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TROY POLAMALU
2007 (11-11/1-1):
Started 11 games and
the playoff game against Jacksonville…missed the Seattle game in Week 5 due to a
rib injury…missed Weeks 12-14 with a knee injury…earned his fourth straight trip
to the Pro Bowl (missed game due to injury)…named Associated Press All-Pro
Second-Team…finished fifth on the team with 74 tackles…finished third on the
team with 12 pass defenses…tied for second with a career-high three forced
fumbles while also recording a fumble recovery…added two tackles in the playoff
loss to Jacksonville...9/9 at Cleveland:
Started at SS and had two solo tackles and three pass defenses...9/16 vs. Buffalo: Started in his fourth
consecutive game…registered four solo tackles...9/23 vs. San Francisco: Started at SS
and led the team with seven solo tackles…also had one quarterback hit and one
defensed pass...9/30 at Arizona:
Started at SS, but only saw action on 30 snaps due to an abdominal
injury…still managed to log two solo tackles and three passes defensed…also
caused Edgerrin James fumble and had a recovery on a Larry Fitzgerald fumble…10/7 vs. Seattle: Was inactive due to a
rib injury...10/21 at Denver:
Returned to his starting role at SS and made his 50th career
start…logged 56 defensive snaps…led the team with nine solo tackles…part of a
defensive unit that allowed Denver running backs to gain only 54 rushing
yards...10/28 at Cincinnati: Started
at SS and logged 52 defensive snaps…tied for first on the team with nine solo
tackles…also registered one pass defensed...11/5 vs. Baltimore: Played in the
68th game of his career and started at SS for the 52nd
time of his career…was second on the team with seven solo tackles…forced his
second fumble of the season that led to a Pittsburgh TD…part of a defensive unit
that allowed the Ravens only 104 total yards, with 64 coming on the ground and
40 yards by air…the Baltimore offense managed only five first downs all
night...11/11 vs. Cleveland: Made
his 53rd career start and saw 55 defensive snaps…finished the game
with six solo tackles and a team- tying two passes defensed…part of a defensive
unit that allowed only 163 total yards, including 40 rushing and 123 passing
yards...11/18 at N.Y. Jets: Played
in his 70th career game and saw action on 73 defensive snaps…led the
team in solo tackles with seven...11/26
vs. Miami: Was inactive due to a knee injury...12/2 vs. Cincinnati: Was inactive...12/9 at New England: Was inactive...12/16 vs. Jacksonville: Made his
55th career start at SS…finished the game with a team-high (tied) 10
tackles (seven solo) and had one pass defensed...12/20 at St. Louis: Made his second
consecutive start after returning from a knee injury and saw action on 60
defensive plays…finished the game with a team high 11 solo tackles, one pass
defensed and one caused fumble on Rams’ running back Stephen Jackson...12/30 at Baltimore: Was inactive...AFC WILD CARD 1/5/08 vs. Jacksonville:
Registered his 7th consecutive postseason start at SS…finished
the game with two tackles.
