Former Steelers OC Todd Haley Can't Let Go Of Big Loss: 'Those Scars Are Deep'

The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the most iconic and historic franchises in NFL history. Throughout the years, they've experienced tremendous highs, with six Super Bowl wins and countless playoff appearances, as well as challenging lows that tested the team. However, it’s been through those moments of struggle combined with the wins that have made the Steelers become the team they are today. Every win and loss has helped shape the identity of the franchise, and without the ups and downs, the Steelers wouldn’t be the same team that fans love.

Recently, former Steelers Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley appeared on This Is Football on ESPN and talked about his coaching career. While discussing the lowest point of his time in the NFL, Haley brought up a moment involving the Steelers. Specifically, he was a part of the Arizona Cardinals coaching staff at the time when they were defeated by the Steelers in the Super Bowl, a loss he said was the rock bottom of his career.

"Those pains will never go away. In this league, any game, let alone the biggest game in the world, you feel like you have the game won, and you don’t win it," Haley said. "The experience was phenomenal, but those scars are deep, and they just don’t go away."

Pittsburgh came out on top that day with a 27-23 win in a game remembered as one of the most thrilling Super Bowls in NFL history. The contest included a huge 100-yard interception return for a touchdown by James Harrison and ended with one of the most memorable plays ever. With just :35 seconds left, Santonio Holmes made an incredible, toe tap catch in the back corner of the end zone. That touchdown gave the Steelers the win and handed a heartbreaking loss to Haley and the Cardinals.

This game clearly left a lasting impact on Haley. While it was an unforgettable and exciting victory for the Steelers, it was a crushing loss for Haley. Haley would then however, go on to become the offensive coordinator for the Steelers from 2012 to 2017. Although the team didn’t reach the Super Bowl during his time in the Steel City, Haley’s time in Pittsburgh was still viewed as an overall positive one, adding to a number of strong performances and playoff appearances.

However, even now, that Super Bowl loss continues to haunt Haley, and he’s not alone in feeling that way. During his appearance, Haley shared that his quarterback at the time, Kurt Warner, also hasn’t let go of the disappointment. According to Haley, Warner still harps on that game and reflects on how close they were to securing a victory.

"Every time you talk to him, he wants to talk to you about it, and we play the blame game back and forth," Haley added. "There’s a lot of games that you obviously would love to have back, but that one just because of the magnitude."

Haley was confident the Cardinals were on their way to victory. His belief that they "had the game won" came from Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald’s huge 64-yard touchdown that put Arizona ahead 23-20 with just over two minutes remaining. However, as mentioned, Holmes had other plans, securing a crazy, last-minute touchdown to secure the win for the Steelers.

Steelers Looking Ahead

The Steelers are working during their offseason programs as they prepare for the upcoming season. There’s an added layer of pressure on the organization this year, as while the Steelers have done a pretty good job of consistently securing playoff berths in recent years, they haven’t actually won a playoff game since the 2016 season. This was back when Haley was still serving as the team’s offensive coordinator. 

This playoff drought has not gone unnoticed by fans or analysts. With several new key additions to the roster this offseason, there’s even more expectations for the Steelers to convert regular season success into meaningful playoff victories, and that starts with building chemistry, mastering the playbook, and sharpening skills during these offseason workouts.