Legendary Steeler Hopes to Return to Coaching
The Steelers are known for having one of the best defenses in the history of the NFL. Throughout the team’s history, they’ve had many excellent defensive players. Former linebacker Joey Porter Sr. is one of those players. The Steelers chose him during the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft. Porter played for the team for seven seasons. He’s a Super Bowl Champion. The Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 21-10 in Super Bowl XL. Porter joined the Miami Dolphins in 2007 and played for them throughout the 2009 season. He signed with the Arizona Cardinals in 2010 and played for them until 2012.
Before his retirement, he asked Art Rooney II if he could sign a one-day contract with the Steelers because he wanted to retire as a Steeler. Porter’s request was granted. On August 3rd, 2012, he officially retired as a Steeler during the evening festivities at Steelers training camp in Latrobe, PA. Throughout his career, Porter has amassed 689 tackles. He’s had 98 sacks, 10 fumble recoveries, and 25 forced fumbles. Porter was a Pro Bowl selection four times during his NFL career, in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2008. He was named First-team All-Pro in 2002 and 2008. He was named Second-team All-Pro in 2004 and 2005.
In 2015, Porter reunited with the Steelers. He was their outside linebackers coach for four seasons. His son, Joey Porter Jr., now plays for the Steelers. Porter Jr. was selected by the team in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Porter hopes to rejoin the Steelers coaching staff. He recently appeared on the “Not Just Football with Cam Heyward” podcast. Porter discussed his past involvement with the team and his hopes of coaching them again. He said, “I ain't trying to use my Steeler power of being on the sideline, because it's giving mixed emotions. I know how much I want to coach. I'm not trying to sit down here to look like I'm trying to ask for my job back, knowing I would take it back, but you don't want to come off like that, and I want him to be a man and do his thing.”
The city of Pittsburgh and the Steelers organization are very important to Porter and his family. Porter and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin raised their sons together in Pittsburgh area schools. Porter Jr. graduated from North Allegheny Senior High School in Wexford, PA. He played college football for Penn State. He was named First-Team All-Big Ten in 2022. The Steelers are not very likely to part ways with their current productive defensive coaches. Porter is more likely to find success coaching a different NFL team if that’s something he’d be willing to consider.