2006
(13-13): Played
and started 13 games at strong safety…earned his third straight trip to the Pro
Bowl, including his second consecutive start…finished the season with 82
tackles, third on the team…added one sack and a team-high (tied) three
interceptions…also forced one fumble…named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for
Week 6…9/7 vs. Miami: Recorded a
team-high 10 tackles (seven solo)…also recorded a pass defense and a forced
fumble…sealed the game with a late fourth-quarter interception (eighth of his
career) of Daunte Culpepper…logged 60 plays…9/18 at Jacksonville: Started at SS and
recorded three tackles (two solo)…recorded one pass defense while logging 71
plays…played in his 50th career game…9/24 vs. Cincinnati: Recorded five
tackles (four solo) while logging 57 plays…10/8 at San Diego: Registered
five tackles (four solo) while logging 72 plays…10/15 vs. Kansas City: Recorded a
team-high nine solo tackles and one pass defense…logged 54 plays and grabbed his
second interception of the season, returning it 49 yards…was recognized as the
AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts…10/22 at Atlanta: Recorded a team-high
nine tackles (seven solo) and a pass defense in 72 snaps…recorded his
team-leading third interception on the year off a Michael Vick pass…10/29 at Oakland: Recorded eight
tackles (six solo), including two tackles for loss…started at SS and logged 52
plays...held the Raiders to 17 yards passing…11/5 vs. Denver: Recorded one solo
tackle and logged 54 snaps…11/12 vs. New
Orleans: Logged only 14 snaps before suffering a concussion…did not
return…recorded two solo tackles before his concussion…11/19 at Cleveland: Logged 62 plays and
recorded seven tackles (six solo), one sack and two pass defenses…almost single
handedly got the Steelers the ball back trailing 20-17 with 4:10 left after
forcing Cleveland to punt following a three-and-out…sacked Cleveland QB Charlie
Frye on first down, recorded a tackle on Jason Wright on second down and
recorded a pass defense on a pass intended for Kellen Winslow on third down…the
Steelers got the ball back and scored the game-winning touchdown…11/26 at Baltimore: Had a team-high 10
tackles (tied) and eight solo before leaving the game with a sprained knee in
the fourth quarter…added one quarterback hurry/pressure and logged 51 snaps…12/3 vs. Tampa Bay: Was inactive due to
a knee injury, missing the first game his career…12/7 vs. Cleveland: Was inactive due to
a knee injury…12/17 at Carolina: Was
inactive due to a knee injury…12/24 vs.
Baltimore: Started at SS after missing the three previous games with a knee
injury…had a game-high (tied) eight tackles (five solo)…12/31 at Cincinnati: Recorded five
tackles (four solo) in 56 plays.
2005
(16-16/4-4):
Was a first-team All-Pro selection…named to his second straight Pro Bowl,
earning his first start…finished with a personal-best 100 tackles to rank third
on the team…had three sacks, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions…tied
an NFL record for safeties by posting three sacks at Houston in Week 2…tied for
the team high with 24 postseason tackles…had one interception in the playoffs
(AFC Wild Card Game)…had four games with 10 tackles…9/11
vs. Tennessee: Started at strong safety…played 49 defensive
snaps…recorded three solo tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery…9/18
at Houston: Played 58 defensive snaps…tied an NFL record and set a team
record with three sacks in a game from the safety position…registered three solo
tackles, defensed one pass and recorded one quarterback pressure…9/25
vs. New England: Played 74
defensive snaps…recorded four tackles (three solo), registered two quarterback
hurries/pressures and a pass defense…10/10 at San Diego: Led the team
with 10 tackles (nine solo)…helped limit Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates to 61
yards receiving…took 62 snaps…10/16 vs. Jacksonville: Recorded seven tackles (six solo)
while playing 74 defensive snaps…also had two quarterback hurries/pressures and
a pass defense…10/23 at Cincinnati: Logged 57 snaps and totaled five solo
tackles…also had a pass defense…10/31 vs. Baltimore: Logged 75 snaps
and finished with a game-high 10 tackles, including six solo…11/6
at Green Bay: Logged 69
plays and recorded seven tackles (six solo)…also recovered two fumbles, one he
returned 77 yards for his second career touchdown…11/13 vs. Cleveland: Had six tackles (five solo) on 55
plays…had a quarterback hurry/pressure in which he hit Trent Dilfer, causing
Dilfer's pass to be intercepted by Joey Porter…11/20 at Baltimore: Had a game-high 10 tackles (nine
solo)…logged 82 snaps and one quarterback pressure/hurry…11/28 at Indianapolis: Tied a game high with nine tackles
(seven solo) and his second interception of the season…returned the interception
a career-long 36 yards to set up the team's only touchdown of the game…logged 62
plays and added one pass defense…12/4 vs. Cincinnati: Recorded three solo tackles and two
passes defensed on 65 snaps…12/11 vs. Chicago: Recorded three tackles (one solo) and
one pass defense while logging 57 snaps…12/18 at Minnesota: Started at SS and recorded five
tackles (four solo) on 53 plays…12/24 at Cleveland: Logged 51 plays…registered five
tackles (four solo) and one pass defense…1/1
vs. Detroit: Led team with 10 solo tackles while logging 60
plays…defended one pass and forced one fumble…AFC
Wild Card Game 1/8 at Cincinnati: Recorded six tackles (four solo), one
tackle for a loss, one-half sack, one interception and one defensed
pass…interception was second of his career in the postseason and was returned
four yards and then pitched to FS Chris Hope who ran an additional five yards
before being tackled…AFC Divisional Game 1/15 at
Indianapolis: Recorded seven
tackles (two solo) and two passes defensed…had an interception overturned
following a controversial replay challenge…teamed with Clark Haggans to tackle
Edgerrin James at the two-yard line to prevent a Colts touchdown…AFC
Championship Game 1/22 at Denver: Tied for second on the team with six
tackles (five solo)…Super Bowl XL 2/5 vs. Seattle: Started at SS and recorded five
tackles (four solo).
