Because of the number of ex-Pittsburgh Steelers on their roster, there was a time when the Arizona Cardinals were known as “Pittsburgh West.”  Former Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt took over as Arizona’s head coach in 2007, bringing along notable names like OG Alan Faneca, LB Clark Haggans, CB Bryant McFadden and LB Joey Porter. Not to mention coaches like Russ Grimm, Ray Horton, and DeShea Townsend who began his coaching career in Arizona on Whisenhunt’s staff.

Linebacker Larry Foote nearly added himself to the list.

“Clark [Haggans] was out there. Foote came on a visit, he lied to me and said he was coming but then went back to Pittsburgh,” Porter said on Cam Heyward’s Not Just Football podcast. “Bryant McFadden was there. He came there for a year and then went back to Pittsburgh. Larry Foote was going to come there. I catch me and Larry Foote on the visit together. He tells me, ‘Peezy, I’m coming.’ I signed. Omar [Khan] calls him back and calls B-Mac back. I sign and they both leave.”

The year was 2010. Porter had just been released by the Miami Dolphins after three seasons and searching for his next stop. Foote had just spent a season with his hometown Detroit Lions after the first seven in Pittsburgh. Foote considered Arizona but made a last-second switch back to Pittsburgh, breaking his promise to Porter.

Porter played his final two NFL seasons in Arizona. In 2010, he recorded five sacks and two forced fumbles in 14 games. Injuries in 2011 reduced him to just six games and a sack.

Foote returned to a Steelers team that made the Super Bowl in 2010 and played a rotational role with James Farrior and Lawrence Timmons. His second act lasted another four years. His most productive season came in 2012, following Farrior’s retirement, when he posted career highs in tackles (113) and sacks (4). Foote did make it to Arizona but only after Porter retired. In 2014, Foote signed with the Cardinals and recorded 83 tackles.

While Porter described McFadden as leaving alongside Porter, the Cardinals traded him back to Pittsburgh in a late-round pick swap.

Had Porter known that Foote was going to change his mind about signing with Arizona, it likely wouldn’t have changed his decision. A native of Bakersfield, California, Porter was happy to be closer to the West Coast after spending his whole career out East.

With Pittsburgh uninterested in a reunion, Porter considered the San Francisco 49ers and San Diego Chargers along with Arizona. In the end he decided on “Pittsburgh West.”

Porter was inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor in 2o25 and will go down as one of the fiercest pass rushers in franchise history. His attitude and fiery demeanor on and off the football field make him a quintessential Steeler. Even if the end of his career took him on a winding path with a few stops on other teams, his legacy is cemented in Pittsburgh.