Joey Porter

Joseph Eugene Porter Sr. (born March 22, 1977) is an American professional football coach and former player.

He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL).

During the preseason, Porter wore number 95, the first Steelers player to wear the number since Steelers linebacker great Greg Lloyd was released following the 1997 season.

However, despite his similarities to Lloyd in terms of playing style and vocal leadership (or perhaps because of it), Porter changed his jersey number to 55 just before the start of the regular season in order to develop his own identity.

He also took 55 in honor of his childhood hero, Junior Seau.

He finished the preseason as the team's leading tackler, recording 22 total tackles (18 solo).

He also recorded a team-high four sacks and forced a fumble.

He played college football for the Colorado State Rams and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft.

A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Porter won Super Bowl XL with the Steelers and was also a member of the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals.

The Steelers drafted his son, Joey Porter Jr.., with the thirty-second overall selection of the 2023 NFL draft.

Porter's prep career took place at Foothill High School in Bakersfield, California.

He was a two-time All-Conference selection as wide receiver and running back for the Trojans.

His senior season, he led the team to a 9–2 mark and a berth in the sectional playoffs, rushing the ball 86 times for 1,086 yards.

After his final season at Foothill, he was named to the All-Section and All-State teams.

He lettered twice in football, plus twice in basketball.

He also played soccer as a youth.

Porter has never moved from his hometown and ran a youth football camp at Foothill throughout his career.

While attending Colorado State University, Porter was a standout on the football field for the Colorado State Rams football team.

He began his college career as an H-back and did not see his first action on the defensive line until his junior year.

He was a third-team All-American and All-Western Athletic Conference first-team selection by The Sports Network.

He registered 22 career sacks.

As a senior, he recorded 53 tackles (36 solos) with eight quarterback pressures and 12 tackles-for-losses.

He finished third in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I-A with a school single-season record-tying 15 sacks for minus 63 yards.

He majored in exercise and sport science.

He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Porter in the third round (73 overall) of the 1999 NFL draft.

Porter was the eighth linebacker drafted in 1999.

He went on to excel on special teams during the 1999 season, with his time on defense increasing as the year went on.

His first career sack came on Cleveland Browns quarterback Tim Couch on September 12, when he also forced a fumble on the play.

He partially deflected a punt against the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 2.

In the season finale against the Tennessee Titans, Porter accumulated six tackles and a sack.

He also forced and recovered a Neil O'Donnell fumble and returned it 46 yards for a score.

In 2000, Porter finished second behind Jason Gildon and set a career-high with 10.5 sacks on the year.

He and Gildon also tied a franchise record with 24 sacks as a duo.

On the year, he registered 74 tackle (51 solo), one interception, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

He was voted the AFC Defensive Player of the Month in October.

Against the Cincinnati Bengals on October 15, he registered eight tackles (seven solo), three sacks including one for a safety, four quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

He had five tackles and two sacks in a game against the Baltimore Ravens two games later.

Porter's first career interception came against the Tennessee Titans on November 5 on a pass from Steve McNair.

His second career touchdown came on a 32-yard fumble recovery against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 12.