Our pick for this month’s Flashback Athlete is none other than one of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ biggest names in recent history, Troy Polamalu. While he may no longer be an active part of the team as of 2015, his legacy will be hard to forget. The former football strong safety spent his entire career with the Steelers after being drafted in 2003 as the overall 16th player from the University of Southern California. Polamalu quickly rose in relevance as the “Tasmanian Devil”–a name given to him by his teammates for his “range, explosiveness, and impact” while on the field. He was integral to the Steelers’ success in the 2000s, being an eight-time Pro Bowler and a six-time All-Pro selection in what led him to be named the “premiere safety of his era.” Moreover, he led the Steelers to seven playoff appearances within the span of 12 years, culminating in what may be his ultimate achievement of winning two of their three Super Bowl appearances–XL and XLIII. He was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010 and, in 2020, was formally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Several more honors and titles were awarded to Troy Polamalu during the course of his storied and highly celebrated career, all of which have been well-deserved. For these reasons, Troy Polamalu will undoubtedly remain an enduring name in the world of football. Watch Troy Polamalu’s career highlight reel here on Steelers.com.