Fansided

Top 30 NFL players of the 21st century

By Jarrett Bailey

FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 24: Darrelle Revis #24 of the New York Jets reacts with Jordan Jenkins #48 before a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 24, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 24: Darrelle Revis #24 of the New York Jets reacts with Jordan Jenkins #48 before a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 24, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 28: Safety Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers pursues the play during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Heinz Field on September 28, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Buccaneers defeated the Steelers 27-24. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 28: Safety Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers pursues the play during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Heinz Field on September 28, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Buccaneers defeated the Steelers 27-24. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

14. Troy Polamalu

Troy Polamalu was a unicorn on the football field. We had never seen anyone quite like him. He was a ball hawk that made some of the most mind-boggling interceptions, and his instincts were unmatched on the back end. Whether he was intercepting passes or flying over the line of scrimmage to make a sack, Polamalu was a swiss army knife for the Steelers for over a decade.

He made his first Pro Bowl in his second season in 2004. The Steelers fielded the best defense in the NFL that season, going 15-1 and making it to the AFC Championship Game. The USC product picked off five passes that season, returning one for a touchdown. Polamalu repeated as a Pro Bowler in 2005, as well as being named First-Team All-Pro, and was one of the biggest contributors to the Steelers’ 2005 Super Bowl winning team.

Polamalu’s best season came in 2010. He intercepted seven passes and was named Defensive Player of the Year. He would repeat as an All-Pro in ’11, and he made his final Pro Bowl appearance in ’13. He retired as an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and a four-time All-Pro. He helped the Steelers win two Super Bowls, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021 as part of the class of 2020.

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