Lenten campaign 2026
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The Pittsburgh Steelers knew they needed to win on Sunday, January 5, otherwise their season was over. The back-and-forth game came down to the wire, with the Steelers clinching the win after the Baltimore Ravens missed a field goal in the game's final seconds.
But it was something that happened before the game that really got Steelers fans talking. A priest — Fr. Maximilian Maxwell, O.S.B., prior of Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania — was spotted praying and sprinkling Holy Water on the field at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers have a longtime connection to the Benedictine monks at Saint Vincent Archabbey. Since 1966, the Pittsburgh Steelers have held their training camp at Saint Vincent College, which is operated by the Benedictines.
A video of Maxwell's blessing was shared on X by WPXI's Jenna Harner. The video quickly went viral, and had amassed 2 million views within hours of posting.
At first, football fans joked that the Steelers must be really desperate for a win by bringing a priest onto the field and using sacramentals.
"Haha I don’t think that’s gonna help the Steelers, but we’ll see," wrote one user on X. "He should be giving them the last rites instead," another chimed in.
"Hopefully praying for a Steelers win. Not a religious man, but I'll take any help the Steelers can get," said another fan.
Others pointed out that having a priest bless the field is just how things are done in Pittsburgh.
"This might be the most Pittsburgh video to ever exist."
The Pittsburgh Steelers confirmed to Aleteia that blessing the field is a long-standing custom.
"The blessing of the field at Acrisure Stadium is a tradition dating back to the stadium’s opening in 2001," the team told Aleteia in an email. "Following the resodding of the field, it is blessed and prayers are offered for the safety and health of all the athletes who compete there."
As the game progressed, and things were looking grim for the Steelers, doubts began to fly, with one user saying "that hocus pocus isn't working."
Another asked to "call the priest back out" as the game looked as it was slipping away from the Steelers.
As the game ticked down, the Ravens lined up to attempt a field goal — and missed.
Following the come-from-behind win, NBC's Sunday Night Football aired Maxwell's blessing, with commentator Mike Tirico noting with a laugh that "the Catholic community in Pittsburgh is very strong."
"And down at that end zone, Tyler Loop misses (...) and allows the Steelers to win," said Tirico.
"So it's not Tyler Loop's fault," said his broadcast partner Cris Collinsworth.
On social media, many people began to wonder: Is God a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers? Or is this win proof not only that God is real, but also He loves the Steelers?
(This goes without saying, but God is not a fan of one sports team over another, even if it sometimes does not feel that way.)
Aleteia reached out to Fr. Maxwell for comment the pre-game blessing, as well as to inquire if the priest, a native of Philadelphia, is a Steelers fan or an Eagles fan.
UPDATE (January 6, 2026): This piece has been edited to add comments from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
