Joey Porter's Official Website

2006:  Started all 14 games in which he played, was inactive for two contests ... Recorded 64 tackles, seven sacks, two interceptions and five passes defensed ... Sack total led the squad ... The seven sacks gave him 60 for his career while his two interceptions gave him 10 ... Along with Clay Matthews, he is one of only two players in NFL history to have recorded 60 career sacks and 10 career interceptions ... In addition, along with Jason Taylor, Rod Coleman and Leonard Little, is one of only four players to have logged at least five sacks in each of the last seven seasons (2000-06) ... Career sack total ranks fourth in Steelers annals, trailing only LB Jason Gildon (77), DE L.C. Greenwood (73.5) and DT Joe Greene (66) ... Had best game of year in season-opening 28-17 win over Miami (9/7) when he collected three tackles, two sacks and an interception ... The interception occurred in the fourth quarter as he snared a Daunte Culpepper pass and went 42 yards for a touchdown ... Was inactive for games vs. Kansas City (10/15) and at Atlanta (10/22) with a hamstring injury ... Returned to action at Oakland (10/29) when he registered five tackles, two sacks and an interception ... Notched a pair of sacks in the Steelers’ 20-3 win over Tampa Bay (12/3) as he moved past Keith Willis into fourth on Pittsburgh’s all-time sack list ... It also marked the 12th time in his career he accounted for two or more sacks in a game.

2005:  Posted 10.5 sacks to move into sixth on the Steelers career sacks' list…his 10.5 sacks were the most by a linebacker in the NFL and tied his career high (2000)…added three sacks in the playoffs…named AFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 16) after finishing with three sacks, two forced fumbles and five tackles in the win at Cleveland…finished the year with 61 tackles (46 solo)…forced a team-high five fumbles and added two interceptions…9/11 vs. Tennessee: Played 47 snaps on defense in his first action since returning from knee surgery during training camp…recorded four tackles (two solo), one sack and one forced fumble…9/18 at Houston: Played 58 defensive snaps…recorded three solo tackles, one sack and recovered one fumble…9/25 vs. New England: Played 72 snaps and posted one solo tackle and a quarterback hurry/pressure…10/10 at San Diego: Played 63 snaps and recorded two solo tackles…registered the team's only sack for a six-yard loss…10/16 vs. Jacksonville: Had one of the best games this season…finished with seven tackles (four solo), a sack for a 10-yard loss, a forced fumble and one pass defense…passed Dwight White for sixth place on the Steelers' all-time sack list with 46.5…10/23 at Cincinnati: Logged 57 snaps and registered three solo tackles and a quarterback hurry/pressure…10/31 vs. Baltimore: Tallied six tackles and one pass defense while logging 75 snaps…11/6 at Green Bay: Played in his 100^th career game…logged 69 snaps and registered five tackles (three solo)…also had a quarterback hurry/pressure and a pass defense…11/13 vs. Cleveland: Logged 54 plays and recorded two tackles (one solo) and a pass defense…had a sack for a loss of seven yards…intercepted a Trent Dilfer pass and returned it nine yards…11/20 at Baltimore: Recorded five tackles (four solo) on 81 snaps…11/28 at Indianapolis: Posted his team-best (tied) sixth sack of the season (minus-three yards) while also forcing a fumble by QB Peyton Manning…finished with three tackles (two solo) and a quarterback hurry/pressure on 60 snaps…12/4 vs. Cincinnati: Had three tackles (two solo) and two quarterback hurries/pressures while logging 65 plays…12/11 vs. Chicago: Recorded four tackles (three solo) on 57 snaps...registered three quarterback pressures/hurries and one sack for a loss of nine yards…12/18 at Minnesota: Recorded four tackles (three solo), including one tackle for a loss, and one quarterback hurry/pressure…teamed with Kimo von Oelhoffen to sack Brad Johnson for a loss of four yards, his 50^th career sack…registered a pass defense when he intercepted a Brad Johnson pass at the Steelers' five-yard line to prevent a Vikings score…teamed with Larry Foote to tackle Michael Bennett in the end zone for a safety…12/24 at Cleveland: Recorded five solo tackles and two forced fumbles…had three sacks for a loss of 23 yards and had one quarterback hurry/pressure…logged 51 snaps…1/1 vs. Detroit: Started at ROLB and logged 60 plays…recorded four tackles (two solo) and one quarterback hurry/pressure…AFC Wild Card Game 1/8 at Cincinnati: Started at ROLB and recorded three assisted tackles and one-half sack…AFC Divisional Game 1/15 at Indianapolis: Recorded two tackles (one solo) and 1.5 sacks for a loss of 13 yards…recorded his 1.5 sacks on the Colts second to final drive, including one on a fourth-and-16 play that turned the ball over on downs…AFC Championship Game 1/22 at Denver: Recorded four tackles (three solo), one sack for two yards…forced a fumble on the sack, which was recovered by NT Casey Hampton…Super Bowl XL 2/5 vs. Seattle: Started at LOLB and recorded three solo tackles.

2004: Was selected to the 2005 AFC Pro Bowl squad for the second time…named to the Associated Press’ second-team All-Pro squad…finished the regular-season with 63 total tackles…was selected as a defensive co-captain for the second-straight year...finished the season with 63 total tackles (45 solo) with seven sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles...9/12 vs. Oakland: finished with two total tackles (one solo)…played all 65 defensive snaps…also was credited one quarterback hurry/pressure...9/19 at Baltimore: registered four tackles (two solo)…logged all 64 defensive plays...9/26 at Miami: had one of his most effective days in nearly a year…was credited with his first sack of the season on which he forced Miami quarterback A.J. Feeley to fumble…finished with seven total tackles (four solo), tying James Farrior for team honors…was credited with one quarterback hurry/pressure and one pass defense...10/3 vs. Cincinnati: finished with five total tackles (three solo)…also was credited with eight quarterback hurries/pressures and three passes defensed…logged 66 defensive plays...10/10 vs. Cleveland: registered five total tackles (four solo)…also was credited with one quarterback hurry/pressure…played all 59 defensive snaps...10/17 at Dallas: finished six total tackles (three solo)…also was credited with a quarterback hurry/pressure…logged all 63 defensive plays...10/31 vs. New England: had his biggest game of the season, registering three sacks and two forced fumbles, both of which led to TDs…was selected the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance…finished with eight total tackles (six solo)…also was credited with four quarterback hurries/pressures…played all 55 defensive snaps...11/7 vs. Philadelphia: finished with two assists…played all 38 defensive snaps...11/14 at Cleveland: was ejected from the game prior to kickoff because of a pre-game altercation...11/21 at Cincinnati: recorded his fifth sack of the season…forced an intentional grounding penalty by Carson Palmer...registered one quarterback hurry/pressure…logged all 46 defensive plays...11/28 vs. Washington: registered two sacks to move into a tie with Aaron Smith for the team lead…finished with five solo tackles…also was credited with two quarterback hurries/pressures...12/5 at Jacksonville: finished with six total tackles (five solo)…was credited with three quarterback hurries/ pressures…logged all 66 defensive plays...12/12 vs. N.Y. Jets: registered three solo tackles...12/18 at N.Y. Giants: registered two tackles for losses totaling six yards…finished with three solo tackles…also was credited with a quarterback hurry/pressure…played all 48 defensive snaps...12/26 vs. Baltimore: recorded his first interception of the season, the sixth of his career and his first since Oct.. 27, 2002 at Baltimore…finished with four total tackles (three solo)...1/2/05 at Buffalo: finished with one solo tackle…logged 12 defensive plays...1/15/05 vs. N.Y. Jets: finished with three total tackles (two solo)…also was credited with a pass defense...1/23/05 vs. New England: registered his first and only sack of the postseason for a four-yard loss…finished with six total tackles (four solo).

