Joey Porter Jr. shares tribute to Steelers legend dad on Father's Day
It’s still such a sweet, sentimental story, with the Steelers selecting Joey Porter Jr. nearly a quarter-century after picking his dad, Joey Sr.
And as the younger Porter finished up his first mini-camp with Pittsburgh, he posted a Father’s Day tribute to his dad. So dig out those Terrible Towels and watch this video chockful of Steelers nostalgia. (You’ll need the towels to wipe away your happy tears).
“This one’s for you, dad,” says Joey Porter Jr to kick off the video montage. Then you see a crushing sack by Joey Sr as he dropped Peyton Manning for a sack. This was a Porter Sr signature. The linebacker notched 60 sacks in his career.
“To me, he was my super hero,” Joey Jr says. “Being a role model, sticking by my side. through thick and thin.”
And this will put a lump in your throat. You see Joey Sr., then a young dad, celebrating a Steelers Super Bowl win in 2006 by making his sons, Joey and Jacob, part of the post-game, on-field party. He carried them through clouds of confetti at Ford Field when the Steelers knocked off the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL.
“And when everything’s not going right, he’ll pick me up and lead me in the right direction,” the son says of his father.
We imagine that Joey Porter Sr and Jr had a long conversation the night of April 27. That was the first night of the NFL Draft, when the younger Porter thought he’d be a first-round draft pick. However, he didn’t hear his name called and was rightfully disappointed.
But maybe the waiting made his draft story that much more special. The Steelers selected Porter Jr with the opening pick of the second round. He was the 32nd pick.
“He’s always been doing that since I was a kid,” Porter Jr says on the video. “I wouldn’t be here without him. I’m happy to be a Steeler and put on that jersey, just like him. I love you, man. Thank you for doing everything you’ve done for me and everything you’ve done for the family. You push us to another level that we wouldn’t even think to reach. Happy Father’s Day, Dad!”
There are some significant differences between father and son. Joey Porter Sr wore No. 55 and played outside linebacker. Porter Jr is a speedy cornerback who honed his skills at Penn State. He’ll wear No. 24 for the Steelers.
Porter Sr finished his career in Steel City after the 2006 season. And now his legacy continues 17 years later.