Troy Polamalu, strong safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers, has decided to call it a career retiring yesterday. He wants to spend more time with his wife, Theodora, and young sons, Paisios and Ephram. Polamalu said, “Since the end of the season I’ve had a chance to enjoy my family on a level that I never had before. It was awesome.” He played 12 years all of them for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Is Polamalu a Hall Of Fame player?
Troy Polamalu was drafted in 2003 by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round. He was the 16th overall selection. In his first NFL season he made an impact. He didn’t start but had 30 tackles and 2 sacks. In 2004 he was a starting safety for Pittsburgh. During that season he had 67 tackles, 1 sack, and 5 interceptions.
2009 was a year to forget for Polamalu. He played in only 5 games due to an MCL sprain in his knee. In those 5 games, he recorded 18 tackles and 3 interceptions.
This past year Polamalu played in 12 games. He had 40 tackles. He didn’t have a sack or an interception. The Steelers won the NFC North but fell to the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card round 30-17. At the end of the game he recognized he might have played the final game of his career. The Steelers gave him time to think about his future and he ultimately decided to retire.
Polamalu was one of the best safeties to play in the game. He went to the Pro Bowl eight times. He has two Super Bowl rings. He was also selected onto the NFL 2000 All-Decade team. Polamalu finishes his career with 576 tackles, 12 sacks, and 32 interceptions. A team had to know where Polamalu was on the field at all times. He didn’t play like a normal safety. He could play in coverage to knock down a pass. He also lined up near the line of scrimmage to blitz. The opposing team never knew where he would lineup or if he would blitz. He was one the best safeties to play in the NFL.
Polamalu should be a first-ballot Hall Of Famer. He is eligible to be enshrined in 2020. The voters should put him in. Polamalu is one of the best Steelers safeties of all-time. His 32 career interceptions ranks 7th all-time in Pittsburgh Steelers history. That isn’t bad for a player who didn’t play in coverage. Troy Polamalu will be voted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame at some point. Hopefully it will be in 2020.
Is Troy Polamalu a first ballot l Of Famer?
It’s hard to know who he might be up against in five years. Right now he seems a shoo in but time will tell