Derrick Harmon during the NFL Combine on Feb. 26, 2025. Photo:

Justin Casterline/Getty 

Derrick Harmon was able to tell his mother, Tiffany Saine, he was drafted into the NFL moments before she died on Thursday, April 24.

Harmon, 21, opened up about his mother’s health during a media call after the Steelers selected him 21st overall on Thursday, telling reporters that the moment felt “a little bittersweet” because his mother was at the hospital on life support, according to WTAE Pittsburgh.

“That was a little bittersweet because she worked as hard just as me to get to this moment,” Harmon said. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m very excited.”

Harmon said he planned to go visit his mother in the hospital as soon as he got off the media call. “I’m going to head straight to the hospital and tell her that her son got drafted,” he said, per the outlet.

Derrick Harmon with his mom. Derrick Harmon/Instagram

Soon after visiting her at the hospital, Saine passed away, the Oregonian and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on Friday, April 25. “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,” Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette wrote on X.

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Harmon said his mom is his “rock” and his “why” in an emotional video on ESPN on Thursday. He explained that his mother “ended up having a stroke” during his freshman year at Michigan State.

“It was kind of hard but it was something that we were used to,” he added, sharing that Saine had undergone “about eight brain surgeries” when he was growing up.

“It was very hard leaving and going to Oregon,” Harmon continued. “It was probably the hardest decision I had to make.”

Saine had been debating if he should stay at Michigan State, where he could be closer to his mom, or transfer to Oregon, where he could excel as a player. In a difficult conversation with Saine at the time, she told Harmon that “every decision” he had made up until that point was for her, and that it was time for him to make one for himself, the new Steeler shared in the video.

“She’s the reason why I’m here,” he continued. “She’s the one that did everything for me to get to that point. I love you mom, everything I do is for you. I’m forever grateful.”