Steelers Legends Rally Around Ben Roethlisberger After Joey Porter Criticism
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ family drama spilled into public view this week after Joey Porter Sr. made some pointed remarks about Ben Roethlisberger - and now, a few of Big Ben’s former teammates are stepping up to defend their quarterback.
David DeCastro, the longtime Pro Bowl guard who spent nearly a decade protecting Roethlisberger, didn’t mince words when asked about Porter’s comments. Speaking on 93.7 The Fan, DeCastro didn’t just defend Roethlisberger - he painted a vivid picture of the quarterback he knew in the trenches.
“Yeah, it is what it is. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion,” DeCastro said. “I guess negativity seems to sell these days, but I loved playing with Ben, for Ben, protecting him.”
For DeCastro, Roethlisberger wasn’t just a quarterback - he was a competitor who brought a contagious energy to the huddle. He recalled a pregame ritual where Roethlisberger would go around tapping teammates on the head, a small but telling glimpse into the kind of leader he was on game day.
“You miss getting those juices flowing and having a guy like that,” DeCastro said. “That’s what you need in a quarterback - that energy, that will, that want to win.
It was contagious, and I took a lot of pride in protecting him. Hall of Fame quarterback.”
The comments come in direct response to Porter, who didn’t hold back during an appearance on Cam Heyward’s podcast. Porter, a former linebacker and Super Bowl champion with the Steelers, made it clear he has serious issues with Roethlisberger - both as a teammate and a person.
“The shit that [Roethlisberger] do that we don’t talk about is crazy,” Porter said. “Out of anybody that talk, he should never grab a microphone and talk Steelers business. Because if we talking Steelers business, his ass is foul of all foul.”
Porter didn’t stop there.
“He’s not a good teammate,” he continued. “Won a Super Bowl with him.
But the person? He’s just not a good teammate.
He knows that. Anybody in the Steelers building knows that.
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.”
That kind of criticism - especially coming from someone who shared a championship locker room with Roethlisberger - was bound to stir a response. And it did, loud and clear, from another former offensive cornerstone: Maurkice Pouncey.
Pouncey, who played center for Roethlisberger for over a decade and remains one of his closest friends, didn’t hold back in his defense. In a fiery Instagram post, he called out what he sees as betrayal from within the Steelers’ own ranks.
“It’s unbelievable the hate I’ve been seeing from people inside the family!! Especially when we all a call away!”
Pouncey wrote. “If you against Big Ben, F*** YOU, YOU AGAINST ME!
CLOUT IS A DISEASE! #1love”
Pouncey, Roethlisberger, and Porter were all inducted into the Steelers’ Hall of Honor just a couple months ago. But clearly, that shared honor hasn’t smoothed over personal tensions.
As for Roethlisberger? He hasn’t responded publicly to Porter’s remarks - at least not yet. But with former linemen like DeCastro and Pouncey going to bat for him, it’s clear that inside the locker room, Big Ben still commands serious loyalty.
This isn’t just about a few harsh words - it’s a reminder of how complicated legacies can be, even for a two-time Super Bowl champion and future Hall of Famer. For now, the debate continues, with emotions running high and lines being drawn in the Steelers’ extended family.