Before every game at the University of Iowa, defensive end Yahya Black had a unique ritual. He listened to Adele’s music as his pregame choice, which might seem unusual given her sentimental style isn’t typically associated with the intensity of football.
“That’s what I did every single game since freshman year,” said Black. “It was the calm before the storm.” He explained that he preferred not to rile himself up and found Adele’s soothing voice calming. His stepmother introduced him to Adele when he was young, and it became a lasting preference.
Black, who stands 6-5 and weighs 352 pounds, has been compared by Coach Mike Tomlin to an F-350 truck due to his size and power. “There’s F-150s,” said Tomlin. “He’s like an F-350. He’s a big man.” Black humorously admitted he wasn’t familiar with how large an F-350 is but acknowledged his considerable size.
In addition to his physical stature, Black is known for his strength against the run, something he takes pride in bringing to Pittsburgh. “I’ve always been a run through your face type of person,” said Black. He emphasized his commitment to stopping the run and developing other skills as needed.
His drive comes from family influences, particularly from watching his father work hard in construction jobs despite struggles growing up in Marshall, Minnesota—a small town with just under 14,000 residents. This upbringing instilled toughness in him from an early age.
As Black pursued football seriously, he realized its potential impact on his life around his third year in college when the game started slowing down for him mentally. Initially feeling overwhelmed by the pace of play, he eventually reached a point where everything felt more manageable.
“It all started to become reality when the game slowed down for me,” reflected Black on reaching this turning point in his career aspirations.
