Derrick Harmon, the man the Pittsburgh Steelers took in the first round of Thursday’s NFL Draft, has revealed that his mom is on life support in hospital.

Speaking after making the giant step into the NFL, Harmon said: ‘It’s truly a blessing. It’s really a blessing. But it was a little bittersweet. My mom wasn’t with me – she’s at the hospital right now on life support.

‘It was a little bittersweet because she worked just as hard as me to get to this moment. But it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Like I said, I’m very excited.

‘After I get off the phone with you guys, I’m headed straight to the hospital to tell her that her son got drafted.’

Harmon was fighting back tears as he spoke to reporters after the Steelers picked him, with the audio since emerging across social media. 

His mother Tiffany had a stroke while he was at Michigan State and has had brain surgeries.

Derrick Harmon revealed after the NFL Draft first round his mom is on life support in hospital 

He also posted a picture of himself with his mom from when he was a kid on Instagram

Speaking to ESPN before the Draft, Harmon said: ‘My mom means everything to me. Her name is Tiffany Saine and that’s my rock, that’s my why.

‘My freshman year at Michigan State, she ended up having a stroke which left her paralyzed on her left side. It was kind of hard but with her health it is something we were used to – growing up, she had about eight brain surgeries.

‘I am originally from Detroit so I was about 45 minutes from home when I went to Michigan State. She is the reason why I am here. She is the one that did everything for me up to this point.

‘I love you, mom. Everything I do is for you. I am forever grateful.’

He also posted a picture of himself with his mom from when he was a kid on his Instagram.

‘This is for you,’ he wrote. ‘I’m do what you told me I can do a long time ago. I love you till the wheels fall off.’ 

The Steelers had a lot of attention on their pick, with many wondering if they would take a quarterback and what that might indicate about the future of Aaron Rodgers.

The 41-year-old quarterback is a free agent after being cut by the New York Jets and said last week on the Pat McAfee show that he is taking time to deal with issues in his personal life before deciding if he will keep playing.

‘This entire time, I haven’t felt like I owed anybody a decision at any point,’ Rodgers insisted.

‘I’ve said listen, if you need to move on and do something, love and respect. But there’s been no ᴅᴇᴀᴅline. I’ve talked to Mike T [Tomlin] many times.

He added: ‘I told every single one of the teams, it ain’t about the money. I said I’ll play for $10million. Whatever.

‘I’m open to anything and attached to nothing. Retirement could still be a possibility. Focus (is) on personal life.’