Steelers legend James Harrison reunites with Browns fan he suplexed 20 years ago

Key Highlights

• The fan, later identified as Nathan Mallett, became part of NFL lore after being body-slammed near the Pittsburgh sideline by the legendary pass-rusher.
• The moment lived on in highlight reels, often remembered solely for its shock value. Two decades later, that story has taken on new meaning.
• The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Noah Hiles shared on X (formerly known as ), that Mallett credits the incident with helping change his life after years of alcohol abuse and personal struggles.
• The reunion with the Steelers icon revealed how a chaotic moment became the first step toward accountability and sobriety.“You slammed some sense into me.”According to Hiles, the comment came during a dinner organized in the Pittsburgh area to mark the anniversary.
• Mallett, now sober for over 16 years, described the embarrassment and consequences of the night as a turning point that eventually pushed him toward stability. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPost-Gazette Sports also shared video of Harrison and the Browns fan he tackled two decades ago making peace ahead of Sunday’s divisional matchup.