Super Bowl XL – the Most Controversial Super Bowl Ever
More than any other championship game, Super Bowl XL is remembered not for great plays or iconic performances, but for officiating decisions that still spark debate nearly two decades later.
Played between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks, the game ended in a 21–10 Steelers victory, yet the final score tells only part of the story.
It still remains the most controversial Super Bowl ever, and many fans remember it. Especially the Seahawks’ supporters, who are still claiming that this might be one of the biggest robberies in the history of US sports.
Officials Helping the Steelers
From the opening quarter, Seattle appeared sharper than the Steelers. That momentum abruptly shifted when an offensive pass interference call on Darrell Jackson wiped out a Seahawks touchdown pass. This was a decision many analysts and fans later argued was marginal at best. The penalty erased a score and set the tone for a night filled with disputed calls.
The controversy deepened when Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was awarded a rushing touchdown on a goal-line plunge. Replays appeared to show the ball never fully crossing the plane, yet officials ruled it a touchdown.
The call stood after review, despite inconclusive visual evidence, adding fuel to Seattle’s growing frustration. At that moment, the whole Seahawks team was visibly upset, losing its calm and subsequently its efficiency on both sides of the ball.
Seattle also had several key drives extended against it by penalties, including holding calls that replays failed to clearly support. Meanwhile, the Seahawks themselves were flagged repeatedly in critical moments, stalling offensive momentum and forcing them into long-yardage situations.
This is one very interesting stat regarding the penalties:
- Seahawks 3 penalties for 20 yards
- Seahawks 7 penalties for 70 yards
Now the penalty stats suggest that the Seahawks were penalized twice more often for three times the yardage the Steelers have. Pittsburgh’s quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, had a 22.6 passer rating, which is the reason why Seahawks fans believe the Steelers needed a push from the officials.
Bill Leavy’s Confession
Perhaps the most striking element of Super Bowl XL’s legacy came later. Referee Bill Leavy publicly acknowledged after the game that he had made mistakes that affected the outcome. Such an admission is extremely rare in Super Bowl history and validates what many Seahawks players and fans had argued since the final whistle.
Imagine if some judges in court said anything similar about previous trials or sentences. That would practically tear down the previous decision.
Here is the list of all the officials in this event:
- Referee: Bill Leavy #127, second Super Bowl (XXXIV as back judge)
- Umpire: Garth DeFelice #53, first Super Bowl on field (alternate for XXXIX)
- Head linesman: Mark Hittner #28, third Super Bowl (XXXVI and XXXVIII)
- Line judge: Mark Perlman #9, first Super Bowl
- Side judge: Tom Hill #97, first Super Bowl
- Field judge: Steve Zimmer #33, first Super Bowl
- Back judge: Bob Waggoner #25, first Super Bowl
- Replay official: Bob Boylston
- Video operator: David Coleman
While Pittsburgh’s victory remains official, Super Bowl XL is often cited as the clearest example of how officiating can overshadow the sport’s biggest event. Instead of being remembered for a champion’s triumph, it endures as a cautionary tale, and proof that even the Super Bowl is not immune to controversy.
