PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers rookie defensive tackle Yahya Black didn’t just fill a roster spot; he anchored a defensive front when the team needed him most. When first-round pick Derrick Harmon went down with an injury early in the 2025 season, the trenches looked vulnerable. Black stepped onto the field and immediately turned a potential weakness into a brick wall.
From Fifth-Round Pick to Defensive Anchor
Expectations stay low for fifth-rounders. Selected No. 164 overall out of Iowa, the 6-foot-6, 336-pound mauler arrived as a developmental project. Instead, he forced his way into the rotation and dominated opposing offensive linemen. You could almost feel the tension in the stadium shift when Black collapsed the pocket on crucial third downs.
He finished his 2025 rookie campaign with 28 total tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and a pass deflection. Black routinely absorbed double teams, freeing up edge rushers like T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith to hunt quarterbacks. The biting November wind didn’t slow him down; he thrived in the physical, gritty AFC North matchups, proving his four years at Iowa prepared him perfectly for the pro game.
Former Steelers offensive lineman Trai Essex watched the rookie’s development closely. Speaking on The Snap Count podcast, the two-time Super Bowl champion didn’t hold back his praise.
“I think this is where we really struck gold. Nobody knew what they were gonna get out of Yahya Black. On the field, I thought he played really big… and he’s gonna be a big part of our defensive line moving forward. He showed up in a big way whenever Harmon was out, and this guy is continuously getting better on the upswing. I thought he probably would’ve been the defensive rookie of the year if it was not for Harmon’s late play at the end.”
— Trai Essex, Former Steelers Offensive Lineman
What’s Next for the Steel City Trenches
Looking ahead to the 2026 season, the Steelers boast a terrifying defensive line rotation. With Harmon fully healthy, Keeanu Benton controlling the middle, and Black proving he can handle starter-level snaps, offensive coordinators face a massive headache. Black’s emergence allows head coach Mike Tomlin to rotate his big men heavily, keeping aging veterans like Cam Heyward fresh for late-game situations. Black caught the attention of the league as a rookie, and now he has the foundation to become a long-term staple in Pittsburgh’s defense.
