Darrelle Revis reflects on Aliquippa roots, Pitt days as Panthers honor '24 Athletics HOF Class

Mid-game during the Backyard Brawl was a fitting time for Pitt to honor former shutdown cornerback Darrelle Revis, one of 10 inductees into the Panthers’ 2024 Athletics Hall of Fame Class.

Revis played at Pitt from 2004-06, earning a pair of first-team All-Big East selections before going 14th overall to the New York Jets in the 2007 NFL Draft.

A Super Bowl XLIX champion with the New England Patriots, seven-time Pro-Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro selection, Revis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year.

He was present at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday along with the rest of Pitt’s new Hall of Fame enshrinees, who were honored on the field as the Panthers battled West Virginia in the 107th installment of the Backyard Brawl.

“There’s been so many hard-fought games throughout the history of this rivalry, and to keep the Backyard Brawl tradition going, it’s great for fans,” Revis said. “It’s great entertainment, and we love it. I was a participant of it, as well, throughout my career here at Pitt, and I loved to play in this game. This is that game where you know, you see it on the calendar, you check it. This is the game for you to make a statement.”

Revis describing himself as simply a “participant” in the series is a quite the understatement.

In 2004 as a freshman, he picked off West Virginia’s Rasheed Marshall in the fourth quarter, setting up Pitt’s go-ahead touchdown in a 16-13 Panthers win.

Undoubtedly Revis’ most unforgettable moment vs. the Mountaineers came as a junior in 2006, his final season with Pitt before declaring for the NFL Draft.

The Panthers lost 45-27, but Revis scored a dazzling, 73-yard punt return touchdown.

Watching the 2024 Backyard Brawl from the Acrisure Stadium sidelines, Revis, now 39, reflected on his time at Pitt.

In particular, the Aliquippa native took time to pay tribute to his roots.

“I had so much support growing up, coming from Aliquippa High School and then accepting a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh,” he said. “Knew I always wanted to be a Panther growing up. This city has so much rich tradition when it comes to sports and athletics, especially with the Steelers, the Pirates and the Penguins. When you’re a kid growing up in this area, that’s all you know and love.”

Revis got familiar with the formerly named Heinz Field long before he played there in a Panthers uniform.

In 2003 as a senior at Aliquippa, Revis led the Quips to a PIAA Class 2A championship.

As he continues to navigate post-football life, having retired from the NFL in 2018, Revis is proud to be a part of Western Pennsylvania’s gridiron tradition.

“This is why Pittsburgh football in this area is so great,” Revis said. “It’s one of the best high school states in the country. We have pride, and we wear our pride proudly throughout the country.”

Watching the Panthers duel their biggest rival in a stadium that holds countless memories for him, Revis is in his element.

“This is where I come from. This is what I love so much, the game of football,” Revis said. “I love what Pitt is doing, the program. I’m just here to watch a great game. The Backyard Brawl is always going to bring the best out of us. It’s a huge rivalry.”