Troy Polamalu Praises Steelers Draft Pick of Troy Fautanu

When Troy Fautanu got picked by the Pittsburgh Steelers, it was no secret that he grew up a Steelers fan and idolized Troy Polamalu. He even met Polamalu once during his USC official visit. But Polamalu is excited about Fautanu coming to the Steelers, too. Talking with WTAE, Polamalu praised the newest Steelers draft pick.

“Carries himself with humility and plays with a lot of passion and violence, so I think that’s one thing the Steelers are going to be excited about,” Polamalu said to WTAE. “I know it’s one thing that I’m excited about when I heard about this draft pick.”

Idolizing Polamalu from a young age, Fautanu always wore No. 43 before he was finally forced to switch positions. Both men share Polynesian ancestry, with Fautanu having Samoan and Tongan heritage and Polamalu having Samoan heritage.

“Man, it really couldn’t have gone any better,” Fautanu said. “I wore 43 pretty much my whole life until I switched to offensive line and couldn’t wear it. I know a lot about the team and a lot about their history.”

Those sentiments humble Polamalu, who never saw himself as the larger-than-life figure that young players like Fautanu see him as, but now that they are tied together, it makes it all the sweeter.

“Honestly, I’m very humbled by that; it’s really incredibly humbling,” Polamalu said.

Fautanu will again meet his idol at the Resilience Bowl, which is Polamalu’s charity flag football event. All Steelers rookies will participate in that, and it will just be another bow on top of the entire experience for Fautanu.