Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter was a divisive figure for the Cincinnati Bengals during his playing career. The rivalry continued after Porter became an outside linebackers coach in Pittsburgh, and tensions boiled over during the teams’ 2016 AFC Wild Card matchup.
Years later, former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin offered more context about Porter’s presence on the field that night. Tomlin said he had spoken with Porter before the game and wanted him nearby if the situation became disorderly. His instructions, Tomlin explained, were for Porter to accompany him onto the field if necessary and help keep Pittsburgh’s players under control.
“I deputized him,” Tomlin recalled. “We had a nasty relationship with that group. And so I called him in my office before that game, on game day, I said, ‘If it goes berserk in any way, I’m coming on the field. I want you to come with me. I’m going to the action. I want you to control our guys.’”
The playoff game carried significant stakes for both teams. Cincinnati had won the AFC North in the 2015 season with a 12-4 record, while Pittsburgh finished second in the division at 10-6. The Steelers appeared to be in control for much of the game, taking a 15-0 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Bengals rallied, scoring two touchdowns and a field goal to move ahead 16-15 late in the fourth. With 22 seconds remaining, Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict hit Steelers receiver Antonio Brown after Brown was unable to catch a high pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Brown was evaluated for a concussion, and Burfict received a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness.
The penalty improved Pittsburgh’s field position and gave the Steelers a strong opportunity to take the lead. But the final moments became even more heated when Porter left the sideline and entered the field. Rather than simply helping manage his own team, he became involved in a verbal exchange with Bengals players, including Burfict.
Cincinnati cornerback Adam Jones then confronted Porter. Officials assessed Jones a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, adding to the yardage Pittsburgh had gained on Burfict’s hit. The additional penalty proved costly: Pittsburgh was already in position to attempt a field goal, and the extra yards made the kick easier.
Steelers kicker Chris Boswell converted a 35-yard field goal, giving Pittsburgh an 18-16 victory and sending the team to the Divisional Round.
Porter’s decision to enter the field drew criticism after the game. Bengals offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth expressed respect for Pittsburgh while making clear that Porter did not share in it, saying, “I have a lot of respect for the Steelers, but Joey Porter isn’t one of them.”
Jones was also angry about the confrontation and the penalty he received. He objected that Porter, a coach, had entered the field and said he had been exchanging words with Burfict. Jones maintained that he had not touched Porter and questioned why officials penalized him for speaking to a coach who, in his view, should not have been on the field.
Tomlin’s account adds detail to why Porter was expected to be near the action: he had been asked to help control the Steelers if events became chaotic. But the plan did not keep Porter out of the dispute. Instead, his exchange with Cincinnati players became part of the commotion, and Jones’s penalty helped set up Pittsburgh’s winning kick.
