Joey Porter Sr Launches Scathing Attack on Former Teammate Ben Roethlisberger
In a candid podcast appearance during Super Bowl week, former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter Sr has delivered a blistering critique of his ex-teammate, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, declaring him "not a good person." Porter, who won Super Bowl XL with Roethlisberger at the end of the 2005 season, made the comments on Cameron Heyward's Not Just Football podcast, sparking controversy in the NFL community.
Breaking the Brotherhood: Porter's Allegations
Porter accused Roethlisberger and another former Steeler, James Harrison, of violating an unwritten code by publicly criticising Mike Tomlin, who stepped down as Pittsburgh's head coach in January after 19 seasons. "[Harrison] broke the brotherhood," Porter stated. "Then [Roethlisberger] definitely broke the brotherhood. Out of anybody that should talk, he should never grab a microphone and really talk Steeler business. Because if we talk Steelers business, his ass is foul of all foul. The shit that he did is foul of all foul. He's not a good teammate."
Porter elaborated that while he admired Roethlisberger's on-field prowess, winning a Super Bowl together, he questioned the quarterback's personal conduct. "Won the Super Bowl with him, but the person, he's just not a good teammate. He knows that. Anybody in the Steelers building knows that, but we protected him because I've only won one Super Bowl and that was my quarterback. So do I love my quarterback? Yeah, but is he a good person? No."
Specific Incidents Highlighted by Porter
To substantiate his claims, Porter recounted an incident where Roethlisberger allegedly refused to sign memorabilia for teammates' families. "He was telling people, 'No, I'm not going to sign that,'" Porter said. "So once he did that, who they come and tell? The captain. When he first did it to Chris Hoke, I was like, 'Damn, that's messed up, man.' I grabbed it from Hoke, took it over there and told him to sign it. But then when he did that to Aaron Smith, now I got to have a meeting [with Roethlisberger]. Like, you're a rookie, you're a young guy."
Porter expressed disbelief at the behaviour, adding, "You can't tell my vets you're too cool to sign for my vets. Who the hell is too cool to sign for your teammate? I'm not a fan." He also revealed that Roethlisberger was appointed Steelers team captain rather than being elected by players, suggesting a lack of leadership qualities. "He came in the era where they just gave you the 'C' – because if he wasn't a captain, he'd probably have a hissy fit. But nobody's going to vote for him as captain because he don't have no captain quality," Porter asserted.
Roethlisberger's Past Controversies and Responses
This is not the first time Roethlisberger has faced criticism from teammates. After the quarterback was suspended in 2010 for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy following allegations of sexual assault—though he was never criminally charged—Steelers receiver Hines Ward said the "suspension is justified." More recently, Roethlisberger suggested Tomlin should be fired before backtracking, saying it was time for the team to "clean house."
Current Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph appeared to endorse Porter's comments on social media, adding fuel to the fire. Roethlisberger himself admitted in 2010 to past misbehaviour, stating, "I got caught up being Big Ben the whole time. I lost track of who Ben Roethlisberger was. It's not something I'm proud of ... I was gaining everything, but I was losing a lot of who I was raised to be."
Porter's Legacy and Ongoing Ties to the Steelers
Joey Porter Sr was a three-time All Pro linebacker during his tenure with the Steelers from 1999 to 2006, leaving the team in 2007. He has maintained strong connections with the organisation post-retirement, serving as their outside linebackers coach from 2015 to 2018. His son, Joey Jr, was drafted by the Steelers in 2023 and currently plays cornerback for the team, underscoring the family's enduring relationship with the franchise.
This public fallout highlights ongoing tensions within the Steelers' storied history, as Porter's remarks shed light on the complex dynamics between players and the legacy of one of the NFL's most successful quarterbacks.
