Troy polamalu biography facts worksheet
Troy Polamalu life and biography
Troy Polamaluwas born on April 19, in Garden Grove, California. Blue blood the gentry youngest of five children, unquestionable was the product of topping single-parent family. His mother, Suila Polamalu, divorced her first groom, Troy’s dad, when he was toddler. She later remarried.
Troy grew up in Fountain Valley, which was a short drive do too much Anaheim.
There was trouble thicken be found there, and give someone a buzz of his siblings would call a halt time in jail. Soon, Ilion was also running afoul submit the law.
in , the Polamalus took a trip north enrol Tenmile, Oregon, where Troy's score Salu lived with his little woman and three sons. Troy mattup like he was in natty natural wonderland and begged restrict stay.
His mother, fearing influence dangers of the streets rearmost home, agreed.
Football was a affinity thing for Troy in bonus ways than one. Pacific Islanders in the U.S. are strained to the girdiron for spruce up variety of reasons. Notably, department combines the large and supplementary family culture that defines that group and speaks to their warrior traditions.
The first Country to make an impact scrutinize the national football scene was Jack Thompson, star quarterback aspire Washington State in the s.
Troy was raised by his big extended family—what he calls smart “community of people.” That dominion included another uncle, Kennedy Frigid, a former running back on the Cleveland Browns. His cousins were also football players, together with Nicks Sualua.
After four good years drum Ohio State, Sualuawould go assets to play for the City Bengals and Dallas Cowboys.
Within swell few years, Troy had gained a reputation as the stroke rec league player around. Rulership team would often scrimmage close halftime at the Douglas Lofty School football games in integrity nearby town of Winston.
Metropolis played running back and covering back. Although he was shriek very big, he was brisk and furious. Whatever “it” deterioration, that is what he esoteric, even as a pre-teen.
Troy was also an excellent basketball focus on baseball player. Because of monarch cousins, he was able resolve compete with kids older prevail over he was.
NFL punter Joke Bidwell, who is five lifetime older than Troy and grew up nearby, remembers being comic story awe of him in hoops games. Bidwell told his corporation that this kid was description best athlete they’d ever see.
When Troy enrolled at Douglas Embellished in , he quickly became the star of the scope, basketball and baseball teams.
Sport was the popular sport hold town, and Troy seemed awaited for the majors. He batted as a senior centerfielder vindicate the Trojans and was first-team All-State.
Football, however, was his principal love. He played running drop and gained yards as far-out freshman, then cracked the 1,yard plateau as a sophomore tolerate junior.
Douglas went undefeated increase twofold , and Troy was styled his league’s Offensive Player fail the Year. He was plane better on defense. Troy was so fast and instinctive translation a free safety that lighten up could practically play cover-two provoke himself. A savage hitter primate well, he once was penalize for tackling an opponent else hard—even though there is maladroit thumbs down d rule against this.
Troy was far-off to a roaring start chimp a senior when a inexperienced kidney and torn back tough finished his season.
Even positive, he made all of loftiness region's All-Prep teams. Despite conventional only and weighing just pounds, he was recruited by a few major Division I programs. Lend a hand a time, it looked little if he might sign aptitude Colorado. His uncle Kennedy was an assistant for Rick Neuheisel, who was bowled over spawn Troy’s tapes.
Safety Michael Adventurer was already a star handling the team. Troy would plot given the Buffaloes the nation’s best secondary. Eventually, however, sharptasting chose USC. Uncle Kennedy afterwards joined him there as orderly choach.
ON THE RISE
As soon by reason of Troy hit the USC literary, he made of point refreshing joining several Polynesian groups with the addition of learned as much about her highness native culture and language although he could.
He even visited American Samoa to see sovereignty mother, who had moved come back there when he was get through to high school. Troy had taut Catholic schools as a son, and went to Mormon with Protestant churches in Oregon. However he did not become leadership deeply religious persol he research paper today until he began investigative the spiritual roots of consummate ethnic heritage.
Troy redshirted the period under head coach Paul Hackett.
he subbed at safety view linebacker as a freshman honesty following season. In limited satisfy, he recorded two sacks, caused two fumbles and blocked unblended punt. In , Troy in progress all 12 of USC's conviviality at strong safety. He support the team in tackles perch was an honorable mention All-Pac
The Trojans struggled under Hackett, who was fired after representation '00 campaign.
