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Their teams are fierce rivals, but Mike Wallace, left, and Michael Oher, right, are close friends.
Hidden beneath one of the NFL's most heated rivalries lies a strong friendship that goes much deeper than football.
It's no secret the Baltimore Ravens (8-6) and Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7) do not like each other. The AFC North rivals play Sunday, and their games are often filled with bravado, brutality and plenty of trash talk.
But for Ravens right tackle Michael Oher and Steelers receiver Mike Wallace, their bond goes beyond the natural hatred between the two teams. The two rookies spent the past four years at Mississippi leading the Rebels and developing a strong friendship.
They played in the same offense, worked out together and even spent holidays in Memphis with Oher's family, which was prominently highlighted in this year's blockbuster movie "The Blind Side."
Now that both players are in the pros, it's a link not even the Ravens and Steelers can break.
"Our friendship is apart from our rivalry," said Oher, who estimates he and Wallace talk three or four times a week.
Same school, different paths
Despite their close friendship, the players took different paths to the NFL.
Oher came to Ole Miss with a lot of fanfare. He had a tough personal story, growing up homeless at one point, before developing into one of the nation's top recruits. Oher quickly became a starter as a freshman, and it was only a matter of time before the NFL called. Oher was Baltimore's first-round pick this past April.
"I heard about [Oher's story] before he ever got there, because he was a big recruit," Wallace said. "He kind of told me for himself. I wanted to know his story from him. So he told me about it, and I'm just happy for him and the things he accomplished, considering where he came from."
Wallace wasn't as heavily recruited out of O. Perry Walker High School in New Orleans. He didn't begin to blossom until his junior and senior years, when he became Mississippi's primary deep threat. Even during the draft, teams questioned his route running, which was a major reason he fell to Pittsburgh in the third round.
But hard work and good coaching have made Wallace a dangerous part of Pittsburgh’s offense. In last week's 37-36 victory over the Green Bay Packers, Wallace scored the first touchdown of the game on a 60-yard reception, and the last on a 19-yard game-winner with no time remaining.
"I gave him a call right after the game," Oher said. "He was just excited and I was proud of him."
Both players have been among the NFL's most productive rookies.
Oher has started all 14 games for Baltimore, mostly at right tackle. But he has been so good that Baltimore is considering moving him to left tackle at some point to protect quarterback Joe Flacco's blind side.
Wallace has 34 receptions for 609 yards for the Steelers. He is tied for second on the team with five touchdown receptions.
High stakes
But both Oher and Wallace have a job to do Sunday, and that is to help their teams keep their postseason hopes alive.
Baltimore currently holds the No. 5 seed in the AFC and can control its destiny with wins over Pittsburgh and the Oakland Raiders. The Ravens are playing great football, as Oher and the offense have scored 79 points in the past two games.
The Steelers need help in addition to winning their final two games against the Ravens and Miami Dolphins. Pittsburgh ended a five-game losing streak last week with a win over the Packers. One of those five losses was to Baltimore, 20-17 in overtime on Nov. 29.
Oher improved to 1-0 against Wallace, but there hasn't been much trash talk between the two friends.
"We don't hang it over each other's head too bad," Wallace said. "After the [first] game he told me he will see me in four weeks, and I told him we're going to be ready."
As bitter rivals, the Ravens and Steelers will never get along. But Oher and Wallace will.
"We got a good, close friendship," Oher said. "In the offseason we're going to take a lot of trips and work out together.
"It's a good friendship that's going to last a long time."