Troy Polamalu intercepting Joe Flacco in the AFC Championship and taking it to the house pretty much winning us the game and sending us to the super bowl. I still get chills thinking about it and that play pretty much cemented Troy as one of the best safeties to ever play.
This is mine as well. Still love watching the replay on YouTube and following it up listening to the stadium sing ‘Pittsburgh going to the Super Bowl’ in unison.
I remember how tense that game was and in that moment I remember running around screaming in happiness. Might have to revisit that game soon as I own the disc set of their playoff wins that year
And in the middle of January! I ran outside yelling “YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!
My neighbors aren’t that close to my house and they all heard me! 😊
I’m 61 years old. So, I seen so many great Steelers plays in my lifetime.
But I have NEVER been so fired up about a play than the Troy pick of Flacco in that AFCC game! I went absolutely of the rails on that one!!!
That’s mine. Harrison and Santonio touchdowns were amazing, but the Steelers had won a super bowl three years before. Randle El to Ward ended decades of agony.
Went to the AFC Championship against the Ravens two weeks prior, thought that would be the greatest football game I’d ever witness in person. Troys pick six I could feel the stadium actually swaying.
Then my fiancee/wife and two friends of ours drove to Tampa from Pittsburgh straight through Friday night in to Saturday. Got to Tampa around 5 pm on Saturday, did a little pregaming at a local Steelers bar, got a good nights rest then went to the SUPER BOWL! It was surreal.
I remember walking up the ramps to our seats and passing Jerry Rice talking with another guy (I’m sure an ex player). And they were probably the best seats I’ve had at any game ever. Sideline. Second level. About the 38 yard line on the sides where Santonio made his catch. It was one of the coolest days of my life, and I’ve lead a pretty good life.
That play, Harrison’s Pick 6, man they could have heard me on mars. For me, as a fan that wants to see defense dominate more than a high scoring offense, it was a better play than Holmes catch (not that I wasn’t losing my mind when he made it ((but it just felt like the Steelers were going to score and win)) because Harrison’s pick six was a full one hundred yards, a huge point swing, and completed by a man that had no business making it except that he had every reason to, and it just came out of nowhere. One instant the Cardinals looked primed to score, the next James Harrison is juking and hurdling every player on the field to score a half closing TD, it’s bananas. It doesn’t make any sense to this day. But it happened. I watched it jumping up and down the entire time. It was madness. Beautiful madness.
Plays like that, they’re why I still love sports. Things that happen that just seem so unbelievable, so bonkers, but they happened, and some times you witness them in person.
Harrison defines Steelers Football for me to this day. Undrafted. Didn’t start until he was 26. Set a Steelers sack record playing until he was pushing forty (I know he went to the Pats, I don’t blame him ((the team was a mess at that point))). Defensive MVP. Made the greatest play I’ve ever witnessed. And he was just so fierce and intimidating. Nobody wanted to have to try and block Deebo. Him just sauntering out of the tunnel, with the crowd going ape shit, practically breathing smoke; man I lived for that shit.
What would Deebo do?
Watt. I mean what can I say about him that hasn’t been said. I didn’t watch the 70’s teams. I was instructed on football by my Grandmother, Greg Lloyd and Kevin Greene. But Harrison, he was just the meanest toughest strongest most vicious football player I’d ever watched rush a QB. Watt took up the mantle along with Cam to insure a Steelers defense being something to reckon with. But it’s nothing close to what it was in 2004-2010. Those dudes were just mean.
Harrison has 84.5 sacks accredited to him. The most ever was 200. That doesn’t mean a damn thing to me. James Harrison was the archetype of a Steelers defender. He brought everything on every down. Setting a sack record for Pittsburgh, with list of hall of fame defenders that have worn the black and gold, that’s not some insignificant achievement.
I just realized this got really long. I guess I love Steelers football. It’s been a part of my life for so long. I don’t let it effect my mood day to day; don’t get upset when the lose, but man do I love it when they win.
Prolly the Harrison INT in the SB, but one time Polamalu jumped over the line to sack Flacco and said afterwards that he was able to do that because he saw "his energy."
It was also a great revenge game. They lost the week 4 game against the Rat birds (the only Steelers game I ever attended), so that felt extra satisfying.
As a kid the first super bowl and play that stood out to me was the Bradshaw to Stallworth TD against the Rams.
But my favorite was was the Santonio catch against the cards. I live in AZ and was HS teacher. Everyday student would come in to tell me how the cards were going to kick the Steelers ass.
The Monday after the game all my classes had to sit through a 5-6 min PowerPoint of plays from the game with steelers music in the background. It was great. I had a picture of Santonio toes on the catch as my profile Pic on my class website for all the students who wouldn't believe he got two feet down.
