The Pittsburgh Steelers may be in their offseason, but the drama surrounding some of their most iconic former players is heating up like it’s rivalry week. Joey Porter Sr., a franchise legend in his own right, recently took aim at former teammates James Harrison and Ben Roethlisberger, questioning their loyalty to the organization and, more specifically, to head coach Mike Tomlin.
But if Porter thought his comments would go unchecked, he clearly underestimated Harrison’s willingness to fire back.
On Monday, Harrison responded to Porter’s pointed remarks during a podcast appearance, and he didn’t hold back. The former Defensive Player of the Year took issue with the idea that his success was something handed to him rather than earned.
“He said I should be more loyal to Mike Tomlin because my name is Deebo,” Harrison said, referencing Porter’s comments. “I had three, four Pro Bowls, Defensive Player of the Year - so when you say these things, it implies he gave me it.
First, he didn’t give me the name Deebo, Brett Keisel did that. He didn’t make me the only undrafted player to ever win Defensive Player of the Year and $50 million.
Again, implying it was given to me undeservingly. It wasn’t.”
That’s vintage Harrison - blunt, unapologetic, and fiercely proud of the road he traveled. And it’s hard to argue with the resume. From undrafted to elite, Harrison’s rise wasn’t the product of a coach’s favor - it was built on relentless effort, brutal hits, and a chip the size of Heinz Field on his shoulder.
Porter’s original comments suggested that Harrison owed more to Tomlin for his development, pointing out that Bill Cowher - Tomlin’s predecessor - had cut Harrison multiple times. “You think the head coach didn’t have his hand in making that player?”
Porter said. “So when you say he did nothing for you, that’s crazy.”
But Harrison wasn’t just defending himself - he also stood up for Roethlisberger, who Porter had also criticized. According to Harrison, there’s a clear difference between questioning a coach’s effectiveness and attacking someone’s character.
“Peezy, that was just a pure-out attack on Ben’s character,” Harrison said. “And what I said about Mike was an attack on his coaching, dude.
Two different things. And that’s more breaking the brotherhood than what Ben said.
Ben said, ‘I think, I feel that maybe Tomlin should move on.’ Like, come on, bruh.”
Harrison also revealed that he and Porter had a private conversation before Porter made his comments public on Cam Heyward’s podcast - a conversation that apparently got so heated Harrison ended up hanging up the phone.
And that’s where things get to the heart of it: the so-called “brotherhood.” Porter accused Harrison and Roethlisberger of breaking it with their criticisms of Tomlin. Harrison, though, flipped that narrative.
“Something else he said - Ben and I broke the brotherhood? First, Mike ain’t my brother.
We broke the brotherhood? You broke the brotherhood more than we did.”
It’s clear this isn’t just about football. These are former teammates - Super Bowl champions - now publicly clashing over legacy, loyalty, and what it means to speak out. For fans, it’s jarring to see such revered names going at each other, especially when they once stood shoulder-to-shoulder on the field, battling for the same cause.
Harrison wrapped up his response by defending his relationship with Roethlisberger, saying they were great teammates and that he never had an issue with the quarterback. That’s in stark contrast to Porter, who said he still has “love” for Ben but also claimed he wasn’t a good person.
Now, all eyes are on Roethlisberger. Will he respond?
Given the way this story has unfolded, it wouldn’t be surprising if he did. But one thing’s for sure - the Steelers’ alumni circle is going through some serious turbulence, and the echoes of this feud could linger well into the future.