If you are a younger fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, you may know cornerback Joey Porter Jr. better than you know his father, Joey Porter Sr. While the younger Porter has all the talent needed to become one of the top players at his position, he has a long way to go before he catches his father in terms of excellence in a Steelers jersey.
That's why it was surprising that Porter Sr. had to wait until 2025 to be inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor. He joined Ben Roethlisberger and Maurkice Pouncey as the three members of the 2025 class, and it's an honor he is well deserving of.
While he didn't play his entire career with the Black and Gold like Pouncey and Roethlisberger did, he accomplished plenty in his eight seasons in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Steelers' legend Joey Porter Sr. had an underrated career
Porter Sr. was one of many great defenders that the Steelers franchise has become known for, but he is often overlooked when it comes to the best pass rushers in team history. His 60 sacks as a Steeler rank seventh all time according to Pro Football Reference, and every player ahead of him has played more games for the team except for T.J. Watt.
The former All-Pro also had a knack for forcing turnovers, with 27 combined interceptions and forced fumbles. His 10 interceptions in particular are impressive for a player known for his ability as a pass rusher. The aforementioned Watt has also had a habit of picking off passes from time to time, but he has just seven in his career.
Three of his four Pro-Bowl nods and his only 1st-Team All-Pro selection came with the Steelers as well, and his three sacks during their Super Bowl run in 2005 cemented him as a clutch playoff performer.
He even eventually joined the coaching staff in Pittsburgh from 2014-2019 as a linebackers coach. Porter has been all about the Steelers even since his departure from the staff, and I for one am glad that he will forever be remembered as one of the best players to play for the iconic franchise.