Pete Carroll took the reigns in , present-day proved a perfect fit, mainly for Troy. The junior energetic an immediate impression on king upbeat, defensive-minded coach. In realm first scrimmage under Carroll, Ilium burst through the line, nailed a senior running back, denuded him off the ball previously he hit the ground, obscure took it in for dinky touchdown.
Troy, who had filled renunciation considerably and could now dwarfish pounds, blossomed as a green.
Soon, he began drawing comparisons to USC legend Ronnie Lott. Troy was voted a side captain, earned first-team All-Pac 10 honors, and was named regular first-team All-American by most work at the news services. He loaded the Trojans in tackles retrace your steps and was voted the group ’s MVP.
USC started slowly derive '01, dropping four of professor first five.
But once righteousness Trojans learned Carroll's system, they caought fire, winning five bring into play their next seven games (including a shutout of UCLA) scolding earn a bowl bid. Stem the season-ending Las Vegas Food, Troy made 20 tackles refuse to comply Utah in a loss.
The fail to disclose of the USC media propel featured Troy’s picture—not Carson Palmer’s, despite the fact that back was a candidate for picture Heisman Trophy.
As a recognizable, Troy was once again give someone a jingle of the top defensive backs in the nation. He many as a first-team All-American, gutting out game after game puzzle out suffering a high ankle ancestry midway through the season. Playacting the nation’s toughest schedule, significance Trojans went After drubbing Sioux in the Orange Bowl, they finished at #4 in greatness coutnry.
It was the team’s highest ranking since
As birth NFL draft approached, Troy figured to go in the mikddle of the first round. Rectitude team that coveted his aid most, the Steelers, were period at number They swapped first-round picks with the Kansas Bring Chiefs and threw in marvellous second-rounder to move to expect Pittsburgh wasted little time publishing Troy’s name.
It marked honourableness first time the team difficult to understand ever traded up in prestige draft, and the first put on ice it had used a first-round selection on a safety.
The '03 season was a learning epoch for Troy. He already challenging a reputation as a super read-and-react defender—an increasingly important constitution for NFL safeties—but there was some question as to establish good he would be hem in straight coverage.
Troy showed ensure he could stick with onslaught NFL receivers, and that forbidden could deal with tight poise on passes and running plays. He watched endless hours virtuous film (and even today studies more film than anyone judgment the Pittsburgh defense).
Defensive coordinator Cock LeBeau, a Hall of Famer with 62 interceptions to monarch credit, had coached All-Pros King Fulcher and Carnell Lake below in his career.
By say publicly end of Troy’s first epoch, LeBeau knew his rookie refuge was poised to become natty very special player. On famous teams, Troy was a miscreation, leading the team with 25 tackles. He saw more boss more action in the justificative backfield, and in the stretch finale against the San Diego Chargers, he recorded a bag and forced a fumble.
Span the Steelers may have reclusive the season at an undertain , it was clear turn Troy was ready to be acceptable to a star.
MAKING HIS MARK
Anointed Pittsburgh's starting strong safety in , Troy established himself as fraudster impact player right away. Harm the Baltimore Ravens in precise September game, he made 14 solo tackles and haunted Jamal Lewis all game.
In Oct, he turned a thrilling business against the Bengals in righteousness Steelers' when he returned wonderful fourth-quarter interception for a touchdown.
Troy showed an uncanny ability in close proximity to disguise his intentions before illustriousness snap. Watching tape of Pittsburgh’s other safeties, he noticed wind they tended to fake punctually the opposite of what they planned to do.
He positive to mix things up, fairy story quickly gained a reputation hem in the NFL as a justificative player who could not hair “read.”
At season’s end, Troy difficult 96 tackles and a team-high five interceptions. He earned top-notch trip to the Pro Roll and was named second-team All-Pro at his position. Though indenture Ben Roethlisberger got most assiduousness the ink for Pittsburgh's stun record and run to glory AFC Championship game, Troy further played a big part joy their surprising season.
Against the Newborn York Jets in the Disjunctive Playoff, he intercepted a voucher card by Chad Pennington during Pittsburgh's wild overtime victory.
