James Farrior: “I was meant to play for the Steelers”

[Steeler Nation]

If you enjoyed Steeler Nation Radio host Stan Savran‘s interview with former Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro linebacker Greg Lloyd, you’ll really enjoy Savran’s newest interview with former Steelers 2004 First-Team All-Pro linebacker, James Farrior.

Farrior was 2× Super Bowl champion (XL, XLIII), a Second-Team All-Pro in 2008, a 2x Pro Bowler (2004, 2008), and a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor Class of 2020:

.@JamesFarrior talks with @StanLoveTheShow about coming to Pittsburgh, moving inside, winning the Super Bowl and more.@pepsi | Full

: https://t.co/uDwy45g3hp pic.twitter.com/c8FOuLuMUT

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) February 23, 2022

Farrior spoke about his transition from the New York Jets to the Steelers, playing left inside middle linebacker vs right inside middle linebacker, his playing time with Joey Porter, Jerome Bettis, and Troy Polamalu, and what it took to become a Super Bowl champion. Farrior also spoke about the rivalry with the Baltimore Ravens, and the differences between playing for then head coach Bill Cowher, vs current head coach, Mike Tomlin.

“We were riding high, like you said, we were 7-2 at one point, and then we lose three straight. And that was very frustrating and disappointing. I think our backs were against the wall. We couldn’t lose another game or we weren’t going to make it to the playoffs. So, I think we all had the mindset that our playoffs were starting now.” – James Farrior.

The Steelers would go onto win Super Bowl XL.

To watch his full interview on YouTube with Savran, click here.

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[slashsteel]

Potsie!

 

[madinsomniac]

If in 2000 Lewis goes to jail for accomplice to murder like he should have, James Farrior is in the HOF… he got screwed by playing in the same division behind a media darling in a position that they shorted in all pro and pro bowl numbers since most teams played the 4-3

 

[Djfan]

I think that Potsie might be one of the most under rated Steelers of the modern era. Such a great player. I remember when rumors were that he was retiring. I though that our D was going to take a step backwards. It did.

 

[madinsomniac]

I think that Potsie might be one of the most under rated Steelers of the modern era. Such a great player. I remember when rumors were that he was retiring. I though that our D was going to take a step backwards. It did.

If you asked me for any Steelers ilb from the past 30 years id take Farrior even over Kirkland and i was a huge fan of his…

 

[jitter77]

Farrior was the perfect LB for our D. He could cover decent enough and was not a liability against the run. We have not been able to fill in that gap since other than Shazier for a few seasons.

 

[Litos]

Yes you were Potsie

 

[SteelerFan448]

James Farrior may have never been the best player on those teams, but man did he ever represent everything good about the Steelers and the defense. He was absolutely meant to be in the black and gold and one of my favorite players.

 

[Steelworth]

Love Potsie! I always bring it up but I'll never forget the play where he got thrown into the air like a rag doll, landed straight on his dome (looked like he could've broken his neck), was out for like one play then came right back in.

He was a beast Ben's rookie season. Loved he & Foote back there together.

 

[FSF]

If you asked me for any Steelers ilb from the past 30 years id take Farrior even over Kirkland and i was a huge fan of his…

That’s tough….

Kirkland at his peak was better than Farrior & it wasn’t close. The way he blew up the Cowboys in SuperBowl XXX was legendary.

But that peak was not long as with his size he declined pretty fast. Too big to play coverage the same.

Farrior was just at that high level year in and year out. He was not a big guy either. But he sure was a leader.

Both were great

 

[bkwheat28]

My very first Pittsburgh/Steelers trip was ‘04 regular season vs Jets. He made an amazing one handed interception that day. Dude was just a solid football player, a Steeler type, and by all accounts a beloved teammate. Could use one of those again.

 

[MTC]

I think that Potsie might be one of the most under rated Steelers of the modern era. Such a great player. I remember when rumors were that he was retiring. I though that our D was going to take a step backwards. It did.

