Joey Porter Jr. thrives under pressure.
He welcomes it. Seeks it. Needs it.
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin first saw this when Porter was a child running around the team facility while his father, Joey Porter Sr., worked as an assistant coach.
There was something about how the younger Porter carried himself, a certain confidence, that made him stand out and hinted at the future he would have as a professional player. Tomlin described it as a “serial killer’s mentality,” though what he means by that isn’t as intense as it might sound.
“He’s not running from the fight, he’s running to the fight,” Tomlin said. “You better have a short memory at that position, and he’s always had it. He was probably nine or 10 when I met him, and he had it then.”
This attitude is one reason the Steelers were quick to select Porter with the first pick of the second round in the 2023 draft, marking a full-circle moment for a Pittsburgh native who knew the team’s history and was ready to take on one of the most challenging positions.
Porter has been clear about wanting to be known as an elite defender, and he’s unafraid to take on tough assignments, fully aware that things won’t always go his way.
Recently, that’s been the case. Porter has been targeted often by opposing quarterbacks who aim to use his natural aggressiveness against him. As a result, he’s been penalized repeatedly, with the referee calling out “No. 24, defense” on several occasions.
In last Sunday’s 44-38 win over Cincinnati, Porter was penalized four times, including two holding calls and two pass interference penalties, as he faced Bengals stars Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
It wasn’t ideal, but it also wasn’t the end of the world. Porter stood at his locker after the game and answered all questions, doing the same again on Wednesday.
Tomlin made it clear that the issues with Porter are technical, not mental. This is why neither Porter nor Tomlin are worried about one bad performance affecting the next, especially with the Steelers (9-3) needing to stay focused when they face Jameis Winston and Cleveland (3-9) this Sunday.
“I’ve just got to keep playing my game and don’t let (the penalties) affect me,” Porter said.
When asked if that was easier said than done, Porter nodded.
“Definitely,” he said. “Playing DB is a hard position, but you got to have that mentality anyways. That’s the world we live in and I feel like I’m capable of doing that.”
Porter’s father, Joey Porter Sr., was a fierce trash-talker during his 13-year career as a linebacker, including four Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl win with the Steelers in 2005. He taught his son the importance of maintaining confidence, no matter what happened on the field.
“He’d been telling me that since I was a young kid,” Porter said. “I know what I got to do to be great, look good, and to help this team win.”
Despite all the penalties — Porter has been penalized nine times, the most on the Steelers and tied for second in the league for defensive players — he has not allowed a touchdown pass in coverage.
This is a tradeoff the Steelers can accept. Porter’s 6-foot-2 frame is one of the reasons he was highly sought after as a cornerback in his draft class. His size is important for the matchups he faces, such as against the 6-foot-4 Higgins.
“You have to match the physicality of these big people, and sometimes you do so at risk,” Tomlin said. “And that’s just a tightrope that I and he are willing to walk in an effort to be competitive.”
Porter has noticed certain things on film that he needs to improve, particularly near the line of scrimmage. These recent mistakes are fixable. What could be a bigger problem is if Porter started doubting his own ability. But he insists that’s not the case.
“Things happen, you know that,” he said. “I like to bounce back and prove myself again. So that’s what I got to do this upcoming Sunday.”
He will likely get the chance. Winston is coming off a 497-yard game in a loss to Denver, and the Steelers had trouble stopping Joe Burrow in Cincinnati. Winston is not afraid to test cornerbacks, and Porter is not afraid to be tested.
“I’m trying to be great,” he said. “And I know to do that, I got to clean up with the stuff I’ve been doing. So I just face it and keep working.”