He rose quickly as a solid player in the middle of the defensive line and played in all 48 games through his first three seasons. Six games into the 2004 season, he suffered a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and missed the remaining games that year. He recovered and continued to play for the Steelers until 2012. Hampton was selected for a Pro Bowl five times (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009). He was also a two-time Super Bowl Champion, and a three-time AFC champion (2005, 2008, 2010). Hampton was also named the Consensus All-American in 2000, as well as the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in the same year. He is currently a free agent.