James Harrison Defends Ben Roethlisberger After Joey Porter's Attack

The former Steelers stars engaged in a verbal battle over Roethlisberger's legacy.

Feb. 18, 2026 at 4:07pm

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Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison defended his former teammate Ben Roethlisberger after another ex-Steeler, Joey Porter, criticized Roethlisberger's character and leadership. Harrison argued that Roethlisberger has matured over his career and that Porter's comments were a "pure-out attack" on Roethlisberger's character.

Why it matters

This dispute between two prominent former Steelers players highlights the complex legacies and relationships within the franchise, especially as the team enters a new era under a new head coach. It also speaks to the challenges star players face in navigating their public images and reputations after retirement.

The details

During an appearance on Cameron Heyward's podcast, Porter called out Roethlisberger for "talking Steelers business." Harrison took issue with this, saying on the 'Deebo & Joe' podcast that Roethlisberger is "not a bad teammate." Harrison argued that Porter's criticism of Roethlisberger was more of a "personal issue" than a fair assessment, and that Roethlisberger's comments about former coach Mike Tomlin were not as severe as Porter claimed.

  • The comments from Harrison and Porter occurred during Super Bowl week in 2026.
  • The Steelers will enter the 2026 NFL season with a new head coach, Mike McCarthy, after the retirement of Mike Tomlin.

The players

James Harrison

A former linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers who played alongside Ben Roethlisberger and defended his former teammate against criticism from another ex-Steeler, Joey Porter.

Ben Roethlisberger

The retired quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers who has faced criticism from former teammates about his character and leadership, which Harrison argued was unwarranted.

Joey Porter

A former linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers who criticized Ben Roethlisberger's character and leadership, sparking a verbal dispute with another ex-Steeler, James Harrison.

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What they’re saying

“Me, personally, I do not think Ben is a bad teammate,”

— James Harrison, Former Pittsburgh Steelers Linebacker (Deebo & Joe Podcast)

“That was a pure-out attack on Ben's character, and what I said about Mike was an attack on his coaching. Two different things. That's more breaking the brotherhood than what Ben said. Ben said, 'I think I feel like maybe Tomlin should move on.' Like, come on, bruh. That's what he said.”

— James Harrison, Former Pittsburgh Steelers Linebacker (Deebo & Joe Podcast)

“Hell yeah, that's going to stroke my ego and give me delusions of grandeur. But over time, (Roethlisberger) has matured and grown up. You don't value the same things you did at 23 as you do at 30. Hell, I'm a different person at 47 than I was at 45. And I'm a far worse person at 40 than I was at 45.”

— James Harrison, Former Pittsburgh Steelers Linebacker (Deebo & Joe Podcast)

What’s next

As the Steelers enter a new era with Mike McCarthy as head coach, the stars of the past will likely continue to engage in discussions about the team's history and future direction.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the complex legacies and relationships within the Steelers franchise, as well as the challenges star players face in maintaining their public images and reputations after retirement. It also underscores the need for open and honest dialogue, even among former teammates, as the team moves forward.