The Pittsburgh Steelers of the early 2000s fostered one of the most amazing tales of friendship you will ever hear, among a most unlikely duo - Ike Taylor and Troy Polamalu.
Gene J. Puskar, AP
Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu (43) and Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor (24) share a moment on the sidelines before an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013. They both retired after the 2014 season.
The two entered the league together in 2003 and retired together in 2014. Taylor, a cornerback, was the fourth-round pick, and Polamalu, a strong safety, was the first-round pick. But the two went on to help the Steelers win two Super Bowls together.
You know what they say about opposites attracting, and that's how they seem at first glance. Taylor is loud, boisterous and is never afraid to say what is on his mind. His excellent sense of humor and affable personality make him friends everywhere he goes. Polamalu on the other hand is cerebral and quiet. He comes across as humble and mild mannered. He is soft-spoken and is said to be an incredible friend and support system for those around him.
They might appear to be very different people, but once you dig beneath the surface, you learn there are some even more important similarities. Both are incredibly hard-working and dedicated. They are intelligent, confident and both are family men. On the field, the two are ferocious, tenacious and unstoppable. They are also best friends.
AP Photo
Steelers' Ike Taylor runs back an interception of Seattle Seahawks' Matt Hasselbeck in Pittsburgh's Super Bowl XL victory.
How Steelers' Ike Taylor And Troy Polamalu Came To Room Together
Taylor is just as busy now as he was when he was playing in the league. He works as a scout for the Steelers and hosts a podcast with reporter Mark Bergin called Bleav In Steelers. On a recent episode, Bergin asked Taylor about rooming with Polamalu at training camp.
Some things never change according to Taylor and one of those constants is the Steelers having training camp in Latrobe, PA. at St. Vincent College. He said it becomes like your home away from home. The players bunk up and share a room while they are there. This allows players to get to know each other on a different level, Taylor says "like your wife."
"It was Troy all 12 years. First of all, we both OCD when it comes down to being clean. That was why I was so glad that was my roommate because I got huge OCD-ness when it comes down to being clean and Troy as well."
AP Photo | Gene J. Puskar
Steelers legend Troy Polamalu before a game.
Like a married couple, Taylor says that they were able to sync up their routines. They also were able to have an influence on each other in some other areas.
"He likes to get up early and work out, I like to get up early and work out. So that was perfect on time. Transferring to him getting up saying his prayers, like I would say my prayers at night. He would start off in the morning and at night, it made me start off in the morning. Getting on my knees, saying my prayers. It's just like a lot of small things I picked up from TP that you put into your everyday lifestyle."
Taylor shares that they were placed together by Omar Khan their rookie year. Khan is currently the Steelers general manager, but then he was the football administration coordinator.
"Shout out to Omar, he was like, 'You and Troy be good roommates?' I was like, 'Yeah.' Then from that point on was like, 'Don't ever break us apart.' So my rookie and second year, even when we traveled, the way we roommate, got the two queens [beds]. Then our third year, when we started starting, we just had our own rooms. I've been with that dude for the longest, 20 years."
Maya Giron / Post-Gazette
Steelers general manager, Omar Khan.
Recently Polamalu appeared on former teammate Bryant McFadden's podcast. The show, which is co-hosted by McFadden's cousin and current Steelers cornerback, Patrick Peterson, is called All Things Covered. McFadden shared his personal struggle at the end of his career - he had lost his starting role and was feeling bleak. Then he got a letter, which he still has, from Polamalu, encouraging him. He broke down in tears during the show explaining the difference that letter made in his life. Taylor wasn't at all surprised.
"The dude is different. He's a different human being. I look at Troy totally different from anybody I've ever met. That's how I look at Troy. It is only a few, it is RIP Papa Rooney, it's Coach LeBeau and it's Troy. I got one I see everyday in my son. Them folk, like I look at them totally different from anybody else. Troy just a unique individual."
When Khan placed the two of them together when they were rookies in 2003, he couldn't possibly imagine the bond he was helping to create. But now, to hear the two of them talk, it is a bond for life.
What is your favorite Taylor/Polamalu story? Either together or independently? What do you think it is about the two of them that made them such incredible friends? Click to comment below.
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