Former Steelers LB Porter blasts Roethlisberger as teammate, person

Former Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro linebacker Joey Porter publicly called out franchise legend Ben Roethlisberger, strongly criticizing the retired quarterback's behavior during their playing careers.

Porter and Roethlisberger played together in Pittsburgh from 2004-06 and won Super Bowl XL together during the 2005 season. However, Porter wasn't a fan of Roethlisberger's remarks about legendary head coach Mike Tomlin, who recently stepped down after 19 seasons with the team.

"(No. 7) definitely broke the brotherhood because the shit that seven do - that (he) did - that we don't talk about is crazy," Porter said on Wednesday's episode of "Not Just Football with Cam Heyward." "Out of anybody that should talk, he should never grab a microphone and really talk Steeler business. Because if we talking Steeler business, his ass is foul of all foul. Like the shit that he did is foul of all foul. He's not a good teammate."

Porter continued: "Anybody in the Steeler building knows that. But we protected him. Because I've only won one Super Bowl, and that was my quarterback. So, do I love my quarterback? Yeah. But is he a good person? No."

Porter's remarks came in response to a question about Roethlisberger and former Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison recently criticizing Tomlin.

In December, Roethlisberger suggested that it was "clean-house time" in Pittsburgh, while Harrison notably said he never considered Tomlin a "great coach."

Former and current Steelers players seemingly supported Porter's comments on social media, including backup quarterback Mason Rudolph.

Roethlisberger played his entire career with the Steelers and retired after the 2021 season as a two-time Super Bowl champion and Pittsburgh's all-time leading passer.