Mother of Steelers' first-round pick dies shortly after he visits her in hospital to reveal selection: report

After Derrick Harmon was the st overall pick Thursday the newest Pittsburgh Steeler had to break the news to his mother Harmon was unable to watch the draft with his mother because she was on life encouragement in a hospital Harmon disclosed getting drafted was bittersweet because he couldn't spend it with his mom Right after being selected Harmon traveled to a hospital to visit his mother Tiffany Saine and tell her her son got drafted CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS COMAccording to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Saine died shortly after Harmon a defensive tackle was taken by the Steelers Harmon commented his mother had a stroke when he was a freshman at Michigan State which left her paralyzed on her left side She had about eight brain surgeries Harmon revealed She's the reason I'm here She's the reason I did everything up to this point Harmon commented GET FULL NFL DRAFT COVERAGE WITH REAL-TIME PICKS EXPERT ANALYSIS AND CAN'T-MISS MOMENTSHarmon also announced he used his NIL money to buy his mother an accessible van Man how resilient she was man Just growing up from my standpoint my situation I grew up with her having seemingly seven eight brain surgeries Harmon declared after being selected And after all those brain surgeries man she did not give up She still took me to practice still went to work Invariably the back in my head from the beginning of my college career was 'Why can't I keep going If I'm tired I'm injured whatever it is why can't I keep going if she can get up and she can keep going after brain surgeries ' So just her resilience and her hard work really She was my inspiration The -foot- -pound Harmon spent three seasons at Michigan State before transferring to Oregon where he blossomed into a disruptive force Harmon was a second-team All-American last season while finishing with five sacks and tackles for loss for the Ducks The Associated Press contributed to this overview Follow Fox News Digital s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter