Skip to content
  • About
  • Events
  • Old Crime
  • N'At
  • People
  • Places
  • Sports
  • Yinz
  • About
  • Events
  • Old Crime
  • N'At
  • People
  • Places
  • Sports
  • Yinz
September 11, 2019 / Sports

Remembering that Steelers-Seahawks Super Bowl

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Bill and Kaye Cowher celebrate the Steelers’ Super Bowl XL victory against the Seattle Seahawks. (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)

The Steelers and Seahawks have very little in common. They operate in cities across the country from each other, play in separate conferences and usually only face off once every four years as the schedule dictates.

Both teams will be linked forever though because of Super Bowl XL, which took place Feb. 5, 2006, and resulted in a 21-10 Steelers victory and the franchise’s fifth NFL championship at Ford Field in Detroit.

No current Seahawk played in that game more than 13 years ago, and the only Steeler left who participated is quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. But with Seattle in town Sunday to take on the Steelers at Heinz Field, we thought it was as good a time as any to reminisce about that game and what was the Steelers’ first Lombardi Trophy since 1980.

Roethlisberger made the first of his three Super Bowl appearances in his sophomore NFL season. His box-score numbers weren’t particularly impressive — 9-of-21 for 123 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions — but he did score a rushing touchdown off a QB sneak in the second quarter.

Ben Roethlisberger picks up a first down with his legs against the Seahawks. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
Ben Roethlisberger dives for the goal line and scores a touchdown. (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)

The game’s MVP was receiver Hines Ward, who caught five balls for 123 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown thrown by fellow receiver Antwaan Randle El on a trick play.

Hines Ward flashes his trademark smile as he scampers in for a touchdown. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)

That was the game’s most memorable play, but of equal importance was running back Willie Parker’s 75-yard touchdown run, which still stands as the longest run from scrimmage in Super Bowl history.

Willie Parker’s touchdown in Super Bowl XL is still the longest rushing touchdown in Super Bowl history. (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)
Willie Parker scores on his memorable 75-yard run in the third quarter. (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)

One of the sweetest parts of the victory was running back Jerome Bettis winning his first and only ring in his hometown. He retired after the game, riding off into the sunset as a Super Bowl champion.

Jerome Bettis runs for yardage against the Seahawks. He finished the game with 14 carries for 43 yards. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)

Today, many non-Steelers fans remember Super Bowl XL for a few questionable calls that went Pittsburgh’s way. Those include whether or not that Roethlisberger QB sneak actually crossed the goal line, a touchdown catch by Seahawks receiver Darrell Jackson that was called back for offensive pass interference and another big reception by Seattle receiver Jerramy Stevens that didn’t stand due to a holding penalty on the offensive line.

Conspiracy theories abound about whether or not the game was fixed. Regardless, the Steelers won and celebrated accordingly.

Ben Roethlisberger kisses the Lombardi Trophy in the locker room. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
Jerome Bettis finds his family in the crowd in Detroit. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
Jerome Bettis holds his daughter after beating the Seahawks. (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward hoists the Lombardi Trophy. (Lake Fong/Post-Gazette)
Troy Polamalu looks for his family in the stands after the Steelers’ victory. (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)

The championship parade in Pittsburgh was also pretty lit.

Ben Roethlisberger and Charlie Batch ride through a sea of fans lining Fifth Avenue. (John Beale/Post-Gazette)
Offensive tackle Marvel Smith celebrated with fans during the championship parade. (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette)
Hines Ward greets team owner Dan Rooney on the stage during the Super Bowl celebration. (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)

The Steelers have gone 2-1 in three games against the Seahawks since Super Bowl XL. They lost their last matchup with Seattle in 2015, 39-30, though that game was at CenturyLink Field.

Seattle won’t have the benefit of the “12th Man” on Sunday at Heinz Field. Of course, the outcome of that game won’t leave quite the legacy the Steelers cemented that winter day in Detroit.

You might also want to see...

Topics related to this:Antwaan Randle El Ben Roethlisberger Bill Cowher Dan Rooney Hines Ward Jerome Bettis Marvel Smith pittsburgh Pittsburgh Steelers Seattle Seahawks Steelers Troy Polamalu

Joshua Axelrod

Old Pittsburgh photos and stories | The Digs

Browse by topic

  • Events (150)
  • Greatest Sports Photos (5)
  • Old crime (37)
  • People (107)
  • Pittsburgh n'at (138)
  • Places and landmarks (120)
  • Sports (102)
  • World (3)
  • Yinz (18)

Follow The Digs

RSS feed RSS - Posts

Find old photos

Most read this week

  • A tale of two frames: The iconic Y.A. Tittle photo(s)
  • Oliver High School gets out of control
  • Pittsburgh’s Chinatown and how it disappeared
  • Woodville State Hospital’s rise and fall
  • Whatever happened to Santo Bazzano?

Archives

Tags

"wow" photographs 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s baseball bridges Civic Arena Downtown Pittsburgh football Forbes Field historic moments holidays industry music and musicians North Side Oakland oddities Photographer Darrell Sapp Photographer Harry Coughanour Photographer Morris Berman Pittsburghers you know Pittsburghers you might not know Pittsburgh Pirates Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Pittsburgh skyline Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh traditions Pittsburgh women politicians pollution and smog rivers stage and film street scenes The Pittsburgh Press Things that are gone Three Rivers Stadium tragedies transportation University of Pittsburgh urban development weather and seasons

Tracks WordPress Theme by Compete Themes.

 

Loading Comments...