Joey Porter Jr. Calls Out Steelers With Blunt ‘Undervalued’ Admission After Cowboys Trade

Joey Porter Jr. has spoken publicly for the first time since the Pittsburgh Steelers traded him to the Dallas Cowboys, opening up about his contract situation and the move to The Cowboys.

Porter said the negotiations were difficult and that he felt undervalued. He will now continue his career with the Cowboys.

Joey Porter Jr. explains Steelers contract dispute after Cowboys trade

Joey Porter Jr. discussed his departure from the Pittsburgh Steelers during his first interview since being traded to the Dallas Cowboys. Contract extension discussions between Porter and the Steelers ended without a deal. He said negotiations were difficult and left him feeling undervalued.

Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) takes the field for a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Porter played 47 games and made 41 starts for the Steelers from 2023 through 2025. During that span, he recorded 165 tackles, 31 passes defended, three interceptions and one sack. As a cornerback, he was a regular part of Pittsburgh’s defense.

In 2025, Porter played 14 games and finished with 52 tackles, 14 passes defended, one interception and one sack. His 14 passes defended were the most on the Steelers that season. He did not appear in a game this season while dealing with a back injury and an unresolved contract dispute. The situation ultimately led to his move to the Dallas Cowboys.

Porter later explained how he viewed the situation and his move to Dallas. He said, “It was a hard process, a lot of ups and downs. Definitely felt disrespected, definitely felt undervalued. But that’s the old news now. That’s how I look at it. I’m onto new beginnings, new chapters. And like I said, I’m a Cowboy. I’m in Dallas, so I’m happy about that.”

Porter said he learned about the trade around 11:30 p.m. while watching a Brad Pitt film in a theater. After receiving the news, he left the theater and celebrated with family members.

Pittsburgh received a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick from the Dallas Cowboys. Porter still has the final year of his rookie contract remaining after the trade.

Porter will enter the season looking to strengthen his case for a future contract through his performance with the Cowboys. His focus is now on contributing to the Cowboys.

Joey Porter Jr. set for Cowboys debut against Texans

Joey Porter Jr. is preparing for his first week with Dallas following the trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers. His first game with Dallas will come against the Houston Texans on October 4 at 1 p.m. ET in Houston. The Cowboys are 1–2 through three games, losing 28–20 to the New York Giants in Week 1, beating the Commanders 37–20 in Week 2 and falling 34–31 to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3.

The Dallas Cowboys led Baltimore 28–24 before losing 34–31. Dak Prescott threw for 276 yards and one touchdown, while CeeDee Lamb had 112 receiving yards. Through three games, Prescott has 730 passing yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. Lamb has 20 receptions for 309 yards and three touchdowns. Javonte Williams has 169 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, along with 56 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. Jake Ferguson has nine receptions for 72 yards and three touchdowns.

The Cowboys also suffered several defensive injuries during the loss to the Ravens. Jalen Thompson suffered a hamstring injury and could miss four to six weeks. Shavon Revel Jr. left with a knee injury, while Jonathan Bullard suffered a calf injury that could keep him out for several weeks. Cobie Durant and DeMarvion Overshown did not practice, Revel remained out and Malik Hooker was limited.

After the loss, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer spoke about the team’s effort against Baltimore. He said “At the end of the day, I just really just feel bad for [the players],” Schottenheimer said. “You know, we played hard, we fought back, after a long trip, and we had our chance to win. Unfortunately, we didn’t get it done.”

Porter enters Dallas with one season remaining on his rookie contract and said he is excited about the opportunity ahead. He joins a defense that is working through several injury concerns.

Porter is expected to prepare for his Cowboys debut against Houston. The matchup will be Porter’s first game with Dallas since leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers .

More NFL News

• CBS Accused of ‘Doing It on Purpose’ Over Aaron Rodgers Coverage
• Cowboys May Have Lions Problem in Pursuit of Steelers Cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
• Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Has Strong Reaction to Joey Porter Jr. Trade
• Shedeur Sanders Emerges as Potential Trade Candidate Amid Deshaun Watson Turnaround

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Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.