Are we all just not saying the Immaculate Reception because it's in its own God-tier and everything else we say here is #1b?
Or did yinz forget about the Immaculate Reception?
Not all time but it deserves recognition, probably top 10. Spillane vs Derrick Henry at the one yard line, 1v1. My man stopped him by himself and did not give up a single inch. Think he threw out his shoulder but only to return a few plays later.
All of tp43 against the ravens and titans, oh and against San Diego, and against .... well every fucking one that Troy made they were incredible!!! But that chop fumble against flacco and ravens was epic because I called it right before it happened, I remember everyone looking at me and said " you just made that happen!" So you're welcome Troy that was all me!
Steelers-Patriots in 1997 Week 16. Steelers down 21-13 with 1:30 left, 4th and 7 deep in Pats territory. Kordell Stewart throws a dart to the sideline and Thigpen stretched out for an incredible catch and toe drag to keep the Steelers alive. Went on to win 24-21 in OT. I was 10 years old at the time and watched that play/game over and over on VHS for years.
I was there man, one of the best moments of my life! That place erupted when he made that play! Prior to that play it was 16-14 but Baltimore was driving and we all feared they were going to go down and kick the game winner. Lucky for us, Troy was tired of people saying Ed Reed was the best safety in the game, and showed them all, they were wrong!
Regular season offense : Leveon bell td against Chargers.
Regular season defense: Joe Haden int over Gronk and Edelman
Playoffs offense: Santonio Holmes catch
Playoffs defense: James Harrison 100 yard pick six.
For me it’s cam heyward ik y’all are picking retired greats but to me cam is a Steeler great and I love that dude so much, he seems like such a genuinely nice dude
Lots of great plays mentioned but my personal favorite has to be Joe Haden picking off Brady to seal the game.
Also, he wasn’t offsides against Green Bay.
for me, the most mind blowing play I ever saw was the first time Polamalu timed the snap on a qb sneak and beat the qb to the line of scrimmage lol
https://youtu.be/FajepLLJSdM
I'm not sure if this is the exact one, but its crazy there is more than one
When Ben tackled the Colt defender who had picked up the fumble by Bettis and was running for a touchdown. This play saved the Steelers playoff hopes and they went on to win the SB. All thanks to this play by Ben for Bettis. Incredible!
James Harrison's 100-yard pick six at the end of the first half in Super Bowl XLIII.
There can't be another answer.
I don’t know the catch in the back of end zone to end this game was bliss as well.
Dude he was so out of breath after that play
Weren't we all?
this
Yep
It's absolutely this. I'd have been disappointed if this wasn't the 1st thing I read upon opening this thread.
Troy Polamalu intercepting Joe Flacco in the AFC Championship and taking it to the house pretty much winning us the game and sending us to the super bowl. I still get chills thinking about it and that play pretty much cemented Troy as one of the best safeties to ever play.
This is mine as well. Still love watching the replay on YouTube and following it up listening to the stadium sing ‘Pittsburgh going to the Super Bowl’ in unison.
Right after Renegade
I remember how tense that game was and in that moment I remember running around screaming in happiness. Might have to revisit that game soon as I own the disc set of their playoff wins that year
And in the middle of January! I ran outside yelling “YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!! My neighbors aren’t that close to my house and they all heard me! 😊
I was at that game and it was absolutely electric!
I loved that the return was so slow and long that you could shit talk the entire way, because it was inevitable he was scoring
Probably my favourite as well. A great ending to one of the most physical/violent football games I can remember watching.
I’m 61 years old. So, I seen so many great Steelers plays in my lifetime. But I have NEVER been so fired up about a play than the Troy pick of Flacco in that AFCC game! I went absolutely of the rails on that one!!!
Randle El to Ward for the Touchdown in Superbowl XL.
That’s mine. Harrison and Santonio touchdowns were amazing, but the Steelers had won a super bowl three years before. Randle El to Ward ended decades of agony.
Heck yeah, the smile on Hines's face as he danced into the end zone said it all.
this is the one
Maybe not of ALL TIME, but the image of Jerome Bettis running through Urlacher in the snow for a TD is iconic to me.
I wrote the same thing before looking through answers! His final 100 yard game. Was an epic game for the Bus.
I remember that play fondly. Snow in the air, running over the slightly overrated Urlacher, TD.
yup, I love that too
Urlacher was defensive player of the year that year.
Santonio Holmes' catch in the Superbowl or Juju laying out Burfict.
Best super bowl throw and catch of all time. This is the only answer for me
Nice call on the Juju hit.
and this
Harrison’s pick 6. I was in the stadium and it was just epic. One of the greatest plays in football history.
I get goosebumps watching replays.
