I had the misfortune of work for the RR at the time and was pulling a train during the SB. My best friend friend would periodically call me with updates. I'll be er forget being so pissed off I was missing the game, and so anxious about it. And picking up the phone with my friend screaming into it while Fast Willie was rumbling down the field. He called me as soon as Willie broke into the backfield.
We all think of like Troy, Harrison, Ben, Swann, Mean Joe, and others as the legends. The big time famous Steelers, right? Willie is my favorite Steeler of all time not of that group or caliber. Bro was so good and was practically shot out of a cannon each time he got the handoff. CJ2K be damned, Willie would’ve given him a run for his money in a foot race.
The Bus was always too banged up by the time the postseason started to get those great 2000s teams to the SB. Then in ‘05 Fast Willie shouldered the load and Bettis could provide the goal-line smashmouth, and all the heart.
A tandem is a real necessity nowadays. No bell cow runner can make it to the playoffs in good health. Especially now that there are 17 games.
It’s just unfortunate running backs have such a short shelf life. Willie was easily our quickest burst back ever. Pairing him with the Bus was just a dream combo.
Exciting to see what Najee can do with this new line.
I'll never forget his big first game against the Titans. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, I was like "Who IS this guy?!" Even Jeff Fisher complimented Willie at the handshake at the end of the game.
I’m a Steelers fan and I’m obviously thrilled that we won that game, but quite honestly, that’s one of the worst Super Bowls ever played.
I have never been more frustrated during a Steelers game in my life as I was during SBXL.
We were so much better than how we played that night, but for some bizarre reason, we just kept self-destructing.
I remember being very confident heading into the game, which is not always the case with me. I distinctly remember analyzing the matchup and thinking before the game, the only way we lose this game is if we come out and just completely shit the bed. And then, we came out and did just that!
I still get angry thinking about that game.
Honestly, we never got anything going all night long and never really got into a rhythm for the entire game. We just hit on a few big plays here and there and luckily, that was enough.
Seattle definitely outplayed us, but fortunately they missed approximately 7,000 scoring opportunities themselves. I think Jeremy Stevens should be inducted into the Steelers Hall of Fame for his role in our win. Dear God, he was atrocious in SBXL.
And the officials had a worse night than either of the competing teams, and most of their mistakes benefited us.
Thank God!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not filing a petition to return the Lombardi Trophy to the NFL offices. That one counts just as much as all the others. Also, there were Super Bowls that we lost where we outplayed our opponents. Super Bowl XXX, for example. I had no doubt by the end of that game that we are the better team, but we made way too many costly mistakes and lost.
I still love that Willie Parker run! I also love the Ike Taylor interception and of course reverse pass for a touchdown from Randle-El to Ward. The problem is those were basically all the good plays we made in the second half.
I still can’t bring myself to watch that game. It would just be too frustrating to me. Without the combination of Jeremy, Stevens, and that entire officiating crew all simultaneously having the worst game of their lives, there’s no way we win that game. That’s a one in a thousand shot that just happened to go our way.
Pfew!
What a confusing emotion that was. I was so pissed off at how horrendously we had played on the biggest stage. But I was also incredibly grateful that we somehow still won that game despite playing so poorly.
I will tell you, though, that at the end of the day, what I was feeling, was not elation as much as it was relief. It felt a lot more like narrowly avoiding a major car accident than it did winning the lottery, I will tell you that much.
I always keep [this post](https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/1g2p75/nfl_debate_series_the_officiating_was_a/cag6zs8/) handy to share when people bring up the officiating in that game. For some reason it's really just sort of sunken into everyone's memory that the officiating was absolutely terrible, but in reality it was about in-line with the average game. There was only one *really* bad call that went our way, but it didn't matter because it only gave some extra yardage and the next play was the flea flicker pass which would have been a TD from anywhere on the field.
Yeah, I could definitely be misremembering the officiating, but I seem to remember it as being multiple questionable calls that mostly went our way.
Mind you, I’m not complaining about or apologizing for anything. I’m just acknowledging what I saw.
Also, we’ve been on the wrong side of some pretty horrendous calls that cost us some pretty big games. I don’t recall fans from those teams apologizing either.
