The Pittsburgh Steelers were extremely lucky to have a phenomenal safety duo for a long time that included Hall of Famer, Troy Polamalu and his partner-in-crime, Ryan Clark. While the current ESPN analyst wasn't around for the team's Super Bowl XL victory over the Seattle Seahawks, he played a huge role when the organization hoisted a sixth Lombardi Trophy at the conclusion of the 2008 season.
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Pittsburgh Steelers former safety, Ryan Clark (#25) runs on the field during a professional football contest.
Aside from being vocal on ESPN, Clark also co-hosts a podcast with former NFL players, Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder. They released an episode of The Pivot on Friday with special guest, Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson. Clark was almost emotional talking about his time playing with Polamalu. He recalled a time (likely in 2012) that he stepped up when the legendary safety fell victim to injury. It was unfortunate for the team, but Clark had an opportunity to showcase his best on-field play.
In 2012, Clark ended up having a career-high in tackles (up to that point in his career) along with seven passes defended, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He played extremely well for the Steelers defense, but once Polamalu came back, he immediately went back to playing second fiddle to his teammate.
"The year he was out for the longest time was the best year of my career... I had fun and I enjoyed it and short story, and a long story, he came back and I went back to playing, just playing free safety and it was like two and a half quarters, I didn't do anything. I didn't touch a person. Like I didn't get around any plays."
Polamalu missed Weeks 5 through 11 during the 2012 season due to a nagging calf injury. The team certainly missed Polamalu for the majority of the year, as the season ended with an 8-8 record, despite Clark's best efforts to replace him.
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Steelers legendary and Hall of Fame safety, Troy Polamalu and his flowing hair.
Clark recalled when Polamalu finally returned from injury. He was fine going back to his normal role, but it hit him like a bag of bricks when he barely got any action in Polamalu's first game back. It affected him so much that after he missed two opportunities to contribute and failed, he immediately began crying and his superhuman teammate came over to console him.
"I remember it was like two plays in a row, I think I like missed a tackle and a guy caught a ball and I was like a grown man, bro, and I was just on the side and I just started crying. Not that I purposely tried to cry. It just happened. And [Polamalu] just walks up to me and he goes, 'You go down.' He understood for like the last eight weeks, I had been doing everything."
Football is an extremely emotional game and Clark had been so used to not being recognized or making an impact in the box score, that he enjoyed that spotlight when Polamalu was dealing with his calf ailment. The defense went back to being focused around Polamalu and it clearly was something that killed Clark on the inside, despite him being a team player.
"Because he was back, I was now back in a position where, like, I wouldn't get a chance to make plays, and when you get one play in three quarters... and you miss it, it stays on you."
Clark will always be known as a guy who was the Robin to Polamalu as Batman, but the reality is, the duo was always in sync and Clark accepting his role, without an ego, was one of the main reasons it worked out so well.
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Steelers defenders, James Farrior (#51), Ryan Clark (#25) and Troy Polamalu (#43) celebrate a turnover in Pittsburgh, PA.
The football analyst talked about how he easily could have left the Steelers in free agency a couple years prior to 2012 in order to play a bigger role for a defense, but he loved having the best safety in the NFL by his side because it elevated his game. He could have departed the Steel City to play for the Miami Dolphins in 2010, but decided to hang around and pursue another championship.
"That was the life. And I understood it. Ya know, I felt like when Miami tried to get me to come down there, they was like, 'You going to get to do all the stuff Troy does. We know you can do it.' Me too, but man, it's really comfortable doing it with him so I'mma go back."
Steelers' Clark Joked About Being Compared To One Of The Best Safeties Of All-Time
As frustrating as it was for Clark to not be in the spotlight all the time, he recognizes greatness, and that's exactly what came with Polamalu. He's completely accepting of the fact that he wasn't the best player on the Steelers' dominant defenses.
"You know what I get? What I used to get all the time? 'You ain't no Troy [Polamalu].' Mother-effer, duh," Clark joked.
Are you surprised that Clark was that emotional after going back to his normal role once Polamalu returned from injury? Let us know in the comments below!
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