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Derrick Harmon He suffered a brilliant personal loss seconds after he celebrated being drafted in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Harmon’s mother, Healthy tiffanyHe died “shortly after he went to hospital and had to tell her that he had been drafted,” according to the Pittsburgh Post-gazette‘S gerry dulac. Harmon was drafted with the 21st general selection by the Steelers on Thursday, April 24.
Saine suffered a stroke during Harmon’s New Year at Michigan State in 2021, which left her paralysis on her left side. Harmon has said that his mother’s stroke was something his family “used to,” because his mother had “about eight brain surgeries” while he was growing up.
Harmon transferred to Oregon in May 2024, making the difficult decision to move across the country from his mother, who lived in Detroit.
“I sat down with my mother and had a discussion,” said Harmon during an ESPN profile that broadcast during the NFL draft on Thursday. “She told me that every decision I made up to this point was for her and it’s time to make a decision for myself.”
Harmon’s mother was at the top of the mind for the defensive tackle throughout the first night of the draft.
“She is currently in hospital on life maintenance, so that was a bit bitter because she worked just as hard as me to reach this moment,” said Harmon on a media call after his choice. “It was a once in a lifetime experience. I’m very excited.”
She added, “After I got off the phone with you, I’m going to go straight to hospital and tell her that her son was drafted.”
Harmon explained how he learned resilience from his mother, and routinely flew back to visit in Michigan throughout the football season.
“After all those brain surgeries, man, he didn’t give up,” he told reporters on Thursday. “She still needed to practice, still going to work. Always in the back of my head from the start of my college career was: ‘Why can’t I keep going? If I’m tired, injured, whatever it is, why can’t I keep going?’ If she can get up and she can hold on after brain surgeries.
She added, “She was my inspiration.”
Harmon shared a childhood picture of himself and his mother through his Instagram story on Thursday night.
“All this for you !!!” He wrote. “And I’m doing what you told me I can do a long time ago. I love you until the wheels fall off !!!! ❤️😭. “