James Harrison has a run to remember

TAMPA, Fla. — James Harrison didn't win the Defensive Player of the Year award by making plays like this. He's a sacker and a run-stuffer, not a long-distance runner.

Didn't matter. Harrison went the distance on a 100-yard interception return to swing the NFL title game on Sunday night when it appeared the Arizona Cardinals were ready to take the halftime lead. The Steelers went on to win their record sixth Super Bowl, 27-23.

On a first-and-goal play from the Steelers' 2 with 18 seconds left in the half, Kurt Warner threw a short pass over the middle intended for Anquan Boldin, who had made two catches for 11 yards on the previous two plays.

Harrison, the Steelers' right outside linebacker, read the play perfectly and cut in front of Boldin to make the interception at the goal line and take off up the Arizona sideline. The All-Pro linebacker was slowed twice on either side of the 50, with Warner himself trying and missing to make the tackle, before being hauled down by Larry Fitzgerald's facemask tackle — but not before thrusting the ball across the goal line.

"All we were thinking was that he had to score because if he gets tackled, it's nothing," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "Those are the type of plays he has been making all year."

Did Harrison ever think that — other than the clock running out — if he didn't get in, he might give out?

"I was going to make it," Harrison said. "I'm not going to lie — It was a quarter tank [left]. But I ended up making it."

It was fitting that Harrison had such a lengthy return. Cut four times by NFL teams, three by the Steelers, he mulled a career as a long-distance trucker or bus driver before the Steelers brought him back in 2004 and he stayed. He became a starter only last season and made the Pro Bowl team and, this season, his 16 sacks won him the AP Defensive Player of the Year award.

Previously, the longest interception in a Super Bowl game was Kelly Herndon's 76-yarder for Seattle against Pittsburgh in Detroit three years ago. The longest play from scrimmage was Jake Delhomme's 85-yard TD throw to Muhsin Muhammad for Carolina against New England five years ago Sunday.

The Steelers' Willie Parker had a 75-yard touchdown against Seattle, the longest run in Super Bowl history.

Record setters

Twelve Super Bowl records were broken and three more were tied Sunday.

Besides the Steelers' mark for most Super Bowl wins by a franchise (six) and Harrison's 100-yard scoring return, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin became the youngest head coach to win (36).

Arizona's Warner had his third 300-yard passing performance in an NFL title game, while the Steelers (58) and Cardinals (33) combined for the fewest rushing yards in a Super Bowl.

The Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald finished with the most prolific statistics for a receiver in one postseason with 30 receptions for 546 yards and seven touchdowns, records in all three categories.

Notes

• Warner was presented with the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award during pregame festivities. He was selected over Minnesota center Matt Birk and Philadelphia safety Brian Dawkins, the other finalists for the award that recognizes players for charitable contributions and community involvement off the field.

• President Barack Obama predicted the Steelers would win the Super Bowl and they proved him right.

Obama, who talked football during an interview with Matt Lauer on NBC's pregame show, didn't predict a score, but said, "I think the Steelers are going to eek it out in the end."

He wasn't right with his pick last year, selecting the losing Patriots.

"I'm still wondering how that guy made that catch," he said of the crucial, helmet-top reception by the New York Giants' David Tyree.

Asked if he had a Terrible Towel in the other room, Obama said: "I do, actually. I'm not going to be rubbing it in because we've got some Arizona congressmen here and I may need their vote on the recovery package."

• When asked by Bob Costas why he finally consented to perform at a Super Bowl halftime, Bruce Springsteen responded: "I have an album to promote, dummy. It's not rocket science."