Arguably the greatest free agent signee in Pittsburgh Steelers history and definitely the greatest under former general manager, Kevin Colbert, James Farrior joined the Steelers via free agency in 2002.
Do you remember how Farrior chose the Steelers in free agency in the 2022 offseason? Let's take a look back at how one of the greatest free agent signees in Steelers history came to be.
PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: James Farrior #51 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts during the fourth quarter against the New York Jets during the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
In an interview reposted due to the dead time that is now, before training camp opens on July 26th in Latrobe, Steelers.com opened up their "Time Machine," to give us a little insight on Farrior's playing days with the team.
Farrior sat down with Stan Savran of Steelers Nation Radio to discuss the decision to join the team via NFL free agency in 2022.
"Yeah, like you said, I was a first round draft pick, number eight pick overall for the New York Jets," Farrior stated in the interview. "And I enjoyed my time there. It was a great learning experience for me. But overall, I don't think I played as well as I thought I should have. And things didn't work out at the end as quite as I thought it would. And I became a free agent, and Pittsburgh was one of the teams that showed the most interest, and that's how I ended up here."
Why did Farrior choose Pittsburgh as his destination at this point?
"Well, to tell you the truth, they were the first team that offered me a contract, and they were pretty much the only team that had money on the table to offer me a contract to come play," Farrior said. "And I felt like that was enough motivation for me to get the deal done."
Chaz Palla / Tribune-Review
Farrior continued to talk about the free agency process and how it may not be as appealing for some players.
"Being a free agent, that was a lonely process, man," Farrior continued. "I thought it was going to go fast, but it didn't work out how I thought it would, and things just took a little bit too long, bit of time than I thought it expected it to be. It all worked out in the end."
It did work out in the end as the Steelers proceeded to move Farrior to inside linebacker after he joined the team in 2002. He felt like his skillset was more valuable there than in his original outside linebacker position with the Jets.
"I feel that I played my best football when I was inside," Farrior stated matter-of-factly in the interview. "I played outside linebacker on the line of scrimmage my first few years at the Jets, and it was a position that I was uncomfortable with and not used to. And it took me a lot of learning adjustments to make. And I think that had a little bit to do with my success on the field.And once I moved to inside and I felt like I was a better player when I could see what was going on and react from that instead of just having to be right now when you're on the line of scrimmage, everything happens immediately. So I think moving back a little bit and giving me time to process things, helped my career out a lot."
PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 21: James Farrior #51 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after a sack against the Oakland Raiders during the game on November 21, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
Farrior went on to help the Steelers secure two more Super Bowls in the 2005 and 2008 season. A decision by Farrior and the Steelers, neither will ever forget! It completely changed Farrior's career trajectory. Farrior's story goes to show that it's not always on the player that gets labeled a "bust," but player's careers can get dismantled if their drafted into the wrong situation on the wrong organization.
Check out the entire interview here!
What are yinz thoughts on Farrior? Is he the franchise's greatest free agent signee of all-time? Sound off in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!
#SteelerNation
