James Harrison believes Patriots stole Super Bowl from Steelers

July 12, 2026 - 00:10

Former NFL linebacker James Harrison has not let go of his belief that the New England Patriots stole a Super Bowl from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Harrison, a two-time Super Bowl winner and former Defensive Player of the Year, made his feelings clear in a recent interview. He argued that the Patriots used illegal tactics to gain an edge in their 2017 AFC Championship matchup, a game the Steelers lost 36-17.

Harrison specifically pointed to the Patriots' ability to know the Steelers' defensive signals. He claimed that New England's coaching staff had figured out Pittsburgh's play calls, which allowed Tom Brady to adjust at the line of scrimmage with ease. "They knew what we were doing before we did it," Harrison said. He added that the Patriots were not just better that day, but they were cheating.

The Patriots have faced multiple accusations of rule-breaking over the years, including the famous "Spygate" scandal in 2007 and the "Deflategate" controversy in 2015. While the NFL has punished the team in the past, no official finding has ever linked those violations directly to the 2017 playoff game against the Steelers. Harrison, however, remains unconvinced. He said the loss still bothers him because he believes the game was not fair. "You work all year, you put your body through hell, and then you find out the other team had an unfair advantage," he stated.

Harrison played for the Steelers from 2004 to 2017, with a brief stint on the Patriots in 2017. He retired as one of the most feared defenders of his era. His comments have reignited debate among fans, but the NFL has not reopened any investigation into the matter.