Joey Porter
Joey Porter (born March 22, 1977) is an American former professional football player and coach, best known as an outside linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons from 1999 to 2011, primarily with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he contributed to their victory in Super Bowl XL following the 2005 season.[1] Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 248 pounds, Porter amassed 98 sacks, 689 combined tackles, 12 interceptions, and 26 forced fumbles during his career, earning four Pro Bowl selections (2002, 2004, 2005, 2008) and three second-team All-Pro honors (2004, 2005, 2008), along with one first-team All-Pro nod in 2002.[1] Porter began his NFL journey as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado State University, signing with the Steelers in 1999 and quickly establishing himself as a key defensive player under defensive coordinators including Dick LeBeau and Tim Lewis.[1] He spent eight seasons in Pittsburgh (1999–2006), leading the team in sacks three times and becoming a vocal leader on the field known for his intensity and trash-talking style.[1] After signing with the Miami Dolphins as a free agent in 2007 and playing there through 2009, Porter recorded a career-high 12 sacks in 2008, earning another Pro Bowl berth, before finishing his playing career with the Arizona Cardinals in 2010 and 2011.[1] Transitioning to coaching, Porter rejoined the Steelers in 2014 as a defensive assistant under head coach Mike Tomlin, and was promoted to outside linebackers coach in 2015, where he mentored players like James Harrison and Bud Dupree during a period that included four AFC North titles and a Super Bowl appearance in 2017.[2] His tenure ended in January 2019 when the team opted not to renew his contract amid staff changes.[3] Porter is the father of Joey Porter Jr., a cornerback for the Steelers drafted in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and in June 2025, he publicly expressed a strong desire to return to coaching, particularly with Pittsburgh, though no such role had been secured as of late 2025.[4]Early life and education
Early life
Joseph Eugene Porter was born on March 22, 1977, in Kansas City, Missouri.[5] His family relocated to Bakersfield, California, during his childhood, where he spent his formative years.[6] Porter attended Foothill High School in Bakersfield, participating in football as both a wide receiver and running back.[7] He earned two-time All-Conference honors for his performances on the field.[8] Despite his high school accomplishments, Porter drew limited recruiting attention from four-year colleges initially, prompting consideration of junior college options before he ultimately chose to attend Colorado State University.[9]College career
Porter attended Colorado State University from 1995 to 1998, where he initially played on offense as a tight end and wide receiver before transitioning to defense as a defensive lineman and outside linebacker in his later years.[10][11] He majored in exercise and sport science during his time there.[12] As a standout pass rusher for the Rams in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), Porter contributed significantly to the team's defensive efforts under head coach Sonny Lubick, helping anchor units that supported strong seasons, including an 11-2 record in 1997.[13] Over his college career, he recorded 20 sacks, establishing himself as one of the top defensive performers in program history.[14] In his senior year of 1998, Porter recorded 14 sacks while earning first-team All-WAC honors and invitations to the East-West Shrine Game and Senior Bowl.[13] Measuring 6 feet 3 inches and 255 pounds, his combination of size, speed, and relentless pursuit made him a highly regarded prospect in pre-draft evaluations.[15][1] Porter's collegiate success led to his selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round, 73rd overall, of the 1999 NFL Draft.[1][13]Professional playing career
Pittsburgh Steelers
Joey Porter was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round (73rd overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft out of Colorado State University.[1] He played eight seasons with the Steelers from 1999 to 2006, appearing in 112 regular-season games and starting 98. During this period, Porter established himself as a premier outside linebacker, recording 60 sacks, 468 combined tackles, 8 interceptions, and 15 forced fumbles. He led the team in sacks three times: 9.0 in 2001, 10.5 in 2002, and 10.5 in 2005.[1] Porter earned four Pro Bowl selections (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006) and one first-team All-Pro honor (2002) along with three second-team All-Pro nods (2004, 2005, 2006) during his Steelers tenure. Known for his intense playing style, trash-talking, and vocal leadership on defense, he was a key contributor to the Steelers' success, including two AFC Championships (2001, 2005) and a victory in Super Bowl XL following the 2005 season, where he recorded 2.5 sacks in the playoffs.[1] Under defensive coordinators Dick LeBeau and Tim Hewitt, Porter thrived in the team's 3-4 scheme, becoming a cornerstone of Pittsburgh's formidable defenses.Miami Dolphins
