In 1989, the Dallas Cowboys traded Herschel Walker, one of the most talented backs in the league, to the Minnesota Vikings for a mountain of picks. Those picks became the core of a dynasty. Trades can work, and everyone in the NFL knows the story. The difference is that Dallas had a plan, and James Harrison doesn’t see one in the Pittsburgh Steelers, especially after the recent Joey Porter Jr. deal.

“Let’s just say that, did you hear, and I hear from the horse’s mouth, that if somebody had just offered him a deal, he would have been practicing the whole time,” Harrison said on the Deebo & Joe podcast. “You want to win, or you want to stick to something. That’s just the way it is. No, it’s not. The way it is is we ain’t won a playoff game in 10 years. That’s what the way it is. It’s still a way now. It’s 500. It’s still a way now. It’s maybe drag your a** into the playoffs and get kicked out.”

On September 30, 2026, the Pittsburgh Steelers traded Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2028 second-round pick and a conditional 2027 sixth-round pick.

For context, this offseason has been entirely about Porter Jr.’s potential contract extension with the Steelers. Porter Jr., represented by agent David Mulugetta, was reportedly expecting a market-setting extension, around $30 million per year with upwards of $50 million fully guaranteed.

After all, he had 165 total tackles in 47 games for the franchise so far.

However, the Steelers valued Porter Jr. closer to the $25–$27 million range with guarantees closer to $40 million, refusing to view him as a tier-1 elite shutdown corner like Christian Gonzalez or Devin Witherspoon.

Since Porter Jr. was selected 32nd overall in the 2023 draft, he technically fell into the second round (due to a forfeited Dolphins pick) and lacked a fifth-year option. This eventually escalated the timeline for an extension.

Meanwhile, the cornerback sat out training camp and did not play a single regular-season snap for the Steelers, citing lingering “back soreness”.

However, through the first four weeks of the 2026 season, even though the Steelers’ defense showed flashes of dominance, they ultimately cracked under the pressure of replacing the cornerback.

Without Joey Porter Jr., they have allowed 21.8 points per game alongside 322.3 total yards per game. According to James Harrison, a 2x Super Bowl champion with the Steelers, the player’s exit has somehow affected the franchise in one particular aspect over the years.

Although the Pittsburgh Steelers have won two playoff games over the last 10 years, they are currently enduring one of the most painful postseason droughts in franchise history. However, the franchise hasn’t won a postseason game since January 15, 2017, an 18-16 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. That wasn’t an easy win either.

Le’Veon Bell rushed for 170 yards, whereas Chris Boswell kicked six field goals and an offensive holding penalty on a two-point conversion leading to a tie. The Steelers defense eventually stopped Alex Smith on the second attempt and led the franchise to victory.

Since then, the Steelers have witnessed seven consecutive playoff losses.

Even in the 2025 season, they were out of the playoffs in the Wildcard game after the Houston Texans defeated them 30-6. However, heading into the 2026 season, veteran QB Aaron Rodgers reunited with his Super Bowl-winning head coach Mike McCarthy, and is expecting to win another Lombardi.

So far, Pittsburgh stands at a 2-2 record, while concerns around the defense still linger from former franchise stars like James Harrison.