Derrick Harmon’s return to Detroit this weekend will be meaningful—but business comes first. Though he’ll be playing in front of familiar faces, the rookie defensive lineman’s priority is helping Pittsburgh walk out with a win against the team he once grew up cheering for.

Harmon didn’t hesitate to leave his childhood fandom behind once the Steelers selected him in the first round of the NFL Draft.

“I grew up in Detroit, so of course I was a Lions fan,” Harmon said, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “But now, I’m all about the Steelers.”

A Detroit native, Harmon chose to stay close to home for college, committing to Michigan State. The decision reflected both his connection to the city and his desire to remain near his mother, who faced ongoing health challenges. Tragically, she passed away the night he was drafted.

For his final season, Harmon made the difficult choice to transfer to Oregon. Though leaving home wasn’t easy, the move proved worthwhile. He thrived with the Ducks, elevating his draft stock and ultimately becoming the 21st overall selection.

After missing three games with a knee injury, Harmon is less focused on the emotional aspect of returning home and more eager to be back on the field.

“It’s always good to play in front of family,” he said, “but I’ve been on that field my whole life—from youth football through high school. I know it well. I’m just excited to be playing again with my teammates.”

The challenge ahead is significant. Detroit features one of the league’s strongest backfields, led by Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, who have combined for over 1,600 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. Pittsburgh’s run defense noticeably slipped while Harmon was sidelined. Although the unit showed improvement against Miami on Monday night, the Dolphins still found success on the ground, with De’Von Achane averaging five yards per carry before game flow limited rushing attempts.

Harmon isn’t expected to single-handedly solve the issue, but his presence should make a difference. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin acknowledged as much earlier this week, emphasizing Harmon’s importance as Pittsburgh pushes to remain firmly in the playoff hunt—even if that means dampening Detroit’s postseason aspirations.