Perhaps the most beloved Steelers player of all-time, Troy Polamalu is now enshrined forever in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Polamalu, a first-round pick of Pittsburgh in 2003, played a dozen years for the Steelers. Along the way, he won two Super Bowls (XL, XLIII), was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2010, made First-Team All-Pro four times and Second-Team twice.
His speech was quintessential Troy Polamalu, from the very start.
“I love football, I love football,” he began. “It was my entire life since as long as I could remember. I fostered an obsession with the game early on that I modeled after meticulous regimens of some of the greatest artists of past.
“Dickens, Beethoven, Demosthenes. These great men were known to have a beast-like work ethic, coupled with an unwavering ability to create until perfection, beyond what most will think the human body will allow.”
That was Polamalu. An artist.
The USC graduate made 770 career tackles, grabbed 32 interceptions, forced 14 fumbles and brought down the quarterback 12 times, establishing himself as one of the most dynamic and unique defenders in the league’s history.
Polamalu’s attendance was uncertain due to a recent COVID-19 diagnosis, but the safety arrived at the parade through Canton Saturday morning, decked out in a Pittsburgh Crawfords jersey.
Along the way Saturday night, he honored those he played with, those he played for, Steelers fans and his heritage.
“I come from a culture where discipline, humility and respect are not only the foundation to our survival, but the key to our existence,” he said before letting down his trademark flowing hair. “I am a first generation American Samoan, and am proudly representing my family’s lineage to America and to the NFL.”
Polamalu made sure to publicly respect the greats who played before him, and his former coach, Bill Cowher, who was also inducted into the Hall of Fame Saturday.
“(Cowher) instructed us to embody the Yinzer spirit of hard work, humility, and toughness, coupled with loyalty, so that we can accurately represent the city of Pittsburgh,” Polamalu said.
Ultimately, the heart of Polamalu’s speech focused on brotherhood and family, and the bond created by the game of football, that can be passed down from generation to generation.
“The only approval any Steeler should seek is to earn the approval from previous legends who donned the black and gold,” he said. “And if you really earned their respect, they’ll say, ‘you could have played with us’.”
Polamalu finished his speech with a tribute to those who supported him in the Steel City.
“I love and thank God for my life, because I have all of you in my family," he said. "The biggest family in the world, Steelers nation.”