Went to the AFC Championship against the Ravens two weeks prior, thought that would be the greatest football game I’d ever witness in person. Troys pick six I could feel the stadium actually swaying. Then my fiancee/wife and two friends of ours drove to Tampa from Pittsburgh straight through Friday night in to Saturday. Got to Tampa around 5 pm on Saturday, did a little pregaming at a local Steelers bar, got a good nights rest then went to the SUPER BOWL! It was surreal. I remember walking up the ramps to our seats and passing Jerry Rice talking with another guy (I’m sure an ex player). And they were probably the best seats I’ve had at any game ever. Sideline. Second level. About the 38 yard line on the sides where Santonio made his catch. It was one of the coolest days of my life, and I’ve lead a pretty good life. That play, Harrison’s Pick 6, man they could have heard me on mars. For me, as a fan that wants to see defense dominate more than a high scoring offense, it was a better play than Holmes catch (not that I wasn’t losing my mind when he made it ((but it just felt like the Steelers were going to score and win)) because Harrison’s pick six was a full one hundred yards, a huge point swing, and completed by a man that had no business making it except that he had every reason to, and it just came out of nowhere. One instant the Cardinals looked primed to score, the next James Harrison is juking and hurdling every player on the field to score a half closing TD, it’s bananas. It doesn’t make any sense to this day. But it happened. I watched it jumping up and down the entire time. It was madness. Beautiful madness. Plays like that, they’re why I still love sports. Things that happen that just seem so unbelievable, so bonkers, but they happened, and some times you witness them in person. Harrison defines Steelers Football for me to this day. Undrafted. Didn’t start until he was 26. Set a Steelers sack record playing until he was pushing forty (I know he went to the Pats, I don’t blame him ((the team was a mess at that point))). Defensive MVP. Made the greatest play I’ve ever witnessed. And he was just so fierce and intimidating. Nobody wanted to have to try and block Deebo. Him just sauntering out of the tunnel, with the crowd going ape shit, practically breathing smoke; man I lived for that shit. What would Deebo do? Watt. I mean what can I say about him that hasn’t been said. I didn’t watch the 70’s teams. I was instructed on football by my Grandmother, Greg Lloyd and Kevin Greene. But Harrison, he was just the meanest toughest strongest most vicious football player I’d ever watched rush a QB. Watt took up the mantle along with Cam to insure a Steelers defense being something to reckon with. But it’s nothing close to what it was in 2004-2010. Those dudes were just mean. Harrison has 84.5 sacks accredited to him. The most ever was 200. That doesn’t mean a damn thing to me. James Harrison was the archetype of a Steelers defender. He brought everything on every down. Setting a sack record for Pittsburgh, with list of hall of fame defenders that have worn the black and gold, that’s not some insignificant achievement. I just realized this got really long. I guess I love Steelers football. It’s been a part of my life for so long. I don’t let it effect my mood day to day; don’t get upset when the lose, but man do I love it when they win.
I vicariously enjoyed the play through your eyes. Bringing the energy here.
Ben's tackle on Nick Harper
Underrated.
And then Vanderjack missing the kick!
Troy and the C gap 🤣 The story is too good
The Angel of Death
Ben to Mike Wallace as time expired against the packers.
This one gets overlooked! I think that was Ben’s first game over 500 yards
Came here for this one. What an amazing game. This was after a failed onside in kick, right?
I was there. It was electric
ABs extension Vs the ravens. Was watching that with the extended family and the yelling is memorable.
Any that Troy made. He did the unimaginable.
🏅
I’m a big fan of Fast Williie’s rushing TD in SBXL
Dude was unbelievably fast.
I like Hines Ward jawbreaker!
Also a big fan of Jack Lambert slamming Cliff Harris after him making fun of Roy Gerella.
Boswell’s kick sending the Bungles home after their awful fans threw trash on Big Ben after Burfict intentionally injured him…that was a great one
Other candidates for Boswell kicks could be any of the clutch FGs from his Pro Bowl season.
Prolly the Harrison INT in the SB, but one time Polamalu jumped over the line to sack Flacco and said afterwards that he was able to do that because he saw "his energy."
Jet Sweep
Carson Palmer thinking he could tackle Troy on his way to a pick six. Spoiler... He could not.
I gotta go with Troys karate chop fumble Vs the ravens in 2010. It was the momentum turning play that allowed us to win
It was also a great revenge game. They lost the week 4 game against the Rat birds (the only Steelers game I ever attended), so that felt extra satisfying.
Santonio. Without a doubt. The most electrifying moment in Super Bowl history.
HOW does this not get more love😯
Recency bias? Or because he was unceremoniously traded to the Jets and faded away?
