Around this time last year, Steelers DL Derrick Harmon wasn’t just preparing for the draft, but also preparing to lose his mother. She passed away on draft night, shortly after visiting her in the hospital to tell her the Steelers drafted him. So much has happened since then, but this year, he’s able to take it all in. And he likes what he sees, especially from the others around him.
“It’s a blessing to be back here again”, Harmon said as the Steelers opened their offseason program yesterday, via Teresa Varley writing for the team’s website. “It’s way easier this time around, because you know what to expect, what to do. And being in the building this early is great”. Around this time last year, he was holding meetings with teams having no idea where he would begin his career.
As a rookie, Derrick Harmon started eight of 12 games for the Steelers, injuries robbing him of some playing opportunities. He recorded 27 tackles, 1 for loss, with 3 sacks, 5 hits, and a batted pass. In the Steelers’ postseason loss, Harmon recorded 6 tackles and 1 sack. But he is just one of the pieces of the puzzle, and he’s happy to help put the picture together.
“Just being here right now, I feel like it’s a big help for the second-year guys ready to get to work”, he said. “I didn’t expect so many veterans to be here, but it was a lot. And it just shows what we expect to do this year as a team and what our priorities are”.
While there is no formal report about who attended the opening of the Steelers’ offseason program—traditional media were not permitted—there is ample evidence of many prominent names. Ranging from T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward to Rico Dowdle and Michael Pittman Jr., a wide array are in the building. That includes Harmon, of course, meeting with his new Steelers coaches, including DL Domata Peko.
This offseason, HC Mike Tomlin resigned, eventually replaced by Mike McCarthy, with him parted most of the coaching staff, Patrick Graham taking over as defensive coordinator. Derrick Harmon must learn his second professional defense in as many seasons, but now he understands how the process works. This time, he is ready to hit the ground running. And he sees the larger image beyond his role in it.
“It’s us playing on the field, but the coaches are giving us information, and the relationships have to be built this time of the year”, Varley quoted Harmon as saying about what the Steelers are building starting this week. “We can’t start building relationships once we’re in training camp, because once training camp is coming around, we’re going to work. So right now, I feel like building relationships is important”.
The Steelers drafted Harmon last year as the focal point of their defensive line of the future. While Cam Heyward is still here and playing at a high level, the clock is ticking. Pittsburgh need Harmon to steward this group into the future, and nobody can do it alone. Now with a lap around the track, it’s time to see what he’s made of, both on the field and in the locker room.
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