2003: 9/21 at Cincinnati: Made his remarkable return to the field after being wounded by a gunshot…wasted little time making an impact and recorded his first sack of the season…played an impressive 37 defensive snaps…finished with three total tackles (two solos)…also was credited with a fumble recovery on Jason Gildon’s interception, which he tried to lateral to Porter. 9/28 vs. Tennessee: Made his first appearance of the regular season at Heinz Field…finished with five total tackles (four solos)…played all 40 defensive snaps. 10/5 vs. Cleveland: Played all 66 defensive snaps…finished with three total tackles (two solos)…also was credited with a quarterback hurry/pressure. 10/12 at Denver: Registered two total tackles (one solo)…played all 52 defensive snaps. 10/26 vs. St. Louis: Registered multiple sacks for the first time this season…finished with two sacks…was credited with eight total tackles (six solos) and one quarterback hurry. 11/2 at Seattle: Finished with three solo tackles…played 62 defensive snaps. 11/9 vs. Arizona: Registered his fourth sack of the season…finished with five total tackles (four solos)…played 74 defensive snaps. 11/17 at San Francisco: Finished with two tackles (one solo). 11/23 at Cleveland: Registered three total tackles…also was credited with five quarterback hurries/pressures and a pass defensed. 11/30 vs. Cincinnati: Finished with seven total tackles (six solos)…logged all 59 defensive snaps. 12/7 vs. Oakland: Registered five total tackles, all solos…also was credited with a quarterback hurry/pressure and recovered a Raider fumble…played all 53 defensive snaps. 12/14 at N.Y. Jets: Finished with three total tackles (one assist)…logged all 62 defensive plays. 12/21 vs. San Diego: Registered his fifth sack of the season and moved into a tied for eighth place with Kevin Greene on the Steelers’ all-time sack list (35½)…finished with five total tackles (three solos)…played all 66 defensive snaps. 12/28 at Baltimore: Led the team with 10 total tackles (eight solos)…played all 63 defensive snaps.

2002: 9/9 at New England: Logged all 70 defensive snaps…finished with five total tackles (four solos)…also had one pass defense. 9/15 vs. Oakland: Had one of his biggest days as a pro…was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance…had two interceptions, both while the Raiders had driven deep into Steelers’ territory, for a total of 114 return yards…nearly returned one interception for a TD, but was tackled after racing 84 yards…attempted to lateral to Chad Scott, who would have gone untouched for the remaining 15 yards, but the play was nullified for what was called an illegal lateral…logged all 88 defensive plays…finished with 10 solo tackles and one quarterback hit/pressure. 9/29 vs. Cleveland: Produced another huge day…collected his third interception of the season, giving him a team-leading 141 yards in interception return yards…also was credited with seven total tackles (six solos) and one quarterback hit/pressure. 10/6 at New Orleans: Registered his fourth sack of the season…played all 56 defensive snaps…finished with six total tackles (five solos)…also had one quarterback hit/pressure. 10/13 at Cincinnati: Had another big day, registering two sacks, giving him six for the season…forced a fumble on one of his sacks that was recovered by Casey Hampton and returned 36 yards…logged all 66 defensive plays…led the team with nine total tackles (seven solos)…also had three quarterback hits/pressures. 10/21 vs. Indianapolis: Finished with five total tackles…also was credited with three quarterback hits/pressures…played all 73 defensive snaps. 10/27 at Baltimore: Had another big game…finished with nine total tackles (six solos)…also was credited four quarterback hits/pressures…collected his fourth interception of the season and had two passes defensed…logged 78 defensive plays. 11/3 at Cleveland: Finished with five total tackles (four solos)…also was credited with a quarterback hit/pressure. 11/10 vs. Atlanta: Had another big game…finished with eight total tackles, all solos…also recorded with a sack for seven yards, a caused fumble and a recovered fumble…was credited with five quarterback hits/pressures and two passes defensed…played all 82 defensive snaps. 11/17 at Tennessee: Finished with six total tackles (five solos)…also recovered one fumble…played all 76 defensive snaps. 11/24 vs. Cincinnati: Recorded six total tackles (five solos)…also was credited with two quarterback hits/pressures…played all 63 defensive snaps. 12/1 at Jacksonville: Was held to just one tackle, his lowest total of the season…had three quarterback hits/pressures…logged all 50 defensive plays. 12/8 vs. Houston: Registered his team-high eighth sack of the season…finished with three total tackles…also was credited with two quarterback hits/pressures…logged all 41 defensive snaps. 12/15 vs. Carolina: Finished with three total tackles (two solos)…also was credited with one quarterback hit/pressure…logged all 58 defensive plays. 12/23 at Tampa Bay: Recorded four total tackles (one solo)…also was credited with a sack for 10 yards and a pass defensed. 12/29 vs. Baltimore: Finished with six total tackles. 1/5 vs. Cleveland: Recorded the second postseason sack of his career for 15 yards…finished with seven solo tackles. 1/11 at Tennessee: Finished with eight tackles (five solos).

2001: 9/9 at Jacksonville: Logged 49 defensive plays…finished with eight tackles (six solos)…also had three quarterback hurries/pressures. 9/30 at Buffalo: Played all 56 defensive snaps…finished with six total tackles (four solos)…also had one sack and five quarterback hurries/pressures. 10/7 vs. Cincinnati: Logged all 59 defensive snaps…finished with five total tackles…also was credited with two quarterback hurries/pressures. 10/14 at Kansas City: Played 62 defensive plays…finished with four total tackles…also was credited with three quarterback hurries/pressures. 10/21 at Tampa Bay: Was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance…set a career-high with four sacks…Played 69 defensive snaps…finished with seven solo tackles…also had five quarterback hurries/pressures and one pass defense. 10/29 vs. Tennessee: Had another big game…logged all 52 defensive plays…finished with six total tackles (all solos) and had one quarterback hurry/pressure. 11/4 vs. Baltimore: Logged all 53 defensive plays…finished with seven total tackles and two sacks. 11/11 at Cleveland: Played all 64 defensive snaps… was credited with four total tackles (three solos)…also had two quarterback hurries/pressures and one forced fumble. 11/18 vs. Jacksonville: Registered his team-leading eighth sack of the season…logged all 55 defensive plays…finished with nine total tackles (seven solos)…also had three quarterback hurries/pressures, caused a fumble and had two passes defensed. 11/25 at Tennessee: Logged all 63 defensive plays…finished with three total tackles (two solos)…also had one quarterback hurry/pressure. 12/2 vs. Minnesota: Played all 51 defensive snaps…finished with two tackles and had one quarterback hurry/pressure. 12/9 vs. N.Y. Jets: Logged all 48 defensive plays…finished with three total tackles…also had one quarterback hurry/pressure. 12/6 at Baltimore: Played all 55 defensive snaps…finished with two tackles. 12/23 vs. Detroit: Set the tone early on the third play of the game when he registered his ninth sack of the season and forced a fumble by quarterback Mike McMahon that Jason Gildon retrieved and raced 27 yards for a TD…logged all 54 defensive plays…finished with two solo tackles. 12/30 at Cincinnati: Logged all 104 defensive plays…finished with four total tackles (two solos)…also had four quarterback hurries/pressures and recovered one fumble. 1/6/02 vs. Cleveland: Missed his first game of the season…was deactivated to rest his ailing shoulder. 1/20 vs. Baltimore: Set the tone early with his pressure on Elvis Grbac that resulted in a Chad Scott…finished with six total tackles (two solos)…also was credited with a sack for five yards and two passes defensed. 1/27 vs. New England: Finished with five total tackles (four solos)…also was credited with one pass defensed.

