The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens 26-24 Sunday to win the AFC North title.
With two seconds left in the game, the Ravens’ Tyler Loop attempted a 44-yard field goal to give the Ravens the win but missed as the ball went wide right and time expired.
Before the game, Father Maximilian Maxwell blessed one of the end zones of the Steelers’ Acrisure Stadium (formerly Heinz Field), as WPXI’s Jenna Harner shared on X.
The blessing became a topic of conversation on social media following the win.
Harner later confirmed that the end zone Father Maximilian blessed was the same end zone of Loop’s missed field goal.
The blessing happened at 6:15 p.m. ET, according to Mike Tirico on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” broadcast of the game.
“The Catholic community in Pittsburgh is very strong and its ties to the Steelers are everywhere,” Tirico said after the game.
Cris Collinsworth added, “So, it’s not Tyler Loop’s fault.”
Father Maximilian was named the Prior of Saint Vincent Archabbey in August of 2025, per Saint Vincent College.
Saint Vincent College has hosted the Steelers’ training camp every year since 1966.
Steelers players referenced the blessing and its impact on the game in their postgame availability.
“I’m not gonna ask questions,” Pittsburgh defensive lineman Cam Heyward said, per WJCL. “The good Lord made a good decision tonight. I’m thankful, and we keep moving on.”
Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth also mentioned Father Maximilian, per a video shared by The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo.
“I was super nervous, super anxious. But I saw someone tweet earlier that a priest blessed the field. So I think that worked,” Freiermuth said.
The tradition behind the viral moment
But the blessing of the field isn’t unusual for the Steelers. In fact, it’s a tradition.
In a statement to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 on Monday, Saint Vincent College said the blessing of the field dates back to 2001 and is done before every Steelers game.
“Following the resodding of the field, it is blessed and prayers are offered by Saint Vincent priests like Father Maximilian Maxwell for the safety and health of all the athletes who compete there,” the college said in the statement.
On Sunday, Father Maximilian filled in for the college’s president, Father Paul Taylor.
How social media reacted to the blessing and missed kick
Football fans had fun on social media with the connection between Father Maximilian’s blessing and the missed kick.
Here are some of the reactions.