Derrick Harmon’s mother dies shortly after learning son selected in NFL draft | NFL

Tiffany Saine, the mom of Derrick Harmon, died shortly after studying the Pittsburgh Steelers had chosen her son with the twenty first decide of the NFL draft.

Harmon was visibly emotional as he was picked, and the ESPN broadcast confirmed a video by which the defensive deal with spoke about his mom’s well being points and paid tribute to the optimistic impact she had on his life. Saine was on life assist when Harmon was chosen and the 21-year-old advised reporters he was going to see her in hospital after Thursday evening’s ceremony.

“It was a bit of bittersweet, man,” Harmon stated of the second he was chosen. “My mother wasn’t with me, she’s on the hospital proper now on life assist, in order that was a bit of bittersweet, as a result of she labored as arduous simply as me to get to this second.”

She died shortly after he advised her he had been drafted by the Steelers, in response to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Submit-Gazette.

“On behalf of the complete Pittsburgh Steelers group, I prolong our deepest condolences to Derrick Harmon and his household throughout this troublesome time,” Steelers president Artwork Rooney II stated on Friday in an announcement.

“Although we’re excited to pick 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 are going to assist Derrick and his household nonetheless we are able to as he navigates this era of grief. In occasions 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 total household.”

Saine suffered a stroke in 2022 that left her paralyzed on the left aspect of her physique. Harmon stated he used a few of his endorsement earnings from his school profession to purchase his mom a wheelchair-accessible van. He additionally stated her response to her well being points helped encourage him.

“In spite of everything these mind surgical procedures, man, she didn’t quit,” Harmon stated. “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 school 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 stand up and he or she hold going after mind surgical procedure.”