by 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 told a story about a Super Bowl 40 catch that most don’t even remember, but really illustrated his love of the game and how he felt about his place with the Steelers. until that moment.
“You know, there was one playing Super Bowl 40, I think I made a tight catch and I remember hearing the coach cringe from afar saying that’s an amazing, amazing reception for Coach Cowher who, you know, sometimes recruited all these people,” Ward said. “I thought he was trying to get rid of me.”
Cowher drafted Ward in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft in Georgia. But he then followed that up with back-to-back first-round picks spent on wide receiver Troy Edwards and Plaxico Burress. That would be tough for any player, but the fact that Edwards and Burress ended up being duds and Ward became the best wide receiver in franchise history should be sweet retribution.
“I really didn’t know where we were from coach to player, to hear that compliment, that he gave me during the Super Bowl, it’s like I got him, I was, I was officially one of his players that, that he really adored and appreciated,” continued Ward. “So, it was a big moment for me personally, because up until that point, man, I was trying my best to show him that, you know, I want to be a Steeler for life, I am, which I still it’s football.”
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Ward absolutely summed up what he meant and still means to be a Steelers legend. It was great to hear one of the really tough guys in the league talk about how important it was for him to be accepted by Cowher and prove himself.
