Joey Porter Jr. getting drafted to the Pittsburgh Steelers felt almost too good to be true. His father spent most of his legendary career with the Steelers, helping them win a Super Bowl. Now, the younger Porter is looking to build his own legacy with the team. He’s stumbled a few times during his three NFL seasons, but he looked like he was putting the pieces together last year. While Porter didn’t receive any accolades for his work in 2025, he’s confident those honors will come to him in due time.

“No Pro Bowl, no All-Pro, nothing,” Porter said recently on the Blueprint Podcast. “That’s so crazy… It’s a media thing. But I know I’m on the trajectory now. They’re gonna have to throw me one. If not this upcoming year, if I do what I’m supposed to do, when I do what I’m supposed to do, it’s inevitable. I’m about to get that thing, both of them.”

Porter finished last season with one interception, 14 pass defenses, one sack and 52 tackles. While those numbers might not pop, he was still great in coverage, not allowing a touchdown and cutting down on his penalty issues. The Steelers’ defense had issues, but Porter looked like he turned a corner.

The 2025 All-Pro corner list is a good one, but Porter might’ve had a case to be on it. Derek Stingley Jr. and Quinyon Mitchell made First team, while Patrick Surtain II and Devon Witherspoon made Second team. They all had good seasons, but none of them were head and shoulders above Porter. Some of them might’ve been better recognized because their defenses were better than the Steelers’ unit, too.

That’s still a solid group, though. Porter not being an All-Pro wasn’t egregious. Him not making the Pro Bowl is a little worse, though. The AFC’s representatives at that position included Stingley, Surtain, Denzel Ward and Kamari Lassiter. Christian Gonzalez also made the Pro Bowl, but he couldn’t attend because he played in the Super Bowl.

There’s a real argument that Porter should’ve had Gonzalez’s spot in the first place. The two played in the same number of games, but Gonzalez had fewer interceptions and pass defenses. However, he was on one of the league’s best teams, which likely helped him receive votes. The Pro Bowl isn’t the same honor that it once was.

Still, it’s an important accolade for players, especially when they’re looking for new contracts. Porter is entering the final year of his deal, and that Pro Bowl nod could’ve helped him earn more money.

He’s not letting that negatively impact him, though. Porter is certain he’ll get that recognition eventually. If he doesn’t sign a contract extension this offseason, a big 2026 season would be huge for him. It would give him a lot more negotiation power against the Steelers. We’ll see if he can manifest his words into existence.