Troy Polamalu has decided to hang up his cleats after 12 seasons in the NFL, a run that included three AFC Championships and two Super Bowl wins with the Steelers. The exceptionally influential and, frankly, incomparable Polamalu has called it a career after racking up eight Pro Bowls, five All-Pro selections, a Defensive Player of the Year award (2010) and a spot on the NFL All-2000s team. He’s helped change the way defense is played and have done so with a unique style and enthusiasm.
5 things we’ll miss about Troy Polamalu
It’s been fun watching the Steelers legend play the game.
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Polamalu has been a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers his entire career, but NFL fans everywhere respect him and will miss the playmaking safety -- even fans of his AFC North rivals, begrudgingly.
Here are five things we’ll miss.
His explosive, physical style of play
Palomalu has never been one to shy away from contact and has been a physical tone-setter for the Steelers’ defense for over a decade. From bone crushing hits on receivers going over the middle to jarring tackles on ball carriers, the “Tasmanian Devil” has built his career on terrorizing offensive players. He has been a big factor in defining how the strong safety position is played -- with a combination of size, speed and tenacity.
His reckless abandon
One of Polamalu’s hallmarks over the years has become the devil-may-care attitude he plays with, and his trademark “superman” leaps over the offensive line encapsulate this perfectly.
The picks
Polamalu grabbed 32 interceptions in his career and he always seemed to have the ability to make his biggest plays late in games when it mattered the most. One-handed, diving and improbable catches became the norm.
Of course, that hair
This goes without saying. Even the most casual NFL fan can immediately recognize Polamalu’s glorious, flowing locks.
Troy Polamalu the person
One thing about Polamalu that separates him from the pack is the class he demonstrated in how he approached his career and how he approaches life. He’s universally beloved for his generosity and kindness off the field. In an interesting contrast to his fierce on-field demeanor, he’s a true renaissance man, with a few his off-field passions being growing flowers, making furniture and playing the piano. He’s been very active in his community and in his charity work, and is as humble of a superstar as we’ll see in this league.
His presence on the NFL gridiron will be missed.
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