2000: Finished second to Jason Gildon with with a career-high 10½ sacks…teamed with Gildon to tie a team record for a duo with 24 sacks…registered 74 total tackles (51 solo stops)…also had one interception, three pass defenses, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery…is an extremely explosive player with great speed…was selected the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for October…had a productive day, registering five total tackles (four solos) versus Baltimore (9/3)…logged 61 defensive plays…also had three quarterback hurries/pressures and a pass defense…made a big hit on the special teams, recording one solo tackle…logged 48 defensive plays at Cleveland (9/17)…finished with two tackles (one solo)…logged 56 defensive plays versus Tennessee (9/24)…was credited with two total tackles…also recorded two quarterback hurries/pressures…was credited with his first sack of the season at Jacksonville (10/1)…logged 53 plays…also was credited with three total tackles and two quarterback hurries/pressures…registered a sack for the second straight game at N.Y. Jets (10/8), his second sack of the season…logged 53 plays…also was credited with three total tackles…had his best game of the early season versus Cincinnati (10/15)…finished with eight total tackles, including seven solo stops…was credited with three sacks-one for a safety-and four quarterback hurries/pressures…also caused a fumble…logged 41 defensive plays vs. Cleveland (10/22)…finished with two tackles…also was credited with one quarterback hurry/pressure…had another excellent performance at Baltimore (10/29), registering his sixth and seventh sacks of the season…logged 53 defensive snaps…finished with a team-high tying 10 total tackles, including six solo stops…also had two quarterback hurries/pressures…recorded his first career interception at Tennessee (11/5), thwarting a Titans scoring drive after they recovered a muffed punt deep in Steelers' territory…logged 72 defensive plays…finished with eight total tackles (seven solos)…also was credited with three quarterback hurries/pressures and one tackle for no gain…accumulated 82 defensive plays versus Philadelphia (11/12)…returned a fumble for a touchdown, his second fumble return for a TD in his career…also was credited with one quarterback hurry/pressure…registered his eighth sack of the season versus Jacksonville (11/19)…logged 72 defensive snaps…finished with six total tackles, including four solo stops…played 61 defensive snaps at Cincinnati (11/26)…finished with eight total tackles including five solo stops…also recorded his ninth sack of the season…finished with one tackle versus Oakland (12/3)…also was credited with two quarterback hurries/pressures…logged 68 defensive plays…finished with two assists at N.Y. Giants (12/10)…registered four total tackles (three solos) versus Washington (12/16)…logged 54 defensive plays…played 46 defensive snaps at San Diego (12/24)…finished with three total tackles…also had 1½ sacks and two quarterback hurries/pressures.

1999: Increased his playing time over the course of the season…also excelled on special teams…finished with 15 total tackles, including 11 solo stops…also was credited with two sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries…finished the preseason as the team's leading tackler, compiling 22 total tackles, including 18 solo stops…also registered a team-high four sacks and forced a fumble…made his presence felt despite his limited time on defense in season opener at Cleveland (9/12)…registered his first official sack (of Tim Couch) and forced a fumble in the fourth quarter…also had one solo special-teams tackle…finished with two total tackles and one quarterback hurry in 11 plays at Baltimore (9/19)…logged 13 plays versus Seattle (9/26)…saw little action on defense but made a strong contribution on special teams against Jacksonville (10/3)…led the team with four solo special-teams tackles…played on 15 plays at Cincinnati (10/17)…was credited with one quarterback pressure and one special-teams tackle…made a big hit on special teams on kick returner Tim Dwight versus Atlanta (10/25)…finished with one solo special-teams tackle…had one special-teams tackle at San Francisco (11/7)…recorded one special-teams assist versus Cleveland (11/14)…had one special-teams assist at Tennessee (11/21)…finished with two special-teams tackles versus Cinncinati (11/28)…saw most of his action on special teams…partially deflected a punt…was credited with one solo special-teams tackle at Jacksonville (12/2)…logged his most extensive playing time because of an injury to Carlos Emmons versus Baltimore (12/12)…did not register any tackles from scrimmage…was credited with one special-teams assist…accumulated his most playing time of the season at Kansas City (12/18)…logged 16 defensive plays…finished with two total tackles and was credited with a quarterback hurry/pressure…also had one special-teams tackle…logged 28 defensive plays in win against Carolina (12/26)…finished with three total tackles, including two solo stops…also was credited three quarterback hurries/pressures…had two solo special-teams tackles…participated in 33 defensive plays versus Tennessee…finished with a season-high eight tackles, including six solo stops…also registered a sack on which he forced quarterback Neil O'Donnell to fumble, recovered the fumble and returned it 46 yards for a TD…was credited with two quarterback hurries/pressures and one special-teams tackle.

Was a third-team All-America and All-Western Athletic Conference first-team selection by The Sports Network…registered 22 career sacks…recorded 53 tackles (36 solos) with eight quarterback pressures and 12 tackles for losses of 67 yards as a senior…finished third in NCAA Division 1-A with a school single-season record-tying 15 sacks for minus 63 yards…played on defensive line for the first time in 1997 after playing his first two seasons at H-back…finished with 35 tackles (23 solos) and ranked second on the team with six sacks for minus 39 yards and 16 tackles behind the line of scrimmage…timed at 4.64 in the 40-yard dash…majored in exercise & sport science.