Pittsburgh Steelers' legend, Troy Polamalu made more unique big plays to fill a highlight reel than any other player in NFL history. From his multiple one-handed diving interceptions, to the unmatched timing of diving over the center to take down Kerry Collins or Joe Flacco on a fourth down QB sneak, Polamalu was in a category all his own.
Pittsburgh Steelers safety, Troy Polamalu (#43) leaps over the offensive line to tackle Baltimore Ravens quarterback, Joe Flacco in the 2008 AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field. | CBS Sports
But if there was one thing Polamalu seemed to revel in more than anything else, it was when he had the chance to run with the ball in the open field. He was so gifted of an athlete; you never knew what he was going to do or what was going to happen. It was clear from his first pick-six against the Cincinnati Bengals. Polamalu sealed the 28-17 win by intercepting his college friend, Carson Palmer, after initially running the wrong way, evading four potential Bengals tacklers en route to steamrolling Palmer for the score on a play Palmer still remembers, but would rather forget.
Troy Polamalu steamrolls Carson Palmer; CBS Sports
Carson Palmer, via The Inspirational Story of Pittsburgh Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu; Jim Wexell
I tell him my shoulder still hurts to this day. I had my back to the goal line. I was trying to protect the goal line. He had a full head of steam, and he just ran me right over. I still have a knot on my AC joint on my shoulder from where he put his helmet. I had no chance. I should’ve just run off the field and got out of his way.
Polamalu’s unpredictability was both fun and crazy. Dick LeBeau commented that Polamalu’s biggest strength was his competitiveness, which manifested in his refusal to go down; “He didn’t know that you can get tackled.”
In the 2005 AFC Wild Card Game against the Bengals, Polamalu ratcheted up another level when he intercepted Jon Kitna with 4:33 remaining and sealing the Steelers 31-17 win. However, Polamalu just had to make it interesting as after a 4-yard return, he lateraled back to Chris Hope who carried it for another 23 yards. The return was called back after a screaming Joey Porter drew a penalty that called it all back, while on the sidelines Bill Cowher and LeBeau almost lost their minds.
Chris Hope, via The Inspirational Story of Pittsburgh Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu; Jim Wexell
When we got to the sideline, Coach LeBeau’s fussing, everybody’s fussing. Coach Cowher said, “What are you doing?! You make one of the greatest plays and then you make one of the dumbest plays!” Troy said, “What do you mean? We do this every day!” Everybody on the sideline just died laughing because he was right. We practiced it every day for two, three years.
In the 2005 AFC Divisional Round, Polamalu baited Peyton Manning and picked off the pass that was sending the heavily favored Indianapolis Colts home after being hyped to potentially be the greatest team ever. The play was inexplicably ruled an incompletion, though all Polamalu had to do was roll to the ground with possession, but there was just too much turf in front of him to do that.
Troy Polamalu intercepts Peyton Manning; CBS Sports
The Steelers maintained their composure and sustained the win, eventually advancing to Super Bowl XL. But the offense was struggling late in the first half and the Steelers facing a 3rd and 1, despite having Jerome Bettis as one of the greatest power backs in NFL history, Polamalu had his own solution which he pitched to head coach Bill Cowher: “Let me take it over the top coach!” Cowher was having none of it, Polamalu already drove him crazy enough with his unique style.
Bill Cowher, via The Inspirational Story of Pittsburgh Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu; Jim Wexell
Oh, he wanted it one time just to be able to run an offensive play. I said, “You’re such a pain in the ass. The closest you’re going to get to the offense is if we do a kneel down and you can go out there. That’s your offensive snap. Just stand behind there in case there’s a fumble.” That was the closest he was going to get to touching the ball on offense.
Ben Roethlisberger scored on the ensuing play and Polamalu was able to go out in victory formation as the Steelers won Super Bowl XL 21-10. James Harrison made light of Polamalu’s pitch to make the scoring play: “Everybody secretly wishes they were a running back, especially if you played in high school.”
Ironically, it would be James Harrison again commenting on a Troy Polamalu play; this time with him scoring that truly stood out. In the 2008 AFC Championship against the Baltimore Ravens and 4:33 remaining, Polamalu was playing a freelance linebacker (dimebacker) out of Lebeau’s three-safety quarters package.
Joe Flacco felt the pressure from Harrison and did not see Polamalu drop into coverage as he snagged the interception out of nowhere and ran across Heinz Field at its loudest ever, yet not enough for Polamalu to ignore the pleas of teammates Aaron Smith and James Farrior who couldn’t keep up with the wild run of Polamalu as he made everyone in the stadium miss as he evaded tacklers to seal the trip to Super Bowl XLIII.
Polamalu intercepts Flacco to seal the 2008 AFC Championship.
James Harrison, via The Inspirational Story of Pittsburgh Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu; Jim Wexell
We were all screaming “Troy go down! Go down! Go down!” He’s like, “No, I’m goin’ to score.” Everybody was like go down and let the offense come in and kneel on the ball. Go down. That’s why you see all of us running around like crazy trying to get a block. We’re like, “Just slide on the ground!”
Polamalu loved to run the with the ball and enjoyed it regardless of the outcome. He joked about his ability with head coach Mike Tomlin who smirked back about Polamalu being a great "cutback guy." Whether he was a running back in the body of a strong safety or just the greatest Steelers' defensive player of the millennium, when Troy Polamalu made a play, the Steelers made a play, and you could bet that it was one for the generations.
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