Why A Priest Blessed The Steelers' Field Ahead Of Crucial Matchup Versus Ravens

In the days and hours leading up to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Sunday night clash against the Baltimore Ravens on January 4, a lot of attention was focused on playoff scenarios and AFC North implications. Fans debated form, injuries, momentum, and odds, while others analyzed trends, trying to predict betting markets. 

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The discussions about the match’s outcome took an unexpected turn when cameras showed a priest blessing the field at Acrisure Stadium. This moment quickly became a part of the Steelers' lore after the exciting finish of the game. 

Before kickoff, Father Maximillian Maxwell, prior of Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, was seen sprinkling holy water over the end zones. Social media lit up with clips of the holy act, especially after the Ravens’ kicker Tyler Looped missed a 44-yard field goal attempt as time expired. This sealed a 26-24 Steelers win, the AFC North title, and a playoff berth for Pittsburgh. Many Steelers fans, especially those who are Catholic, believed this was a moment where faith and football came together. 

The sight of a priest blessing the end zone initially sparked jokes and memes from both sides, but the act wasn’t a once-off occurrence. According to Saint Vincent College, the act of blessing the Acrisure Stadium field is a tradition that began with the stadium’s opening in 2001. After the field is resodded, priests from Saint Vincent offer prayers for the safety and health of everyone who competes there. 

Father Maxwell had to step in for another priest on Sunday. He was simply continuing the ritual that shows the relationship between the Steelers and the Benedictine community. 

Saint Vincent College explained the tradition in a statement. 

“Every season, the Steelers begin their road at Saint Vincent College, and our partnership extends well beyond the training camp. The blessing of the field at Acrisure Stadium is a tradition dating back to the stadium’s opening in 2001. Following the resodding of the field, it is blessed, and prayers are offered by Saint Vincent priests like Father Maximillian Maxfell for the safety and health of all the athletes who compete there.” The statement concluded, “We have walked together for 60 years and will continue to be faithful to each other.”

Many students and staff know Father Maxwell personally and found the viral attention a bit of a surprise. Parker Lynn, Head of Outdoor Athletic Facilities and Assistant Baseball Coach at Saint Vincent College, described the priest as someone who lives his faith through everyday acts and not large spectacles. “What happened last night was just genuine Father Max,” Lynn said the morning after the match. “It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. It’s just who he is.”

Lynn also indicated that Father Maxwell blesses every athletic facility on campus. “He blesses the team practices, football field, basketball court, baseball and softball fields, and every facility on campus. He does that at Acrisure Stadium, he does that at St. Vincent College, and he’d do that at a local youth little league field.”

Despite all this attention, Father Maxwell declined most interviews out of respect for the team, saying that the focus should remain on the Steelers’ performance and win. After his appointment as prior in August 2025, he said, “I am honored to be named prior of our monastic community.” He reflected on his time in campus ministry, saying that his time has been “filled with grace, growth and unforgettable moments of faith” which he shared with staff, students, alumni, and faculty. 

Steelers fans quickly acknowledged the blessing, with some considering it divine intervention. Whether it was a coincidence or not, the image of holy water meeting the Acrisure Stadium grass in the spot where the Ravens missed their kick fit nicely into the story of a team that embraces grit and faith. 

The Steelers are now focused on hosting the Houston Texans in the opening round of the playoffs. It is clear after the viral holy water moment that preparation for Pittsburgh comes in many forms, including practice, game planning, and perhaps a quiet ritual before kickoff.