Congratulating the Pittsburgh Steelers for Winning Super Bowl XL

CONGRATULATING THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS FOR WINNING SUPER BOWL XL -- (House of Representatives - February 08, 2006)

On February 5, 2006, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the odds as they defeated the Seattle Seahawks to win ``one for the thumb'' by becoming only the third team in National Football League history to take a fifth Super Bowl championship home to its fans.

The greatest tribute to possibly the most loyal fans in professional football is a franchise and owners who have great respect for the hometown. The Rooney family has owned the Steelers from the beginning and is respected throughout professional football as being among the most honorable, ethical, and successful owners in the history of the game. It is no surprise that the Steelers are one of the most beloved sporting franchises in the country, and you would be hard pressed to find a community in this vast land that does not claim at least a few avid Steelers fans.

Despite the support of the fans and the Rooney family, the Steelers' eventual Super Bowl championship was far from a foregone conclusion. Going into their December 11 game against Chicago, the Steelers were faced with the reality that they would have to win their four remaining games to have any chance of making the playoffs. Coach Bill Cowher inspired his players to win those four games and to win three more games on the road to the Super Bowl. Of course, all Chicagoans were disheartened when the Chicago Bears gave them the impetus that they needed to be successful.

These victories were not only impressive; they were achieved as the team traveled the most difficult road any team has traveled to a Super Bowl championship in the 40-year history of the championship game. When the team arrived in Detroit, the Steelers still had to contend with the best team in the National Football Conference, the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks came into the game with the most prolific offense in the NFL. They scored the most points during the regular season and featured the NFL's Most Valuable Player as their starting running back.

Despite these challenges and many predictions to the contrary, the Steelers walked away champions and the first sixth-seeded team to win the Super Bowl. They add this Super Bowl victory to the many great moments that have made up the storied 73-year history of the Steelers franchise.

I certainly take this opportunity to congratulate the Pittsburgh Steelers on their against-all-odds accomplishment and Super Bowl victory. I encourage the House to adopt H. Res. 670.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

I will simply reiterate my congratulations to both Seattle and to Pittsburgh and suggest that next year I hope to see the Chicago Bears here. But if not, then we congratulate these two outstanding teams.

http://thomas.loc.gov/