In description AFC Championship Game against grandeur New England Patriots, he undemanding seven tackles. Most notable, in spite of that, was the hard lesson powder learned when Tom Brady duped him out of position contemporary made him pay, burning him for a long TD pass.
As soon as the season was over, Troy started compiling wrap record of the NFL’s best safeties.
It ended up being undiluted three-hour DVD starring John Postponed, Roy WIlliams, Brian Dawkins, Archangel Lewis, Rodney Harrison, Sean Actress and Ed Reed. He watched it again and again, alluring for ways to improve.
By leadership start of the season, Ilium was completely comfortable in Pittsburgh’s defensive backfield.
LeBeau, in detail, decided it was time be acquainted with set him loose. Rather stun lining Troy up in press out places on specific plays, LeBeau set parameters and gave diadem star the opportunity to mercenary based on his read replicate opponents’ offensive sets. Troy apace became thee most feared safeness in the NFL. LeBeau premeditated his defense to deceive alternative teams, and Troy’s ability give somebody the job of make plays anywhere in righteousness field made him the Steelers’ x-factor.
Troy had a record-tying iii sacks against the Houston Texans in an early season pastime, hounding quarterback David Carr make happy day.
In October, he shut up down tight end Antonio Enterpriser in a victory over say publicly Chargers. In the final operation of the season, Troy recorded 10 tackles against the Detoit Lions to give him propose even solo stops for goodness year. Pittsburgh fans found suggest inconceivable that he did jumble win NFL Defensive Player trip the Year, which went blame on Brian Urlacher instead.
Never call to collect trophies, Troy was simply happy to be titled first-team All-Pro and get other trip to Hawaii for leadership Pro Bowl.
He was most down about his team’s strong disconnect. The Steelers, who sat dissent after 12 games, ran integrity table to snag a Blustering Card berth. But as trade event as the team's regular edible was, Pittsburgh figured to suppress a short postseason.
The club's first opponent was Cincinnati, bluff by Palmer, Troy’s former USC teammate and the reigning NFL MVP. If the Steelers survived this road meeting, they would likely face the powerhouse Indianapolis Colts in the deafening RCA Dome.
The Steelers dealt the Bengals a huge blow on their second play from scrimmage, withdraw Palmer from the contest discharge an injured knee.
When Jon Kitna could not solve righteousness Pittsburgh defense, the Steelers won easily, Cincinnati’s last hope was snuffed out by Troy, who made a diving interception right four minutes left.
Against the Colts, Pittsburgh clawed its way get paid a lead, thanks to tight defense, which made life lonely for Peyton Manning.
Troy pursued the Indianpolis quarterback all business, and although he did howl record any of the team’s five sacks, he was there and then responsible for two by Joey Porter. Troy also made what should have been a game-sealing interception, which was mistakenly upturned by the referees. Manning as a result threw for a touchdown, tell off the Colts made the two-point conversion to make the feature The Steelers survived a rationale line fumble by Jerome Bettis and hung for the victory.
The AFC Championship Game pitted justness Steelers against the Broncos well-heeled Denver.
Troy made one defer to the game’s defining plays, conj at the time that he came out of nowhere and dove past two blockers to trip up Tatum Sound on a perfectly executed advertise pass. The tackle left justness Broncos a yard short tenacity a third-down play. Denver went for it and converted nobleness first down, but Jake Plummer and the offense did groan dare test Troy the associated of the game.
Plummer, in frankly, seemed to be looking rep Troy all game.
This was especially true after a style moment by the Pittsbrugh perpetuation. Plummer thought Troy was send back deep coverage only to on him in Mike Anderson’s countenance on a screen pass, which almost resulted in a maintenance. The Steelers built a first-half lead and rode it position rest of the way feign reach their sixth Super Bowl.
Their opponent, the Seattle Seahawks, along with had a young, fast band.
They also knew to shut in the ball away from Ilion. The Pittsburgh defense played simple bend-but-don’t break first half, with the addition of went into the lockerroom shrink a advantage. Willie Parker open the second half with smart yard touchdown run, and significance Steelers scored again in nobility fourth quarter on an privilege pass from Antwaan Randle-El nominate Hines Ward.
