When an inexperienced soldier finds success in battle, it’s usually for one of two reasons: an overwhelming amount of talent or a sustainable environment that allows growth without fear. For Pittsburgh Steelers rookie defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Skill met structure, preparation met opportunity, and on Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens, the result was a statement performance that went far beyond the box score.
From the moment Pittsburgh selected Harmon in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the vision was clear. This wasn’t just about adding youth to the defensive line—it was about building a counterpunch. Defeating Derrick Henry, clogging interior lanes, and surviving the physical gauntlet of the AFC North were priorities. Harmon was drafted to be a defensive V8 engine, someone capable of absorbing contact and still driving forward.
Against Baltimore, he proved exactly why that investment was made.
In a gritty, low-scoring affair that demanded toughness over flash, Harmon clocked running lanes with discipline, delivered punishing hits in the trenches, and showed surprising range chasing down Lamar Jackson—arguably the league’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterback. The stat line won’t stop anyone in their tracks: two tackles and one key sack. But football games aren’t always decided by volume. Sometimes, they’re decided by timing.
Harmon’s sack came when Pittsburgh needed it most, halting momentum and reminding Baltimore that the middle of the field was not available for business. His presence helped limit Derrick Henry’s impact and forced Jackson to hesitate just long enough for the Steelers’ defense to rally. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t dominant. But it was effective—and in January football, effectiveness is everything.
The Pittsburgh Steelers received a huge return on investment with rookie Derrick Harmon
With Harmon anchoring the interior, Mike Tomlin’s crew persevered through four quarters of physical warfare, ultimately clinching their first AFC North title since 2020 with a 26-24 victory. That achievement speaks volumes, especially considering the circumstances. This wasn’t a roster built overnight. It wasn’t dependent on one offseason move or one high-profile signing.
In fact, it proved Pittsburgh knew exactly what it was doing long before Aaron Rodgers ever arrived.
The blueprint started in the trenches. It started with Harmon.
Over the course of the season, the rookie has tallied 26 tackles and two sacks. Respectable numbers for a first-year player learning on the fly in one of the league’s most demanding divisions. But his true value doesn’t live on the stat sheet. It lives in the subtle victories—eating double teams, forcing backs to bounce outside, collapsing pockets just enough to disrupt timing.
Harmon has been a quiet stabilizer, a tone-setter whose growth mirrors the Steelers’ own identity shift this season. Tough. Relentless. Unapologetically physical.
The journey is far from over. A win over Baltimore doesn’t define a career, and a division title isn’t the final destination. What comes next is uncertain, and that’s the beauty of January football.
What we do know is this: Derrick Harmon has already proven his worth. In his biggest moment to date, the rookie didn’t blink. And for the Pittsburgh Steelers, that might be the most important takeaway of all.