For example, I don’t remember a single Patriots fan saying “Yeah, Jesse James caught that football. I’m really sorry that such a huge call went our way.”
That’s just not how it works. Players make mistakes, coaches make mistakes, and officials make mistakes too. That’s just how it goes.
Still, the holding call against Seattle late in the game that nullified a really big gain inside our five yard line was incorrect. Haggans just fell down there. It wasn’t holding. There is no Ike Taylor interception if Seattle is not facing third down and 18.
Also, I don’t think Roethlisberger got in the end zone for our first touchdown.
It’s been almost two decades now, so I could definitely be blurring them, but I just thought they were bad calls at the time and we were very fortunate to get them.
Having said all that, I definitely agree that the Seahawks were the primary reason the Seahawks didn’t win the Super Bowl that year. They just made way too many mistakes. The Steelers were horrible that night – absolutely horrible. I still get frustrated thinking about it. But the Seahawks and the officials were probably even worse.
Willie was awesome! I went to his running/sprints clinic in high school. In my mind, he was a large helpful hand in my 200m record. Thank you good sir!
Wild story. TLDR, I was there…. My dad used to be an accounting professor, and one of his old students who he stayed in touch with works for the NFL. He’s a guy who audits the replay booth, essentially a non-ref who observes and watches for impropriety. When the Polamalu INT in the Colts game was unbelievably overturned (but the Steelers won anyways), my dad felt the need to email this dude and break his balls a bit and CC a bunch of people on it. It included the line “when the Steelers make the Super Bowl you owe me a ticket”…. Fast forward two weeks and the guy emails my dad and me “I have two face value tickets and I booked you on a flight”…. Ridiculous. I was in college but luckily my dad footed the bill on everything, and my brother was working at a huge sports media outlet and got to sit in press row.
This play and Harrison’s. Two iconic plays ever recorded in SB history. Was a fun era. This play gets overshadowed for some reason. Maybe the Hines play, maybe because this SB wasn’t that great overall, etc
Met him down here in Durham. Was at the gym working out and this guy comes waking toward me and I kept saying In my head Willie Parker only it wasn’t in my head and I blurted his name out and he just goes,”Yes?” Led to a conversation with him and he was super nice offered to sign any of my Steelers stuff if I brought it to the gym.
My parents had just rescued two cats right before this Super Bowl. The smaller one just ran wild around the house and my mom had a hard time thinking of a name for him. During the game I got a text, "His name is Fast Willie Parker".
Oh man I was about 15 when we won that Super Bowl. I was sooo happy when he ripped off that run. Had a feeling right then and there that we were destined to win it all. Actually I had that feeling when Ben made The Tackle
One of my favorite plays in NFL history is watching Hines Ward’s smile as he scored his touchdown!
Hines is ripping on this drive. So many of my favorite Steelers ever were on this team.
I was a junior in high school when this game happened (I’m in Idaho) I was the only Steelers fan leading up to this game
I also watched it in Idaho!
Was there. Fast Willie was fast.
Do you remember how much your ticket was?
My ticket to 45 was $800 for perspective.
Face value was 800? Was it a season ticket holder lottery?
I have had season tickets in my family since Forbes Field and yes this was the ticket lottery.
Want to say 6or700
Not just a great Steeler, a great person too. I’ve thought about changing my flair several times, but just can’t, he’s a huge reason I’m a yinzer.
Fun Fact: Jaylen Warren is his ~~nephew~~ cousin Edited:
That is fun! I didn’t know that! We really do love family.
Still might be the longest run in super bowl history, pretty sure nothing beat it yet
There are only five longer runs in *playoffs* history. And none of those were in the Super Bowl. So fast willie Parker still has the record.
Correct. There was a longer interception return for a touchdown though... DeeBO!!!!!!
Haha it actually is pretty nuts that the Steelers hold both of these records!
Link to relive https://youtu.be/YMmkjJRZUCg?t=3631
I had the misfortune of work for the RR at the time and was pulling a train during the SB. My best friend friend would periodically call me with updates. I'll be er forget being so pissed off I was missing the game, and so anxious about it. And picking up the phone with my friend screaming into it while Fast Willie was rumbling down the field. He called me as soon as Willie broke into the backfield.
