LOS ANGELES — Hines Ward rode Steeler Nation to another championship Tuesday night: the Mirror Ball trophy in Season 12 of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars.

The All-Pro wide receiver beamed his trademark smile as he hoisted the glittering globe with dance partner Kym Johnson amid a stream of confetti and whoops from Terrible Towel-waving fans in the studio audience. In that audience was Emmitt Smith, the only other NFL player to win the trophy. Ward dedicated his last dance Tuesday to his mom, Kim Young-hee, and kissed her (and waved a Steelers Terrible Towel) afterward.

With a committed partner by his side (Johnson sustained a serious injury two weeks before the finale, causing her to wear a neck brace during semifinals rehearsals), Ward topped actress Kirstie Alley and Disney star Chelsea Kane.
It’s phenomenal,” Ward said after the show. “I’m not going to apologize for winning. I didn’t want to let Kym down all season — I wanted her to win a second Mirror Ball. (She won with Donny Osmond in Season 9). I hope I represented well.”

And he vowed to do a “tribute” to her — an end-zone dance — after every touchdown he scores next season.