Joey Porter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Joey Porter

Porter with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2006
No. 55
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1977-03-22) March 22, 1977 (age 48) Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	248 lb (112 kg)
Career information
High school:	Foothill (Bakersfield, California)
College:	Colorado State
NFL Draft:	1999 / Round: 3 / Pick: 73
Career history
As player:
Pittsburgh Steelers (1999) Miami Dolphins (2007) Arizona Cardinals (2010)
As coach:
Colorado State (2013) Defensive assistant Pittsburgh Steelers (2014) Defensive assistant Pittsburgh Steelers (2015) Outside linebackers coach San Antonio Brahmas (2023) Linebackers coach
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XL) 2× First-team All-Pro (2002, 2008) 3× Second-team All-Pro (2004, 2005, 2008) 4× Pro Bowl (2002, 2004, 2005, 2008) NFL 2000s All-Decade Team Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team First-team All-WAC (1998)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 689 Sacks: 98.0 Forced fumbles: 25 Fumble recoveries: 10 Interceptions: 12 Defensive touchdowns: 3
Player stats at PFR

Joseph "Joey" Eugene Porter Sr. (born March 22, 1977) is an American football coach and former player. He was a talented linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). Porter played college football for the Colorado State Rams. He was picked by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft.

Joey Porter was chosen for the Pro Bowl four times. He won Super Bowl XL with the Steelers. He also played for the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals. His son, Joey Porter Jr., was drafted by the Steelers in 2023.

Early Football Days

Joey Porter grew up playing football at Foothill High School in Bakersfield, California. He was a star player, earning All-Conference honors twice. He played as a wide receiver and running back.

In his final year of high school, he helped his team achieve a 9–2 record. He rushed for over 1,000 yards that season. After high school, he was named to the All-Section and All-State teams. He also played basketball and soccer when he was younger.

College Football Career

Joey Porter played college football at Colorado State University for the Colorado State Rams football team. He started his college career as an offensive player. However, he moved to the defensive line in his junior year.

He quickly became a top defensive player. He was named a third-team All-American. He also made the All-Western Athletic Conference first-team. During his college career, he recorded 22 sacks. In his senior year, he had 15 sacks, which tied a school record.

Playing in the NFL

Joey Porter was a strong player even before he joined the NFL. He showed great speed and strength at the NFL Combine.

Pittsburgh Steelers Years

The Pittsburgh Steelers picked Joey Porter in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft. He was the eighth linebacker chosen that year. He first wore number 95 but changed to 55. He chose 55 to create his own identity and honor his hero, Junior Seau.

Porter quickly made an impact. In his first preseason, he led the team in tackles and sacks. He also played well on special teams. In his first NFL game, he sacked Cleveland Browns quarterback Tim Couch. He even scored a touchdown by recovering a Neil O'Donnell fumble and running 46 yards.

In 2000, Porter had 10.5 sacks. This was a career high at the time. He and teammate Jason Gildon set a team record with 24 sacks together. He was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month in October. He had a game with three sacks against the Cincinnati Bengals. He also got his first career interception against the Tennessee Titans.

In 2001, Porter had an amazing game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He recorded four sacks and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week. He finished the season with nine sacks.

Porter during a Steelers game in 2006

The 2002 season was one of his best. In a game against the Oakland Raiders, he had three sacks and two interceptions. He even returned one interception 84 yards! This earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He set career highs in tackles (88) and interceptions (4). After this season, he was selected for his first Pro Bowl.

In 2004, Porter was selected for his second Pro Bowl. He had a great game against the New England Patriots, recording three sacks and two forced fumbles. He was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for this performance. He finished the year with seven sacks and one interception.

The 2005 season was very special. Porter helped his team win Super Bowl XL against the Seattle Seahawks. He was named to his third Pro Bowl. He tied his career high with 10.5 sacks that year. He also had two interceptions and four forced fumbles.

Porter at Super Bowl XL's media day.

In his final year with the Steelers, Porter recorded seven sacks. In the first game of the season, he intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown. This helped seal a victory for the Steelers.

Miami Dolphins Years

The Steelers released Porter in 2007. He then signed a five-year deal with the Miami Dolphins. He became their starting strongside linebacker.

The 2008 season was a huge comeback for Porter. He led the AFC and was second in the entire NFL with a career-high 17.5 sacks. His amazing play helped the Dolphins improve from a 1–15 record in 2007 to an 11–5 record. They even won the AFC East championship. For his great season, he was named to his fourth Pro Bowl.

Porter (#55) with fellow 2009 Dolphins team captains Chad Pennington, Jason Taylor and Jason Ferguson.

In 2009, Porter was named a team captain for the Dolphins. He was released by the Dolphins in 2010.

Arizona Cardinals Years

On March 19, 2010, Porter signed a contract with the Arizona Cardinals. In his first season with the Cardinals, he recorded 50 tackles and five sacks. In 2011, he played in six games due to injury.

Retirement from Playing

On July 19, 2012, Joey Porter announced he would retire from the NFL. He wanted to sign a one-day contract to retire as a Pittsburgh Steeler. On August 3, 2012, he officially retired as a Steeler during a special event at their training camp.

NFL Career Statistics

Coaching Career

After retiring as a player, Joey Porter began a coaching career. On July 31, 2013, he joined the Colorado State coaching staff. He also worked to finish his college degree.

Porter then became a defensive assistant for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014. In February 2015, he was promoted to outside linebackers coach. He coached under Mike Tomlin, who became a close friend.

During a playoff game in 2016, Porter was on the field during an injury timeout. Assistant coaches are not allowed on the field during these times. This incident led to a new NFL rule, sometimes called the "Joey Porter Rule." This rule clearly states that assistant coaches cannot enter the field of play.

Porter was later fired by the Steelers in January 2019. On September 13, 2022, he was hired by the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL. His former teammate Hines Ward was the head coach there. Porter left the Brahmas after the 2023 XFL season.

Family Life

Joey Porter is married to Christy. They have two sons, Joey Porter Jr. and Jacob, and two daughters, Jasmine and Jayla. His son, Joey Jr., is also a football player. He is a cornerback for the Steelers, just like his dad used to play for them.