Derrick Harmon’s journey to the NFL was one of grit, determination, and family… but his crowning achievement was met with heartbreaking loss. Just moments after being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 21st overall pick, the 21-year-old defensive tackle was hit with devastating news: his mother, Tiffany Saine, had passed away.
The bittersweet moment was captured during ESPN’s NFL Draft broadcast, where Harmon appeared visibly emotional. While the nation celebrated his rise to the pros, he carried the weight of a personal tragedy in silence. Saine had been on life support at the time of the draft, and Harmon had already planned to visit her in the hospital immediately after the ceremony.
“It was bittersweet,” Harmon shared with reporters. “My mom wasn’t with me. She was in the hospital on life support. She worked just as hard as I did to get me here.”
The Steelers organization extended their heartfelt condolences through a statement from team president Art Rooney II.
“While we’re honored to welcome Derrick to the Steelers family, our hearts ache for his loss,” Rooney said. “Tiffany Saine’s strength and sacrifice clearly helped shape Derrick into the man and athlete he is today. We’ll stand by him and offer whatever support he needs during this difficult time.”
Saine’s battle with health issues began in 2022 when a stroke left her partially paralyzed. Despite the life-altering setback, she continued to show up for her son, driving him to practices and maintaining her work life after multiple brain surgeries. Inspired by her unwavering resilience, Harmon remained focused on his goals.
“She never gave up,” Harmon said. “After all those surgeries, she still got up, still took me to practice, still worked. So whenever I felt tired or injured, I’d ask myself — why stop? If she kept going, I had to keep going.”
Harmon, who used part of his college endorsement earnings to purchase a wheelchair-accessible van for his mother, has long credited her as his greatest motivation.
Now, as he begins his NFL career, he carries her legacy with him… not just in spirit, but as the fuel behind every play, every practice, and every step forward.