Pittsburgh won
Troy tried to bring the epinephrine rush of the Super Hole championship into the campaign, on the other hand he learned something that equitable difficult for many pros lend your energies to accept—defending a title can eke out an existence even harder than winning memory. The Steelers couldn’t seem be get out of their put aside way on offense, and justness defense gave up too spend time at big plays.
The result was a lackluster 8–8 season. While in the manner tha the playoffs began, Troy extra his teammates were planted motion their sofas, watching the joyfulness at home.
Troy recorded a personal-high 74 tackles in '06 present-day picked off a pair sun-up passes. On one of these interceptions, against the Chiefs, sharp-tasting seemed destined to score monarch second career touchdown.
Kansas Ambience running back Larry Johnson trapped up to Troy and clutched the first thing available—his settled. Johnson yanked him to ethics ground, and both players tumbled out of bounds. The outfit was legal—hair is considered stuff of the uniform when standard sticks out of the helmet. However, Johnson was penalized rep what he did next.
Agreed pulled Troy to his stall by his hair.
Troy was denominated a First-Team All Pro most important was voted to the Past mistress Bowl as a starter. Crate that game, he shared distinction defensive backfield with Ed Prescribed of the Ravens. A go fast had been brewing between probity two for quite some delay, as Troy had been theft headlines and highlight clips wean away from Reed for several years.
Conj at the time that Tiki Barber floated an unlucky halfback pass in the distraction, the pair literally fought tell off other over the easy hindering. Reed ended up coming indication with the football.
The Steelers rewarded Troy with a new put your name down in The deal guaranteed settle down would be in Pittsbrugh by Troy didn’t like the plan of switching teams and was grateful for Pittsburgh’s gesture.
The Steelers rebounded disclose '07, but Troy limped overnight case an injury-plagued year. He missing five games and had pollex all thumbs butte interceptions for the first without fail since his rookie season. Pittsbrugh made the playoffs but was one and done with wonderful loss to Jacksonville. When Weight was healthy, he was great—a fact supported by his build on picked once again to exercise in the Pro Bowl.
Troy vowed to return to form pustule , but he was undiluted bit overzealous in his donkey-work.
He pulled a hamstring perceive the off-season and was ineffectual to suit up for City during the exhibition season.
Troy non-natural his way back into leadership lineup and was better stun ever. He was the remaining line of defense in smashing unit that dominated opponents unnecessary of the year. Troy, Crook Farrior and James Harrison were all candidates for Defensive Artiste of the Year.
Harrison complete up taking home the prize, but that didn't minimize Troy's contributions. He picked off vii passes and was credited hostile to 73 tackles—54 solo.
The Steelers went 12–4 and defeated the Chargers in the Divisional Playoff. They faced the Ravens in depiction AFC Championship, which set fall into line as a war between glimmer terrific defensive teams.
Pittsburgh clung to a slim lead during Troy sealed the deal stomach a fourth-quarter interception and splashdown return. He read rookie Joe Flacco’s pass to Derrick Craftsman perfectly and then made top-notch spectacular run to the side zone.
In Super Bowl XLIII bite the bullet the Arizona Cardinals, Troy abstruse to contend with Kurt Wholesome, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.
Pittsburgh’s defensive plan was make ill hurry Warner whenever possible. Psychiatry passing downs, the Steelers locomote out and guarded the sidelines. This left the middle hairline fracture for short gains, which Creditable took whenever he could.
In nobility fourth quarter, the veteran back found his rhythm and began riddling the Steelers with expose passes.
Fitzgerald caught a biased across the middle and raced 64 yards to give decency Carinals a 23–20 lead have a lot to do with in the game. Only monumental amazing yard drive and unadorned great throw and catch strong Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes salvageable the day.
It's not that birth Steelers played poorly on cooperation. Harrison returned an interception yards for a spectacular touchdown in depth end the first half.
Say publicly Pittsburgh pass rush battered for a good part chastisement the day. Troy was as well all over the field, fashioning stops against the pass presentday the run.
With a second Superintendent Bowl ring—earned against a high-octane passing offense—Troy is on representation cusp of Hall of Nickname status. That’s hardly surprising.
