Forged by Football: Joey Porter Jr.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WTAJ) – Joey Porter Jr. was born to be a Pittsburgh Steeler. Before he was covering top wide receivers across the National Football League, he was essentially blanketed in a “Terrible Towel” as a tyke.

“There’s Steeler DNA in me because I was always growing up around it,” the second-year Steeler corner said.

Joey’s father, Joey Porter Sr., spent eight of his 13 seasons playing linebacker for Pittsburgh and returned to coach the team for five more years. In the middle of those stint’s was a young Joey Jr. soaking up what it’s like to be a part of the franchise.

Throughout his youth, it wasn’t uncommon to see Joey Jr. roaming around practices, even sometimes as a ball boy for the Steelers along with other players’ children.

He was in Detroit for Pittsburgh’s win over Seattle in Super Bowl XL, where Joey Sr. was holding him and his brother Jacob as proudly as the Lombardi Trophy.

“You always want to grow up and kind of be like your father,” Joey Jr. said. “He was my idol growing up.”

Growing up in the Porter household brought out Joey Jr.’s competitive side, whether that meant on the gridiron or even playing Madden.

“We’re competitors in that house, (I) made him battle and everything. He’s been raised one way but like I can’t say that’s me. That’s just him being JJ,” Joey Sr. said. “If you say that guy is the best, he wants to guard the best. He don’t want to guard the second best, that’s just the natural Porter gene that he has.”

While roaming around the locker room when he was younger, Joey Jr. picked up some tricks of the trade from his father’s former teammates such as his prominent “uncles” Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor, who Joey Jr. wears number 24 in honor of.

“There is no limit to what he can do. (I’m) just fortunate seeing him growing up from being a ball boy to actually playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers and wearing that 24,” Taylor said.

“(Ike has) always been in my corner,” Joey Jr. said. “Throughout the weeks of last year, he’ll come in and give me tips on what I need to do to get better, show me my weaknesses and my strengths.”

Some of those tips from the former franchise icons have come in handy. Last year, the Penn State product was in the conversation for the AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and ultimately won the Steelers Rookie of the Year Award.

That’s all despite having limited playing time to begin the year. However, when Joey Jr. did get inserted into the lineup, he made his presence known when following other teams’ top wideouts.

“I just try to stay out the way (and) let him have his moment,” Joey Sr. said. “It’s earned.”

While following his childhood dream, Joey Jr.’s true “pinch me” moment came in week six against the Baltimore Ravens when he intercepted a pass intended for longtime great Odell Beckham Jr. in the endzone, which helped the Steelers defeat their AFC North rivals.

“I was a fan of that guy. I used to always watch his highlight tapes,” Joey Jr. said. “To be able to go against him and make a big play at a big moment, it’s what kids dream of.”

Joey Jr. has made previous Pittsburgh greats proud with how he’s been forging his own legacy in the Steel City.

“I’m like another proud dad (by) just seeing him wearing (the Steelers jersey) how you’re supposed to,” Taylor said.

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