Joey Porter — who never played for Mike Tomlin but later coached under him in Pittsburgh from 2015–2018 — has pushed back at two former Steelers teammates who have publicly criticized Tomlin since he stepped down. James Harrison has been particularly outspoken, even questioning Tomlin’s Hall of Fame credentials, while Ben Roethlisberger, though milder, has said on his podcast that it might be time for a change in the Steelers’ coaching ranks.
Porter was measured when addressing Harrison, but he got personal about Roethlisberger, who was his teammate from 2004–2006. On Cameron Heyward’s podcast Porter accused Roethlisberger of breaking the team’s bond by speaking about internal Steelers matters in public, calling that action a major betrayal. He said that despite sharing a Super Bowl together, Roethlisberger wasn’t a great teammate and that everyone in the building knew it — though they protected him because he was their quarterback.
Porter brought up a rookie-season incident in which Roethlisberger refused to sign an autograph for defensive end Aaron Smith, saying that attitude is far from the selfless example set by the likes of Jerome Bettis. He questioned whether Roethlisberger ever truly earned the respect and vote of his teammates to be a captain.
The piece also recalls darker moments in Roethlisberger’s career: a four-game suspension in 2010 after allegations of misconduct, and his own admission at the time that the “Big Ben” persona had overwhelmed who he was off the field. Roethlisberger has acknowledged not always being the ideal teammate, though he once had close bonds with players such as Bettis, Heath Miller and later Maurkice Pouncey. In 2019, teammates Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown openly questioned his leadership, arguing he didn’t spend enough time with them off the field — criticism Roethlisberger later appeared to counter by hosting veteran teammates and staying involved behind the scenes.
Later in his career he used his influence to help teammates — for example, restructuring his contract in 2021 to free up salary-cap space that helped re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster and facilitate other moves before his final season. Still, he publicly groused about roster and coaching decisions at times — including questioning the 2018 draft pick of Mason Rudolph (a point Rudolph soon defended on social media) — and once suggested he was handed a center who had never played the position, later apologizing to Kendrick Green. Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season; he has said at least one decision-maker didn’t want him back, which left lingering hard feelings.
Both Harrison and Roethlisberger have used their podcasts to criticize Tomlin, but Porter defended the longtime coach, saying critics don’t understand the complexity of what Tomlin has done for people and that he can’t fault someone who treated him well. Porter said it’s surprising to hear former teammates speak as if they know the full story when many have benefited from Tomlin’s leadership.
Fan take: This exchange matters because it highlights how split views among beloved former players can shape the public narrative around a franchise and its coach. For NFL fans, these disputes underscore the importance of leadership and locker-room culture — and how alumni commentary can influence perceptions, front-office decisions, and even future hires.
