The Pittsburgh Steelers won a record sixth Super Bowl title by overcoming the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in the National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Fla., on Sunday. Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes, named the Super Bowl MVP with nine catches for 131 yards, held onto a pass to catch the game winning touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger with just 35 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes (10) catches a touchdown pass as Arizona Cardinals safety Aaron Francisco (47) defends during the fourth quarter of the NFL Super Bowl XLIII football game, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009.
Pittsburgh clinched previous Super Bowl titles in 1975, 1976, 1979 and 1980 as well as 2006 and moved past five-time champions San Francisco and Dallas while Arizona extended their 61-season title drought. Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the second quarter on what was the longest play in Super Bowl history.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes, named Super Bowl XLIII's Most Valuable Player, lifts the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Steelers' win over the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL's Super Bowl XLIII football game in Tampa, Florida, Feb. 1, 2009
After falling behind 20-7 in the third quarter, Arizona was poised for the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history by scoring the next 16 points in the fourth quarter to take the lead at 23-20 with 2:37 remaining. The fighting Steelers drove 78 yards, with Holmes making a 40-yard catch that gave Pittsburgh a first down at the 6. After anincompletion, Roethlisberger sent a pass over three Arizona defenders in the right corner of the end zone, and Holmes handed it down while dragging the toes of each foot in bounds.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger celebrates Steeler's win over the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL's Super Bowl XLIII football game in Tampa, Florida, Feb. 1, 2009.