He Didn’t Ask for the Bag — But the Steelers Are About to Drop One Anyway

Pittsburgh, PA – July 11, 2025

In today’s NFL, loyalty doesn’t always pay. Contracts are public chess matches. Agents posture. Players hint. Teams hesitate. It’s business — often cold, calculated, and transactional.

But in Pittsburgh, something different is happening.

The Steelers have a rising superstar locking down the outside. A press-man technician with legacy in his blood and fire in his play. A player who, by all accounts, is on the path to becoming one of the NFL’s elite cornerbacks. And yet… he’s not asking for anything.

Joey Porter Jr., coming off a breakout sophomore season, is eligible for a contract extension after 2025. He’s well on his way to becoming one of the most feared and respected defensive backs in football. With another elite campaign, he’s projected to command a deal that could place him among the highest-paid cornerbacks in the league.

But here’s the part that’s turning heads inside the building and across Steelers Nation: Porter Jr. isn’t chasing numbers. According to team sources, he hasn’t brought up money. Hasn’t whispered about leverage. Instead, he’s made one thing clear behind closed doors:
“I didn’t come to Pittsburgh to chase contracts. I came to honor my family and build my own name in black and gold.”

It’s that mindset that’s resonated inside the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. According to team insiders, GM Omar Khan has already begun preparing the books to accommodate what may become a landmark cornerback contract. Owner Art Rooney II reportedly wants to reward core players early, especially those who reflect the culture and tradition of the Steelers.

And Porter Jr.? He doesn’t want to leave. He wants to wear the jersey his father wore — and make that number mean something again.

In a league where stars jump teams, demand headlines, and push for max deals the moment they can, Porter Jr.’s silence says everything. He’s not playing the market. He’s playing for something bigger — for the name on his back, and the crest on his helmet.

The Steelers know what they have. And they’re moving quietly but surely to make sure Joey Porter Jr. stays in Pittsburgh for a long, long time.

Stay tuned to ESPN for more on Porter Jr.’s next chapter in the Steel City.