"I Was In Shock": Steelers Great Heath Miller Details Defining Moment In 2005 Super Bowl Run

The Pittsburgh Steelers teams that took the field in the 2000s were not just consistent, but also full of talent in every phase of the game. The collectives found a way to win two Super Bowls at the respective ends of the 2005 and 2008 NFL seasons. The pair of victories led to the organization having the most all-time, a mark that still stands today, but with the New England Patriots as a part of history as well. A lot fans love to look back and talk about the dominant defenses and Ben Roethlisberger, but there were so many other important contributors.

Any time a team goes on a Super Bowl run, there are memorable plays and moments that later end up defining that incredible season. The Steelers were not short of those in both 2005 and 2008. One of the most infamous plays in Roethlisberger's career wasn't necessarily an offensive highlight, but a shoestring tackle against the Indianapolis Colts in the 2005 Divisional Round that had kept Pittsburgh's dreams live following a rare Jerome Bettis fumble on the goal line.

Recently, SteelerNation sat down with tight end Heath Miller, who can be seen on the play pancaking a Colts defender into the end zone with Alan Faneca. When asked to relive that rollercoaster of a moment, he detailed that he couldn't believe what was happening.

"I was in shock just as much as anyone else," Miller said. "Because, A, the Bus never fumbles, so it had to be the perfect, I think, the Colts linebacker put his helmet right on the ball at the perfect spot and it just popped out. Such a fluke thing that happened and, you know, your heart kind of sinks and, luckily, Ben got the guy down and we were able to hold them.

Roethlisberger someone managed to tackle a much quicker Nick Harper and Indianapolis' kicker Mike Vanderjagt would go on to miss a 46-yard field goal that would have sent the game into overtime. Miller reflected on how, in the moment, the main goal for the Steelers' season could have been slipping away because of the turnover.

"You know as you come off to the sideline — and the whole leading up to that game and the whole playoff mantra, really the whole season, was to get the Bus back to Detroit and we were like, 'It can't end like this.'"

The rest, as they say, is history. Pittsburgh moved on to take down the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game and Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. The series of events that took place in Indianapolis will forever go down in football and Steelers lure.

Miller was only a rookie back in 2005 after being selected by the Steelers in the first round of the NFL Draft. He himself was in the middle of a fantastic game when Bettis coughed up the football. The tight end had three catches for 61 yards and a touchdown, which is sometimes forgotten about because of everything that transpired at the end of the contest.

Miller also had a touchdown catch in the 2008 playoffs that ended with Pittsburgh winning a sixth Lombardi Trophy. Often seen as a complementary player, Miller was the ultimate teammate and a true competitor.

Steelers Fans Will Always Love Heath Miller

Often known as being one of Roethlisberger's favorite targets, Miller was always there when the offense needed him. He was healthy for virtually his entire career and always found ways to help on third downs and in the red zone. His firsthand account from the unexpected Bettis fumble speaks volumes to just how shocked everyone was on the Steelers sideline after it seemed like the 2005 season could have been over.

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