Since 1984, the Pittsburgh Steelers annually have honored the team’s top rookie with an award named after Joe Greene, widely considered the greatest player in franchise history.
Until Wednesday, the Steelers never had honored a player who, like Greene, played on the defensive line.
First-round pick Derrick Harmon ended that streak when he won the Joe Greene Great Performance Award, which is presented by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America.
Harmon said it was a “privilege” to have his name associated with Greene, the team’s No. 1 overall pick in 1969 and one of only three players in franchise history to have his number retired.
Harmon has overcome a pair of knee injuries that kept him from playing in five games this season — the first two and then a three-game stretch in the second half. He has started seven games, including the last six in which he has been healthy. He has 26 tackles, four quarterback hits, two sacks and one pass breakup.
His biggest impact has come in defending the run. In 11 games with Harmon on the field, the Steelers have allowed 86 rushing yards per game. In the five he has missed, that average is 166.
“It’s honing in on the older guys, asking questions and going out and playing ball,” Harmon said. “This game is very mental. If you believe you can and go kick somebody’s butt, you can do it.”
Harmon said his play as a rookie hasn’t been mystical.
“I’m going out there and playing ball, dog,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been doing my whole life.”
The PFWA also presented inside linebacker Patrick Queen with the “Chief” Award, which is named after franchise founder Art Rooney Sr. and goes annually to the player most cooperative with the media.
Queen is in his second season with the Steelers and has become a go-to player for insight after wins and losses because of his often candid assessment and critical approach of the team’s play.
“I am blunt about a lot of things,” Queen said. “That’s just me. Sometimes, I’m ticked off. Sometimes, I’m just keeping it real. I know you have a job to do. Sometimes as players we like it, sometimes we don’t. That’s the harsh reality of the sport. Everything is not going to be positive.”
Queen said he learned to take a that approach from his father.
“He was always blunt with everything,” he said. “It’s the world we live in. With this sport, I feel everything should be straightforward. I think in life everything should be straightforward. There’s no reason to lie about things or sugar-coat anything. If you want to be great not just in sports but in life you have to be real about things. The older I get, the more transparent that becomes.”
