Joey Galloway’s tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers was so brief, it’s almost a blink-and-you-miss-it moment in NFL history. Signed in 2009 at the ripe age of 38, Galloway’s move to the Steelers came late in the season, primarily as a response to Limas Sweed being placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Illness list and an injury to long snapper Greg Warren. This signing wasn’t Galloway’s first choice; he had previously shown interest in joining the New England Patriots, before ultimately landing in Pittsburgh, a city just 60 miles from his hometown of Bellaire, Ohio.
What makes Galloway’s time with the Steelers particularly notable is how inconsequential it was in terms of on-field contributions. Despite the Steelers’ desperate push for a playoff spot, which they ultimately missed, Galloway never got to suit up in a game. He remained inactive for the final two weeks of the season, his official stat line with the team showing nothing but zeros.
This stint with the Steelers was near the end of Galloway’s NFL journey. After his brief time in Pittsburgh, he played his final NFL season with Washington in 2010, managing to catch 12 passes over ten games. His career, however, was quite remarkable, with over 700 receptions and nearly 11,000 yards. Galloway’s legacy is more tied to his time with teams like the Buccaneers and Seahawks, where he was a top receiver.
Galloway’s story with the Steelers is a curious footnote in a long and successful career. It’s a reminder of how the NFL can be unpredictable and how even seasoned veterans can find themselves in unexpected places, if only for a brief moment.
