Steelers First-round Pick Derrick Harmon's Mother, Tiffany Saine, Dies Shortly After His Selection

When things got tough for Derrick Harmon during his college career at Michigan State and Oregon, the defensive tackle would gather strength from his mother, Tiffany Saine.

"In the back of my head, from the beginning of my college career I kept thinking how can I not keep going if I'm tired? I'm injured? Whatever it is," Harmon said. "Why can't I keep going if she can get up and she keeps going after brain surgery. This is our resilience and our hard work, really. "

Saine endured numerous brain surgeries and a stroke in recent years as her son evolved from prospect to likely NFL first-round pick. And shortly after the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Harmon 21st overall late Thursday night, he went to visit his mother to say goodbye.

Saine died within hours of her son realizing a dream they had worked so hard together to achieve.

Harmon said minutes after receiving a phone call from Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin that his mother was on life support but did not get into details.