NFL Legend James Harrison Makes Bold Claim on Greatest Play in Super Bowl History

The moment Harrison referenced came with 18 seconds left in the second quarter, and the Cardinals were positioned at the Pittsburgh 1-yard line. Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner lined up in the shotgun on first-and-goal, attempting to punch in a touchdown before halftime. Instead, Harrison read the play, dropped into coverage, and intercepted Warner’s pass.

“We had a play call where we were basically on a max blitz,” Harrison recalled. “Kurt had to get it out, so he had to throw a quick slant in or out, and I guessed on in and basically just shifted out, flowed out, and he threw it straight to me.”

What followed became one of the defining moments in Super Bowl history. Harrison raced down the sideline for a 100-yard interception return touchdown, the longest interception return for a score in Super Bowl history and the longest play in the game’s championship event.

The play flipped the scoreboard and momentum. Instead of Arizona taking the lead, Pittsburgh carried a surge of energy into halftime on the way to a 27–23 victory and the franchise’s sixth Lombardi Trophy.

Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau later described the sequence in historic terms.

“Obviously, we needed every play that we got, but that was a huge play,” LeBeau said. “I’ve said, and I believe it, it’s the greatest single defensive play in Super Bowl history.”

Harrison’s recollection of the run adds a human layer to the highlight. The veteran linebacker said the sprint felt endless as teammates tried to escort him downfield.

“When I start to run, I feel Deshea Townsend on my right,” Harrison said. “He’s trying to get the ball. I’m like, ‘Go block somebody. You ain’t getting this.’”

Steelers players knew how critical the return was in real time. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said the team understood the stakes as Harrison crossed midfield.

“All of a sudden, James started running out, and all we were thinking was that he had to score,” Roethlisberger said.

Harrison, an undrafted player who had been cut multiple times early in his career, eventually reached the end zone exhausted but triumphant. The play not only changed the game but cemented his legacy as one of the most impactful defenders in Steelers history.

More than a decade later, debates about the greatest Super Bowl moments continue. But Harrison remains certain about where his play belongs.

For him, the answer has never changed.