Mike Tomlin knows how to win and speak with purpose. After the Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up a brilliantly executed 2025 NFL Draft, Tomlin once again delivered the perfect closing line. Sitting with Rich Eisen and the NFL Network crew, he summed it all up.
“As you guys can see not only in that pick but all our others, there’s a commitment with this draft group to reestablish physicality and big man presence. It’s what we need.”
Simple. Direct. And 100% Steelers.
From the beginning, you could tell Tomlin and GM Omar Khan were on a mission. At the pre-draft press conference, the duo was surgical with their words. They gave enough to satisfy the media, but never tipped their hand. There was an energy that suggested they were sticking to their plan, and over the three-day draft event, that’s what they did.
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Pick 21 set the tone. Derrick Harmon, the explosive defensive tackle from Oregon, was the first major piece added—a move that raised eyebrows only because fans were still uneasy about the quarterback situation.
But Harmon was a tone-setter, a signal that the Steelers were returning to what made them great: dominating the line of scrimmage.
The Pittsburgh Steelers completed the 2025 NFL Draft with all boxes checked
After the Harmon pick, Jack Sawyer was next as a trenches addition. The Ohio State edge rusher isn’t just a talented player—he’s a T.J. Watt clone in motor, frame, and mindset. That pick alone showed how much Pittsburgh values edge pressure and long-term continuity on defense.
Later, a calculated trade with the Chiefs allowed the Steelers to grab Yahya Black, a massive nose tackle from Iowa who brings a brick-wall presence to the middle of the defense. With each pick, the message became crystal.
Yes, they eventually got their quarterback—Will Howard, the tough and promising prospect from Ohio State—in the sixth round. But by then, the statement was made: this team is rebuilding its identity around physical, relentless defense.
Tomlin's closing words spoke the truth. The Steelers did not panic, reach, or compromise. They drafted with intention, toughness, and vision.
This draft was not about names. It was about the message. And Pittsburgh heard it loud.