Joey Porter Jr. Gets Pep Talk From His Super Bowl Winner Father On The Day He Got Drafted
The Pittsburgh Steelers never imagined they’d have the chance to choose Joey Porter Jr. with the 32nd selection, but when the board swung in their favour, they resisted trade offers and made their next star cornerback instead.
Joey Porter Jr. Gets Pep Talk From His Super Bowl Winner Father On The Day He Got Drafted
Porter Jr. made the decision to travel to the facility to do his news conference in person because he was in Pittsburgh when the choice took place. He expressed his disappointment at missing out on night one as he sat down.
That Porter Jr. is real. In his three seasons as a starter for Happy Valley, he made 113 tackles and intercepted 11 passes as a senior.
Porter Jr., a lockdown corner, was selected to the All-Big Ten First Team in 2022.
“Take it personal.”
Joey Porter Jr. got a pep talk from his dad after getting passed on in round one
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) May 2, 2023
He will no longer have to go far to start his professional career because he spent his formative years in Pennsylvania and attended college there. After a poor Day 1 slip, Porter Jr. was selected by Pittsburgh with the 32nd overall pick in the NFL Draft.
On Thursday night, the 22-year-old was passed over 31 times while waiting for his name to be called in the green room. He was so upset!
https://twitter.com/Luciow1992/status/1653094759303372810?s=20
“Last night, I was mad. I had the edge on me,” Porter said after he was drafted. “This is a perfect way to end my day right here. I just forgot all about last night and shoot, I’m ready. I got a chip on my shoulder. I’m trying to prove myself.”
He was clearly annoyed, but Joey Porter Sr. made care to channel his rage into inspiration.
“They want to see a pissed-off football player. Now they got one,” Porter Sr. said. “Now you’ve been motivated to another level. Because we’ve got something to prove. And take it personally. Because you should.”
Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. will wear #24 in honor of Ike Taylor. #Steelers
(via @MinusThreePod)https://t.co/iEMPRUPggi
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) May 2, 2023
Two-time First Team All-Pro Porter Sr. spent seven of his 13 seasons in the NFL with the Steelers. To put it mildly, his presence as an outside linebacker was scary.
In addition to coaching at the collegiate level, in the NFL, and in the XFL, Porter Sr. was always a leader on the field. In addition to being able to talk from personal experience, he has also mastered the art of being a better mentor and teacher.
Steelers draft CB Joey Porter Jr. with the 32nd overall pick 🔒
His father, Joey Porter, was drafted by Pittsburgh as well 🤝 pic.twitter.com/eNfEGDLlXI
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 28, 2023
Not just a father, but someone with firsthand knowledge of what it takes to achieve in the NFL, may be heard speaking.
Being passed over in the first round while other cornerbacks were selected before him may have provided Joey Porter Jr. with the inspiration he needed to excel and reach his full potential in the NFL.
With the 32nd pick in the 2023 #NFLDraft, we select CB Joey Porter Jr. pic.twitter.com/TMbiNPxu5P
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 28, 2023
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