Steelers' Santonio Holmes Was Unsure If Ben Roethlisberger Was Too Distraught To Trust Him Again In Super Bowl XLIII

The Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowl wins with six. Those Lombardi Trophies have brought with them some incredible moments. However, if you ask nearly anyone for the most amazing championship moment, they will tell you it was the toe-tap catch by Santonio Holmes in the corner of the end zone. 

It was Super Bowl XLIII, and the Steelers faced the Arizona Cardinals. Pittsburgh had been up thanks partly to an interception return from James Harrison, but in the second half, Kurt Warner started to stage a comeback. The Steelers were running out of time, but with just :42 seconds left on the clock, Roethlisberger made one of the most extraordinary throws of his storied career. Holmes completed one of the most fantastic catches in NFL history. 

Recently, Holmes talked to his former teammate, Bryant McFadden, on his podcast All Things Covered, which he co-hosts with his cousin Patrick Peterson. An eight-time Pro Bowler, Peterson spent time with the Cardinals, Vikings, and Steelers, but did not join the league until after this game. Holmes shared how he had been trying to earn Roethlisberger's respect and attention. He had battled broken ribs since Week 5, but badly wanted to contribute to this win. He knew the time was now on that final drive. Hines Ward wasn't totally healthy either, and Heath Miller and Nate Washington were both being double-teamed.  

"I walked up to Ben and I tapped him and I said, 'I want the ball right now.' I didn't know if he heard me, he sure didn't acknowledge me. That freaking guy heard, he was on the same page because then he hit me and I caught it with that first down. I was so ready to play football right then. Like this is you in the backyard with your friends. I want to be a part of the reason we win the ball game."

Then, a play was designed explicitly for Holmes to be open in the end zone's back corner. He said he was thinking about being inbounds and controlling his feet, and by the time he put his hands up, the ball went right through them and hit the ground.    

"I sat up and put my head down, and all I could say to myself was, 'You just blew the chance to be the Super Bowl MVP. You just blew the game.' Dude had a look on his face, he was so hot, so hurt, so disappointed. I just caught you right in the back of the end zone, wide open for a touchdown and you dropped the football. Heath Miller said, 'Don't worry Tone, he coming back to you on the next play.' He ain't coming back to me. I blew it. They ran the same play, flipped to the other side. I see the football coming, I stopped, I can't go no more 'cause I know I'm close to the sideline, if I take another step no question I'm out of bounds. I put my hands up. The ball is right there."

He said that was a play they had repeatedly practiced when he and Roethlisberger would stay after practice all season and work on that corner route for a touchdown. Holmes said that that time together cemented their relationship and helped the two form trust. 

The Steelers Had Many Heroes That Day

Fans love to talk about that Super Bowl. Maybe it's because an excellent Cardinals team fought back and the game nearly slipped from Pittsburgh's grasp. Many players deserved credit for that win, not just Holmes for that catch or Harrison for his interception. 

The Steelers defense was just better than the Cardinals. That defense was the best in the league. They were stacked with stars who were hungry to win. Roethlisberger had a huge game, with a passer rating of 93.2, 256 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. On top of that, guys like Miller, Ward, and Willie Parker all had key blocks.  

That win was an incredible feeling, one that the Steelers have been chasing ever since. 

What do you think was the best Steelers Super Bowl moment? Click to comment below.

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