After becoming a free agent, Porter signed a five-year, $20 million contract with the Miami Dolphins in March 2007, reuniting him with former Steelers teammate Jason Taylor.[16] He played three seasons with the Dolphins from 2007 to 2009, appearing in 46 games and starting 45, while registering 32 sacks—his highest total with any single team outside Pittsburgh—along with 155 combined tackles, 2 interceptions, and 5 forced fumbles.[1] In 2007, Porter recorded 7.0 sacks in 16 starts during a rebuilding year for Miami. His performance peaked in 2008 under head coach Tony Sparano, when he led the AFC with 17.5 sacks (second in the NFL), earning Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors, while adding 47 tackles and 4 forced fumbles.[17] However, in 2009, Porter managed only 7.5 sacks amid a down year, and the Dolphins released him in February 2010 to free cap space.[18]Arizona Cardinals
In March 2010, Joey Porter signed a three-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals worth $24.5 million, including $17.5 million guaranteed, reuniting him with head coach Ken Whisenhunt, his former offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh.[19] The deal positioned him as a veteran outside linebacker expected to bolster the pass rush and provide leadership to a younger defense.[20] During the 2010 season, Porter started all 14 games he played, recording 50 tackles and 5 sacks while serving as a key rotational pass rusher and mentor to emerging linebackers like Joey Mossop and Reggie Walker.[1] Whisenhunt praised Porter's intensity and role-model status, noting his ability to guide younger players through the nuances of the 3-4 defensive scheme.[21] In 2011, facing a scheduled $5.75 million salary, Porter agreed to a restructured one-year deal reduced to $1.5 million to remain with the team in a situational pass-rushing capacity.[22] However, a knee injury limited him to 6 starts and 16 tackles with 1 sack before he was placed on injured reserve in December, marking a physical decline exacerbated by cumulative wear from his prior seasons.[23] Porter's tenure with the Cardinals highlighted his transition to a veteran contributor, where his experience under Whisenhunt helped stabilize the linebacker corps amid roster turnover, even as injuries curtailed his on-field impact.[24] Following the 2011 season, accumulating injuries, including the knee issue, led him to retire in July 2012 without playing a snap that year.[25]Retirement
Following his injury-plagued 2011 season with the Arizona Cardinals, where he appeared in 6 games, Joey Porter announced his retirement from the NFL on July 19, 2012, after a 13-year professional career.[26] To retire as a member of the organization where he began his career and won a Super Bowl, Porter signed a one-day ceremonial contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was officially retired during the team's training camp festivities on August 3, 2012, alongside other former players.[27] In the year following his retirement, Porter focused on completing his bachelor's degree in sociology at Colorado State University.[1]Playing statistics
Regular season
Joey Porter appeared in 188 regular-season games across 13 NFL seasons from 1999 to 2011, amassing 689 combined tackles, 98.0 sacks, 12 interceptions, and 26 forced fumbles.[1] These totals underscored his role as a premier pass rusher, particularly during his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he led the team in sacks multiple times.[1] Porter's sack production peaked in 2008 with the Miami Dolphins, when he recorded a career-high 17.5 sacks, which ranked second in the NFL, en route to a Pro Bowl selection.[1] He also demonstrated versatility in run defense and coverage, with four seasons exceeding 60 tackles.[1] Advanced metrics from Pro Football Reference highlight Porter's sustained value, with a career Approximate Value of 109—peaking at 17 in 2002—and consistent rankings among top outside linebackers in pass-rush contributions.[1] From 2006 to 2011, he logged 72 quarterback hits, serving as a key indicator of his pressure efficiency despite evolving defensive schemes.[1] The following table summarizes his year-by-year regular-season statistics, focusing on games played, combined tackles, sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles, and quarterback hits (available starting 2006).[1]| Season | Team | G | Combined Tackles | Sacks | INT | FF | QB Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | PIT | 16 | 26 | 2.0 | 0 | 2 | — |
| 2000 | PIT | 16 | 60 | 10.5 | 1 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | PIT | 15 | 61 | 9.0 | 0 | 4 | — |
| 2002 | PIT | 16 | 89 | 9.0 | 4 | 2 | — |
| 2003 | PIT | 14 | 66 | 5.0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2004 | PIT | 15 | 54 | 7.0 | 1 | 3 | — |
| 2005 | PIT | 16 | 57 | 10.5 | 2 | 4 | — |
| 2006 | PIT | 14 | 55 | 7.0 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| 2007 | PIT | 16 | 66 | 5.5 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
| 2008 | MIA | 16 | 48 | 17.5 | 0 | 4 | 25 |
| 2009 | MIA | 14 | 41 | 9.0 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| 2010 | MIA | 14 | 50 | 5.0 | 0 | 2 | 13 |
| 2011 | ARI | 6 | 16 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Career | 188 | 689 | 98.0 | 12 | 26 | 72 |