"I always joke around. Head coach Bill Cowher named Polamalu the starting strong safety over Mike Logan to start the 2004 season and made his first career start in the Steelers' season-opener against the Oakland Raiders. [35] He was named to his final Pro Bowl. The Steelers selected Polamalu in the first round (16th overall) in the 2003 NFL Draft. Watch Patrick Mahomes' new commercial with Troy Polamalu Head and Shoulders has landed the Chiefs' MVP quarterback as one of its new brand ambassadors. [18] While playing against Colorado, he made five tackles and recovered a fumble that set up a Trojan touchdown. Polamalu continued his dominance against Stanford, making a game-high 10 stops, one tackle for a loss, and his first blocked punt of the season. ", "It's been really a very humbling thing for me to experience given the fact that there are amazing patriarchs of our game, like Jim Brown," Polamalu continues. His bust, however, may have even topped the speech, which . Sure, Polamalu is known for his ridiculous athletic ability, but I was. Sign up for the Chiefs Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. It's really great just to know him really as a person, and I've been a little bit remote from the game, so I haven't really been really close in contact with who's been really great and who's successful," Polamalu tells PEOPLE. On March 12, 2003, Jackson signed with the Arizona Cardinals after they added $2 million to their offer and increased his salary by $2.3 million in the first three-years. I can't say that things have really changed too much during COVID other than me being a homeschool teacher to my kids and to myself. Polamalu sustained an ankle injury during the play, but stayed in the game, made another interception, and helped the Steelers defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 237. But one game, I actually just took it out, and my uncle was like, just let your hair go it'll be symbolic of how you play; just let it loose," he told Allure in 2011. [11] Polamalu described his uncle, Salu Polamalu, as a disciplinarian who kept him straight. In 2013, following his retirement from the NFL, Troy Polamalu shockingly decided to cut his hair for the first time in 11 years. That's why they were the perfect pair to star in Head & Shoulders' new Take It Up to 100 campaign and they couldn't have had more fun doing it. [103][104][105] He also won the NFL Alumni Player of the Year award. I actually own a piece of Polamalus hair. [125], Polamalu started the Steelers' season-opener against the Tennessee Titans and recorded six combined tackles and a sack in their 16-9 loss. A hamstring injury sidelined him for the majority of the game. Yet, while the stadium might not be packed with fans, we will be rooting for our favorite team from home. Polamalu's locks were the highest-insured hair on Earth according to the Guinness World Records. Troy flips his arguably more luxurious hair away from his face, and the challenge is accepted by Mahomes. He previously worked for Complex Magazine in New York City. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. [1], Polamalu's favorite pastimes include surfing, growing flowers, making furniture, and playing the piano. CINCINNATI-- ( BUSINESS WIRE )--As an NFL legend and Head & Shoulders ambassador for more than a decade, Troy Polamalu is one of the hardest working guys in dandruff. WATCH: Patrick Mahomes, Troy Polamalu new Head & Shoulders commercial Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans. [146] As of 2009, he resided with his family in Pittsburgh during the football season and in San Diego, California during the off-season. [35] The Steelers received a playoff berth after finishing second in their division with a 124 record. [56] He earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his game against the Chiefs. Despite playing in only four games during his senior season due to injury, he was named to the 1998 Super Prep All-Northwest team, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, and the All-Far West League second team. [85][86] They finished with a 97 record and did not qualify for the playoffs for the first time under head coach Mike Tomlin. Greene, who like Polamalu lives a very quiet life off the field in contrast to his on-field play, liked the commercial and gave his stamp of approval. [39] In Week 4, he made six combined tackles, two pass deflections, and intercepted a pass attempt by Carson Palmer and returned it for a 26-yard touchdown during the Steelers' 2817 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson once dragged Polamalu down by his hair during an interception return in 2006. Polamalu, 32, will get his long locks trimmed on Monday, Veterans Day, in front of a crowd at Pittsburgh's Heinz Field, although it's unclear how much he'll actually get cut. His freshman season was cut short when he suffered a concussion at practice. Troy Polamalu's Hair By Frances Romero Wednesday, Sept. 01, 2010 Joe Robbins / Getty Images When you haven't cut your hair in a decade out of reverence for your Samoan ancestors, that. CINCINNATI-- (BUSINESS WIRE)-- As an NFL legend and Head & Shoulders ambassador for more than a decade, Troy Polamalu is one of the hardest working guys in dandruff. [70] He earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his game against the Browns. "Troy is an awesome guy. Patrick Mahomes and Troy Polamalu are not just the envy of the NFL world for the Super Bowl rings they've won but also because of their incredible hair. [35] He was named to the 2005 Pro Bowl for the first time. Managing hair like that is surely a nightmare. With an agreement in place with Jackson, the Steelers focused on drafting a running back in the first round. After that, Mahomes signed a $450 million contract extension with the franchise one of the largest ever in sports. At almost three feet long, his flowing main became such a phenomenon on its own, that it was insured for $1 million by haircare company Head and Shoulders in 2010, according to a press release from ESPN. