Rowan DuBois | staff writer

The “brotherhood” of the Pittsburgh Steelers is a concept which dates back to the team’s 1970s dynasty, where teammates often referred to one another as “family” and “brothers.” Since then, players have been held to a standard which expects them to protect each other on and off the field, before and after their careers.

Pittsburgh Steelers locker rooms of the past are now feuding after former linebacker Joey Porter Sr. went after his ex-teammate Ben Roethlisberger, not only as a teammate, but as a person.

The comments came during an appearance on Cam Heyward’s podcast “Not Just Football” in reference to Roethlisberger’s recent stance on former Head Coach Mike Tomlin, forcing many former players to pick sides.

“Like, out of anybody [who] should talk, [Roethlisberger] should never grab a microphone and really talk Steeler business,” Porter said. “Because if we’re talking Steeler business, [he] is foul of all foul.”

Then, Porter took aim at Big Ben’s character as a teammate.

“He’s not a good teammate,” Porter said. “[I] Won a Super Bowl with him. But the person, he’s just not a good teammate. Like, he knows that. 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,” Porter said. “But is he a good person? No.”

Roethlisberger’s comments which sparked the criticism came during episode 111 of his “Footbahlin” podcast, where he called for Pittsburgh to reinvent themselves as a team after its blowout home loss to the Buffalo Bills.

“Maybe it’s clean-house time,” Roethlisberger said, suggesting the team move on from their coaching staff. “And I like Coach Tomlin, I have a lot of respect for Coach Tomlin, [but] maybe it’s best for him too. Maybe a fresh start is what’s best.

Porter Sr. claimed that Roethlisberger violated unspoken rules when he publicly spoke out against Tomlin. Since the podcast appearance, numerous players have evidently picked sides.

An Instagram post featuring Porter’s recent criticism received public support from current and former players, with quarterback Mason Rudolph showing support, commenting “Go off,” tagging Porter.

Two Steelers ex-safeties, Mike Mitchell and Mike Adams, also shared comments supportive of their four-time Pro Bowl teammate.

“Amen,” Adams wrote. “Hold them boys accountable. Ben talking about anybody is comical …”

When asked to elaborate on his criticisms of Roethlisberger, Porter recounted occasions during Roethlisberger’s rookie season where he refused to sign merchandise for his teammates’ families.

This instance isn’t the first time his integrity as a teammate has come into question.

In 2018, following a regular season loss to the Denver Broncos, Roethlisberger publicly criticized two of his fellow Steelers during a radio interview. When asked about the criticism, Roethlisberger felt he was well within his bounds.

“I think I have earned the right to be able to do that, with as long as I have been here,” Roethlisberger said. “I’ll just be just as critical on myself as well in front of you guys.”

Roethlisberger is yet to respond publicly, but Porter’s comments weren’t just aimed at Big Ben, they were also intended for former Steeler James Harrison.

In 2013, Harrison accused Tomlin of lying to him, and last month, Harrison claimed that Tomlin is not a Hall-of-Fame caliber coach.

“He hasn’t made disciples,” Harrison said. “You’re telling me you’re a Hall-of-Fame coach but no one has followed you.”

Porter went after Harrison for not appreciating the chance Tomlin gave him, citing that Harrison was cut three times under head coach Bill Cowher, Tomlin’s predecessor.

In an Instagram post, former Steelers lineman Maurkice Pouncey defended his teammate, writing that anyone against Roethlisberger was also against him and calling “clout” a disease.

It’s unbelievable the hate I’ve been seeing from people inside the family!!” Pouncey said. “Especially when we all a call away!!”

Pouncey didn’t name anybody in his post, but the timing of it seems directed toward Porter.

Porter and Roethlisberger both thrived under the “brotherhood,” with both becoming Super Bowl champions, but as a new era forms in Pittsburgh with Tomlin’s departure, cracks in what was once known to the public are beginning to form.

Rowan DuBois can be reached at duboisr1@duq.edu