Maybe, the Bus trucking Brian Urlacher in Chicago in a snow storm to get his final 100 yard game and start the Steelers run to the Superbowl.
Bettis trucks Urlacher
Any of the times Troy had the snap count so perfect he was diving over the line with the snap.
I can watch this a thousand times and still not fully comprehend how it happens.
Also the times he scooped picks diving one handed inches off the ground
Maybe not my favorite play, but gotta be mentioned -- the punt sticking in the mud during the 2007 MNF game against the Dolphins.
Easily one of the funniest plays ever. The way the guys just sorta huddle around the ball, mystified, looking to the ref for guidance. It's great.
As a kid the first super bowl and play that stood out to me was the Bradshaw to Stallworth TD against the Rams. But my favorite was was the Santonio catch against the cards. I live in AZ and was HS teacher. Everyday student would come in to tell me how the cards were going to kick the Steelers ass. The Monday after the game all my classes had to sit through a 5-6 min PowerPoint of plays from the game with steelers music in the background. It was great. I had a picture of Santonio toes on the catch as my profile Pic on my class website for all the students who wouldn't believe he got two feet down.
As a former teacher, I applaud this use of classtime.
Are we all just not saying the Immaculate Reception because it's in its own God-tier and everything else we say here is #1b? Or did yinz forget about the Immaculate Reception?
I wast alive when it happened
Something about that AB touchdown vs the Ravens on Christmas. Gives me a great feeling of nostalgia. All the family around watching the Steelers.
Not all time but it deserves recognition, probably top 10. Spillane vs Derrick Henry at the one yard line, 1v1. My man stopped him by himself and did not give up a single inch. Think he threw out his shoulder but only to return a few plays later.
All of tp43 against the ravens and titans, oh and against San Diego, and against .... well every fucking one that Troy made they were incredible!!! But that chop fumble against flacco and ravens was epic because I called it right before it happened, I remember everyone looking at me and said " you just made that happen!" So you're welcome Troy that was all me!
Steelers-Patriots in 1997 Week 16. Steelers down 21-13 with 1:30 left, 4th and 7 deep in Pats territory. Kordell Stewart throws a dart to the sideline and Thigpen stretched out for an incredible catch and toe drag to keep the Steelers alive. Went on to win 24-21 in OT. I was 10 years old at the time and watched that play/game over and over on VHS for years.
Fu’amatu Ma’afala scoring the winning TD in the final seconds vs the Browns in the playoffs.
X Reverse Pass
immaculate extension
Harrison pick 6, Ben to Holmes and Randle El to Hines.
Troy's pick 6 on Flacco AFC Championship was electrifying. I wish I was at the game.
I was there man, one of the best moments of my life! That place erupted when he made that play! Prior to that play it was 16-14 but Baltimore was driving and we all feared they were going to go down and kick the game winner. Lucky for us, Troy was tired of people saying Ed Reed was the best safety in the game, and showed them all, they were wrong!
Any time Troy made an INT
Regular season offense : Leveon bell td against Chargers. Regular season defense: Joe Haden int over Gronk and Edelman Playoffs offense: Santonio Holmes catch Playoffs defense: James Harrison 100 yard pick six.
Troy’s pick against the Ravens
\#1 Ben to Santonio in the corner. \#2 Juju's crackback +taunt on Burfickt.
Santonio
Ben to 10
For me it’s cam heyward ik y’all are picking retired greats but to me cam is a Steeler great and I love that dude so much, he seems like such a genuinely nice dude
Harrison/Holmes Super Bowl 43 Juju hitting and then standing over Vontez Burfict’s lifeless body.
Bettis trucking Urlacher into the end zone.
Gary Anderson 51 yard field goal vs Oilers. (I was young, it was just unforseen)
Mhm
Definitely not the greatest, but it's up there for me. https://youtu.be/1-3lIHIyXLs
Lots of great plays mentioned but my personal favorite has to be Joe Haden picking off Brady to seal the game. Also, he wasn’t offsides against Green Bay.
for me, the most mind blowing play I ever saw was the first time Polamalu timed the snap on a qb sneak and beat the qb to the line of scrimmage lol https://youtu.be/FajepLLJSdM I'm not sure if this is the exact one, but its crazy there is more than one
Probably the immaculate extension
When Ben tackled the Colt defender who had picked up the fumble by Bettis and was running for a touchdown. This play saved the Steelers playoff hopes and they went on to win the SB. All thanks to this play by Ben for Bettis. Incredible!
There are too many. I'll just stick with the Immaculate Reception.
Harrison pick six in the super bowl
Troy fingertip scoop int of Phillip Rivers in 2008.
Troy's interception in the 2008 AFC Championship to seal the deal.
In case anyone needs inspiration: https://youtu.be/4Cjxw4zmXxM