Before he became the Pittsburgh Steelers best linebacker of the early 2000's, Joey Porter was just an unknown 1999 third-round pick wearing the number of another Steelers all-time great: Greg Lloyd. But Porter got a lot of attention from the start, with an impressive preseason that had Steeler Nation buzzing and earning him the moniker of “Baby Lloyd.”
Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, Joey Porter (#95) had a dynamic rookie preseason wearing #95. | NFL Films
Lloyd was one of the most beloved Steelers in the 1990's as he brought back the intimidation factor that Steelers linebackers had been missing since Jack Lambert and Jack Ham were leading the Steel Curtain defense of the 1970's. Steeler Nation was getting understandably excited about witnessing another OLB flying around the field and making plays reminiscent of Lloyd. While they proved to be right about the young rookie, Porter was wary about replacing a legend. In fact, one could say that Porter was trying to "Avoid Lloyd."
Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, Joey Porter had a lot to live up to in order to fill the shoes of the great Greg Lloyd. | NFL Films
Joey Porter, per NFL Films:
"I had a great preseason when I came in as a rookie. I mean I was just running around, just learning the defense, trying to make plays. I think I led the preseason in sacks. I had 4.5 sacks or something like that. And everybody was like, 'Oh, man, this guy is gonna be the next Greg Lloyd.'""I’m talking about after every game I had, they wouldn’t say my name without saying his name. If they said 'Greg Lloyd,' Joey Porter was right behind."
"It was the best compliment in the world, make no mistake about that. I mean I loved that. But at the same time, I knew the whole time that if I wore #95, I would never have my own legacy to speak of."
Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, Joey Porter was determined to live up to Greg Lloyd's reputation of being feared throughout the league. | NFL Films
Before the 1999 season started, Porter had changed his number from #95 to #55. Porter completely understood the legacy that he was trying to fill. Steeler Nation was starving for another Super Bowl after winning four in the 1970's, and the organization continued to bring back the legends for one celebration after another. Porter came to realize that in order for the fans to let those teams go and for himself and his Steelers to have any legacy, they would have to win a Super Bowl themselves.
Joey Porter was a driving force behind the Steelers march to winning Super Bowl XL and forging a new legacy for the 2000's Steelers. He was the leader in the locker room who led the men on the field and off of it. He boldly challenged the heavily favored Indianapolis Colts for being too soft in the 2005 playoffs and he rallied his teammates to level up their game to back him up. He famously held teammates back to let Jerome Bettis have his moment in front of the hometown crowd in Detroit during the pregame announcements and coordinated them all to wear his #6 jersey from when "The Bus" played for Notre Dame.
Joey Porter rallies his teammates prior to Super Bowl XL. | NFL Films
Porter was also fearless, mean, and ruthless. He backed down from no one, including Ray Lewis, who he challenged after a game in 2003. He called out Seattle Seahawks tight end, Jerramy Stevens, prior to Super Bowl XL when he felt Stevens was disrespecting Bettis and was proven right as Stevens dropped multiple passes on the day.
Troy Polamalu on Porter’s “ruthlessness,” per The Inspirational Story of Pittsburgh Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu by Jim Wexell:
"I’m not that kind of player. Joey would be that type of player. And I loved that about Joey, that he was that type of player. If you take that away from us, we lose our identity. And with that, football loses its identity.Joey Porter wouldn’t take crap from anybody. When people came to our field, they knew this was our home field. Nobody was going to mess with us.
Joey Porter, per NFL Films:
At the end of the day, when they think about the linebackers, they say #95, that was Lloyd’s number. #58, that was Lambert’s number. #59, that was Ham’s number. So, when they say 55, that was Porter's number.
The end of Porter’s run as a player with the Steelers came following the 2006 season. His presence was so strong that Ike Taylor suggested that part of the reason the Steelers decided to part ways with Porter was that he would carry more influence than new head coach, Mike Tomlin, in the transition from Bill Cowher.
Ike Taylor, per The Inspirational Story of Pittsburgh Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu by Jim Wexell:
"I thought the front office let him go because they thought Joey Porter would have more power over the team than Coach Tomlin."
Joey Porter on his way to sack Peyton Manning in the 2005 AFC Playoffs. | NFL Films
Porter finished his Steelers career fourth on the team’s all-time sacks list with 60, was a three-time Pro Bowler, the 2002 Team MVP and captain of the great 2005 championship defense. He would return the following season and enjoy a big game as a member of the Miami Dolphins, and he returned to Pittsburgh in 2014 to coach the outside linebackers for five seasons.
It’s safe to say that Porter managed to create a long-lasting legacy of his own in Pittsburgh that far exceeded “Baby Lloyd.”
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