Steelers' Joey Porter Sr. Got Pancaked After Talking Smack As A Rookie: "Didn't Know I Was Going Against Kung Fu Panda"

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a true enforcer in linebacker Joey Porter Sr. when he roamed the Steel City. Porter was notorious for driving fear into his opponents and always carried himself with cool, unshakable confidence. He was the type of player who never blinked, no matter the moment or the matchup.

Porter wasn’t intimidated by anyone. He once tried to fight Ray Lewis during pregame warmups while still recovering from being shot in Denver. That story alone tells you everything you need to know about Porter’s mindset. He brought intensity, passion, and a fearless attitude that made him a cornerstone of the Steelers' defense.

As a rookie, that same fire had him talking trash to Baltimore Ravens Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden. On Cam Heyward’s podcast Not Just Football, Porter shared how he called Ogden “Kung Fu Panda” and laughed at his massive size. However, once the play started, Ogden humbled him fast, flattening Porter and knocking the wind out of him. Porter said he just followed the air to the sideline because Ogden had sent him out of the game.

"My ‘welcome to the NFL’ moment was me running my mouth against Jonathan Ogden," Porter said. "Mind you, I’m a rookie, just coming in on a couple third-down plays. I’m looking at him, I’m looking at his shoes. I’m feeling good about myself. I’m like, 'Dude, this dude got on some size 18s. He’s 6'8", 370. He looked big-big—like real, real big. Like a real-life ogre.'"

As a rookie, Porter explained that he wasn’t getting much playing time, so when his number was finally called, he was fired up and feeling himself. He wanted to make a statement. 

What he didn’t realize was that he was lined up across from a future 11-time Pro Bowler who was more than ready to put him in his place. The play got underway and Porter didn't back up his trash talk.

"There’s no way I can’t run around him," Porter said. "This dude is cooked. I didn’t know I was going against Kung Fu Panda. He looks over his shoulder to see who was talking, and he just hits me with a head nod and went back to the huddle… He pushed me down and splashed me. All the wind in my heart just left. I just watched it leave to the sideline, and I followed it to the sideline because he made me come out of the game."

Porter would go on to recover just fine from that hilarious "welcome to the NFL" moment. Every confident rookie experiences a time when reality hits hard, and those moments often become fan favorites when retold years later. They offer a glimpse into the early days of players who eventually became stars, showing that even the toughest competitors had to learn some hard lessons.

That humbling experience didn’t hold Porter back. Instead, it became part of the fire that drove him throughout his career. He developed into one of the league’s most intimidating linebackers, earning four Pro Bowl selections and being named a First Team All-Pro. His aggressive style, leadership, and passion made him a cornerstone of the Steelers' defense.

Steelers' Joey Porter Sr. Helped Pittsburgh Win Super Bowl XL

Porter’s legacy in Pittsburgh reached its peak when he helped lead the team to victory in Super Bowl XL. From an energetic rookie who underestimated a Hall of Fame opponent to a champion and defensive leader, Porter’s journey is a perfect example of growth, toughness, and the relentless attitude that defines Steelers football.

Now Porter gets to watch his son Joey Porter Jr. make a name for himself in Pittsburgh. It has been a super cool experience for him to watch his son carry on his legacy.

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