Steelers Field Blessing Viral After Tyler Loop Misses Game-Winning Kick

A pregame ritual by Father Maximilian Maxwell at 6:15 local time gained national attention after Tyler Loop missed a field goal, securing a Pittsburgh victory.

A missed field goal by Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop during a Week 18 matchup secured the Pittsburgh Steelers' AFC North title and a 2025 playoff berth. The victory was punctuated by a viral moment involving Rev. Maximilian Maxwell, the prior of Saint Vincent Archabbey, who performed a pregame ritual at 6:15 local time. NBC play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico highlighted the event on the broadcast, showing footage of the priest sprinkling holy water in the gold end zone at Acrisure Stadium where Loop eventually missed his attempt. Tirico noted that the ritual occurred pregame, while partner Cris Collinsworth remarked that the miss was not the kicker's fault, attributing the outcome to a higher power.

The Pregnancy of the Pregame Ritual

Father Max performed the blessing approximately two hours before kickoff, walking the perimeter of the field with a plastic vessel of holy water. The process took 15 minutes and included prayers for the health, safety, and freedom from injury of all players, coaches, and support staff. While the television broadcast focused on one end zone, Father Max clarified that he blessed the entire field. The tradition of blessing the turf dates back to the era of Three Rivers Stadium, a practice confirmed by team president Art Rooney II. Since 2003, Rev. Paul Taylor has led these blessings, with Father Max joining the rotation a decade ago to assist when schedules conflicted.

Monastic Traditions and Training Camp Ties

Saint Vincent College has hosted the Steelers for training camp since 1966. The connection between the Rooney family and the Benedictine monastery began in the early 1900s when Art Rooney Sr. played prep school football games at the site. Today, the team resides in Rooney Hall during camp, and the monastery even housed the team’s six Super Bowl trophies following their 2009 championship win. Coach Mike McCarthy is a frequent attendee of the archabbey’s Mass services, which are held several times a week. McCarthy notably missed the conclusion of the team’s annual home run derby to attend a late-afternoon Saturday Mass.

Player Reactions and Religious Symbols

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers engaged with Father Paul during training camp at Chuck Noll Field, asking for a blessing for the quarterback position group after noticing the priest's black habit. Rodgers, who previously played in Green Bay, compared the tradition to his experiences with Father Jim at his former team. Second-year quarterback Will Howard and defensive leader Cameron Heyward also acknowledged the ritual, with Heyward jokingly stating that God has always been a Steelers fan. As part of the formal blessing for new sod, the priests bury Benedictine jubilee medals in each corner of the field, which are inscribed with prayers for divine presence.

Faith Versus Superstition

Following the viral Week 18 broadcast, Father Max received numerous interview requests, including one from TMZ, all of which he initially declined. He emphasized that the blessing is a sacred ritual rather than a supernatural incantation intended to influence the score. The most recent field blessing occurred after the surface was resodded following a Bruno Mars concert on August 29. Father Max, a Philadelphia native who now supports the black and gold, is scheduled to perform the first regular-season blessing of 2026. Despite the public fascination with the timing of the missed kick, the monks maintain that the ritual is an act of hospitality and friendship toward the organization rather than a tool for divine intervention in game outcomes.