It’s an atmosphere Porter is already well-versed in. The Steelers, perhaps more than any team in the NFL, tries to create a family-type atmosphere. Porter played in the northern Pittsburgh suburbs in high school before heading a couple of hours northeast to Penn State. “(Porter) going to be in an environment that gives him an opportunity to succeed,” Austin said.Īnd do it in the same city where he grew up.

Peterson is a three-time All Pro who at age 32 will find himself with a protégé to work with when organized team activities begin next month.

The Steelers have one of the best safeties in the game in perennial Pro Bowler Minkah Fitzpatrick. He tied a Big Ten record when he had six pass breakups in a victory over Purdue last fall. While Porter had just one interception in 35 games at Penn State, he was around the ball frequently. Porter’s height gives the Steelers a defender with size and the skills necessary to play in a scheme that thrives on blitzing, frequently forcing the cornerbacks to fend for themselves. While the Steelers signed veteran Patrick Peterson during the offseason, they also lost Cam Sutton to Detroit in free agency. “He’s got a lot of great attributes: size, length, competitive, tough,” Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said.Īustin pointed out there will be no “red shirt” for Porter, who joins a secondary in need an influx of youth and talent. Only four teams allowed more, one of the reasons the Steelers turned to the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Porter. Pittsburgh led the NFL in interceptions in 2022 with 20 but also gave up 29 touchdown passes. While the younger Porter admits he has an “off” switch off the field - something his dad is still trying to master - he also has an edge that he’ll need to thrive with the Steelers. spent eight of his 13 seasons in the NFL in Pittsburgh, making four Pro Bowls, winning a Super Bowl and developing a reputation as one of the more legendary trash talkers in league history. In that way he is very much his father’s son. “I just forgot all about (Thursday) night. “This is the perfect way to end my day right here,” said Porter, who wasn’t too far from the Steelers facility when his phone rang with Pittsburgh’s 412 area code came up. And Porter believes he will be better off for it. The lonely feeling of spending four hours in a green room while nearly everyone else heads to the stage to bear hug NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is going to stick with Porter for a while. There is a sense of relief in playing in the city where he grew up. Suddenly, the sting Porter felt after being passed over 31 times on Thursday - including once by the Steelers - vanished.

Bringing home a birkin