The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the most well-respected organizations in all of professional sports, and the franchise has its own way of doing things. This has bothered fans throughout the years as the rest of the NFL has appeared to have adapted and evolved in some respects, while the Steelers have been content with sticking to their own ways. One example of this is the fact that the organization does not conduct contractual business during the regular season. Other teams in the NFL practice this as well, but there are plenty of franchises that do not shy away from handing out extensions and new deals once the regular season begins.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Omar Khan with Team President and Owner Art Rooney II during the 2022 offseason.
Pittsburgh is a traditional franchise in the NFL, and the organization is often referred to as "old school." The franchise seems to have the belief that players should view the opportunity to play for the team as a privilege, and most do, but that doesn't mean they don't want as much money as possible at the same time. Several players have come out in the past and mentioned that negotiations with the Steelers were difficult, and that the team seemed almost disrespectful from the start. James Harrison mentioned something similar to this during the most recent episode of Deebo & Joe.
"When I would negotiate with the Steelers, the first offer was so disrespectful, I didn't want to negotiate with them," Harrison said. "But that's how they work."
This is relevant due to the current negotiations between the franchise and star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. It is worth noting that the franchise has reportedly not made an offer yet, but it is believed that there is a gap between where the organization views Porter and where Porter views himself as a player.
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Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. walks off the field after a playoff loss during the 2025 season.
Harrison went through his fair share of negotiations with the Steelers during his playing career. He signed a six-year extension late in the 2000s, but he was eventually released from that contract after the two sides could not agree on a pay cut. He then returned to the Steelers later on and signed another extension. He has plenty of experience when it comes to negotiating with Pittsburgh.
When Harrison was going through his negotiations, the front office looked different. However, Omar Khan was still a part of the front office and he worked closely with the cap as that has always been known to be one of his specialties.
Porter has not received an offer from the Steelers yet, but when he does, it probably won't be what he wants. He seems to want at least $30 million per season, but it is hard to imagine the Steelers would be willing to give that up when Porter has not really amassed any significant career accomplishments. It is clear that he is a lockdown cornerback, but it is hard to see the Steelers budging in this situation.
Steelers' Situation With Joey Porter Jr. Could Get Messy
An interesting part of Harrison's statement was that the initial offer from the Steelers was often so disrespectful that it made him not want to do business with the franchise. If that happens in this situation, it could lead to Porter asking for a trade. That is usually a natural step in any sort of contract dispute across the NFL, but it isn't a request that is often honored. He would probably draw trade interest from around the league, but Pittsburgh's asking price would likely be higher than anyone would want to pay. It's a bit ironic considering the franchise doesn't seem to want to pay him what he is really worth. The Steelers want to win now, and Porter being on the field in the near future is a big part of that.
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