The Pittsburgh Steelers have cut ties with linebackers coach Joey Porter, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

“I have informed outside linebackers coach Joey Porter that we will not renew his contract,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement. “These are difficult decisions when it comes to someone like Joey who has meant a lot to this organization as both a player and coach. I want to thank Joey for his coaching efforts over the past five years on our defensive staff. We wish him the best in his future coaching career.”

Porter had been a member of Pittsburgh's coaching staff since 2014.

Of course, Porter's ties to the Steelers run deeper than coaching, as he was a linebacker for the team from 1999 through 2006, making three Pro Bowls and earning a First-Team All-Pro selection during his tenure. He was also a part of the dominant 2005-06 Steelers defense that won a Super Bowl title.

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Following his eight-year playing tenure with Pittsburgh, Porter joined the Miami Dolphins, where he played three seasons and made one Pro Bowl courtesy of a 47-tackle, 17.5-sack campaign in 2008.

He spent the final two years of his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals before retiring.

The Steelers went 8-7-1 this season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2013. Pittsburgh had been control of the AFC North until Week 16, when it suffered a devastating loss to the New Orleans Saints, knocking the Steelers out of first place and opening the door for the Baltimore Ravens to win the division.