Super Bowl XLIII

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Lore & Background

Entering as an unexpected winner with a 9–7 regular season record, the Cardinals were led by head coach Ken Whisenhunt and quarterback Kurt Warner. The team scored 16 consecutive points in the fourth quarter to take their first lead of the game with 2:37 remaining, but the Steelers marched 78 yards for the winning score.

In Their Own Story

Trailing 20–7 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Cardinals rallied behind a safety and a 64-yard touchdown reception by Larry Fitzgerald. However, Santonio Holmes caught a 6-yard game-winning touchdown with 35 seconds left to secure the victory for Pittsburgh.

Reader's Guide

This remains the last time a Phoenix-based team reached the championship round of the four major North American sports leagues until the Phoenix Suns made the NBA Finals in 2021. It was also the last Super Bowl featuring commentator John Madden, who retired two months after the game.

Did You Know?

• The Cardinals entered the game seeking their first NFL title since 1947, the longest championship drought in the league at that time.
• Santonio Holmes became only the sixth wide receiver to win Super Bowl MVP and caught four receptions for 73 yards on the final game-winning drive.
• With this victory, the Steelers became the first team to win six Super Bowl championships.
• This was the most watched Super Bowl in history at that time with an average U.S. audience of 98.7 million viewers.