Troy Polamalu

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Polamalu played college football for the USC Trojans, earning consensus All-American honors in 2002. He was chosen by the Steelers in the first round of the 2003 NFL draft. He was a member of two Steelers' Super Bowl championship teams and was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010, helping them to another Super Bowl appearance. He was also the head of player relations of the Alliance of American Football. Known for his 'range, explosiveness, and impact on the field,' Polamalu is widely considered one of the greatest safeties in NFL history, and is credited with playing a key role in the Steelers' success during the 2000s.

In Their Own Story

In the 2000 season, Polamalu opened his starting career against Penn State, recording only two tackles but making an interception for a 43-yard touchdown. Later that year, he set a career-high with 14 tackles against Arizona State and tied that mark against Notre Dame, closing out the season with 83 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, one sack, two interceptions, and one touchdown. His junior season in 2001 was his best in college: he was voted team captain, led both teams in tackles in eight games, and finished with a team-high 118 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, three blocked punts, and two touchdowns. In the Las Vegas Bowl against Utah, he made a career-high 20 tackles. During his senior season, he was again voted team captain and earned Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week after a 40–3 blowout over Colorado. He finished his senior year with 68 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, three sacks, one interception, and three forced fumbles.

Reader's Guide

Polamalu was born in Garden Grove, California. His mother is Suila Polamalu. He is of American Samoan descent. He is the youngest of five children. His father left the family soon after Polamalu was born. Polamalu spent his early years in Santa Ana, California. At age eight, Polamalu vacationed in Tenmile, Oregon with his aunt and uncle for three weeks; afterwards, he begged his mother to let him live in Oregon. Concerned about the negative influences in nearby Los Angeles, Polamalu's mother sent him to Oregon to live with his uncle, aunt, and cousins when he was nine years old. Polamalu described his uncle, Salu Polamalu, as a disciplinarian who kept him straight. He graduated from Douglas High School in Winston, Oregon. While there, he played high school football. Following his junior season, Polamalu was named to the All-State first team and was the All-Far West League Offensive Most Valuable Player for Douglas High, which achieved a 9–1 record. He rushed for 1,040 yards with 22 touchdowns and had 310 receiving yards. On defense, he made 65 tackles and had eight interceptions. Despite playing in only four games during his senior season due to injury, he was named to the 1998 Super Prep All-Northwest team, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, and the All-Far West League second team. As a two-way player, Polamalu rushed for 671 yards with nine touchdowns and had three interceptions. Polamalu also played high school baseball and basketball, where he received all-state and all-league honors.

Did You Know?

• Polamalu was born Troy Benjamin Aumua and later took his mother's surname Polamalu.
• He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010.
• Polamalu blocked three punts during his junior season at USC.
• He was selected 16th overall in the 2003 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.