Location: Ford Field – Detroit, Michigan
Date: February 5, 2006
Attendance: 68,206
Most Valuable Player: Hines Ward – WR – Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers earned its first NFL championship in 26 years with a 21-10 victory against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL at Detroit. With its fifth title, Pittsburgh has tied Dallas and San Francisco for the most in Super Bowl history.
Pittsburgh’s offense sputtered in the first half until Ben Roethlisberger capped an 11-play drive with a 1-yard drive that gave the Steelers a 7-3 lead at halftime.
On the second play from scrimmage in the second half, Willie Parker stretched it to 14-3 with a 75-yard touchdown – the longest rush from scrimmage in Super Bowl history.
Seattle crept within 14-10 after intercepting Roethlisberger deep in its own territory, but Pittsburgh pushed the lead back to 11 when wide receiver Antwaan Randle El threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward on a gadget play.
Ward was named the game’s MVP, Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, and Jerome Bettis retired after finally winning football’s ultimate prize.
