Joey Porter Jr. was all of 8 years old when he got smacked in the face by great expectations — and we’re not talking the Charles Dickens novel, either. Porter remembers his very first midget-league football practice in the state of California and the one thing that created those expectations.
His name.
“My very first day on the team,” Porter said, “and everyone was, like, ‘Oh, you’re Joey Porter’s son. Joey Porter was this and Joey Porter was that.’ I knew right then that people expected a lot of me because of my dad. They thought I should be like my dad. But it wasn’t tough because I’ve always liked the challenge.”
Porter is now a senior at North Allegheny High School, living in Western Pennsylvania and still dealing with the great expectations — because of his father. That’s just the way it is, rightly or wrongly, when you’re the son of a famous ex-Steeler, or a Steeler coach, and you live and play football in Western Pennsylvania. The pressures and expectations can be a heavy weight.
But Porter has company to share the load.
Sons of Steeler players and coaches have been playing football in Western Pennsylvania for as long as the Steelers have played. But the number of Steeler sons playing — and having big impacts — is seemingly larger than usual this year. And a few of their fathers are of the high-profile type of Steeler (read: coach Mike Tomlin).
• Michael “Dino” Tomlin and his brother, Mason, are starters at receiver and defensive back for Shady Side Academy.
• Porter Jr. is a starting senior receiver-defensive back at North Allegheny and accepted a scholarship to Penn State Tuesday. His father is a former star Steeler linebacker and now assistant coach.
• Cade Hoke is a senior and standout linebacker at North Allegheny. His father, Chris, spent 11 seasons as a defensive lineman for the Steelers.
• Justus Gildon is a junior lineman for North Allegheny, and third son of former Steeler linebacker Jason Gildon to play for the Tigers.
But this sons of Steelers story isn’t just about who the sons are and how much talent they possess. It’s about how they deal with the pressures and expectations that are not imagined, but as real as that tie with the Cleveland Browns. In this day and age of social media, where opinions and insults of teenagers can be seen and heard all around social media, it can be a little hard to be a football player — and a Steeler son.
“In Hollywood, you have the kids of celebrities running around. The stars in Pittsburgh are the Steelers,” said Shady Side Academy coach Chuck DiNardo. “With that, the kids who bear the last names, certainly have a little bit of added pressure.”
DiNardo coaches both of Tomlin’s sons. Michael “Dino” Tomlin is a senior who has turned into one of Western Pennsylvania’s better players and has scholarship offers from Pitt and Maryland, among others.
“People have certain expectations because of my dad, but I’ve lived it with my whole life,” said Dino Tomlin. “It’s not like a lot has changed. It’s just how I’ve been living. But I don’t think I’d be as good as I am now if it wasn’t for that pressure. My dad teaches me stuff about football, but it’s not like we go out and work on it. That’s not our relationship. In terms of guidance and how I should work, he helps with that.”
When Dino Tomlin was one of the top track sprinters in WPIAL track this past spring, he commented once about why every article has to say he is the son of the Steelers coach.
“Sometimes I just say what I feel,” said Dino. “ Over time I have kind of embraced [the constant references to his father]. I’ve embraced it as part of what makes me go. I’ve realized part of the thing that makes me do stuff is the negativity and all eyes on me. I’m self-motivated, too, but I like to prove people wrong. … Sometimes, if I do accomplish this or that, people say I get things just because of my dad. No, I’ve been in the gym working hard.”
DiNardo acknowledges Dino has received media attention some because of his name, but DiNardo points out Dino is the student president of Shady Side’s school. “The Tomlins are more than just football players,” said DiNardo.
DiNardo said Tomlin the coach has been an exemplary parent.
“We’ve had some conversations,” said DiNardo. “The first thing he says is, ‘Are my boys working hard enough?’ And he says it with the tone that he will give them a swift kick if needed. He’s a pretty hands off guy. He stays out of your hair, but if you need anything, let him know.”
Porter’s father is a regular at North Allegheny games. And this season, Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster has been attending North Allegheny games, sometimes sitting in the student section.
“Joey Sr. is a passionate person and I know he gets into it in the stands,” said North Allegheny coach Art Walker. “I think he gets excited when we do well and he takes it rough when we’re not doing well. I really believe he understands what we’re trying to do as a staff and he trusts us with his son. Or he wouldn’t be here.”
Chris Hoke also is a regular at North Allegheny games. His son, Cade, said there is a little pressure being the son of an ex-Steeler. But Hoke, Dino Tomlin and Porter also acknowledge there are plenty of advantages.
“I think sometimes, college-wise, the name might help you get your foot in the door,” said Cade Hoke. “But at the end of the day, you still have to prove you’re a player.
“Over the years, my dad has taught me that this is your story now. But sometimes I feel pressure because I want to impress him.”
The Porters, Tomlins and Hokes are doing pretty well at establishing their own football identities.
“Sometimes, I feel like I’ve got this big weight on my shoulders that I have to do good,” said Porter Jr. “If not, people are, like, ‘Your dad was the GOAT. You’ll never be like him.’ I get comments like that. It’s tough because I know how hard I’ve worked to get things I have.
“I don’t like letting people down. What I really want at the end of the day is to be better than my dad.”
Now that’s a great expectation.
Mike White: mwhite@post-gazette.com and Twitter @mwhiteburgh
First Published: September 13, 2018, 11:00 a.m.