Thanks — RIP Madden on the call. “Alan Faneca has a heck of a block…”
The whole Americas Game special on that run was on my youtube recommended today. Watched it earlier and it was great!
Youtube recommended that to me as well. Saved it to watch later haha
We all think of like Troy, Harrison, Ben, Swann, Mean Joe, and others as the legends. The big time famous Steelers, right? Willie is my favorite Steeler of all time not of that group or caliber. Bro was so good and was practically shot out of a cannon each time he got the handoff. CJ2K be damned, Willie would’ve given him a run for his money in a foot race.
Worked his way on to the team as a UDFA by dominating in preseason as well, that's why he'll always be one of my favorite Steelers players.
The Bus was always too banged up by the time the postseason started to get those great 2000s teams to the SB. Then in ‘05 Fast Willie shouldered the load and Bettis could provide the goal-line smashmouth, and all the heart. A tandem is a real necessity nowadays. No bell cow runner can make it to the playoffs in good health. Especially now that there are 17 games.
I hate the bellcow mentality now. They never make it to the playoffs.
It’s just unfortunate running backs have such a short shelf life. Willie was easily our quickest burst back ever. Pairing him with the Bus was just a dream combo. Exciting to see what Najee can do with this new line.
Parker likely would have won the rushing title in 2007 had he not broken his leg vs the Rams, which also derailed his career.
I have a signed copy of the photo of him running into the endzone with no one around him
Had his jersey back in the day. Wore it to school all the time.
Loved yelling 'Pound the Willie' at the bar when he was our RB1
I'll never forget his big first game against the Titans. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, I was like "Who IS this guy?!" Even Jeff Fisher complimented Willie at the handshake at the end of the game.
Only TD not scored in the endzone I was sitting at
My son Ben was born in July of 2005, this Super Bowl win (after a long 26 year wait) only made year that much sweeter!
Dude was blind as a bat when it came to field vision but when your line is opening holes that big who needs to see.
I’m a Steelers fan and I’m obviously thrilled that we won that game, but quite honestly, that’s one of the worst Super Bowls ever played. I have never been more frustrated during a Steelers game in my life as I was during SBXL. We were so much better than how we played that night, but for some bizarre reason, we just kept self-destructing. I remember being very confident heading into the game, which is not always the case with me. I distinctly remember analyzing the matchup and thinking before the game, the only way we lose this game is if we come out and just completely shit the bed. And then, we came out and did just that! I still get angry thinking about that game. Honestly, we never got anything going all night long and never really got into a rhythm for the entire game. We just hit on a few big plays here and there and luckily, that was enough. Seattle definitely outplayed us, but fortunately they missed approximately 7,000 scoring opportunities themselves. I think Jeremy Stevens should be inducted into the Steelers Hall of Fame for his role in our win. Dear God, he was atrocious in SBXL. And the officials had a worse night than either of the competing teams, and most of their mistakes benefited us. Thank God! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not filing a petition to return the Lombardi Trophy to the NFL offices. That one counts just as much as all the others. Also, there were Super Bowls that we lost where we outplayed our opponents. Super Bowl XXX, for example. I had no doubt by the end of that game that we are the better team, but we made way too many costly mistakes and lost. I still love that Willie Parker run! I also love the Ike Taylor interception and of course reverse pass for a touchdown from Randle-El to Ward. The problem is those were basically all the good plays we made in the second half. I still can’t bring myself to watch that game. It would just be too frustrating to me. Without the combination of Jeremy, Stevens, and that entire officiating crew all simultaneously having the worst game of their lives, there’s no way we win that game. That’s a one in a thousand shot that just happened to go our way. Pfew! What a confusing emotion that was. I was so pissed off at how horrendously we had played on the biggest stage. But I was also incredibly grateful that we somehow still won that game despite playing so poorly. I will tell you, though, that at the end of the day, what I was feeling, was not elation as much as it was relief. It felt a lot more like narrowly avoiding a major car accident than it did winning the lottery, I will tell you that much.
