Troy Polamalu. This name has one major meaning to my love of sports. Polamalu was a part of my favorite football team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers have always been my favorite football team for many reasons. The first reason was that as a child, I liked to root for my parents' teams. My mom was a Steelers fan and my dad, a Broncos. I made the choice in fifth grade that I wanted to root for the Steelers. That year for my birthday, I got my first Steelers jersey: number 43, Troy Polamalu.
Troy Polamalu was a strong safety throughout his entire unprofessional and professional football career. Polamalu played at the University of Southern California before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2003 as the number 16 draft pick. Where he played from 2003-20144, the entirety of his professional career.I became a steelers fan in 2004 after Polamalu had been on the team for just a year.
Alongside quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Polamalu won two Super Bowls and went to eight pro bowls.
Now, I will discuss why I chose to tell you specifically about Troy Polamalu. From the first time I ever saw a Steelers game, I instantly saw Polamalu score a touchdown. This was in 2004 when he scored his first touchdown and I watched my first game.
While sitting there watching the game with my mom, I saw this man with long, curly hair run as fast as he could and tackle whoever came his way. I, then, told my mom that the jersey I wanted was his jersey. The next month was my birthday and that was what I got.
The Steelers have always been a classic team. From the Bradshaw era to the Rotheslberger era, many great players have passed through Heinz Field. Troy Polamalu existed during the Rothelsberger era and watching the two of them each play on the field was the best thing to watch.
The Steelers will always be the only team I will root for. I bleed black and gold, use my terrible towel, and wear my jersey on every game day. Troy Polamalu retired a Steeler in 2014, after 11 long seasons. Polamalu is a living Steelers legend, and in my humble opinion, will one day end up in the hall of fame. Right next to other former Steelers players.
Troy Polamalu retired as a Steeler, instead of playing another few seasons (which he definitely had in him), because he didn't want to play for another team. Despite the injuries Polamalu suffered through, he always came back stronger. I will never forget the excitement that came with seeing this iconic strong safety play the game he loved to play.
