It was revealed earlier this week that Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu picked his former coach Dick LeBeau to induct him into Canton this August.
Speaking on the Hometown Roofing Pomp & Poni Podcast powered by Bowser Chevy Monroeville, LeBeau says he doesn't need to do much to prepare.
"I don't need a script to talk about Troy, I got a lot of years together with him," said LeBeau. "All I need is for them to tell me how long they want me to talk, because I could talk forever on Troy."
Of course Polamalu's accomplishments on the field are well documented and will live in Steelers history forever and LeBeau doesn't take his time with the safety for granted.
"He's just an absolute coach's blessing and you can coach forever and never ever find a better man to coach or a more willing student than Troy Polamalu," said LeBeau.
Maybe more importantly for LeBeau though was how Polamalu was off the field, when the bright lights weren't shining on him.
LeBeau took some time to share his favorite story about Polamalu the man.
"The players have long days and their weeks are spent with a lot of physical exertion and a lot of meetings, mental exertion and the one day of the week that they kind of get out of facility fairly earlier is on Friday and they usually can get home in time to do some things . . . and every Friday, every Friday before Troy would go home and address some of those family things that he could do, he would stop by the Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh and visit those kids in there and built a lot of personal relationships with a lot of patients in that area," said LeBeau. "That's always made a tremendous impression to me, I know there are a lot of guys that do a lot of things with their time, but Troy, it was every Friday that's what he did."
The 2020 class (delayed due to the pandemic) being inducted on August 7. Polamalu will be inducted that day along with his coach Bill Cowher (being inducted by Art Rooney II) and Donnie Shell
LeBeau has other great stories and debuts his amazing Myron Cope impression. It goes live at noon!
