The Joey Porter Jr. saga came to a disappointing end when the Pittsburgh Steelers traded the fourth-year cornerback to the Dallas Cowboys just under a week ago. Porter’s goal is to get up to the Cowboys’ level and become that blocking cornerback again, setting himself up for a big payday this offseason.
He looks through the windshield at Dallas at what awaits him.
But he also can’t help but look in the rearview mirror.
Appearing on the White House Podcast with former Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin, Porter said he was looking forward to his first game against the Steelers — whenever that might happen.
“I’m waiting for this… I’m looking forward to this so much, OG. I can’t wait to see this match,” Porter said, according to the video via the show on Netflix. “Every time it happens, I look forward to it. I lick my lips.”
The Steelers and Cowboys won’t play in 2026 unless they meet in the Super Bowl. The last time the Steelers and Cowboys faced each other was in Week 5 of the 2024 season, a Sunday Night Football game at Acrisure Stadium.
Pittsburgh lost that game, 20-17, to current Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 352 yards in that game, although Porter had an interception – one of only three in his career with the Steelers.
Now, Porter is on the other side of the historic rivalry, which dates back to the 1970s with the Steel Curtain and Team USA clashing over and over again, with Pittsburgh winning two Super Bowl titles over the Cowboys during the decade.
There’s now juice to the rivalry with Porter on the other side — for now — and the comments he and his father, Steelers Hall of Honor outside linebacker Joey Porter Sr., have made in recent days.
Porter Jr. says he didn’t feel respected by the Steelers and ultimately faked a back injury to force a trade to leave the Steel City. He says he still has love for his teammates, despite how things ended.
“The hardest part, probably the transition and just getting here and honestly saying goodbye to my old teammates,” Porter told Irvin. “I feel like it was the hardest thing of all, you know? I miss those guys, I love those guys over there.”
His teammates have supported Porter throughout the contract saga, so it must sting a little that he’s out there, healthy and playing for the Cowboys with the goal of helping them pursue a Super Bowl.
We’ll see when Porter gets a chance with his old team. He might not even make it in a Cowboys uniform, depending on what happens this offseason, because he still doesn’t have a new deal. But there will be an extra chip for Porter every time he sees the Steelers next.
Gn sports
