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PITPOLAMALU43

Troy Polamalu

Retired

Pittsburgh Steelers · S

Troy Polamalu recorded 156 indexed regular-season NFL appearances across 12 rostered seasons with Pittsburgh Steelers.

▶Best highlights

4.3

tackles/gm

15

playoff games

12

indexed seasons

156

career games

Five defining games

Start here

A researched consensus introduction to Troy Polamalu's defining games.

Editorial methodology and sources

Cross-checked Polamalu's Hall of Fame biography, Steelers championship history, Defensive Player of the Year season, and verified archive statistics. The AFC title pick-six leads, both championships follow, and two multi-impact regular-season games preserve his unusual ability to rush, cover, and score.

  1. #1. Polamalu read Joe Flacco and returned the interception 40 yards for the clinching touchdown, sending Pittsburgh to Super Bowl XLIII. Pro Football Hall of Fame: Troy Polamalu
  2. #2. Polamalu helped hold Arizona scoreless through the first quarter and completed a postseason with three interceptions as Pittsburgh won his second championship. Pro Football Hall of Fame: Troy Polamalu
  3. #3. Polamalu made five tackles while ranging across Pittsburgh's defense in Super Bowl XL, completing the first championship run of his career. Pro Football Hall of Fame: Troy Polamalu
  4. #4. Polamalu intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown against Cincinnati during the stretch that secured Defensive Player of the Year. Pro Football Hall of Fame: Troy Polamalu
  5. #5. Polamalu recorded a career-high three sacks and five solo tackles in Houston, an early demonstration of how uniquely he could attack from safety. Pro Football Hall of Fame: Troy Polamalu

Reviewed through 2026-08-11

Conference Championship
2008
BALTIMORERAVENS
PITTSBURGHSTEELERS
JAN 18, 2009

Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Conference Championship · Jan 18, 2009

4 tackles · 0 sacks · 1 INT

Super Bowl
XLIII
PITTSBURGHSTEELERS
ARIZONACARDINALS
FEB 1, 2009

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Arizona Cardinals

Super Bowl XLIII · Feb 1, 2009

2 tackles · 0 sacks · 0 INT

Super Bowl
XL
SEATTLESEAHAWKS
PITTSBURGHSTEELERS
FEB 5, 2006

Seattle Seahawks vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Super Bowl XL · Feb 5, 2006

5 tackles · 0 sacks · 0 INT

Regular Season
2010
CINCINNATIBENGALS
PITTSBURGHSTEELERS
DEC 12, 2010

Cincinnati Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Regular Season · Dec 12, 2010

2 tackles · 0 sacks · 2 INT

Regular Season
2005
PITTSBURGHSTEELERS
HOUSTONTEXANS
SEP 18, 2005

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Houston Texans

Regular Season · Sep 18, 2005

5 tackles · 3 sacks · 0 INT

Single-game peaks

Career highs

Position-relevant single-game records from Troy Polamalu's indexed NFL box scores.

Career high: 11 total tackles

Regular Season
2014
CLEVELANDBROWNS
PITTSBURGHSTEELERS
SEP 7, 2014

Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Regular Season · Sep 7, 2014

11 tackles · 0 sacks · 0 INT

Career highs: 2 interceptions · 57 interception return yards

Regular Season
2010
CINCINNATIBENGALS
PITTSBURGHSTEELERS
DEC 12, 2010

Cincinnati Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Regular Season · Dec 12, 2010

2 tackles · 0 sacks · 2 INT

Career high: 4 passes defended

Regular Season
2008
PITTSBURGHSTEELERS
NEW ENGLANDPATRIOTS
NOV 30, 2008

Pittsburgh Steelers vs New England Patriots

Regular Season · Nov 30, 2008

4 tackles · 0 sacks · 1 INT

Career high: 2 forced fumbles

Regular Season
2013
PITTSBURGHSTEELERS
CLEVELANDBROWNS
NOV 24, 2013

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns

Regular Season · Nov 24, 2013

4 tackles · 1 sacks · 0 INT

Career chapters

Franchise eras

Follow the team eras that shaped Troy Polamalu's career, in chronological order.

Earliest → latest

Franchise era

1992–2006

01
PITPOLAMALU43Troy Polamalu
PITBETTIS36Jerome Bettis
PITWARD86Hines Ward

Blitzburgh reaches two Super Bowls

Pittsburgh Steelers · The Cowher teams

Bill Cowher restored annual contention, and a second-year Ben Roethlisberger helped Bettis finish his career with the Super Bowl XL championship.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

2007–2021

02
PITPOLAMALU43Troy Polamalu
PITROETHLISBERGER7Ben Roethlisberger
PITBROWN84Antonio Brown

Stability survives constant roster change

Pittsburgh Steelers · Tomlin, Ben and another title

Mike Tomlin won Super Bowl XLIII in his second season and kept Pittsburgh in contention through elite defenses and increasingly explosive passing teams.

Read the era story →

Career accomplishments

Pro Bowl selection · 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013First-team All-Pro · 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011NFL Defensive Player of the Year · 2010Super Bowl champion · 2005, 200812 NFL seasons156 career games481 career solo tackles12 career sacksDrafted by: PITDraft pick: 16Jersey: 4315 playoff appearances3 Super Bowl appearancesFirst appearance: Sep 14, 2003Most recent: Jan 3, 2015

Official awards via ESPN · Pro Bowl and All-Pro counts via NFLverse with selection years cross-checked against Wikipedia · league leads verified from indexed regular-season stats

Team history