Happy Father's Day to all the dads that are apart of Steeler Nation and to celebrate, we will be looking at the new father-son duo the Pittsburgh Steelers welcomed during the 2023 NFL offseason. When the team drafted cornerback, Joey Porter Jr. with the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, it was a heartfelt moment for both Porter Jr. as well as his dad Joey Porter Sr., who played linebacker for the Steelers from 1999 through the 2006 season. And now, his son has the opportunity to continue the Porter legacy in Pittsburgh.
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Steelers' Joey Porter Jr on draft night
Steelers Drafting Joey Porter Jr.
Going into the 2023 NFL Draft, Steelers fans knew the team would have to select a cornerback at some point. With Porter Jr. being one of the top corners in the draft, it seemed like a pairing that was bound to happen. After the team selected Broderick Jones in the first round, Porter Jr. was viewed as a long shot to become a Steeler with 14 teams making selections before the franchise's next pick.
Thankfully, at the end of the first round, Porter Jr. had not been selected yet. Knowing the Steelers' had the first pick of the second round, fans were excited about the possibility of adding Porter Jr. to the cornerback room. After not being selected on night one, Porter Sr. gave some words of wisdom to his son.
"There's nothing like motivation, right? They want to see a pissed off football player, now they got one. Now you've been motivated to another level. Because we've got something to prove."
Eventually, the Steelers would select Porter Jr. with the very next pick. This was a special moment for the Porters and an exciting one for Steelers fans as the team filled a big need on defense.
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Steelers Joey Porter Sr. | Photo Credit: Jason Bridge / USA TODAY Sports
Porter Sr.' Pittsburgh Legacy
The Steelers drafted Porter Sr. in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft and he became a starter for the Steelers' defense in the 2000 NFL season. Throughout his career in Pittsburgh, Porter Sr. was able to accomplish plenty tallying 60 sacks, one First-Team All-Pro, two Second-Team All-Pros, three Pro-Bowl selections and a Super Bowl victory.
His legacy in Pittsburgh is cemented as an all-time great as he was selected to the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team. After his playing career, Porter Sr. went on to be a part of the Steelers' coaching staff. He started as a defensive assistant for the 2014 season before serving as the teams' outside linebackers coach from 2015 through 2018.
Photo Credit: Matt Freed/Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers James Harrison and Joey Porter
Porter Sr. had one of his most memorable moments as a coach for the Steelers' during the 2016 NFL playoffs. During a Wild Card match up against the Cincinnati Bengals, Porter Sr. was on the field during an injury timeout. During the timeout, he and several Bengals' players had gotten into an argument in which Porter Sr. eventually was shoved by Bengals' cornerback, Adam Jones. This resulted in a personal foul on Jones, which awarded the Steelers 15 yards. This penalty was crucial because it put the Steelers in field goal range and they eventually kicked the game-winning field goal and advanced to the divisional round.
Expectations Of Joey Porter Jr.
Steelers fans have high expectations for Porter Jr. Partly because of the success of his father in Pittsburgh, but also because of the praise he has been receiving from future Hall of Famer, Patrick Peterson. Peterson has been reported to be mentoring Porter Jr during this off-seasons' OTAs, and his praise for the rookie cornerback has been exciting to hear for Steelers' fans. The thought of Porter Jr.' future in Pittsburgh is exciting for Steelers' fans, and I'm sure it is exciting for him as well as he is given the opportunity to continue his family's legacy in the steel city.
Are you excited to watch the Porters' legacy in Pittsburgh grow more Steeler Nation? Let us know in the comments below!
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