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Hours after Oregon football alum Derrick Harmon was drafted into the NFL by the Pittsburgh Steelers, his mom Tiffany Saine—who was on life support at the time—died, according to the team.
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One of the NFL’s newest players is having a bittersweet day.
Shortly after defensive tackle Derrick Harmon was selected 21st overall in the NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers April 24, his mom Tiffany Saine sadly died, according to his new team.
“On behalf of the entire Pittsburgh Steelers organization, I extend our deepest condolences to Derrick Harmon and his family during this difficult time,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said in an April 25 statement. “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.”
While Rooney acknowledged that the football organization will support Harmon “as he navigates this period of grief,” he added, “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.”
As Harmon was being drafted, Saine was on life support due to her ongoing health issues—which included a stroke in 2022 that left the left side of her body paralyzed, as well as multiple brain surgeries throughout Harmon’s childhood—according to the athlete. After learning where his football future would take place, though, the Oregon football alum headed to the hospital to share the good news with Saine.
“I’m going to head straight to the hospital,” he told reporters, per CBS Pittsburgh, “and tell her her son got drafted.”
Harmon also explained how his mom inspired him throughout his football career, from childhood to his college years at Michigan State University and the University of Oregon.
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“I grew up with her having probably seven, eight brain surgeries. And after all those brain surgeries, she did not give up,” he continued. “She still took me to practice, still went to work.”
He added, “I always, always in the back of my head, from the beginning of my college career, was [like], ‘Why can’t I keep going if I’m tired, I’m injured, whatever it is? Why can’t I keep going if she can get up and she can keep going after brain surgery?’ So, just her resilience, and hard work.”
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