Steelers Now
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger foresees big things for one of the team’s rookies.
One of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ rookies from the 2025 NFL Draft has quickly caught the attention of former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Following a quiet NFL debut, Steelers first-round pick Derrick Harmon impressed in his second preseason action and Roethlisberger believes the sky is the limit for the rookie defensive tackle.
“Man, [Derrick Harmon]’s going to be an animal,” Roethlisberger said on the latest episode of “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger.” “Love to see it. Love to see him just basically manhandle people. He just takes control of the line. He takes control of his guy, and he is going to get so much better the more he learns about the little nuances of the game, little techniques, little trick things.”
Harmon flashed just why Pittsburgh used the No. 21 overall pick in this year’s draft on him, recording three tackles and his first NFL sack with an impressive bull rush on Tampa Bay Buccaneers left guard Ben Bredeson.
“First sack as a rookie, (it) felt good,” Harmon said. “It’s the preseason, so just ready to get that one in the regular season. That’s it.”
.@Steelers' first-round pick Derrick Harmon gets to the QB 😤
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/3SpTEnfyJg
— NFL (@NFL) August 16, 2025
Only time will tell if Harmon will be able to continue translating his play to the next level, but early signs hint he will do just that.
Roethlisberger thinks that paired with being surrounded by highly-experience veterans like Cameron Heyward only make that result inevitable.
“He’s going to figure it out,” Roethlisberger added. “He’s going to learn from Cam. He’s going to learn from those guys how to be a vet, but awesome for him.”
Harmon was viewed as one of the best defensive line prospects in this year’s rookie class after recording 45 tackles, five sacks and a pair of forced and recovered fumbles at Oregon in 2024.
Prior to Harmon’s breakout 2024 campaign with the Ducks, he spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Michigan State, where he racked up another 69 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two passes defensed.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Ben Roethlisberger Praises Steelers Rookie: ‘Going to Be an Animal’
