In 2004, the Pittsburgh Steelers made some coaching changes that significantly would impact the success for the rest of the decade. The most notable change was the re-hiring of Dick LeBeau as defensive coordinator. LeBeau brought in Ray Horton to assist defensive backs coach Darren Perry to fix a secondary that was going through more of an overhaul than a transition.
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Steelers safety Darren Perry during his playing days before he became a coach under Bill Cowher.
The big story was Troy Polamalu. He arrived with a lot of hype when the Steelers traded up 11 spots to draft him, the first time in franchise history that the Steelers moved up in the first round. But his rookie season fell short of expectations as he was the nickel safety and didn’t start a game. He began to doubt himself, but his teammates and coaches did not. They saw the progress and Joey Porter was particularly outspoken about it.
“The defense is okay with the mistakes; we want him out there," Porter admitted. "Even on the bad plays, you saw that flash from Troy."
Bill Cowher would admit that he 'did him [Polamalu] more a disservice because we put him in so many different positions.' But they saw the progress even if others did not.
Steelers.com
Having already grabbed an interception in the game, Polamalu flew the air to prevent a touchdown on a quarterback sneak by Kerry Collins.
The struggles that Polamalu went through as a rookie became fodder for the national media, especially those who did not see Polamalu with the same value as the Steelers did. But perhaps no one got it more wrong than the Detroit Lions. Horton now in Pittsburgh was their defensive backs coach and recalled the reaction from the Lions organization when discussing Polamalu in preparation for the 2003 NFL Draft.
Ray Horton, per The Inspirational Story of Pittsburgh Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu by Jim Wexell:
"I was coaching for Detroit and viewed him as the best safety in the draft, and at Detroit I kind of got laughed at for my grade. They didn’t think he was worthy. I got ostracized. The next year, I end up in Pittsburgh and, for me, the rest is history because he validated what I thought of him."
In the weeks leading up to the draft, there was widespread speculation about which teams would be interested in drafting Polamalu. Some experts predicted that he would be taken in the top ten, while others believed he could fall to the middle or late rounds of the draft. The Lions had the 2nd overall pick in the 2003 Draft. And while laughing Horton out of the building they would select wide receiver Charles Rogers. Rogers would be out of the NFL after three seasons catching only 36 career passes.
"What didn’t the Lions like about him,?" Horton would say. "Well, it would be easier to tell you what they liked about him: nothing. They didn’t like him. We’re there in Detroit watching the draft. Everybody’s in the draft room. The commissioner says, 'There’s a trade. Kansas City has traded with Pittsburgh.' In the room, they’re wondering who did Pittsburgh trade up for? Obviously, nobody knew. So, when the commissioner said it’s Troy Polamalu, everybody turned and looked at me. I put my hands up like “I told you. I told you.” They were stunned that that happened. Really, the look in that room towards me was the look on Aaron Rodgers’ face a couple years later as he sat there and sat there and sat there and sat there. It was just reversed. They thought it was unbelievable that someone would trade up to get him."
Polamalu's NFL career was marked by numerous impressive accomplishments, including two Super Bowl championships and a reputation as one of the league's best defensive players. He was known for his hard-hitting style, his exceptional athleticism, and his ability to make game-changing plays on the field. Over the course of his career, he earned numerous accolades and cemented his place as one of the greatest players in NFL history.
One of Polamalu's most notable accomplishments was winning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2010. This award is given annually to the league's top defensive player, and Polamalu was recognized for his outstanding performance that season. He had 63 tackles, eleven passes defensed, and seven interceptions that year, helping lead the Steelers to the Super Bowl. His recognition as the top defender in the league was a testament to his incredible skill and impact on the game.
AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
Polamalu was also a key part of the Steelers' success in the 2000s, helping the team win two Super Bowl championships in 2005 and 2008. In those games, he played a pivotal role, making crucial plays on defense to help secure the victories. His performance in the AFC Championship game in 2008 in particular is considered one of the best in the game's history, as he intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown to help seal the win for the Steelers.
In addition to his Super Bowl victories, Polamalu was a eight-time Pro Bowl selection and a four-time First-Team All-Pro selection. He was widely regarded as one of the best safeties in NFL history, with his incredible athleticism, hard-hitting style, and playmaking ability making him a feared opponent on the field. His impact on the game of football was immense, and he left a lasting legacy as one of the greatest players to ever play the game.
USA Today
Polamalu would finish his career with 35 interceptions, 1 less than the number of receptions that Rogers would finish with. Per usual when it comes to the Lions, the Steelers and Polamalu would laugh last.
Horton, who would coach the Steelers secondary through 2010 until he was offered the position of defensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals, was proven right and a great example of how much of an impact a good assistant coach can make.
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