Joey Porter Jr. has had an up-and-down first two years in the NFL — and according to insider Ray Fittipaldo, ex-Steelers DB coach Grady Brown may be at fault.
On a recent episode of 93.7 The Fan, Fittipaldo connected Porter’s development issues to Brown losing his job in Pittsburgh:
“[Steelers DB coach Gerald Alexander] said he thinks [Joey]’s elite at the line of scrimmage, in terms of disrupting, but it’s everything that happens after that where Joey still struggles. Like, your transition to your coverage, then once you’re close to your guy — don’t put your hands on him, and then be more opportunistic when the ball’s in the air. He’s been kind of behind the eight ball in all three of those things.
“That’s Gerald’s job. That’s why Grady Brown is no longer here. Joey Porter has not developed the way they hoped he thought he would as a No. 32 overall pick in that draft.”
The Steelers hired Alexander in February to serve as the new defensive backs coach, while Brown was picked up by the Saints to serve as their new cornerbacks coach.
Porter could be in for a major breakout in 2025 alongside newly signed CB Darius Slay Jr., who’s taken the third-year Steelers corner under his wing this offseason.
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