Happy 41st Birthday, Troy Polamalu!
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Troy Polamalu and the Steelers were a match made in heaven. His career ended in 2015 with the Steelers, but Troy Polamalu’s legacy will live on forever.
From his luxurious mane to his mind-blowing tackles, Troy Polamalu was outstanding on and off the field. I watched a game with my mother one time in which we saw him run across the field at full speed, and he slid almost 20 yards down the field after missing a tackle (which was rare). You could see a dark blur dashing across the screen (his hair). When you saw that hair, you knew what time it was!!!
I loved it when he would read the other team’s offense, leap over his defensive line, AND the other team’s offensive line to sack the quarterback. What surprised me was his gentle, but firm voice. I told my mother, “I wouldn’t have thought he had a gentle voice considering his aggressive, athletic nature.”
Troy Polamalu In The NFL
Polamalu was drafted in the first round as the 16th pick of the 2003 NFL Draft. The former USC Trojan earned All-American honors and during his professional career, he earned awards such as NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2010) and was an eight-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro selection. Let’s not forget his two rings also. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020, which was also his first year of eligibility.
My mother recognized the admiration I had for Troy. Two Christmases in a row, she gave me a t-shirt with his name airbrushed on the back, and then his jersey. And yes, I screamed both times.
What made his retirement so bittersweet was that I never got to see him play in person. I’ll admit, it still doesn’t feel the same without him. He was a legendary strong safety and a great leader.
So I am here to say, “Happy 41st birthday Troy Polamalu.” My favorite Steeler AND football player of all time.