Steelers top 30 moments in franchise history
By Kim Myers
Troy’s one-handed grab
Sep 28, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu (43) drops into pass coverage against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Buccaneers won 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Steelers safety Troy Polamalu was basically the human highlight reel of the NFL. Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. set the world on fire with his one-handed grab in the end zone in 2014 against the Dallas Cowboys. Polamalu did it first, only his was an interception.
In the first quarter of the opening kickoff game of the 2009 NFL season the Steelers and Titans were both scoreless with the Titans just in Pittsburgh territory. Kerry Collins dropped back to pass to then-rookie wide receiver Kenny Britt, who was covered by Troy Polamalu.
Britt even pushes off of Polamalu before Troy leaps into the air and, with one hand grabs the under-thrown ball for the interception at the Steelers’ 5-yard line. He goes down with the ball and jumps right up, runs like the Tasmanian devil to about the 20-yard line before he’s wrapped up.
Watching Polamalu return an interception or a fumble recovery was a sight to see with his hair flowing behind him and he never seemed to have the ball secured at all but it didn’t seem to matter. This play was absolutely one of the greatest interceptions I’ve ever seen and one of Polamalu’s greatest regular-season plays.
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