Very underrated. This guy was a playmaker and was shutting down some pretty good tight ends. Farrior, Aaron Smith and Deshea Townsend were some key guys who flew under the radar yet made an impact

 

[FSF]

Very underrated. This guy was a playmaker and was shutting down some pretty good tight ends. Farrior, Aaron Smith and Deshea Townsend were some key guys who flew under the radar yet made an impact

Deshea Townsend wasn’t a starting CB, but neither was Bryant McFadden. They were both an example of the inability to draft good cornerbacks

But no one in their right mind thought Aaron Jones flew under the radar

 

[Omar10213245]

If in 2000 Lewis goes to jail for accomplice to murder like he should have, James Farrior is in the HOF… he got screwed by playing in the same division behind a media darling in a position that they shorted in all pro and pro bowl numbers since most teams played the 4-3

Huh?? Farrior was a Jet in 2000.

And while I love Potsie and think he was an awesome Steeler, he wasnt a HOF'er.

 

[LeXX75]

Deshea Townsend wasn’t a starting CB, but neither was Bryant McFadden. They were both an example of the inability to draft good cornerbacks

But no one in their right mind thought Aaron Jones flew under the radar

The Packer RB?

 

[Drink IRON City]

That’s tough….

Kirkland at his peak was better than Farrior & it wasn’t close. The way he blew up the Cowboys in SuperBowl XXX was legendary.

But that peak was not long as with his size he declined pretty fast. Too big to play coverage the same.

Farrior was just at that high level year in and year out. He was not a big guy either. But he sure was a leader.

Both were great

Fair assessment and thanks for the article Bill.!!!



Farrior definately was under rated but played big. Great LB, great teammate, great person.




Salute the nation

 

[FSF]

Huh?? Farrior was a Jet in 2000.

And while I love Potsie and think he was an awesome Steeler, he wasnt a HOF'er.

I think he meant that if Ray Lewis wasn't around due to his involvement about the guy who was not around permanently after the 99 Super Bowl, that Farrior would have garnered more Pro Bowls and All Pro seasons that voters lazily just defaulted to Lewis because of the 350 tackles per season he was credited with.

Just imagine the perception if you looked at Farrior's career and it had say - 8 Pro Bowls and 4 All Pros, would he get HOF consideration?

 

[wig]

If in 2000 Lewis goes to jail for accomplice to murder like he should have, James Farrior is in the HOF… he got screwed by playing in the same division behind a media darling in a position that they shorted in all pro and pro bowl numbers since most teams played the 4-3

accomplice? Sure...

 

[madinsomniac]

accomplice? Sure...

Bet he could get a pretty penny for that redish white suit if he ever found it…

 

[Steelworth]

Huh?? Farrior was a Jet in 2000.

And while I love Potsie and think he was an awesome Steeler, he wasnt a HOF'er.

Your reading skills suck harder than a down-on-her-luck porn actress. Read what he said again, this time slowly. If Ray Lewis' incident that occurred in 2000 resulted in him being convicted, numbnuts, he wouldn't have been the darling of the AFC North for the next decade and Potsie likely would've gotten way more attention.

JFC, you're probably the kind of guy who puts a quarter in a parking meter and waits to see if a gumball comes out.

 

[MTC]

Deshea Townsend wasn’t a starting CB, but neither was Bryant McFadden. They were both an example of the inability to draft good cornerbacks

But no one in their right mind thought Aaron Jones flew under the radar

Who the hell is Aaron Jones?

 

[FSF]

Who the hell is Aaron Jones?

The bum we drafted #1 in 1988?

 

[madinsomniac]

Huh?? Farrior was a Jet in 2000.

And while I love Potsie and think he was an awesome Steeler, he wasnt a HOF'er.

Had lewis not been around for Farrior’s time here he would have made a ton of all pros. Heck the dude came three votes swinging to him to beat Reed for dpoy that one year

 

[madinsomniac]

The bum we drafted #1 in 1988?

Save for Woodson and Green, the late 80’s and early 90’s first rounders under noll absolutely blew

 

[FSF]

Save for Woodson and Green, the late 80’s and early 90’s first rounders under noll absolutely blew

Lipps more than Green

But it wasn’t just the first round that blew. They were as disaster in later rounds. Noll & Art Jr. were as bad as Cowher & Donahoe got