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As the NFL approaches its highly anticipated golden anniversary Super Bowl, Yahoo Sports takes a look back at some of the most memorable moments in the game's history.
In our rankings, the moments go beyond the great scores and plays. We also take a look at entertainment performances, scandals/controversies and other events associated with corresponding Super Bowls.
Here's a look at moment No. 15:
Harrison's pick-six
Could a second-quarter interception by a player who ignored his team's defensive call be the greatest play in Super Bowl history?
Ask the question anywhere near a water cooler, and you'll get the typical litany of great catches: Lynn Swann's balletic grab, John Taylor's game-winner from Joe Montana, David Tyree's helmet catch, Santonio Holmes' … it's a long list.
You'll hear about the great runs such as John Riggins' score on fourth down in Super Bowl XVII, or Marcus Allen's field-reversing TD the next year.
There might even be love for other defenders (Larry Brown, Mike Jones, Tracy Porter) or the special teams (Desmond Howard, Adam Vinatieri, the New Orleans Saints' on-sides kick).
But James Harrison deserved strong consideration, even if his pick in Super Bowl XLIII only ranks 15th here.
"I said it right after it happened: 'That's the greatest defensive play in Super Bowl history,'*" former Steelers linebacker James Farrior told Yahoo Sports by phone. "I still think so."
The Arizona Cardinals had the league's hottest offense coming into Super Bowl XLIII. The Pittsburgh Steelers entered with the NFL's No. 1-ranked defense. And Harrison was the league's best defender that season.
More Most Memorable Super Bowl Moments:
• 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26-30 | 31-35 | 36-40 | 41-45 | 46-50
• NEXT (Jan. 19): No. 14
"We had one of the best defenses statistically in NFL history," cornerback Bryant McFadden told Yahoo Sports. "We had a streak of keeping teams under 300 yards in the regular season [15 of 16 games, including the first 14] that we didn't really realize until late in the season … we really didn't realize how good we were.
"But we all knew how good James was that season. He was just on a different level."
Harrison was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, with career highs in sacks (16) and forced fumbles (seven). The Steelers ranked first in total defense, pass defense and fewest points allowed.
The teams met in ideal, warm conditions in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium, and the game was turning out to be quite good late in the second quarter.
The Steelers took a 10-0 lead, opting to kick a field goal from the Arizona 1-yard line in the first quarter, but the Cardinals roared back after a brutal start offensively. Kurt Warner led an 83-yard touchdown drive, with the Cardinals cutting the lead to 10-7, and they picked off Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger right before the two-minute warning.
The Cardinals were in business at the Pittsburgh 1 with 18 seconds left in the first half. In theory, they could have three cracks at the end zone and a field-goal attempt if needed. On first and goal, the Cardinals came out in "11" personnel (one back, one tight end) with receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin stacked on the offense's left side and Steve Breaston split to the right.
The Steelers' defensive call was "Max Peel Blitz-0," which meant an all-out blitz with no deep safety help, and the edge rushers were responsible for covering Cardinals back Edgerrin James (the "peel" part) — using a "hug" technique to slow him down — in case he flared out for a pass.
Harrison was supposed to blitz. But something didn't smell right. With Fitzgerald and Boldin stacked to his right, film study — instinct, really — told Harrison that Warner was likely throwing that way, that one of the two were the "hot" receiver to counteract the blitz. All three receivers had 1,000-yard seasons, but Fitzgerald and Boldin were the guys down there.
"There was this little back and forth with Warner going on before the play," McFadden said. "Warner saw [Harrison] was blitzing so he went hot. And James knew Kurt knew that, so he switched what he did."
Harrison guessed right. He faked the blitz, stabbing one foot toward Warner before dropping off into coverage. Warner threw right to him, trying to find Boldin on the slant off Fitzgerald's rub route.
"That's a total instinctive play," Farrior said. "A true football play where he's just playing. Something he probably didn't even have to think about.
It was the first and only interception in Harrison's postseason career (16 games), and he has had only seven interceptions in 172 regular-season games. This is the one people will remember.
"Hit James right in the chest," McFadden said.
And it's a good thing Harrison had that funny feeling.
"Boldin would have walked into the end zone if James doesn't make that play," Farrior said.
First Harrison stumbled after the interception, running into the back of cornerback Deshea Townsend. Then there was the matter of half the Cardinals' offense still in front of him. The third factor was the clock — 17 seconds remained when he made the pick, and it stood at :13 left when Harrison made it to his own 20-yard line.
Warner first tried in vain to tackle Harrison. Townsend ran enough interference on him to prevent that, but Warner seemed to slow Harrison down enough to make it likely he'd be knocked out around midfield.
Tick, tick, tick … nine seconds remained. A handful of Cardinals were still in position to make a tackle or force him out of bounds. Heck, even Harrison's teammates wanted him to step out.
