A wave of emotion washed over Derrick Harmon when his name was called. A dream realized, yet….“It was a little bittersweet,” he uttered, his voice thick with feeling. ESPN’s subsequent tribute unveiled the reason: his mother’s critical illness and her dependence on life support. Even in this moment of triumph, his heart lay elsewhere. “My mom wasn’t with me, she’s at the hospital right now on life support, so that was a little bittersweet, because she worked as hard just as me to get to this moment.” After the draft, the 21-year-old had one stop in mind—straight to her bedside. Looks like a night to remember, wrapped in pain, pride, and purpose.

Well, with the 21st pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a bold move—selecting Oregon star Derrick Harmon. However, talent? No question. The DT was a beast in the trenches. But the pick turned heads. Why? The Steelers’ D-line is already stacked. Yes, Cam Heyward still dominates. T.J. Watt is a wrecking machine. So, defensive tackle wasn’t exactly a top priority. Still, Pittsburgh saw something. Maybe it’s about the future. Maybe it’s about depth. Or maybe… they just couldn’t pass up a game-changer.

However, tragedy struck just moments after triumph. Derrick Harmon had just lived his dream—picked 21st overall by the Steelers in first round. But shortly after visiting his mom in the hospital, she passed away. Tiffany Saine, his biggest supporter, died knowing her son made it. Well, she had fought hard. A stroke during his freshman year at Michigan State left her hospitalized, paralyzed on one side. At that time, Harmon faced a heart-wrenching choice: stay close to her or chase his future. Although he chose Oregon—but never stopped carrying her with him.

After hearing the heartbreaking news, the Steelers did what mattered most. They stood by their rookie. On April 26th, team president Art Rooney II released a heartfelt statement following the passing of Derrick Harmon’s mother. The organization, though thrilled to welcome Harmon, felt the weight of his loss deeply.

The Steelers’ President stated, “On behalf of the entire Pittsburgh Steelers organization, I extend our deepest condolences to Derrick Harmon and his family during this difficult time. Though we are excited to select Derrick in the first round of the NFL Draft, our hearts are heavy as we mourn the death of his mother, Tiffany Saine. We will support Derrick and his family however we can as he navigates this period of grief. In times like this, we hope Derrick finds comfort in the love and support from the organization and Steelers fans around the world. Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with Derrick’s entire family.”

The Steelers’ President vowed to go above and beyond for their rookie. But long before the draft spotlight, Derrick Harmon was already making life-changing moves—off the field. In one powerful moment, his mother told him, “Every decision you’ve made was for me. Now it’s time to make one for yourself.” That hit deep. And keeping that moment in mind, on draft night, Harmon said, “She’s the reason I’m here. She did everything for me. I love you, Mom. Everything I do is for you. I’m forever grateful.” Well, in 2022, a stroke left Tiffany Saine paralyzed on her left side. But Harmon never stopped showing up. With college NIL earnings, he bought her a wheelchair-accessible van. To be honest, her strength became his fuel, and her fight became his drive.

But Derrick Harmon didn’t stop there. “After all those brain surgeries, man, she did not give up,” he said. She still drove him to practice. Still showed up for work. Still fought. From day one of his college career, her resilience echoed in his mind. “Why can’t I keep going?” Tired? Injured? It didn’t matter. Simply put—if she could rise after brain surgery, so could he. Let’s be real: her courage became his compass. Her fight became his why.

No achievement can truly heal a loss this deep. Some moments in life break you. But they also build you. Derrick Harmon now carries the weight of grief—and the strength his mother poured into him. Her spirit lives in every step he takes forward. While many focus on the heartbreak, there’s also triumph. Amid the pain, a dream came true. Harmon is now a Pittsburgh Steeler. And though his heart is heavy, his future is bright. Because he’s not just playing for himself—he’s playing for her.

Why the Steelers selected Oregon DT

QB was the glaring need. The Steelers had no clear starter after losing both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson in free agency. So, the spotlight was on Shedeur Sanders. Even many believed he was the obvious choice at No. 21, but Pittsburgh went another way. They shocked the draft world—rolling with Oregon’s Derrick Harmon instead. A bold move and a statement pick. Simply put, defense over flash and grit over glam. However, the Steelers clearly saw something special in the big man up front.

Derrick Harmon was a force to be reckoned with. In his final season, he racked up 45 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks. On Oregon’s defensive line, he was the anchor, dominating with both power and precision. On top of that, his standout play earned him Second-Team All-Pac-12 honors in 2024. After transferring from Michigan State, Harmon quickly became the heart of Oregon’s defense, leading the charge with relentless drive.

If that wasn’t enough to justify the pick, here’s why the Steelers went for Harmon. HC Mike Tomlin nailed it in two words: “Extreme urgency.” Tomlin knows there’s no substitute for raw, young talent. To build a top-tier defense, you need to be strong inside and up front. And Harmon is just that. A young guy with the chance to learn from Cam Heyward and make his mark. Honestly, he’s got all the tools to be a key piece for years to come, per Steelers HC.

So, this pick was big for both the Steelers and the Ducks. Derrick Harmon going in the 1st round marks Oregon’s 6th straight year with a first-rounder. A streak that started with Justin Herbert, taken No. 6 overall by the Chargers. Since then, the Ducks have been a constant presence in the early rounds. Now, Harmon continues the tradition, proving Oregon’s pipeline to the NFL is stronger than ever.