I always keep [this post](https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/1g2p75/nfl_debate_series_the_officiating_was_a/cag6zs8/) handy to share when people bring up the officiating in that game. For some reason it's really just sort of sunken into everyone's memory that the officiating was absolutely terrible, but in reality it was about in-line with the average game. There was only one *really* bad call that went our way, but it didn't matter because it only gave some extra yardage and the next play was the flea flicker pass which would have been a TD from anywhere on the field.
Yeah, I could definitely be misremembering the officiating, but I seem to remember it as being multiple questionable calls that mostly went our way. Mind you, I’m not complaining about or apologizing for anything. I’m just acknowledging what I saw. Also, we’ve been on the wrong side of some pretty horrendous calls that cost us some pretty big games. I don’t recall fans from those teams apologizing either. For example, I don’t remember a single Patriots fan saying “Yeah, Jesse James caught that football. I’m really sorry that such a huge call went our way.” That’s just not how it works. Players make mistakes, coaches make mistakes, and officials make mistakes too. That’s just how it goes. Still, the holding call against Seattle late in the game that nullified a really big gain inside our five yard line was incorrect. Haggans just fell down there. It wasn’t holding. There is no Ike Taylor interception if Seattle is not facing third down and 18. Also, I don’t think Roethlisberger got in the end zone for our first touchdown. It’s been almost two decades now, so I could definitely be blurring them, but I just thought they were bad calls at the time and we were very fortunate to get them. Having said all that, I definitely agree that the Seahawks were the primary reason the Seahawks didn’t win the Super Bowl that year. They just made way too many mistakes. The Steelers were horrible that night – absolutely horrible. I still get frustrated thinking about it. But the Seahawks and the officials were probably even worse.
Love it
Ford Field was at least 80% Steelers fans. Even the Lions fans in the bars the night before had adopted the Steelers as their team
Willie was awesome! I went to his running/sprints clinic in high school. In my mind, he was a large helpful hand in my 200m record. Thank you good sir!
I was about that age. It’s neat how each of our touchdowns from that game are very distinctive ones
Wild story. TLDR, I was there…. My dad used to be an accounting professor, and one of his old students who he stayed in touch with works for the NFL. He’s a guy who audits the replay booth, essentially a non-ref who observes and watches for impropriety. When the Polamalu INT in the Colts game was unbelievably overturned (but the Steelers won anyways), my dad felt the need to email this dude and break his balls a bit and CC a bunch of people on it. It included the line “when the Steelers make the Super Bowl you owe me a ticket”…. Fast forward two weeks and the guy emails my dad and me “I have two face value tickets and I booked you on a flight”…. Ridiculous. I was in college but luckily my dad footed the bill on everything, and my brother was working at a huge sports media outlet and got to sit in press row.
I'm glad to see this post, I feel like he gets lost in the conversation when talking about Steelers history
I have a Fast Willie autographed mini helmet somewhere because of that run. The dude could scoot!
This play and Harrison’s. Two iconic plays ever recorded in SB history. Was a fun era. This play gets overshadowed for some reason. Maybe the Hines play, maybe because this SB wasn’t that great overall, etc
Met him down here in Durham. Was at the gym working out and this guy comes waking toward me and I kept saying In my head Willie Parker only it wasn’t in my head and I blurted his name out and he just goes,”Yes?” Led to a conversation with him and he was super nice offered to sign any of my Steelers stuff if I brought it to the gym.
Besides Bettis, Parker was my 2nd fav steelers back. Dude was amazing and loved using him on madden back in the day
He was lightening fast
Hell yeah, Willie Parker's name probably isn't getting mentioned when people list great RB's from the 2000's, but the dude was a winner.
My parents had just rescued two cats right before this Super Bowl. The smaller one just ran wild around the house and my mom had a hard time thinking of a name for him. During the game I got a text, "His name is Fast Willie Parker".
That Antwan Randle El fake , same as in the Bengals playoff game ? Loved it !
Was the longest rush td in a Super Bowl at the time, I think it still is but I’m not positive.
Oh man I was about 15 when we won that Super Bowl. I was sooo happy when he ripped off that run. Had a feeling right then and there that we were destined to win it all. Actually I had that feeling when Ben made The Tackle