"Yes, I thought he was going to get caught. More than once," Farrior said. "I was thinking, 'Man, get out of bounds so we can kick this field goal.' I didn't think he had a chance to make it."
Said McFadden: "Around our 40 [yard line], I look and it's all offensive linemen and Kurt Warner behind him. Hey, we might have a shot here. I was just hoping he wouldn't run out of gas. He almost did."
Harrison had a convoy — Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley were taking care of Cardinals running back James; Townsend and Ike Taylor were watching his backside; and defensive end Aaron Smith made two blocks on the play. The 298-pound lumberjack of a lineman first cracked Cardinals guard Reggie Wells around the 12 and ran him out of the play, then Smith sprinted more than 40 yards down the field to take out Cardinals tackle Levi Brown, too.
Three Cardinals had one final gasp to bring down Harrison inside the Arizona 20-yard line as the clock ticked down — five seconds left. First, it was tackle Mike Gandy, who dove at his feet and missed. Then it was Breaston, who ran all the way from the far corner of the opposite end zone after a fade route, and Fitzgerald, who ran out of bounds and even was bumped by his own teammates.
Breaston and Fitzgerald both got there, but it was too late. They tackled Harrison into the end zone for the stunning 100-yard pick-six as time expired at the half. An amazing swing — from potentially down 14-10 to up 17-7. While Bruce Springsteen was ripping through "Born To Run" — fitting, eh? — on the field, the Steelers were still buzzing in the locker room over what had happened on the final play of the half.
"It was like a sigh a relief," McFadden said. "We went from being on eggshells to back to feeling really comfortable. Man, we needed that one."
Did they ever. Although the Steelers tacked on a field goal in third quarter and kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard until the mid-fourth quarter, Warner led a furious rally down the stretch with two touchdown passes to Fitzgerald, including a 64-yarder with 2:37 left to take a 23-20 lead.
Of course, the Steelers would come down and win it. Ben Roethlisberger found Holmes — yes, one of those epic catches — in the corner of the end zone behind three Cardinals defenders, giving Harrison some competition for play of the game.
In fact, Holmes won Super Bowl MVP for his effort.
"Santonio's play was big," Farrior said. "But the biggest momentum play of the game was by James. James Harrison's play changed the game."
From undrafted unknown, Harrison has had a tremendous career, fueled by a tireless work ethic, and that signature moment in his finest season on which to hang his hat.
"He's always been a workout animal," Farrior said. "We always told him his body doesn't know the difference between slowdown time, game time, workout time — it's always game time for his body. I told him it was going to catch up with him sometime, but obviously I was wrong.
"His body didn't quit on that play, and it still hasn't quit."
In our rankings, the moments go beyond the great scores and plays. We also take a look at entertainment performances, scandals/controversies and other events associated with corresponding Super Bowls.
Here's a look at moment No. 15:
Harrison's pick-six
Ask the question anywhere near a water cooler, and you'll get the typical litany of great catches: Lynn Swann's balletic grab, John Taylor's game-winner from Joe Montana, David Tyree's helmet catch, Santonio Holmes' … it's a long list.
You'll hear about the great runs such as John Riggins' score on fourth down in Super Bowl XVII, or Marcus Allen's field-reversing TD the next year.
There might even be love for other defenders (Larry Brown, Mike Jones, Tracy Porter) or the special teams (Desmond Howard, Adam Vinatieri, the New Orleans Saints' on-sides kick).
But James Harrison deserved strong consideration, even if his pick in Super Bowl XLIII only ranks 15th here.
"I said it right after it happened: 'That's the greatest defensive play in Super Bowl history,'*" former Steelers linebacker James Farrior told Yahoo Sports by phone. "I still think so."
The Arizona Cardinals had the league's hottest offense coming into Super Bowl XLIII. The Pittsburgh Steelers entered with the NFL's No. 1-ranked defense. And Harrison was the league's best defender that season.
More Most Memorable Super Bowl Moments:
• 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26-30 | 31-35 | 36-40 | 41-45 | 46-50
• NEXT (Jan. 19): No. 14
"We had one of the best defenses statistically in NFL history," cornerback Bryant McFadden told Yahoo Sports. "We had a streak of keeping teams under 300 yards in the regular season [15 of 16 games, including the first 14] that we didn't really realize until late in the season … we really didn't realize how good we were.
"But we all knew how good James was that season. He was just on a different level."
Harrison was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, with career highs in sacks (16) and forced fumbles (seven). The Steelers ranked first in total defense, pass defense and fewest points allowed.
The teams met in ideal, warm conditions in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium, and the game was turning out to be quite good late in the second quarter.
The Steelers took a 10-0 lead, opting to kick a field goal from the Arizona 1-yard line in the first quarter, but the Cardinals roared back after a brutal start offensively. Kurt Warner led an 83-yard touchdown drive, with the Cardinals cutting the lead to 10-7, and they picked off Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger right before the two-minute warning.
