Troy Polamalu now: life after the NFL and his Hall of Fame legacy

Troy Polamalu now: life after the NFL and his Hall of Fame legacy

Troy Polamalu now stands as an iconic Pittsburgh Steelers legend, inspiring fans worldwide. Known for his explosive plays during his heyday, Polamalu continues to make an impact off the field. Today, he dedicates himself to mentoring athletes and community service through NGOs.

Troy Polamalu now stands as an iconic Steelers legend
Troy on October 23, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona (L). Polamalu on December 4, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (R). Photo by Christian Petersen, George Gojkovich (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Polamalu announced his retirement from the NFL on April 10, 2015.
  • Troy has been married to Theodora Holmes since January 27, 2005, and they have two sons, Paisios and Ephraim.
  • He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
  • Troy was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers 16th overall in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft.

Troy Polamalu's profile summary

Full name

Troy Aumua Polamalu

Date of birth

April 19, 1981

Age

44 years old (as of 2025)

Place of birth

Garden Grove, California, USA

Current residence

San Diego, California, United States

Nationality

American

Ethnicity

Polynesian

Height

5 feet 10 inches

Weight

94 kg (approx)

Mother

Suila Polamalu

Siblings

Sakio, Sheila, Lupe, and Tria Aumua

Relationship status

Married

Wife

Theodora Holmes

Children

Paisios and Ephraim

Education

Douglas High School and the University of Southern California

Profession

Former NFL player

Net worth

$40 million

Social media

Instagram

Facebook

X (Twitter)

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A look at Troy Polamalu now and his whereabouts

Since retiring from professional football in April 2015, Troy Polamalu has been engaged in various football and community outreach programs. One of his notable projects is the Resilience Bowl, a football-themed fundraising event in support of the Neighborhood Resilience Project.

Polamalu revealed the project in an Instagram post on March 25, 2024. He captioned,

Counting down until we hit the field for the inaugural Resilience Bowl. Can’t wait to rally alongside some of my good friends in support of the Neighborhood Resilience Project and the Pittsburgh community. Get ready to experience a football celebration unlike any other.
Troy Polamalu at the 2011 Cedars Sinai Sports Spectacular at Hyatt Regency Century Plaza
Troy Polamalu at the 2011 Cedars Sinai Sports Spectacular at Hyatt Regency Century Plaza on May 22, 2011, California. Photo by Kevin Winter (modified by author)
Source: Original

About Troy Polamalu's career and retirement

Troy was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers 16th overall in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He remained with the team for his entire career, as he wanted to create a legacy with only one team. He said,

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I didn't not want to be a player who is jumping from team to team. I’ve always felt comfortable here, I think this organization, this tradition they have here, is very legendary and I always wanted to be part of this.

Stats and recognitions

In his 12-year career as a safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Polamalu amassed 577 solo tackles, 32 interceptions, and 13 forced fumbles. Troy was an eight-time Pro Bowler and NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. He also won two Super Bowls (XL and XLIII) and was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2000s.

Retirement

Troy Polamalu announced his retirement from the NFL on April 10, 2015, after a 12-season career, all with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He announced his decision to retire, wanting to spend more time with his family. He revealed,

Since the end of the season I've had a chance to enjoy my family on a level that I never had before. It was awesome. Thank God football has provided me the ability to be able to sit back and see what the options are. But I'll definitely be the best father I can be.

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Troy Polamalu's wife is Theodora Holmes
Troy on December 4, 2011 in Pittsburgh (L). Polamalu on November 14, 2010 in Pittsburgh (R). Photo by George Gojkovich (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Also, during a June 12, 2023, appearance on All Things Covered, the former NFL player revealed what made him realise it was time to retire. He said,

When I realized I was done was in the middle of a game. In my mind, I was like ‘do this’ but I had already done that, and then ‘do this’ but I had already done that. Then, I just played my position. That was the moment I realized, man, I had exhausted the creativity in myself. That was the first sign of me being done.

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Hall of Fame legacy

Troy ended his career as an eight-time Pro Bowler and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020. Since retiring, he has remained connected to football, including attending Steelers training camps and being involved in the Steelers Hall of Honour.

Is Troy Polamalu now part-owner of the Steelers?

Troy is not part of the Steelers, despite rumours that he is returning to the team as a co-owner or assistant coach. The team's ownership remains with the Rooney family.

Did Troy Polamalu feature in Moana?

Troy Polamalu featured in the movie Moana (2016). He provided the voice for Villager No. 1 in the film. In an Instagram post, he shared a photo alongside Dwayne Johnson, one of the stars of the American animated musical adventure film. He captioned,

I wake up looking like Maui! Go catch @therock (as me) in.

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Troy Polamalu now stands as an iconic Steelers legend
Troy on December 5, 2018 (L). Dwayne Johnson and Polamalu on December 3, 2024 (R). Photo: @tpolamalu on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: Instagram

About Troy Polamalu's age and early life

Troy, whose full name is Troy Aumua Polamalu, aged 44 as of 2025, was born in Garden Grove, California, USA, on April 19, 1981. His mother is Suila Polamalu and grew up in an American-Samoan household alongside his four older siblings.

Troy Polamalu's educational background

Polamalu attended Douglas High School in Winston, Oregon, where he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball. He then received a scholarship to play football at the University of Southern California, earning All-American honours and being a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award in 2002.

About Troy Polamalu's wife and children

Troy Polamalu is married to Theodora Holmes, and they have two sons: Paisios, born in 2008, and Ephraim, born in 2010. They exchanged their vows on January 27, 2005.

Theodora Holmes (L) and Troy Polamalu at the 11th Annual Orphaned Starfish Foundation's New York Gala
Theodora Holmes (L) and Troy Polamalu at the 11th Annual Orphaned Starfish Foundation's New York Gala on October 23, 2015 in New York City. Photo by Matthew Eisman (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Exploring Troy Polamalu's net worth

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Troy Polamalu is estimated to have a net worth of $40 million. His fortune primarily stems from his successful career in the NFL and business ventures.

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Trivia

  • Known as "The Tasmanian Devil," Polamalu earned a reputation for creating chaos on defence.
  • His long hair has become his trademark throughout his life.

Final word

Troy Polamalu now remains deeply connected to Steelers fans and football culture. His legacy transcends the game, as he leads through example both on and off the field, especially with his non-profit organisation activities.

READ MORE: Inside Joe Thomas' weight loss journey

Briefly.co.za shared an article about Joe Thomas, a former NFL player best known for his time as a left tackle for the Cleveland Browns. He won 10 Pro Bowls and set an NFL record with 10,363 consecutive snaps before retiring in 2017.

Following his retirement, he works as an analyst for the NFL Network, appearing on Thursday Night Football shows. He has also made history by losing a tremendous amount of weight.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Bennett Yates avatar

Bennett Yates (Lifestyle writer) Bennett Yates is a content creator with over six years of working experience in journalism and copywriting. He graduated from the University of Nairobi (2017) with a Bachelor's in Information Technology. In 2023, Bennett finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. He has worked for Briefly.co.za for six years now. He specializes in topics like technology, entertainment, travel, lifestyle and sports. You can reach him via email at bennetyates@gmail.com.

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