Steelers Great Bill Cowher Had To Teach Troy Polamalu's Teammates To Trust Him On The Field

It is no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers have had some legendary defensive players in the organization's history. However, few were better than Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Troy Polamalu, who was the definition of a star both on and off the field. The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year was one of the best overall players that the game has ever seen because of his ability to fly all over the field and make play after play. 

In a recent appearance on Not Just Football with Cam Heyward, legendary Steelers head coach, Bill Cowher chatted about what it was like coaching the eight-time Pro Bowl selection.

"He was that type of guy that sometimes would get in there, and he would go for it... I said to Chris [Hope], 'You gotta kind of just let him do his thing... Just be the safety net for him because he's going to be right like 9 times out of 10. But he's going to be wrong every now and then too.'"

To be a great player in the NFL, you need to have talent, strong instincts, a willingness to be coached, and the desire to play with your hair on fire a lot of the time. Few players did that better than Polamalu, and Cowher was able to recognize that first hand for four seasons coaching No. 43 in the black and gold. Not only was Polamalu able to play center field and shut down the opposing teams' passing attacks for over a decade, but he was also able to sneak up to the line of scrimmage and make highlight-reel plays at or behind the line of scrimmage.

Across his 12-year Steelers career (2003-2014), the two-time Super Bowl champion recorded over 570 total tackles, 100 pass deflections, and 32 total interceptions. Those numbers truly speak for themselves, and they might just prove that he is arguably the best safety to ever play the game. Certainly without him, it would be hard to say if both Cowher's 2005 team or current Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin's 2008 team would have won the Super Bowl. That is how impactful of a player Polamalu truly was.

Steelers' Troy Polamalu Headlines List Of Legendary Pittsburgh Defenders

Football is the definition of a team sport. If one player fails to do his job, it will affect the rest of the play in a bad way. Luckily for the Steelers and their fans over the last quarter-century, they have had plenty of success on defense thanks to great players such as Polamalu, who did his job at a very high level. 

Along with Polamalu making elite plays all over the field, stout difference-makers such as Joey Porter Sr., James Harrison, Casey Hampton, and Brett Keisel greatly affected plenty of plays from the interior of the line. Fans also can't forget about the likes of Pro Bowl linebackers by the name of LaMarr Woodley, James Farrior, and Lawrence Timmons. A lot of these players made it easier for Polamalu to confuse the opposing quarterback. That cannot be forgotten.

Polamalu and his teammates formed an elite unit that helped usher in a new era of football in Pittsburgh, which has continued to the present day. Over the last handful of seasons, despite not winning a postseason game, the Steelers have boasted some elite defenses thanks to great coaching and big-time play-making. Superstar edge rusher TJ Watt and All-Pro defensive tackle Cam Heyward could very well be the best defensive line duo in the entire league. 

Now with the overall team additions of other veterans including (but not limited to) four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf, and All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, this organization looks primed for a possible Super Bowl run. After posting a 4-1 record through five games to start the 2025 season, this team looks to be a real threat in the AFC. However, if it wants to win a Super Bowl, it will need a Polamalu-like effort down the stretch in order to close the deal. 

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