The Cardinals were in business at the Pittsburgh 1 with 18 seconds left in the first half. In theory, they could have three cracks at the end zone and a field-goal attempt if needed. On first and goal, the Cardinals came out in "11" personnel (one back, one tight end) with receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin stacked on the offense's left side and Steve Breaston split to the right.
The Steelers' defensive call was "Max Peel Blitz-0," which meant an all-out blitz with no deep safety help, and the edge rushers were responsible for covering Cardinals back Edgerrin James (the "peel" part) — using a "hug" technique to slow him down — in case he flared out for a pass.
Harrison was supposed to blitz. But something didn't smell right. With Fitzgerald and Boldin stacked to his right, film study — instinct, really — told Harrison that Warner was likely throwing that way, that one of the two were the "hot" receiver to counteract the blitz. All three receivers had 1,000-yard seasons, but Fitzgerald and Boldin were the guys down there.
"There was this little back and forth with Warner going on before the play," McFadden said. "Warner saw [Harrison] was blitzing so he went hot. And James knew Kurt knew that, so he switched what he did."
Harrison guessed right. He faked the blitz, stabbing one foot toward Warner before dropping off into coverage. Warner threw right to him, trying to find Boldin on the slant off Fitzgerald's rub route.
"That's a total instinctive play," Farrior said. "A true football play where he's just playing. Something he probably didn't even have to think about.
It was the first and only interception in Harrison's postseason career (16 games), and he has had only seven interceptions in 172 regular-season games. This is the one people will remember.
"Hit James right in the chest," McFadden said.
And it's a good thing Harrison had that funny feeling.
"Boldin would have walked into the end zone if James doesn't make that play," Farrior said.
First Harrison stumbled after the interception, running into the back of cornerback Deshea Townsend. Then there was the matter of half the Cardinals' offense still in front of him. The third factor was the clock — 17 seconds remained when he made the pick, and it stood at :13 left when Harrison made it to his own 20-yard line.
Warner first tried in vain to tackle Harrison. Townsend ran enough interference on him to prevent that, but Warner seemed to slow Harrison down enough to make it likely he'd be knocked out around midfield.
Tick, tick, tick … nine seconds remained. A handful of Cardinals were still in position to make a tackle or force him out of bounds. Heck, even Harrison's teammates wanted him to step out.
"Yes, I thought he was going to get caught. More than once," Farrior said. "I was thinking, 'Man, get out of bounds so we can kick this field goal.' I didn't think he had a chance to make it."
Said McFadden: "Around our 40 [yard line], I look and it's all offensive linemen and Kurt Warner behind him. Hey, we might have a shot here. I was just hoping he wouldn't run out of gas. He almost did."
Harrison had a convoy — Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley were taking care of Cardinals running back James; Townsend and Ike Taylor were watching his backside; and defensive end Aaron Smith made two blocks on the play. The 298-pound lumberjack of a lineman first cracked Cardinals guard Reggie Wells around the 12 and ran him out of the play, then Smith sprinted more than 40 yards down the field to take out Cardinals tackle Levi Brown, too.
Three Cardinals had one final gasp to bring down Harrison inside the Arizona 20-yard line as the clock ticked down — five seconds left. First, it was tackle Mike Gandy, who dove at his feet and missed. Then it was Breaston, who ran all the way from the far corner of the opposite end zone after a fade route, and Fitzgerald, who ran out of bounds and even was bumped by his own teammates.
Breaston and Fitzgerald both got there, but it was too late. They tackled Harrison into the end zone for the stunning 100-yard pick-six as time expired at the half. An amazing swing — from potentially down 14-10 to up 17-7. While Bruce Springsteen was ripping through "Born To Run" — fitting, eh? — on the field, the Steelers were still buzzing in the locker room over what had happened on the final play of the half.
Did they ever. Although the Steelers tacked on a field goal in third quarter and kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard until the mid-fourth quarter, Warner led a furious rally down the stretch with two touchdown passes to Fitzgerald, including a 64-yarder with 2:37 left to take a 23-20 lead.
Of course, the Steelers would come down and win it. Ben Roethlisberger found Holmes — yes, one of those epic catches — in the corner of the end zone behind three Cardinals defenders, giving Harrison some competition for play of the game.
In fact, Holmes won Super Bowl MVP for his effort.
"Santonio's play was big," Farrior said. "But the biggest momentum play of the game was by James. James Harrison's play changed the game."
From undrafted unknown, Harrison has had a tremendous career, fueled by a tireless work ethic, and that signature moment in his finest season on which to hang his hat.
"He's always been a workout animal," Farrior said. "We always told him his body doesn't know the difference between slowdown time, game time, workout time — it's always game time for his body. I told him it was going to catch up with him sometime, but obviously I was wrong.
"His body didn't quit on that play, and it still hasn't quit."