Steelers Teammate Joey Porter Sr. Delivers Scathing Critique of Ben Roethlisberger's Character
In a shocking revelation during Super Bowl week, former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter Sr. has openly declared that his ex-teammate, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, is not "a good person." Porter, who played alongside Roethlisberger and helped secure Super Bowl XL victory at the end of the 2005 season, made these pointed remarks on Cameron Heyward's Not Just Football podcast, igniting a firestorm of controversy within the NFL community.
Breaking the Brotherhood: Porter's Allegations of Betrayal
Porter specifically accused Roethlisberger and another former Steeler, James Harrison, of violating an unspoken code by criticizing Mike Tomlin, the longtime head coach who departed the Steelers in January after 19 seasons. "[Harrison] broke the brotherhood," Porter stated emphatically. "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."
Despite their shared Super Bowl triumph, Porter emphasized that Roethlisberger's personal conduct fell short. "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."
Incidents of Refusal and Leadership Concerns
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 revealed. This behavior prompted Porter, as a team captain, to intervene, leading to a confrontation with the quarterback. "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," Porter added, highlighting a perceived lack of respect.
Furthermore, Porter questioned Roethlisberger's leadership qualities, noting that the quarterback was appointed team captain rather than elected by his peers. "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, suggesting a disconnect between Roethlisberger's role and his teammates' trust.
Roethlisberger's Past Controversies and Responses
This criticism is not isolated. Roethlisberger has faced previous scrutiny, including a 2010 suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy following allegations of sexual assault, though he was never criminally charged. At the time, Steelers receiver Hines Ward commented that the "suspension is justified." More recently, Roethlisberger suggested that Mike Tomlin should be fired, a statement he later backtracked on, saying, "Just because I said there's a time for some new things, that's just saying that I think Coach Tomlin, if he wants to move on, he has every right to move on – it's not they should."
Current Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph appeared to support Porter's comments on social media, adding weight to the allegations. Roethlisberger himself admitted in 2010 to losing track of his character, 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., a three-time All Pro linebacker during his tenure with the Steelers, has maintained strong connections with the franchise post-retirement. He served as the outside linebackers coach from 2015 to 2018, and his son, Joey Jr., currently plays cornerback for the team, drafted in 2023. This deep-rooted association lends credibility to his insights into the team's internal dynamics.
The fallout from Porter's comments underscores ongoing debates about leadership, camaraderie, and personal accountability in professional sports, particularly within the storied history of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
