Derrick Harmon, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-round draft pick, was recognized on Mar. 21 for his strong performance during his rookie season despite missing several games due to injuries.
Harmon’s achievements are significant as he became the first defensive lineman to win the Joe Greene Great Performance Award, which is presented annually to the Steelers’ top rookie. The award, established in 1984 and named after Hall of Famer Joe Greene, highlights outstanding contributions by new players.
Harmon finished his debut season with 27 tackles, including 11 solo stops, three sacks, one tackle for a loss, and a fumble recovery. He missed five games because of two separate knee injuries but remained a key part of the defense when available. “For me, it was kind of tough because I haven’t been a type of guy that got injured a lot,” Harmon said. “And I came to the NFL, and it happened twice in my rookie year, so it’s kind of hard. But it’s part of the game, so I’ve just got to stay optimistic and really just stay on course.” He added that staying positive was important: “(The second) go around for me was just staying positive. The first go around, I don’t feel like I was really as positive. This one I tried to stay as positive. Just being in the building, showing up to meetings and still preparing like I’m still going to play the game. That’s how I look at it.”
Harmon joined the Steelers as the 21st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft from Oregon after starting all 14 games for the Ducks in 2024 and earning second-team Associated Press All-America honors.
The Steelers have a tradition of honoring standout figures such as Terry Bradshaw and Joe Greene through their Hall of Honor according to their official website. The team has also achieved six Super Bowl championships as reported by their official website and engages fans through historical celebrations and experiences outlined on their official website. Artifacts related to these achievements are displayed at the Hall of Honor Museum at Acrisure Stadium according to their official website.
As members of the National Football League based on information from their official website, the Steelers continue to recognize both past legends and emerging talent like Harmon.
