Troy Polamalu Talks Steelers, Mike Tomlin, NFL Playoffs and More in B/R Interview

The Pittsburgh Steelers have the unenviable task of facing Josh Allen in the playoffs and could use a safety who can stop the run at the line of scrimmage, cover sideline-to-sideline, dish out monster hits across the middle, track the ball to create turnovers and make the Buffalo Bills quarterback think twice about scrambling.

Someone like, well, Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu.

While the Steelers legend will not be on the field Sunday, he is no stranger to facing game-changing quarterbacks. But he believes Pittsburgh's best chance is to focus on the small things that are overlooked but so important in the postseason.

"He's no different than any other great quarterback," Polamalu told Bleacher Report when discussing how he would approach a matchup with Allen. "You have to prepare for him like you prepare for Peyton Manning or Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers or Ben [Roethlisberger] or any of these guys.

"What's really important about playoff football is field position, turnovers and all these little things during the season that cause you to lose games. All of that becomes very heightened in the playoffs. Having a team that gets to experience that quite a bit and a program that has been in a lot of those situations is an advantage in a lot of ways."

Few players in Steelers history would know about what it takes to succeed at this time of year better than the safety who played all 12 of his seasons for the organization and retired with a Hall of Fame resume that included two Super Bowl titles, eight Pro Bowl nods, four First Team All-Pro selections and the 2010 Defensive Player of the Year.

There was nothing he couldn't do on the field, and Pittsburgh seemed to be missing some of that dominance for much of the 2023 campaign.

It looked to be a longshot to make the playoffs after a 7-7 start that featured inconsistent play from quarterbacks Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky, especially since the final three games were against contenders in the Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens.

However, the Steelers switched to Mason Rudolph, and he protected the ball with three touchdowns to zero interceptions in the last three games. Running back Najee Harris also caught fire by running for a combined 312 yards and four touchdowns, and just like that the AFC North team won three straight and reached the postseason at 10-7.

The finish was a testament to the incredible consistency of head coach Mike Tomlin, who is in his 17th season at the helm and still hasn't finished with a losing record. He coached Polamalu for eight years, and the pair won a Super Bowl together and reached another.

"He has a lot of integrity," Polamalu said of Tomlin when asked how the coach has remained so consistent throughout his career. "He holds his players and everybody accountable."

He also has his team playing at its best level, which provides reason for optimism even though star pass-rusher T.J. Watt will miss the Bills game with a knee injury.

"I think what's really exciting about our chances is we're a team on the rise," Polamalu said. "What's often said in the NFL is a Super Bowl team doesn't lose in December. What's been nice is we continue to get better and better despite the fact that we've had more adversity as time has progressed.

So given the fact that we're going to be at an away game and missing our best player, I think that's just going to continue to make our team stronger. You've gotta be battled-tested. You've gotta be able to go to places like this and overcome a lot of adversity to build strong programs and to win Super Bowls."

While Watt's injury creates more of that adversity, the Steelers did get some good news when Tomlin told reporters he is optimistic Minkah Fitzpatrick will return from a knee injury for the first time since Dec. 16.

Polamalu listed the four-time Pro Bowler as one of his favorite safeties to watch in today's game while also highlighting some other playmakers.

"I'm close with Talanoa Hufanga," he said. "I'm a fan of his game. Jamal Adams, Derwin James, Tyrann Mathieu, Kyle Hamilton. I know there's a lot of these younger guys who are really great. … There's quite a lot of talent, and they continue to have to adapt to the way the game has evolved. And they're doing a great job doing it."

Many of those safeties are trying to taste the Super Bowl greatness that Polamalu did during his career, so it was only fitting the Steelers legend teamed up with fellow Lombardi Trophy winners Rob Gronkowski and Marshawn Lynch for Frito-Lay's Taste of the Super Bowl campaign.

The three stars were transported back to the feeling of championship confetti falling on them in the commercial, which will run through the NFL playoffs.

"Frito-Lay is a great brand that's been a part of Super Bowl tradition for as long as I can remember," Polamalu said. "To be part of it and to team up with Rob and Marshawn—two other Super Bowl winners—is really cool. The taste of the crunch and the confetti, I've been a part of that on both sides of it, winning and losing. I've run from the confetti and have also basked in it as well."

So what is his chip of choice?

"I've never swayed," he said. "What's always been my favorite is Doritos cool ranch. They need to make seasoning in that flavor. They could put that on absolutely anything."

Frito-Lay will set up a Chip Strip in Las Vegas during Super Bowl weekend where fans can take part in an immersive experience as part of the brand's campaign and celebration.

The only question is which teams will be joining them in Las Vegas on the sport's biggest stage.

While Polamalu didn't have any Super Bowl prediction, he said he will always pull for the Kansas City Chiefs because of all the work he's done with Patrick Mahomes.

But don't worry, Pittsburgh fans. He also said he will "of course root for the Steelers" to take home a seventh Lombardi Trophy.

It may seem like a longshot, but so did making the playoffs at all at one point this season.