Derrick Harmon should have been celebrating the biggest night of his life. Instead, he spent it saying goodbye. Just hours after the Pittsburgh Steelers selected the Oregon defensive lineman with the 21st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Harmon’s mother, Tiffany Saine, passed away.
During his first media session as a Steeler, Harmon revealed to reporters that his mom was on life support. His plan was simple, go straight to the hospital and share the news that he had made it to the NFL.
“She’s at the hospital right now on life support,” he said, pausing for a moment. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m very excited. After I get off the phone with you guys, I’m going to head straight to the hospital and tell her that her son got drafted.”
Bittersweet Moment Turns Heartbreaking
According to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Gerry Dulac, Tiffany Saine died shortly after Harmon reached her side. He managed to deliver the news- his dream had come true- and then she was gone.
Saine had been a fighter all her life. When Harmon was a freshman at Michigan State, she suffered a stroke that left her paralyzed on her left side. That moment changed everything for the young lineman. In the years that followed, she endured eight brain surgeries, each one testing her strength, and his. Harmon never forgot her sacrifice. He even used earnings from his NIL deals in college to buy her a wheelchair-accessible van.
On draft night, the joy of hearing his name called turned bittersweet in an instant. He smiled for cameras, answered questions, and then rushed to her side. Steelers Nation barely had time to welcome him before tragedy hit.
NFL fans flooded social media with support. “this is so heartbreaking,” one fan wrote.
Another added, “RIP, Glad he got to tell her he was drafted before she passed.”
The Steelers have yet to release a formal statement, but the organization and fans alike continue to rally around the rookie.
For Harmon, this new chapter begins under the weight of loss. But it’s clear he carries the resilience of his mother with him. She helped him get here. Now, he plays for more than just himself.
