Pittsburgh Steelers legend Hines Ward was part of two of the Steelers six Super Bowl titles. He was even a Super Bowl MVP. But when we asked him about a memorable moment from one of his Super Bowls, he offered up a story about a catch from Super Bowl 40 that most don’t even remember but it really illustrated his love for the game and how he felt about his place on the Steelers until that moment.
“You know, there was one playing the Super Bowl 40 I think I made it like a shoestring catch and I remember hearing coach cower from afar saying it’s like amazing catch, like awesome for coach Cowher who, you know, at times drafted all these guys,” Ward said. “I thought he was trying to get rid of me.”
Cowher drafted Ward in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft out of Georgia. But he then followed it up with back-to-back first-round picks spent on wide receiver Troy Edwards and Plaxico Burris. This would be tough on any player but the fact that Edwards and Burress turned out to be a bust ad Ward became the best receiver in franchise history has to be some sweet retribution.
“I really didn’t know where we stood from coach to player, to hear that compliment, that he gave me during the Super Bowl it’s kind of like I won him over, I was, I was officially one of his players that, that he really adored and appreciated,” Ward continued. “So that was a big moment for me personally because up to that point man, I was trying my best to show him that, you know, I want to be a Steeler for life, I am, what’s still the football is all about”
Ward absolutely epitomized what he meant and still means to be a Steeler. It was great to hear one of the real tough guys in the league talk about how important it was for him to be accepted by Cowher and prove himself.
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