April 28, 2025
Tiffany Saine was on life assist when Harmon discovered the information about being drafted.
A soccer participant misplaced his mom lower than 24 hours after being drafted by an NFL crew.
In response to ESPN, Derrick Harmon, who was chosen because the No. 21 choose of the NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, misplaced his mom shortly after the NFL Commissioner referred to as his title on draft night time. Harmon was on his solution to see his mom, Tiffanny Saine, after leaving a draft occasion acknowledging his choice. She was on life assist.
“It was just a little bittersweet, man,” Harmon mentioned moments after being drafted by the Steelers. “My mother wasn’t with me, she’s on the hospital proper now on life assist, in order that was just a little bittersweet, as a result of she labored simply as laborious as me to get to this second.”
Saine suffered a stroke in 2022 that left her paralyzed on her left aspect. Harmon selected to play for Michigan State so he could possibly be near his mom, who had additionally had a number of mind surgical procedures earlier than struggling her stroke. He performed his senior season at Oregon.
Steelers President Artwork Rooney II gave an announcement concerning the loss of life of Harmon’s mom.
“On behalf of the complete Pittsburgh Steelers group, I prolong our deepest condolences to Derrick Harmon and his household throughout this troublesome time.
“Although we’re excited to pick out Derrick within the first spherical of the NFL Draft, our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of life of his mom, Tiffany Saine. We’ll assist Derrick and his household nonetheless we will as he navigates this era of grief. In instances like this, we hope Derrick finds consolation within the love and assist from the group and Steelers followers all over the world.
Our ideas and prayers will proceed to be with Derrick’s whole household.”
Harmon mentioned he received his resilience from his mom.
“In spite of everything these mind surgical procedures, man, she didn’t hand over. She nonetheless took me to observe, nonetheless went to work, and I all the time, all the time, behind my head from the start of my faculty profession was, why can’t I hold going?
“If I’m drained, I’m injured, no matter it’s, why can’t I hold going if she will be able to stand up and she will be able to hold going after mind surgical procedure?”
The Detroit Free Press reported that Harmon, born in Detroit, performed soccer at Detroit Loyola, the place he was a two-time All-State first crew choice and a three-star recruit earlier than heading to Michigan State.
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