The Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off Day 2 of the NFL Draft by fielding several trade calls, but ultimately they decided to turn in the draft selection themselves. With the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Steelers selected Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
Like father, like son.
Joey Porter Jr. going to the Pittsburgh Steelers is too perfect. 🏈📺 #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/g5c3PIw76N
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 28, 2023
Porter Jr. was someone that the Steelers had considered in the first round, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Instead, he wound up being on the board when the Steelers were on the clock in the second round, and Pittsburgh was able to take the son of a franchise legend.
Porter Jr. was selected with the first pick in the second round, while the elder Porter was a third-round pick of the Steelers in 1999. The younger Porter was born in 2000 and had an opportunity to grow up around the team his father played for until 2006. After an NFL career that included stops in Miami and Arizona, Porter got into coaching and eventually moved his family back to Pittsburgh.
After a 13-year NFL career as an outside linebacker, Porter joined Mike Tomlin’s staff as a defensive assistant in 2014. He later would coach the outside linebackers from 2015-18 under Tomlin. Porter Jr. went to high school in Pittsburgh and would stay home and attend Penn State.
That’s how he got acquainted with Tomlin, who had no issues taking him with one of the team’s high draft picks.
What a story.
