Pittsburgh great Troy Polamalu reaches out to Steelers first round OL Troy Fautanu

Troy Fautanu, Pittsburgh’s first-round draft pick, was such a fan of the team growing up that he sported a Steelers license plate on his car.

Every Christmas and birthday, Fautanu’s family gave him Steelers gear. His favorite NFL player was Troy Polamalu, the former Steelers great. So Fautanu wore No. 43 early in his football career until he literally grew out of it. After all, offensive tackles need much bigger numbers.

So the swag Fautanu received when Pittsburgh selected him with the 20th pick meant more. A simple Steelers t-shirt now represented both his childhood and a significant moment in his adult life.

“I had this dartboard that was in my room for the longest time,” Fautanu said, via Steelers.com. “I had a hoodie that I wore in middle school all the time. And in college, for the years that I had my car, I had a Steelers license plate.

“Now, being a member of the Steelers, it’s truly surreal. It’s almost like it was meant to be. I’m just happy.”

Current and former Steelers played phone tag after NFL Draft

Maybe the coolest moment post-NFL Draft was when Fautanu figured out that his childhood idol had called to congratulate him. Fautanu met Polamalu when Fautanu was on an official visit to USC. He ended up signing with Washington. After the draft, the two played phone tag. But it meant a lot to Polamalu that he inspired a Steelers first-round pick.

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

He had more to say about the young lineman.

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

Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Fautanu followed Polamalu as a kid because they both shared a Samoan heritage. The Steelers selected Polamalu, a hard-hitting, savvy safety, with the 16th pick of the 2003 NFL Draft. He spent his entire career in Steel City, helping the team win two Super Bowls. He retired nine years ago and he still is beloved in Pittsburgh.

Now maybe a player he inspired will be as successful.