The Steelers Hall of Honor was created to recognize individuals who haven’t just made an impact on the organization, but went above and beyond, whether it was on or off the field.
When the Steelers take on the Miami Dolphins this week, the newest additions to the group will be recognized when the Hall of Honor Class of 2025 is introduced at halftime, after officially being enshrined at a dinner at Acrisure Stadium the night before.
The Hall of Honor Class of 2025 includes three individuals who were part of Super Bowl seasons for the Steelers, with two of them part of the same championship team.
Linebacker Joey Porter Sr., center Maurkice Pouncey and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger complete a class that brought plenty of glory to the black and gold.
“It’s special to welcome a group of guys that mean so much to Steelers football, mean so much to our fans,” said Steelers President Art Rooney II. “These three guys made a difference for us over the course of their careers. So, this is a pretty special group and belong in the Hall of Honor with the rest of the others.”
The team introduced the Hall of Honor in 2017, an idea that came from Steelers President Art Rooney II, along with late Chairman Dan Rooney. The Hall of Honor was established to recognize former players, coaches, and front office personnel who played an integral role in the success of the franchise, from the beginning in 1933 until now. To be considered, a player must be retired at least three years and played a minimum of three seasons for the Steelers. Former coaches and contributors had to make significant contributions to the team and community.
The Hall of Honor display is part of the Steelers Hall of Honor Museum, which is located at Acrisure Stadium, near Gate B above the team’s Pro Shop. Fans can visit the Steelers Hall of Honor Museum year-round.
Joey Porter Sr.
Linebacker
1999-2006
He was the heart and soul of the defense during his eight seasons with the Steelers, always bringing energy and tenacity to the field.
Joey Porter Sr. had a passion for football from the moment he arrived in Pittsburgh as a third-round draft pick in 1999.
And now, he is forever a part of the team’s legacy as a member of the Hall of Honor.
“It’s called the Hall of Honor for a reason,” said Porter. “It’s an honor to be in it. To be mentioned with all the guys that played before me that are in the Hall of Honor is special. Being in Pittsburgh, you know the tradition and what it means to play for the Steelers.
“So just to always be mentioned amongst the greats, that’s what makes it amazing. It’s an honor.”
Porter brought his passion to the field every game from his rookie season until his final game with the Steelers in 2006, and beyond when he went on to play for the Miami Dolphins (2007-09) and Arizona Cardinals (2010-11).
But no matter where he ended up, his heart was always in Pittsburgh, coming back to retire with the team.
“It meant everything to play for the Steelers,” said Porter. “I used to watch the Steelers when I was younger. I watched all those guys. Once I got here some of those guys were still in the locker room and that was amazing too. I loved it here.
“That tradition of being a Steeler is something you can’t explain. You realize it when you go somewhere else and play for a different organization. I played for some other organizations that were great, but it’s nothing like Pittsburgh. It’s nothing like coming home. When you come home you realize what you had when you left. I loved every moment when I was here. I loved every minute of wearing that black and gold jersey.
“I knew when I left, I would retire with the Steelers. When you say Joey Porter, you think Pittsburgh. I feel like I am a Steeler.”
Porter made three Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl while a member of the Steelers and was named to their all-time team. He added another Pro Bowl berth during his three years with the Dolphins. Porter was named to the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 2000s and finished with 98 career sacks.
Porter spent five seasons on the Steelers coaching staff after his retirement, including four as the team’s outside linebackers coach (2015-18).
The highlight of his career was being a part of the Super Bowl XL Championship team and everything that went along with it.
“The 2005 run we went on to win Super Bowl XL,” said Porter. “That is by far the best memory of my football playing career.
“We were coming off a 15-1 season, lost in the AFC Championship game the year before. We knew we had a strong team. We had some lulls in the season where we weren’t where we wanted to be. We knew we couldn’t lose, or it would be over.
“We hit a stretch where we got hot at the right time. That made everything come together. Everybody relied on everybody to do their job. It came together like it was supposed to.
“It was Jerome’s (Bettis) last year. It made everything worth it once everybody put their hand in the pile, dug deep and realized this is the last time we were going to play with each other. It didn’t matter who we were going to play, we were walking into stadiums with so much confidence because we knew we were going to win. It was surreal at times.”
