Steelers’ James Harrison's Epic Super Bowl Pick-Six Almost Derailed By Cardinals' Cheating Confession

The Pittsburgh Steelers played in one of the most insane Super Bowl games in history against the Arizona Cardinals. Two of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history happened in that game, both in favor of Pittsburgh. As the Steelers were in need of a game-changing play and the Cardinals were about to score before halftime, Steelers' James Harrison read Kurt Warner's eyes and intercepted his pass at the goal line. Harrison had a remarkable run back to return it for a pick-six touchdown right before halftime.

One of the things that went under the radar about that play was when Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was tracking down Harrison for 70 yards. Fitzgerald had a good chance to get him down to save the touchdown until Cardinals defensive back Antrel Rolle got in his way on the sideline. Rolle, known for his aggressive style, played a pivotal role in that sequence, and the moment almost cost Harrison the touchdown as Fitzgerald closed in.

Rolle recently joined the Beyond The Narrative Sports podcast on Thursday to give insight into the play. He admitted that while he wasn’t able to make a direct impact on Harrison, he intentionally wanted to trip him. Rolle's confession adds an extra layer of controversy to an already unforgettable Super Bowl moment, further igniting debate about the lengths players will go to in crucial situations.

"I’m trying, hey, that was a thought trust me," Rolle admitted. "That’s why I was that da** close man, people don’t understand I was about to trip his a** man. It was a thought man. It was a thought."

Of course, Rolle wouldn’t have been able to get away with tripping Harrison, as he wasn’t a legal player on the field at that time. Had he actually succeeded in tripping Harrison, it would have created a bizarre situation for the referees to officiate. 

However, what truly happened was that Rolle inadvertently got in the way of Fitzgerald, who had the best chance of actually tackling Harrison and preventing the touchdown.

Had Rolle been positioned where he was supposed to be—back in the players' box—Fitzgerald might have had a better chance of reaching Harrison in time to stop the touchdown. That critical seven points right before halftime played a huge role in the Steelers’ eventual victory. 

Steelers Made 2 Of The Greatest Plays Of All-Time In Super Bowl XLIII

The second iconic play of the game came from Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who delivered a perfect throw to wide receiver Santonio Holmes for the go-ahead touchdown late in the game. It was an incredible pass, but even more remarkable was Holmes' toe-tap catch in the corner of the end zone.

If Rolle hadn’t been in Fitzgerald’s way and the tackle on Harrison had been made before he scored, it's possible that Holmes’ iconic catch never happens. It's crazy to think, all these years later, that Rolle truly wanted to trip Harrison—but he likely wouldn’t have actually done it due to the rules of the game and the respect he had for them. 

Nonetheless, it's still wild to hear him admit that he genuinely intended to trip Harrison. Knowing that Rolle's presence slowed down Fitzgerald's momentum and may have been the key factor in allowing Harrison to reach the end zone adds a surprising layer to that unforgettable play. It's important for players who aren't in the game to be back away from the sideline to avoid any controversial moments. In this case, the Steelers were thankful that Rolle's mistake hurt his team and not Pittsburgh.

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