Steelers Field Blessing Gains National Spotlight

Since 1966 the Pittsburgh Steelers have held their training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, a partnership rooted in the Rooney family’s long-standing ties to the Benedictine monastery. The tradition of blessing the playing surface began at Three Rivers Stadium and was formalized in 2003 when Rev. Paul Taylor, now the president of Saint Vincent College, started sprinkling holy water on new turf. Each season the priests walk the perimeter of the field at Acrisure Stadium, sprinkle holy water, and bury Benedictine jubilee medals inscribed with prayers for safety. The ritual is intended to ask for the health of all players, coaches and staff, not to influence the outcome of any game.

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• Rev. Maximilian Maxwell (Father Max) – Prior of Saint Vincent Archabbey; conducts the pre-game blessing and returns to the monastery to watch the game.

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• Rev. Paul Taylor (Father Paul) – President of Saint Vincent College; co-originator of the blessing tradition and occasional participant in the ceremony.

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• Early 1900s – Art Rooney Sr. attends Catholic retreats at the monastery, establishing the family’s connection.

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• 2003 – Father Paul begins the field-blessing practice for the Steelers.

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• 2025 Week 18 – NBC cameras capture Father Max’s blessing moments before kickoff; the Steelers win after a missed Ravens field goal.

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• 2026 season – Father Max is slated to perform the first regular-season blessing after the field is resodded following a concert.

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Father Max emphasized that the water is intended solely for player safety and not to affect game results. Father Paul echoed this, noting that the ceremony “brings people together” and is a gesture of friendship rather than a competitive advantage. Both priests stressed that the blessing is a private, low-key act that usually occurs before cameras arrive, and that any perceived link to game outcomes is coincidental.

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The episode illustrates how a long-standing religious custom can become a flashpoint for public speculation when intersecting with high-profile sports events. While players and fans joked about “divine intervention,” the priests used the moment to educate a national audience about the purpose of sacramental blessings and to separate faith-based rituals from superstition. The visibility also highlights the deep cultural ties between the Steelers organization and the local Benedictine community.

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• “So it's not Tyler Loop's fault.” — Cris Collinsworth

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• “It's become a nice tradition that really brings people together,” — Father Paul

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• “It's moving away from superstition and magic and things of that nature and focusing on trying to honor that sacramental and that honest blessing,” — Father Max

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• “Every time we drop new turf in, we bless the field,” — Father Paul

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• “I saw him out there, and he was in all black,” — Aaron Rodgers

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• “We try to do that before cameras are on the field, and someone got him on camera, which is fine," Father Paul said.” — Father Paul

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Father Max confirmed he will lead the first regular-season blessing of 2026 after the field is resodded following a recent concert, indicating the tradition will continue to accompany the Steelers into future seasons.

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