Coach Mike Tomlin promised changes after the Pittsburgh Steelers missed the playoffs with a 9-6-1 record, and outside linebackers coach Joey Porter became the first casualty.

Tomlin announced Friday he is not renewing Porter’s contract.

Porter, 41, had just completed his fifth year on Tomlin’s staff.

“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,” Tomlin said in a statement. “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 was a defensive assistant in 2014 before being promoted to outside linebackers coach the following year when Keith Butler became defensive coordinator.

Tomlin did not retain Porter after the Steelers outside linebackers had their most prolific sack production in the four years under his tutelage. Steelers outside linebackers combined for 20 sacks in 2018, led by T.J. Watt’s 13.

But aside from Watt, two other former first-round picks didn’t develop into stars under Porter. Jarvis Jones had a combined three sacks in two seasons while Porter was his position coach before the Steelers elected to allow Jones leave via free agency.

Bud Dupree had 5 1/2 sacks in his fourth NFL season, a half-sack fewer than his career high in 2017 and had 20 sacks in four seasons under Porter’s watch.

A look at the sacks produced by outside linebackers during Porter’s four seasons:

2018 (20 total): Watt 13, Dupree 5 1/2, Anthony Chickillo 1 1/2

2017 (17 total): Watt 7, Dupree 6, Chickillo 3, James Harrison 1

2016 (16.5 total): Harrison 5, Dupree 4 1/2, Arthur Moats 3 1/2, Chickillo 2 1/2, Jarvis Jones 1

2015: (15 total): Harrison 5, Moats 4, Dupree 4, Jones 2

Porter was a member of the Super Bowl XL championship team and spent the first eight of his 13 NFL seasons playing for the Steelers. He was named to the Pro Bowl four times.

Porter was known for his brash personality as a player and coach. In a January 2016 playoff game, he went onto the field late during an injury timeout against Cincinnati and argued with cornerback Adam Jones. When Jones pushed Porter, the Steelers gained 15 yards on a personal foul to set up the winning field goal.

Porter was fined $10,000 for being on the field, and the NFL adopted a rule prohibiting assistant coaches from going onto the field during play.

The next year, Porter was arrested outside a South Side bar hours after a home playoff game against Miami. Four of the six charges against Porter were dropped.

Joe Rutter is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joe at jrutter@tribweb.com or via Twitter @tribjoerutter.

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