The Pittsburgh Steelers have hired former outside linebacker Joey Porter as their new defensive assistant coach.

Porter enjoyed a successful eight-year spell with the team between 1999 and 2006 and was one of the key players when the Steelers became the first side to win the Super Bowl as a number six playoff seed in 2005.

The 36-year-old, who officially retired from the game as a Steeler in July 2012, spent last year as an assistant coach at Colorado State having interned with Pittsburgh during the off-season.

He is fifth in the team's all-time sacks list with 60 and was voted to three Pro Bowls during his time in Pittsburgh before joining the Miami Dolphins in 2007, where he was voted to one more.

Porter was named in the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team and is widely considered to be one of the best linebackers in Steelers history.