Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has said that he is "excited" to have former player Joey Porter as part of his coaching staff.

Porter recently returned to the Steelers as a defensive assistant having forged a highly successful eight-year career in Pittsburgh as an outside linebacker between 1999 and 2006.

He left the team in 2007, less than two months after Tomlin was hired, but the 41-year-old coach is looking forward to working with the Steelers legend again.

"We are excited about having Joey back with the Steelers family. Joey spent a number of years with Pittsburgh as a player, and now he's back to assist the coaching staff. We look forward to his efforts and contributions," Tomlin said in a statement.

Porter was part of the Steelers team that became the first to win a Super Bowl having entered the playoffs as a number six seed in 2005.