The list of former Pittsburgh Steelers players who have criticized head coach Mike Tomlin and the current organization has grown recently. Pundits and fans have begun using that in arguments that the Steelers should make significant change this offseason.
But former Steelers All-Pro linebacker Joey Porter Sr. argued Wednesday, while appearing on the Not Just Football Podcast with Cameron Heyward, that opinions from former players, no matter their place in the team’s history, should be taken with a grain of salt.
“You can never be too cool to listen to when the people who made the history has something to say. So, we’ve always took it,” Porter said of his experience as a player with former Steelers, via Steelers Depot’s Ross McCorkle. “Now, I think we’re into the point to where now some of the guys getting on these different platforms, and they take they shots and say certain stuff.
“They got different agendas.”
The Steelers invite former players to return and honor them arguably as much as any NFL team. Part of why is the organization has so many former great players to celebrate.
But Porter warned his fellow Steelers alumni that criticizing Tomlin and the current team is going to hurt their relationship with the organization.
“You say what the [expletive] you want to. It’s yours. I don’t care too much,” Porter added. “But if you ask me, I tell you what it look like for me. If they know that’s what they saying and when they walk around ya’ll expecting a high five, good luck.
“Because you can’t crush me and think I’m gonna dap you up and give you a hug like you didn’t just come for my head. That’s over.”
Joey Porter Sr. Puts Former Steelers on Notice
There isn’t a better member of Steelers Nation to address the former players criticizing Tomlin and the 2025 team than Porter. Not only is he a former Steelers All-Pro linebacker and Super Bowl champion, but he also served as a defensive assistant from 2014-18.
In addition to the experience as a Steelers player and coach, the past three years, Porter’s son has played cornerback in Pittsburgh. So, Porter has more than just the average desire of a former player to see the Steelers continue to do well.
On Wednesday, Porter told Heyward too many former Steelers have broken the organization’s “culture rule” not to air dirty laundry in public.
“What good do it do us to tear down another Steelers or another guy that’s in our building? It ain’t something we preach,” Porter said. “It ain’t something we did; It ain’t something we do.
“We covered more secrets over the 30 years that I’ve been part of the Steelers than we told. So when they do it, I look at them like, ‘What is that about?'”
It’s understandable for someone such as ESPN’s Ryan Clark to be critical of the Steelers. Clark should be objective and criticize when necessary for his national audience.
But Porter strongly suggested former Steelers such as Ben Roethlisberger and James Harrison are trying to grow their own shows by causing a stir online with Tomlin criticism and other hot button issues with the fanbase.
Porter Specifically Addresses James Harrison Criticism
There’s a bit of irony in the fact Porter pushed back on former players propping themselves up on a podcast while appearing on Heyward’s YouTube show.
Heyward isn’t a former player. Still, he’s a player turned podcast who, some would argue, has engaged in conversations to cause headlines and increase his own views.
But a lot of Steelers fans are likely to still agree with Porter. If former players are going to share a hot take, it should be one they believe in, not one they are pushing to prop up their show.
Porter specifically addressed how Harrison might be doing that on his podcast, which he hosts with fellow former Steelers defender Joe Haden.
“It seems like he got something personal,” Porter said of Harrison’s criticism of Tomlin and the team. “It’s a personal vendetta that I don’t know nothing about.
“But his come off personal.”
After the Steelers lost 26-7 to the Buffalo Bills on November 30, Harrison called Tomlin “a good coach” but not a “great coach” while addressing Tomlin on his podcast.
Ironically, Harrison replaced Porter in the Steelers starting lineup after the team released Porter following the 2006 season. It’s possible Porter holds a grudge over that fact, but that’s never been confirmed.
In fact, the two linebackers have often appeared to have a close relationship. On his podcast in early November, Harrison referred to Porter Jr. as his nephew.
Porter played eight seasons for the Steelers from 1999-2006. He posted 60 sacks, 26 forced fumbles and 10 interceptions over 122 games.
In 2002, Porter made first-team All-Pro. He was also a member of second-team All-Pro during 2004 and 2005.
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