It was far from inspiring, but the Pittsburgh Steelers managed to come away with a huge 21-14 road victory over the New England Patriots this week. They did so thanks to a comedy of errors by the Patriots' offense, including four fumbles and an interception.
The defense was still shaky, especially in pass coverage, but it was a huge improvement compared to an awful first two games. They looked much more like the playmaking unit that we are used to, and a key factor in their turnaround was the debut of first-round pick Derrick Harmon.
Harmon played well in his first real NFL action after missing the first two weeks with a knee injury, especially in comparison to who had been out there in his place. He already looks like one of the steals of the first round; now he needs to keep proving it.
Pittsburgh Steelers need Derrick Harmon to keep proving them right for drafting him
Steelers fans had to wait to see their first glimpse of the team's 2025 first-round pick, but he wasted no time introducing himself. Harmon picked up his first career sack in the first quarter, bringing Patriots quarterback Drake Maye down for a four-yard loss on third down.
He was disruptive throughout the game despite being on a snap count, nearly sacking Maye again later in the game while chasing him to the edge. The run defense was markedly improved as well, and it was no coincidence. Harmon's raw power and strength make him a much more formidable run defender than what the Steelers were trotting out there early in the season.
He still has a lot to prove, especially whether he can be this effective with a full workload, but the early signs are demonstrably positive. The athleticism he displayed while at Oregon was on full display, especially on his first career tackle.
Derrick Harmon’s 1st Steelers tackle. He’s just like Cam Heyward. Chasing down a screen to a RB. He has Steelers DNA. pic.twitter.com/U40lwy874P
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) September 21, 2025
If the Steelers are going to keep improving on their terrible start defensively, Harmon has to be a big part of it. We saw much more of the elite versions of Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt this week, but those performances won't be as common as they used to be. To become the contenders they believe themselves to be, it will be up to players like Harmon to raise the ceiling of what this team can accomplish.
So far, so good.