Kenneth Gainwell’s Wild 45-Yard Touchdown Caps Off a Miracle Moment for Steelers
There are touchdowns, and then there are the kind you have to watch three times just to believe they actually happened. Kenneth Gainwell gave us one of those moments on Sunday, turning what looked like an incomplete deep shot into a 45-yard touchdown that will be replayed for years - especially in Pittsburgh.
Let’s set the stage: 11 seconds on the clock, 2nd-and-10 from the Detroit 45-yard line. The Steelers needed a spark, and Aaron Rodgers, never a stranger to late-game heroics, dropped back and let one fly downfield toward Gainwell.
At first glance, it looked like a busted play. The pass came in with tight coverage from Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone, and the initial reaction was that the ball hit the turf. Flags flew for pass interference, and most assumed the Steelers would get one more shot with the clock winding down.
But then came the twist.
Replay showed that not only did Gainwell somehow haul in the contested catch through contact - he was never actually touched down. As Anzalone stumbled and Gainwell gathered himself, he realized the play was still live. With the presence of mind you don’t often see in that kind of chaos, he took off down the sideline, untouched, and crossed the goal line for a stunning 45-yard touchdown.
It was the kind of heads-up, instinctual play that separates good players from game-changers.
And just like that, Gainwell had the signature moment of his career.
Coming into this matchup, Gainwell had already posted a personal-best 783 yards of offense on the season, according to Pro Football Reference. But this play?
This was something else entirely. It wasn’t just another stat - it was a moment that will be etched into Steelers lore.
Adding another layer to the drama, the play came just minutes after CBS’s Tony Romo and Jim Nantz brought up Aaron Rodgers’ legendary “Miracle in Motown” - that unforgettable Hail Mary to Richard Rodgers back in 2015. And here we are again, a decade later, Rodgers delivering another improbable touchdown at Ford Field, in a year ending in “5.”
Coincidence? Maybe.
But Rodgers and Motown magic seem to go hand in hand.
As for Gainwell, this wasn’t just a lucky bounce. It was a high-pressure situation, a contested catch, and a player who never stopped playing through the whistle. That’s the kind of awareness coaches preach about all week - and rarely get to see executed this perfectly.
The Steelers have had their share of memorable plays over the years, but this one belongs in the highlight reel. Gainwell turned a potential penalty into six points, and in doing so, gave fans one of the most jaw-dropping touchdowns of the season.