2004
(16-16/2-2):
Named to his first career Pro Bowl…finished
tied for second on the team (with Chris Hope) during the regular season with 97
total tackles (66 solo)…9/12 vs.
Oakland:
Finished with seven total tackles (four solo)...9/9 at Baltimore: Made play after play on
defense and helped hold Ravens' running back Jamal Lewis to 62 yards…led the
team with 14 tackles (10 solo)...9/26
at Miami:
Recorded his first pro interception and returned it 10 yards…finished
with six total tackles (four solo)…also was credited with one pass
defense…played all 61 defensive snaps...10/3 vs. Cincinnati: Scored the first TD of his pro
career on a dramatic interception, which he returned 26 yards to seal the
Steelers' victory...his second interception in as many weeks…finished with six
total tackles (five solo)…also was credited with two passes defensed...10/10 vs. Cleveland: Finished with four total
tackles (two solo)…also was credited with one quarterback hurry/pressure and one
pass defense…logged all 59 defensive plays...10/17 at Dallas: Registered seven total tackles (six
solo)…was credited with two passes defensed…played all 63 defensive snaps...10/31 vs. New England: Finished with three total tackles
(two solo)…was credited with one pass defense…played all 55 plays…also one solo
special teams tackle...11/7 vs.
Philadelphia:
Led the team with six total tackles, all solo…played 37 defensive
snaps...11/14 at
Cleveland:
Produced the first multiple interception game of his career…finished
with two interceptions, giving him a team-high four for the season…also recorded
five total tackles (four solo)...11/21 at Cincinnati: Finished with five total
tackles (two solo)…was credited with one pass defense…played all 46 defensive
snaps...11/28 vs.
Washington: Made some
big hits once again…finished with seven total tackles (six solo)…logged all 56
defensive snaps...12/5 at
Jacksonville:
Registered six total tackles (four solo)…also was credited with one pass defense
and one special teams tackle…played all 66 defensive plays...12/12 vs. N.Y. Jets: Increased his team
interception lead to five with a nifty first-quarter pick that set up the
Steelers' first score of the game…returned the interception 22 yards…finished
with nine tackles (five solo) and a pass defense...12/18 at N.Y. Giants: Registered six total tackles
(four solo)…was credited with two passes defensed and two special teams tackles
(one solo)…logged all 48 defensive plays...12/26 vs. Baltimore: Collected four total tackles
(two solo)…also was credited with a quarterback hurry/pressure…played all 54
defensive snaps...1/2 at
Buffalo:
Registered his first sack of the season (for seven yards), the third
of his career, in his limited action…played 12 defensive snaps...AFC
Divisional Playoff 1/15 vs. N.Y.
Jets:
Registered the first postseason interception of his career…returned
it 14 yards…finished with seven total tackles (four solo)…also was credited with
a pass defense...AFC Championship Game 1/23 vs. New England: Finished with seven total tackles,
including six solo stops.
2003
(16-0):
Came
on strong at the end of the season…earned his way into the Steelers' pass
defense and emerged as a top special teams player…led the team with 25 special
teams tackles (14 solo)…finished with 29 total tackles (16 solo) and two
sacks…also was credited with three passes defensed and one forced fumble...10/26 vs. St. Louis: Finished with
four total tackles (three solo)…also was credited with a quarterback
hurry/pressure and one pass defense…played 41 defensive snaps...11/23 at Cleveland: Finished with four total
tackles (two solo)…also was credited with a team-high four special teams tackles
(three solo) and three quarterback hurries/pressures…11/3 vs. Cincinnati: Played 54 defensive
snaps...registered his first career sack…played 29 defensive snaps…finished with
four total tackles (all solo)...12/21
vs. San Diego:
Registered his second career sack and first career forced fumble that
was recovered by Deshea Townsend and led to a Steelers' TD…finished with two
total tackles (one solo)…also was credited with one pass defense and three
special teams assists.
COLLEGE:
Was a three-year starter who became the Trojans' first two-time All-American
since Tony Boselli (1992, 1994)...was one of three finalists for the 2002 Jim
Thorpe Award, given to the nation's top defensive back…recorded 278 tackles with
29 stops behind the line of scrimmage, six interceptions (returned three for
touchdowns), 13 pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and four blocked punts
during his career. 2002:
Voted All-American first-team selection by The NFL Draft
Report, Associated Press, Walter Camp, Football News, CBS Sportsline
and ESPN, earning second-team honors from The Sporting News during his
senior season…was one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award…All-PAC-10
Conference first-team choice…was a team captain and recipient of the team's Most
Inspirational Player Award and Co-Lifter Award…started every game except against
California…finished third on the team with 68 tackles (53 solo), including three
sacks and nine stops for losses…intercepted one pass and deflected four others.
2001: Was a
Football Writers Association,
The NFL Draft Report and College & Pro Football News-Weekly
All-American first-team selection, adding second-team by the Associated
Press and third-team recognition from Football News…also was an
All-Pac-10 Conference first-team pick…was a team captain and USC's first
All-American safety since Mark Carrier in 1989…also won USC's MVP Award…led team
with 118 tackles (79 solo), including 13 for losses (with a 2-yard sack) and six
passes defensed...had a team-best three interceptions, including two run back
for touchdowns…also had two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery (to set up a TD),
three blocked punts and three punt returns for 27 yards (9.0 avg)…his 118
tackles were the most by a Trojan safety since Tim McDonald had 140 in 1986.
2000: Received
All-Pac-10 honorable mention honors as a sophomore…started all 12 games at
strong safety…finished second on the team in tackles with 83 (including 5 for
losses), plus he tied for the team lead in both pass deflections (7) and
interceptions (2). 1999:
Played regularly as a backup safety and linebacker as a
freshman...appeared in eight games, making 12 tackles, including two sacks for
28 yards, forced two fumbles, broke up a pass and blocked a punt...majored in
general studies.
PERSONAL:
Attended Douglas (Ore.) High School…named to 1998 Super Prep
All-Northwest, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100 and All-Far West League
second team as a senior…played running back and defensive back...averaged six
touchdowns a season…was an All-State center fielder and two-time All-League
basketball player...brother, Kaio Aumua, played football at UTEP…is the nephew
of former USC fullback Kennedy Pola (1982-85) …has another uncle, Al Pola, who
played football at Penn State…has a cousin, Nicky Sualua, who was a running back
with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys and attended Ohio State…is
also the cousin of Leie Sualua, who was a defensive lineman at Oregon; and Joe
Polamalu, who played for Oregon State in 1987 and 1988...is the son of Suila
Polamalu...has one brother, Sakio Aumua, and three sisters, Tria Aumua, Sheila
Aumua and Lupe Aumua...grew up with cousins Joe Polamalu, Darren Polamalu and
Brandon Polamalu...lives in Tenmile, Ore...married to Theodora Polamalu…Full
name: Troy Aumua Polamalu.
