Farrior Ready To Lead Steelers Past Former Team
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) - Troy Polamalu and James Harrison might be the star players for the Steelers, but if you ask Coach Mike Tomlin, it's a former New York Jet who sets the tone for the team.
Coach Mike Tomlin called James Farrior the team's "unquestioned leader."
"If you polled anybody -- player or coach, equipment man or receptionist," Tomlin added, "they realize he sets the tone for this outfit."
Though Farrior was drafted by the Jets in 1997, he says he's not looking for revenge against his former team.
"I am so far removed from being with the Jets. I really don't even think about it anymore," Farrior said.
Now in his ninth season with the Steelers, Farrior has led the team in tackles for seven consecutive season from 2003-09. This season, he has played in all 16 games, recorded 137 tackles and 6 sacks.
Through his 14-year career, Farrior has played in 16 playoff games with 96 tackles.
But one game still haunts him: the 1998 AFC title game in which the Broncos beat the Jets by a score of 23-10.
"We took an early lead, 10-0 at halftime," Farrior added. "It seemed like the wheels fell off in the second half. That was a rough game."
During his stint with the Jets, Farrior went through three head coaches in his five years there.
That all changed when he signed with the Steelers as a free agent in 2002.
"Once I got here, I felt like everything was stable," Farrior said. "The Rooney Family does a great job of getting people in here to fit within the Steeler mold."
Listen to Jon Burton's interview with Farrior after practice on Thursday:
