Joey Porter Jr Takes Quick Jab At Steelers After Trade: "Licking My Chops"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some infamous contract disputes over the years, and another one was added to that list in 2026 with Joey Porter Jr. The cornerback became eligible for an extension during the 2026 offseason, and it was reported that the Steelers did not seriously try to get something done with the young defender until around the time training camp began. Some of the offers given to Porter's team by the franchise were considered disrespectful, and that tarnished the relationship between the two sides and ultimately led to Porter being traded to the Dallas Cowboys.

There was obviously a disconnect between how Porter felt he should be valued and how the organization valued him, and both sides of the dispute are being blamed by the fan base. They each deserve blame, but a trade was probably the most likely outcome after the Steelers didn't show any urgency to get a deal done prior to the team's self-imposed deadline at the start of the regular season. Porter now reunites with two other top picks for Pittsburgh, George Pickens and Broderick Jones.

Porter made his debut for Dallas on Sunday in Week 4, and he played well -- although he saw limited snaps. He joined legendary wide receiver Michael Irvin on his show The White House, and he was asked about the possibility of going up against the Steelers at some point.

"I'm waiting for that. I'm overly looking forward to that, OG," Porter said. "I can't wait for that matchup. Whenever it happens, I'm looking forward to it. I'm licking my chops."

Porter obviously has a special connection to the city of Pittsburgh as he grew up there while his dad played for the Steelers, but that relationship is now tainted. He is going to look to put on a show whenever he gets to play the Steelers, and the same can be said about Pickens who also had a strained relationship with the organization before his exit.

While Porter is surely excited at the idea of taking on his former team, it is unclear when that might occur. Barring a Steelers-Cowboys matchup in Super Bowl LXI, a matchup between these two teams could be years away. Porter's status with the Cowboys is also unclear. The franchise has not given him a new deal, which is common when other organizations trade for players in the middle of a contract dispute. Porter could be on a completely different team entirely in less than a year if he gets to free agency during the 2027 offseason.

If Porter does work out a long-term deal with Dallas, the Steelers and Cowboys are guaranteed to play against one another during the 2028 season. That is when the entirety of the AFC North is scheduled to play the entirety of the NFC East, as divisions play one another on a four-year cycle. However, there is an outside chance that the two will be on one another's schedule in 2027 if they each finish in the same place in their respective divisions.

Steelers Need To Be Ready For Vengeful Past Players

Whenever the time comes where the Steelers have to play either Pickens or Porter, it might not go well for Pittsburgh. Both players could be on different teams by next season, but whenever they pop up on the schedule, they will each have a chance to make the Steelers wish they never traded them in the first place. They each certainly have a chip on their shoulder for the way things went down in Pittsburgh, and they are going to want to show up whoever is on the field lining up against them in black and gold.

Porter did have some good things to say about Pittsburgh in this interview as he mentioned missing his teammates and how hard it was to say goodbye to them before leaving for Dallas, but it's clear he's eager to face his former team.

What do you think about Porter's comments about looking forward to playing the Steelers? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

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