Joey Porter

Joey Porter is the steady and sometimes controversial National Football League linebacker known for his personality as well as his talent. A Bakersfield native, Porter began catching the spotlight on the football field for Foothill High School. He was a two-time all-conference selection as wide receiver and wingback for the Trojans.

His senior season he led the team to a 9-2 mark and a berth in the state playoffs, rushing the ball 86 times for 1,086 yards. After his senior season, he was named to both the all-section and all-state teams.

Porter then took his skills to college where he was a standout for Colorado State University. Moving exclusively to linebacker, he recorded 22 career sacks and was named third team All-American and a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference. In 1999, the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Porter in the third round (73rd overall) of the NFL Draft.

In 2002 and 2004, Porter was named to play in the Pro Bowl. In 2005, he boasted his first Super Bowl ring as the Steelers defeated Seattle in Super Bowl XL. In 2006, Sports Illustrated named the brash and talkative Porter the “Most Feared Man in the NFL”.

In 2007, Porter left Pittsburgh to sign a free-agent contact with the Miami Dolphins.