgh had control, taking an early lead. However, Warner and the Cardinals were grinding back and were close to heading into halftime with the lead.
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes makes an incredible catch to take the lead over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.
Harrison's interception changed everything. It ultimately took a miracle game-winning drive, culminating with Ben Roethlisberger's pass to Santonio Holmes, for the Steelers to secure a 27-23 victory. Holmes made a spectacular catch, sealing the win.
In the second half, Warner and Larry Fitzgerald entered takeover mode. Fitzgerald had seven catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns, with much of his production coming in the latter half of the game. Without Harrison's incredible play, the Steelers might not have had the opportunity for the game-winning drive with Holmes. In football, every play matters. Capitalizing on mistakes is how you win games, and that’s exactly what Harrison and Pittsburgh did that day.
Steelers' James Harrison Believes He Owns The Greatest Play In Super Bowl History
Harrison confidently asserts that his 100-yard pick-six is the best play in Super Bowl history. There have been many tremendous plays in the history of the Super Bowl. However, consider what it took for Harrison to run that interception all the way back. The intense pressure to score was immense.
Heinz Kluetmeier / Sports Illustrated
Steelers legendary linebacker, James Harrison (#92) returns an interception for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals as time expires in the first half of Super Bowl XLIII.
Had Harrison been tackled, the Steelers would likely have gone into halftime without any additional points. That play was crucial to the game's outcome, enhancing its impact and cementing its greatness. One could also argue that Holmes' game-winning, toe-tap touchdown catch is among the greatest plays in Super Bowl history.
Without Harrison's splash play, Pittsburgh and Tomlin might have lost the game. Without Holmes' catch, Pittsburgh and Tomlin certainly lose the game. Super Bowl XLIII will forever live on in the minds of Steelers fans, but it could have been a very different story without those two big plays.
If the Cardinals had corrected in time and Harrison hadn't made that play, do you think Pittsburgh would still have won the game? Let us know in the comments below!
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