The Pittsburgh Steelers defense throughout the 2008 season was undoubtedly one of the best in NFL history. Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau led an unbelievably talented group that aided a Super Bowl XLIII victory. Most fans remember Ben Roethlisberger's legendary pass to Santonio Holmes in the end zone during the final minutes of the fourth quarter, but the organization would have never been in a position to even be in the big game if the defense hadn't stepped up for the entire year. One of the more underrated players on the team was just in his second professional season.
LaMarr Woodley was drafted with the 46th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. It wasn't too long after the Steelers selected a linebacker in round one as Lawrence Timmons was taken in the first round. Both players proved to be important pieces in a Pittsburgh Super Bowl run at the conclusion of the 2008 season. Woodley, despite being picked a round after Timmons, is more well-known for his contributions in the championship victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
The retired linebacker recently joined Chris Mack of 93.7 The Fan on an episode of Oh Momma. Everyone remembers the incredible heroics from Roethlisberger and Holmes, but it's often forgotten that Woodley strip-sacked Cardinals signal-caller, Kurt Warner, which sealed the sixth ring for the Steelers franchise. Mack asked Woodley about the ball that came crumbling out of Warner's hands in the waning moments, and it appears a former teammate is hiding it from him.
"Oh yeah, you know. Brett Keisel. He know I'm still looking for that ball. Brett Keisel set me up."
It is widely accepted that former defensive lineman, Brett Keisel is not going to be a Hall of Famer, but he was a perfect player for the city of Pittsburgh. The reality, however, is that Keisel owes Woodley that ball if it's hiding somewhere.
If Keisel has the game-winning strip-sack football, it might be Woodley's fault at the end of the day. Keisel apparently did the right thing in asking if his teammate wanted it, but Woodley was way too focused on enjoying the moment of winning a Super Bowl to recognize that he would want the ball later on in life. All that mattered was bringing another championship to the city of Pittsburgh.
"When I got the sack, forced fumble after the game, he came up to me with the ball and said, 'Would you want the ball?' [I said] 'Nah, I don't want the ball. I'm excited about winning the Super Bowl.'"
Woodley vaguely remembered getting to sleep the night of the big win and immediately regretting not taking Keisel up on his offer. His hope is that one day, somehow, the football that brought the Steelers another Lombardi Trophy back to the Steel City finds its way into his house.
"When I got home that night, I said, 'D*mn, I should have got that ball.' So, I'm still trying to get that ball, so hopefully Brett Keisel brings that ball back home one day."
Woodley was an incredibly important player on the 2008 Steelers. He didn't have the big name at the time like Troy Polamalu and James Harrison did, but he played awesome the entire season and came up with one of the biggest defensive plays of the season against the Cardinals in the Super Bowl.
Steelers 2008 Defense Was Nearly Unbeatable
Anyone can talk about Woodley's huge play late in Super Bowl XLIII, but the unit as a whole had several different players throughout the regular and postseasons. It's hard to imagine, especially in the 2023 day in age of offensive football, that a group will ever match what the 2008 Steelers did. Hopefully one day, Woodley will get his hands on the football that clinched the win.
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