What did Joey Porter say about Ben Roethlisberger on Cam Heyward’s podcast?
The former Steeler didn’t hold back on the quarterback legend, criticizing his character and questioning his right to speak publicly on the team’s business.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter Sr. did not mince words about his ex-teammate Ben Roethlisberger during a recent appearance on “Not Just Football” with Cam Heyward.
Porter, a Steelers legend who was inducted into the team’s Hall of Honor alongside Roethlisberger in 2025, delivered pointed criticism of the Hall of Fame quarterback’s character and his right to publicly comment on Steelers business.
Porter calls out Roethlisberger’s locker room legacy
Porter told Heyward and listeners that Roethlisberger wasn’t the teammate many assume, especially off the field.
“Out of anybody that talks, he should never grab a microphone and talk Steelers business,” Porter said, arguing that Roethlisberger’s past behavior disqualifies him from being a voice on the franchise’s present and future. “If we talking Steelers business, his a** is foul of all foul. The s*** that he did is foul of all foul.”
Porter didn’t stop at media commentary. He called Roethlisberger a poor teammate and questioned his character, despite the two having won a Super Bowl together.
“I’ve only won one Super Bowl and that was my quarterback,” Porter said. “So, do I love my quarterback? Yes. Is he a good person? No.”
In detailing his criticism, Porter brought up specific incidents from their time together in Pittsburgh. One notable example involved Roethlisberger’s refusal to sign items for teammates to give to their families, a gesture most veterans traditionally make as a sign of unity and appreciation, Porter said.
He also claimed that, during his career, players never voted Roethlisberger as a captain because he lacked the leadership qualities that distinguished other team leaders.
Porter’s remarks stand out because it’s uncommon for former Steelers stars to air such candid criticisms of franchise icons. The Steelers, known for their tight-knit culture and deep loyalty to past greats, typically discourage blunt public judgments of teammates.
Cam Heyward, the host of the podcast and a longtime teammate of Roethlisberger, has previously pushed back against some of Big Ben’s comments about the modern Steelers locker room, suggesting tension isn’t entirely new when Roethlisberger weighs in publicly.
Roethlisberger, who retired and now hosts his own podcast, “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger”, has been vocal about what he sees as a need to preserve Steelers tradition and leadership values. But Porter’s critique suggests not all former teammates agree with how Roethlisberger represents the franchise’s legacy.
Roethlisberger has not yet responded publicly, but Porter’s comments are already sparking discussion in Pittsburgh and across Steelers Nation.
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