Derrick Harmon’s Mother Sadly Passed Away Right After He Told Her He’d Been Drafted By The Pittsburgh Steelers

Truly heartbreaking news coming out of the NFL world right now.

Last night, former Michigan State and Oregon defensive lineman Derrick Harmon was drafted 21st overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers. During his media calls shortly after the lifechanging moment, he said he was immediately heading over to the hospital to be with his mother, who was on life support, to tell her that he’d been drafted.

She had suffered a stroke at the end of his freshman year of college which paralyzed the left side of her body and she was never able to recover. Harmon had used his NIL money to purchase a wheelchair-accessible van for her, showing again how much he loves her and just how much she meant to him.

Tragically, news is now breaking that his mother, Tiffany, passed away last night shortly after he arrived at the hospital.

Steelers insider, Gerry Dulac, was the first to break the horrible news:

“Derrick Harmon’s mom, who was on life support, passed away shortly after he went to the hospital and got to tell her he had been drafted by the Steelers.”

My heart absolutely goes out to Derrick and his family. On a day when most draftees are celebrating, a day which will forever change his and his loved ones lives, he has to deal with the loss of his mother. My prayers go out to the entire Harmon family.

Just yesterday, ESPN ran a short special on the bond the two of them shared.

Despite his mother not being able to be with him when he got the call, he was surrounded by friends and family who were there to share in the emotions.

While he did honor his media obligations after being taken, it was clear he wanted nothing more than to go and tell his mom that she’d raised an NFL player.

While fighting back tears, he said:

“It’s truly a blessing. It was a little bittersweet man, my mom wasn’t with me, she’s at the hospital right now on life-support, so after I get off the phone with you guys I’m gonna head straight to the hospital and tell her her son got drafted”

Before playing in the Rose Bowl last season, the media asked him what the first thing he purchased with his NIL money was. Some kids got sports cars, or a Rolex, or whatever luxury items are out there that I don’t even know about, but Derrick Harmon used it to help his mother get around just a little bit better.

“I bought my mom a car… She had a stroke my freshman year. So I was able to get a van that’s accessible. They could put a wheelchair in the van”

As a Steelers fan, I will forever say I’m proud to have Derrick Harmon on our team. He blossomed into a star despite unimaginably hard things happening to the person he loved the most and if that doesn’t show you the character and resolve he has than I don’t know what could.

Rest in peace, Tiffany Saine. Despite a lifetime of hardship, you raised a truly remarkable young man.