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Harrison's 100-Yard Interception Keys Win

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By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON

arichardson@tampatrib.com

Published: February 2, 2009

TAMPA - Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison was not sure he would make it.

For once, Harrison was not talking about his surprising football career. Harrison felt that way after his interception before halftime, which gave Pittsburgh a huge momentum swing heading into the second half.

"You know it got short when I first started and it got long again and then it got a little shorter towards the middle and then the end I was just like, 'I'm already here, there is no need to try and stop,'" Harrison said. "You just got to keep going."

Harrison's 100-yard interception return (longest play in Super Bowl history) gave his team a 17-7 lead before halftime and helped Pittsburgh pull off a 27-23 victory against Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII.

"It is the single-greatest play in Super Bowl history," Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said.

It is hard to argue with LeBeau.

Arizona took over on Pittsburgh's 34-yard line after Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby intercepted Ben Roethlisberger with two minutes to go before halftime. The Cardinals advanced to their opponent's 1-yard line with 18 seconds remaining, and although trailing 10-7, it appeared they would score and capture the lead before halftime.

On first-and-goal, Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner dropped back and tried to fire a pass to receiver Anquan Boldin, but Harrison jumped in front and snagged an interception in the end zone.

"You know we had them matched up and it was kind of like give it time," Harrison said. "I slid over to the right and he threw it right into my hands and I took off. I was just trying to get to the other side and score seven. That's all."

After the interception, Harrison did not have any shortage of defensive backs who wanted the ball, but the league's defensive most valuable player was not prepared to lateral to anybody.

"James Harrison is a strong individual," Pittsburgh cornerback Bryant McFadden said. "He wasn't going to let anyone take it."

Harrison began sprinting to the south end zone in Raymond James Stadium, avoiding tacklers and following a host of Steelers who were blocking for him.

Although he was running out of gas, Harrison finished off his run and scored, giving Arizona a 17-7 advantage heading into halftime. Harrison lay on his back after a kink in his neck, but was able to celebrate with his teammates after one of the game's biggest plays.

"I was in the middle of the end zone and I saw him pick it off," Steelers linebacker James Farrior said. "I was just hoping we had the cavalry in front of him. I was too far away to make any kind of block, but I saw those guys working.

"Coach Mike Tomlin told us during the week during practice that when we get interceptions to work on returning them and look what happened."

Harrison's surprising touchdown run mirrored his NFL path.

He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent, was cut twice by Pittsburgh and once by Baltimore before finally emerging for the Steelers.

Now the former journeyman has scampered to his second Super Bowl championship.

"I've come a long way from being undrafted to being one of the top players in the league," Harrison said.

Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425.

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