Troy Polamalu 5 Greatest Plays

Longtime Steelers great, Troy Polamalu, announced he has played his final NFL game. In a franchise filled with all-time NFL players, including 23 Hall of Famers, Polamalu will leave the franchise with a legacy comparable to the greats before him. He finished his career with 32 interceptions, 14 forced fumbles, 12 sacks, five touchdowns, three Super Bowl appearances, and two Super Bowl championships in 12 seasons all with Pittsburgh.

During that time Polamalu also won the 2010 Defensive Player of the Year award, and was named 1st Team All-Pro in 2005, 2008, 2010, and 2011, with a 2nd Team All-NFL added in 2007 as well. In his 12 years with the Steelers, the franchise appeared in three Super Bowls winning two of them in 2005 and 2008. Its no surprise the Steelers reached, or won, the Super Bowl in the years Polamalu was at his best.

The Steelers defense ranked in the top ten in the NFL every year from 2004, in Polamalu’s second year, to 2012 with the lowest ranking coming in 2006 when they finished a lowly ninth. During that span from 2004-2012, the Steelers defense finished first in total defense five times.

With all the accolades, unbelievable highlights, and of course the hair, Polamalu is now engrained in Steelers history as much as the Terrible Towel and Steel Curtain. 12 years of All-Pro plays is tough to narrow down to a list of five, but I try to do so below.

5. One-handed Interception vs. Titans 2009

Opening night of the 2009 NFL season kicked off at Heinz Field after the Steelers were crowned Super Bowl champs for the sixth time seven months prior. It was a bit of an odd, slow-start game for the Steelers and they needed a spark when Polamalu decided to make it happen. The Titans were driving, and were in Steelers territory at the 44-yard line, when Kerry Collins faked the handoff to Chris Johnson then dropped back to look deep for Kenny Britt. Tennessee was trying for a homerun at 2nd & 5, Collins heaved it down the left hash, and Polamalu leaped in-front of the 6’4 Britt snagging it with his left hand and coming down cleanly. This wasn’t a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage that landed in his left paw. This was a 50-yard bomb, jackpot style that he came down with using one hand. I remember talking on the phone with my girlfriend at the time while watching the play, and I interrupted her with a, “HOLY S%#@.” Even for Polamalu, this one was unbelievable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cax4kzNv2rY

4. Torpedo Chris Johnson 2009

This play may have been the fastest I’ve ever seen a player move on television in my life. Check that. It is. Polamalu looked like he had a cheat code turn his speed up to 105 while everyone else was at an 80. Chris Johnson took the handoff left from Collins deep in their own territory. Johnson was setting up his blocks; looking for a cutback lane when out of nowhere Polamalu flew into the backfield like Tasmanian Devil and took out Johnson’s legs. Its important to remember this was the Chris Johnson who had rushed for over 2,000 yards the season before, and was renowned around the NFL as one of, if not the best, running backs in the league. This is a play that a lot of people forget, but will always be one that screams vintage Troy.

3. Fingertip Pick vs. Chargers 2008

Polamalu loved to snag footballs with one hand. In this case against the Chargers it wasn’t just one hand, but fingers on just one hand that made this one memorable. Early in the first quarter Philip Rivers shot-put the football downfield intended for Vincent Jackson when the ball popped out of his hands, into the air, when Polamalu dove, extending the tips of his right hand underneath the ball corralling it in. The play was so unbelievable Jim Nantz still doesn’t believe it happened.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doXNjFmQnqI

2. Flacco Strip-Sack 2010

December football always reaches another level of intensity in the NFL. When its Steelers-Ravens in December, that level goes through the roof. In a game that was crucial for both teams in their chase for the AFC North title, Polamalu came up with the biggest play of the game. The Steelers were trailing the Ravens 10-6 in Baltimore with 3:23 left in the game. The Ravens had the ball driving near midfield when Flacco went under center. Polamalu began to creep to the edge of the line of scrimmage like he always does, and you knew something was about to happen. Just ask Terrell Suggs. Flacco snapped the ball, and Polamalu bolted into the backfield untouched. Flacco got to the peak of his three-step drop, and just before he could release the ball Polamalu jumped on his back, swatting the ball out in the process. LaMarr Woodley scooped it up and gave the Steelers the ball inside the 10-yard line. They ended up scoring, and the Steelers won 13-10 to take the division lead in the first week of December. This play proved to be huge not only in winning that game against the Ravens, but in the pursuit of the division title and a first round bye in the playoffs. They accomplished both and went on to Super Bowl XLV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6rNQjBHuPA

1. Pick Six AFC Championship 2008

Ask any Steelers fan what their favorite Troy Polamalu play is and almost 100 percent will tell you the interception that sent the Steelers to Super Bowl XLIII. Sorry, Baltimore, but Polamalu had a knack for crushing your hopes in a big game. The Steelers were up by two with four minutes remaining in the game. Flacco and the Ravens were driving in their own territory for a potential go-ahead score. That all came to a halt when Polamalu baited Flacco into throwing down the right side of the field so he could pluck it out of nowhere. What followed the interception sums up what made Polamalu great; his ability to improvise, keep a play alive, and take chances no other player would make. He dipped and dodged his way through the Ravens, all the way across the field and into the end zone sealing the game; poetry in motion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcAhSJZFBB4