Derrick Harmon didn’t just return from injury against the Lions yesterday; he returned to his hometown of Detroit. Harmon grew up there, attending Loyola High School before going to Michigan State. He stayed close to home to remain near his ailing mother, who suffered a stroke his freshman year of college. But he transferred to Oregon for his senior season, raising his stock before the Steelers selected him in the first round.

Harmon’s mother passed away shortly after the Steelers drafted him, making his return to Detroit all the more emotional. More practically, he had missed the previous three games due to injury, “agitated” that he couldn’t play last week. So there was plenty going on in his head entering this game, during which he helped the defense shut down one of the best running games in the NFL.

Asked after the game if getting this win against the Lions in Detroit meant more to him, Derrick Harmon said, “Yes, sir. One hundred percent”, via the Steelers’ website. According to Cam Heyward, he spoke to the group the day before the game and appears to have received a game ball after the fact.

“D-Harm battled his way back”, Heyward said, via the Steelers’ website. “This win was important for him. To come back and play in your hometown, a place where you wanted your mom to see you play—he said that to us last night. And as a group of brothers, we really wanted to get that done for him”.

Derrick Harmon’s mother Tiffany has battled health issues throughout her life, including suffering a stroke when Harmon was a freshman.

He shared this photo and message with his mom earlier today. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/qrfuezXPxK

— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) April 25, 2025

Harmon has played in 10 games this season, missing five, including the first two. He has 24 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 batted pass, and a fumble recovery. That stat line doesn’t fully illustrate the impact he has had, however, across 350-plus snaps this year. His teammates certainly recognize how well he is playing and how much he means to the entire locker room.

Harmon entered the draft process with a heavy heart, knowing that his mother didn’t have long to live. She was too ill to attend his draft party, so he quickly headed over to the hospital to let her know the Steelers had drafted her son. Shortly thereafter, he lost her.

For three years, Tiffany Saine was able to watch her son play in their home state of Michigan. Harmon left to better his prospects for his future his senior season, but he hoped that one day his mother would get to see him play there again. By the time the draft rolled around, surely he knew that was an unlikely prospect.

But Harmon helped the Steelers win this game for her, in the city in which she raised him. And his teammates helped win the game for him, and for his mother. Last night’s game ball certainly meant a lot more than just football.