Steelers' Derrick Harmon Puts NFL On Notice After Warning Of A Big Advantage Brewing During Voluntary Workouts

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense has consistently been one of the highest-paid units in the league for several seasons now. However, their production has not lived up to the expectations and hype. This led to the Steelers’ long-time leader Mike Tomlin stepping away, opening the door for new head coach Mike McCarthy to take over and begin reshaping the culture and direction of the team. McCarthy quickly got to work assembling a new staff, adding Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator, as well as former Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman Domata Peko as the defensive line coach in Pittsburgh.

On Tuesday, the first day of voluntary workouts kicked off, and attention quickly turned to how the team would respond under the new leadership. The early phase of the offseason has already begun to signal a shift in energy and commitment around the building, with players adjusting to new expectations and systems. With a revamped coaching staff in place, these voluntary sessions have taken on added importance as the team looks to build chemistry and establish a stronger defensive identity moving forward.

Second-year defensive lineman Derrick Harmon spoke with Teresa Varley of Steelers.com on the opening day of workouts, where he shared how exciting and somewhat surprising it was to see so many veterans show up this early for a voluntary program. His comments highlight the level of buy-in already present within the locker room, a positive sign as the Steelers work to reset expectations and build momentum heading into the upcoming season.

"It's a blessing to be back here again," said Harmon. "It's way easier this time around, because you know what to expect, what to do. And being in the building this early is great. As a rookie, or just as a prospect to get drafted, you're doing your 30 visits to teams. You're going to the teams and traveling. Then you get to sit down for a little bit, and then it's the Draft. So, just being here right now, I feel like it's a big help for the second-year guys ready to get to work. And I didn't expect so many veterans to be here, but it was a lot. And it just shows what we expect to do this year as a team and what our priorities are."

The other interesting note that Harmon had to share was that he feels the 2025 rookies are gaining a major advantage by getting the full duration of the offseason. 

He believes that even the voluntary portions of the program will be extremely valuable for the development of the young prospects.

"It's us playing on the field, but the coaches are giving us information, and the relationships have to be built this time of the year," Harmon said. "We can't start building relationships once we're in training camp, because once training camp is coming around, we're going to work. So right now, I feel like building relationships is important."

Steelers' 2026 Season Is Starting To Look Exciting

There was a lot of debate about what the post-Tomlin era would truly look like for Pittsburgh. However, McCarthy and General Manager Omar Khan have had a strong 2026 offseason so far. With 12 draft picks, if they can execute a successful draft and load the roster with young talent, that kind of infusion can sometimes lead to a surprising push toward the Super Bowl. 

With new leadership in place, the limitations of the last decade feel lifted. Now, it is up to McCarthy to execute with his defensive staff and put the right pieces in place to help veterans like Cam Heyward and TJ Watt, along with emerging players like Harmon, thrive in 2026.

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