Ex-Steeler Joey Porter Defends Mike Tomlin, Blasts Ben Roethlisberger

Porter calls Roethlisberger "not a good teammate" and says "his ass is foul of all foul"

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter has come to the defense of head coach Mike Tomlin, criticizing former teammates James Harrison and Ben Roethlisberger for their recent public criticism of Tomlin. Porter, who was a defensive assistant under Tomlin from 2015-2018, said Harrison's complaints about Tomlin were "crazy" and that Roethlisberger "broke the brotherhood" with his own behavior, which Porter described as "foul of all foul." Porter did not hold back in his assessment of Roethlisberger, saying the quarterback "is not a good teammate" and that "the s*** that he did is foul of all foul."

Why it matters

This latest public airing of Steelers grievances highlights the ongoing tensions and divisions within the organization, with former players like Harrison and Roethlisberger openly criticizing the leadership of head coach Mike Tomlin. Porter's strong defense of Tomlin and scathing critique of Roethlisberger adds another layer to this ongoing drama, which could have implications for the team's future direction.

The details

Porter, who won a Super Bowl with the Steelers in 2006, questioned Harrison's motivations for criticizing Tomlin, pointing to the success Harrison achieved under Tomlin's watch. He then unleashed on Roethlisberger, saying the quarterback "broke the brotherhood" and that "the s*** that he did is foul of all foul." Porter alleged that as a rookie, Roethlisberger refused to sign autographs for teammates' families, and that when Porter returned as a coach, Roethlisberger was "off limits to even talk about."

  • Porter was a defensive assistant on Tomlin's staff from 2015-2018.
  • Porter won a Super Bowl with the Steelers in 2006 while playing with James Harrison and Ben Roethlisberger.

The players

Joey Porter

A former All-Pro linebacker who won a Super Bowl with the Steelers and later served as a defensive assistant coach under Mike Tomlin from 2015-2018.

Mike Tomlin

The current head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who has faced criticism from former players like James Harrison and Ben Roethlisberger.

James Harrison

A former Steelers linebacker who has publicly criticized Mike Tomlin, saying he is "not a great coach" and not a Hall of Famer.

Ben Roethlisberger

The longtime quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who has also criticized Tomlin and the team's leadership.

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What they’re saying

“How can you say he's not a great coach when everything that happened good to you in football was under his watch?”

— Joey Porter, Former Steelers Linebacker (Not Just Football Podcast)

“[Harrison] broke the brotherhood, then 7 definitely broke the brotherhood. The s*** that 7 do, that did, that we don't talk about, is crazy. Out of anybody that should talk, he should never grab a microphone and really talk Steeler business.”

— Joey Porter, Former Steelers Linebacker (Not Just Football Podcast)

“Because if we're talking Steeler business, his ass is foul of all foul. Like the s*** that he did is foul of all foul. He's not a good teammate. Won a Super Bowl with him. But the person? He's just not a good teammate. He knows that. Anybody in the Steeler building knows that. But we protected him.”

— Joey Porter, Former Steelers Linebacker (Not Just Football Podcast)

The takeaway

This latest public feud between former Steelers players highlights the ongoing tensions and divisions within the organization, with key figures like Tomlin, Harrison, and Roethlisberger at the center of the drama. Porter's staunch defense of Tomlin and scathing criticism of Roethlisberger add a new layer to this saga, which could have significant implications for the Steelers' future.