The Steelers had planned on honoring Troy Polamalu into their Hall of Honor in 2019, but some of the logistics couldn't get worked out to get his family and the safety into Pittsburgh for the induction ceremony.
The idea was to induct Polamalu into the Hall of Honor before he's inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As it turned out, the Steelers will add Polamalu to their Hall of Honor before his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction.
Polamalu was voted into the hall of fame at the Super Bowl earlier this year, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the induction ceremony did not take place. getting moved to 2021. But Polamalu will headline the Steelers' 2020 Hall of Honor class that was announced Friday night.
And he'll be joined by one of his former teammates, as inside linebacker James Farrior also was named to the Hall of Honor.
Steelers' captain Cam Heyward played with Polamalu and Farrior at the end of their careers and expressed his pleasure at their induction.
It was an honor to play with some of these greats!! This class is more than deserving, these men are leaders who set the example.
— Cam Heyward (@CamHeyward) September 26, 2020
Joining Polamalu and Farrior are two former members of the team's Super Bowl teams of the 1970s in defensive end Dwight White and safety Mike Wagner, along with linebacker Greg Lloyd, a key member of the Steelers' Bltizburgh Defense of the '90s.
They will join the other 36 former players, coaches and contributors already inducted into the Steelers' Hall of Honor, which is now in its fourth year of existence. When those players will get an opportunity to be honored at a game remains to be seen.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Steelers are not permitted to have fans at Heinz Field currently and team president Art Rooney II said the team won't have an official ceremony for the newest members of the Hall of Honor until they can do so in front of fans, even if that happens in 2021.
"We're keeping our fingers crossed that at some point we'll be able to have fans back at Heinz Field," Rooney said. "If that happens in October or November, we'll look forward to scheduling a Hall of Honor ceremony."
To be honored, players must have spent at least three seasons with the Steelers or made a significant impact or set a significant record while with the team. They also must be retired as a player for at least three seasons.
Polamalu won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and helped them to another as he was a six-time All-Pro and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. A member of the 2000s NFL All-Decade Team, he finished his career with 32 interceptions, 12 sacks and 13 forced fumbles.
Farrior joined the Steelers as a free agent in 2002 and also helped the Steelers to two Super Bowl wins and another appearance in the championship game. He led the team in tackles five times and recorded over 1,000 tackles in his 10 seasons in Pittsburgh, while also recording 30 sacks.
Lloyd was named team MVP twice and finished his career with 53.5. He and fellow Hall of Honor inductees Rod Woodson and Kevin Greene were key members of the team's 1995 team that won the AFC Championship but lost in the Super Bowl.
White was an original member of the Steel Curtain Defense along with Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, both of whom are already in the Hall of Honor, and Ernie Holmes. He finished his career with 46 sacks and two Pro Bowl appearances and also recorded the first safety in Super Bowl history against the Vikings in Super Bowl IX.
Wagner was an 11th-round pick in the 1971 draft that also brought the Steelers White in the fourth round. He finished his career with 36 career regular season interceptions and added five more in the postseason in his 10-year career.