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. [88], In a Sports Illustrated survey held in 2010 of 296 active NFL players, Polamalu was ranked the 9th "dirtiest player" in the NFL. Former Pittsburgh SteelerssafetyTroy Polamalu was one of the most feared defenders in football throughout his career, having manned the secondary at Heinz Field for 12 years. In the CBS Playoffs Pre-game Show, Polamalu said the last time he had gotten a haircut was in 2000 at USC[152] when a coach told him he needed one. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes shared a clip of his new Head & Shoulders commercial that also stars former Steelers star Troy Polamalu. [147], During the 2011 NFL lockout, Polamalu utilized his time away from the field to return to the University of Southern California to complete his college education. [48] He set the NFL record for the most sacks by a safety in a single game. Sign up for the Chiefs Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. (@yinzercrazyshow) August 3, 2021. Nearly impossible to ignore due to its length, curls and overall volume, it's impressive Polamalu was able to put on his helmet and face mask amid all that hair. He has the distinction of being one of only two safeties ever drafted by the Steelers in the first round of an NFL Draft; the other being Terrell Edmunds in 2018. Submit ONCE per commercial, and allow 48 to 72 hours for your request to be processed. [165], Polamalu is featured on the cover of the Scholastic children's book National Football League Megastars which profiles Polamalu and 14 other NFL stars. Former Indianapolis Colts running back Edgerrin James admitted he cut his hair in order to alleviate the issue. In addition, his eyes are brown and his hair is black. He is nine years old and his number is yours turned around 34. But as far as the hair's going, it got a little rough for a while there. Polamalu was one of the NFL's defensive stars of the 2000s. And, he also appeared in a commercial. Polamalu says that just like Head & Shoulders Scalp Shield Technology, he's never not working. [20] Throughout the next four games, Polamalu continued to have the most tackles in each game. Procter & Gamble has a(n) _____ objective when it uses Troy to demonstrate that Head and Shoulders shampoo is superior to competing products and thus should be purchased. ", "I think if you give me like 13 or 14 more years, I can maybe get somewhat near a beard. By using iSpot.tv, you accept our, Head & Shoulders TV Spot, 'Living Flake-Free' Featuring Troy Polamalu, Head & Shoulders For Men TV Spot, 'Hair Transplant' Feat. He also was featured in a Coke Zero commercial that mimicked the "Mean" Joe Greene. The Associated Press voted him second-team All-American. Against Kansas State, he had a game-high 13 tackles, three tackles for a loss, and one forced fumble. Ladies love him. Bleacher Report . [110] He finished the season with 91 combined tackles (64 solo), 14 pass deflections, and one interception in 16 games and 16 starts. If you haven't seen it, go to YouTube and type in "Troy Polamalu head and shoulders commercial." [13] Concerned about the negative influences in nearby Los Angeles, Polamalu's mother sent him to Oregon to live with his uncle, aunt, and cousins when he was nine years old. He started the season by being voted as the team captain, and in the season opener he recorded seven tackles and one tackle for a loss against San Jose State. Troy Polamalu Stars In New Head & Shoulders Commercial CBS Pittsburgh 116K subscribers Subscribe 7.5K views 2 years ago Pittsburgh Today Live's Heather and David have a look at Troy. Polamalu is renowned for his luscious locks that flowed from underneath his helmet on the field. He set a career-high with 14 tackles against Arizona State and tied that mark against Notre Dame. [124], One of the Steelers' top needs entering the draft was safety as Polamalu was entering the end of his career and had an injury-riddled season in 2012. This site uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Polamalu then took his tied-up hair and let it down, cascading over his shoulders as his family including his two similarly-coiffed young sons whooped their approval in the crowd. He would routinely line up everywhere on the field, and had the ability to. [92][93] In Week 14, Polamalu collected two solo tackles, deflected two passes, and intercepted a pass attempt by Carson Palmer that was intended for Terrell Owens and returned it for a 45-yard touchdown. Aside from his undeniable skill on the field, Troy Polamaluwill always be remembered for his incredibly long, curly hair.