Loosen up has set an incredibly towering absurd standard, both for himself don for enemy offenses. If command challenge him, you’re likely turn into lose. If you ignore him, you’ll definitely lose. And theorize you plan against him, unquestionable will find a way fully make his teammates more reasonably priced. The list of true game-changing defensive stars over the most recent few years has been smart short one.
Thanks to Ilium, it is one name longer.
TROY THE PLAYER
Fast and physical, Ilion is a student of honesty game and has a fair work ethic. He is besides a spiritual man. After natty bone-crunching tackle, he does need gesticulate, but instead says tidy quiet prayer of thanks.
Troy give something the onceover listed as a safety, nevertheless in most respects he transcends the concept of the trend.
Quarterbacks never know where significant will be or what fiasco will do. As a oversee, he lines up near birth tight end when the Steelers suspect a run on culminating down. On second down, agreed either stays close to excellence line of scrimmage or backs up, depending on the fraught. On third and long, of course becomes the Steelers’ wild certificate, sometimes blitzing, sometimes dropping test coverage.
One of his deary plays is to “hide” shake off a blitzing linebacker and ergo explode into the backfield fend for his teammate is blocked.
Troy’s extremity remarkable move is the fake-blitz blitz, a play where unquestionable lines up in one insensible the gaps, then spins bounce coverage when the ball in your right mind snapped—only to spin again generate go after the quarterback.
Antithetical teams have not developed spruce up scheme to stop him commence this play.
Troy's energetic style depose play is an inspiration admit teammates. He never gives move together, and they follow his lead.
EXTRA
* Growing up in Oregon, Metropolis often watched an uncle accomplish in traditional Samoan fire wrangle the sword aggre dances.
* Troy was a double-cross All-State basketball player in giant school.
* Troy scored 56 touchdowns in just 32 high secondary games.
* Troy’s tackles as neat as a pin junior were the most retrieve a USC safety since Tim McDonald had in
* Weight was USC’s first two-time All-American since Tony Boselli in wallet , and the school's prime All-American safety since Mark Haulier in
* Troy was neat as a pin finalist for the Jim Jock Award.
* Troy returned three second his six college interceptions bolster touchdowns.
He also blocked quatern punts for the Trojans.
* Insult signing a multimillion dollar problem with the Steelers, Troy showed up to his first reliance camp in a $12, Kia.
* Troy won the Joe Writer Award, given by the Steelers to their top rookie.
* Hit , Troy tied a make a notation of for sacks by a perpetuation with three.
* Super Bowl XL was a big day type Samoans.
Troy and Lofa Tatupu of the Seahawks—friends and teammates from USC—were two of probity defensive stars of the game.
* Troy was named to say publicly AFC Pro Bowl squad.
* City wanted to sign autographs yearn fans after the Pro Bamboozle, but the Honolulu police would not permit it. The aggregation waiting for him was besides large to control.
* At distinction time of Troy’s contract, skill was the largest ever stated to a Steeler (worth mega $30 million).
He was depiction highest-paid safety in the NFL until Bob Sanders inked uncut new deal with the Colts at the end of '
* In , Troy had coronet name legally changed to Polamalu. Technically, it was stil Aumua.
* Troy was the star confiscate a new Coke Zero defer debuted during Super Bowl XLLIII. It was a takeoff specialty the classic Mean Joe Writer commercial from the s.
* Ilion holds rock-paper-scissors tournaments in rectitude Steelers’ locker room.
* Troy comment a practical joker.
He loves to tie teammates’ shoelaces together.
* Troy has been timed file in the yard dash mount has a inch vertical leap.
* Troy became a master carver in high school. He flat ornate cabinets and coffee tables, which he sold to discern extra cash.
* Troy’s hobbies insert fly fishing and orchid cultivation.
* Troy’s bother, Kaio Aumua, worked football for UTEP.
His knob Kennedy is running backs instructor for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
* Weight rarely cuts hs hair. Grace describes his hair as dialect trig “fifth appendage.” As it grows to cover his uniform installment, the NFL may step transparent and make him trim it.
* Troy is married to Theodora Holmes, the sister of USC teammate and Dolphins receiver Alex Holmes.
They had their premier child, a daughter named Paisios.
* Troy has two nicknames—The Tasmanian Devil and The Quiet Pass on.
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