Polamalu’s return is expected with uncle on opposite sideline

Kennedy Pola is a running back coach for the Jaguars.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Troy Polamalu, always a soft talker, doesn’t need a lot of words to express what this game will mean to him.

The Jaguars-Steelers matchup Sunday isn’t only about the Steelers staying in first place in the AFC North. This is about family and, to Polamalu, nothing could mean more.

Polamalu, the Steelers’ three-time Pro Bowl safety, grew up in a football-playing family in which a half-dozen close relatives played in college or in the NFL. Among them is uncle Kennedy Pola, one of the most influential persons in his life and, now, Jacksonville Jaguars running backs coach.

When the two teams take the field Sunday, uncle and nephew are certain to exchange a hug and a few words of encouragement, secure in the knowledge that being on opposite sides for one football game won’t change their relationship.

“We talk every week, we check in every week,” Polamalu said. “He makes sure I’m healthy.”

Polamalu sat out the Steelers’ last three games with a sprained knee, but returned to practice this week and is expected to play Sunday. Just in time to oppose his uncle’s team.

“I feel good now,” he said.

The game is important to both teams. The Steelers (9-4) are in the AFC playoffs if they win; the Jaguars (9-4) are in with a win and a Tennessee loss or tie. The Jaguars also know they could return to Pittsburgh for a playoff game next month.

Still, for the Polamalu/Pola family that is based largely in southern California and Oregon, this would be a big game even if both teams were winless.

“It’s not the first time we played each other,” Polamalu said.

While Pola was a Southern Cal running backs and special teams assistant coach when Polamalu played for the Trojans, they opposed each other one time when Pola was on San Diego State’s staff.

Pola was born on Nov. 22, 1963, the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and is named for him. He shortened his family name from Polamalu because many found it difficult to pronounce, much like another of Troy Polamalu’s uncles, Al Pola, a former Penn State player.

Kennedy Pola jokes he has more money now because Polamalu isn’t always coming around asking to borrow some, like he did during his college days. The two spent considerable time together while at Southern California, and Polamalu’s draft party before he was chosen No. 16 overall by the Steelers in 2003 was held at Pola’s house.

When Polamalu was drafted, family members and friends gathered in Pola’s yard and performed a Samoan dance to celebrate. Pola always figured his nephew would be a pro athlete but, only a few years before, felt it would be in baseball rather than football.