The Pittsburgh Steelers were once known for having plenty of playoff success. The organization made it to the Super Bowl three separate times over a six-year span from the 2005 through 2010 NFL seasons. The present day Steelers have struggled in the postseason, having not won a playoff game since the 2016 season. The Steelers constant success in the mid-to-late 2000s and early 2010s kept many other players and organizations from reaching their ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl, with Hall Of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson being someone who fell to the Steelers in the postseason multiple times.
Nick Laham / Getty Images
LaDainian Tomlinson carries the ball for the New York Jets in the 2010 AFC Championship Game
Tomlinson squared off against the Steelers twice in the playoffs during his 11-year career, once during his time with the San Diego Chargers, and also on the tail-end of his career with the New York Jets. Tomlinson lost both matchups, one coming in the Divisional Round in the 2008 season and one was in the AFC Conference Championship Game at the end of the 2010 NFL season. Tomlinson specifically spoke about the 2010 AFCCG in a recent appearance on The Pivot, a podcast that is hosted by former Steeler Ryan Clark, who was on that Steelers team that ended Tomlinson's season in 2010.
"I'm gonna say this, even with the Jets, AFC Championship Game, Pittsburgh. I'm on the goal line, them boys stopped us, four straights times. We're right there, we came all the way back to have put ourselves in that position, to not win it. It's tough to live with."
The Steelers came away victorious to book their ticket to Super Bowl XLV by beating the Jets 24-19. The game finished closer than it should have, as the Steelers had a 24-3 lead going into halftime. The Jets started to come back in the third quarter after a touchdown by former Steelers receiver and Super Bowl XLIII hero Santonio Holmes and a safety off of a Steelers fumble in their own end zone.
The Jets scored another touchdown late in the fourth quarter to make the score 24-19. The Steelers goal line stand came before the safety, where the Jets had a fresh set of downs from the Steelers two-yard line. They went for it on fourth down, but Tomlinson was stuffed at the goal line after trying to push his way through the middle of the Steelers defense for a touchdown.
Jason Bridge / USA TODAY Sports
Santonio Holmes made a career of being shifty and finding a way to get open
That was the second time in Tomlinson's career that his season ended in Pittsburgh. When he was with the Chargers, the Steelers beat them 35-24 in the 2008 Divisional Round, Pittsburgh would go on to win Super Bowl XLIII. Holmes scored the first touchdown of the game for Pittsburgh when he returned a punt 67 yards to tie the game up. From that point on, the Steelers' offense couldn't be stopped on their way to victory.
Los Angeles Chargers
LaDainian Tomlinson carries the ball down the sideline for the Chargers
Steelers Kept LaDainian Tomlinson From Fulfilling His Career With Super Bowl Win
All in all, Tomlinson had a very successful career in the NFL and is considered one of the best running backs of all time. He still holds the records for most rushing touchdowns in a season and most touchdowns from scrimmage in a season, as well as the most consecutive games with a touchdown. He was inducted into the Hall Of Fame in 2017, but he still carries the weight of not winning a Super Bowl, which he shared on The Pivot.
"I think it sticks with me a lot because I knew that I had the teams to do it. Now, I realize you have to be a little lucky and things have to go your way and that's all great. I grew up in Texas, I was obviously a huge Cowboy fan. It was the hay day of the Cowboys, three championships. You grow up wishing that would be you, like I'm gonna have my time one day."
Tomlinson had dreamed of being able to hoist the Lombardi Trophy after winning the Super Bowl since he was a kid, but the dominate teams of the 2000s like the Steelers and New England Patriots always kept Tomlinson from reaching that goal. Despite going down as one of the best running backs to ever play in the NFL, he feels as though his legacy is unfulfilled due to not being able to get himself a Super Bowl ring.
What do you think of the Steelers keeping star players from achieving their goal of winning a Super Bowl? Let us know in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
