PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Defensive back Daequan Hardy played football with Mike Tomlin’s sons, Wednesday he steps on the field with Tomlin as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Hardy was signed to the Steelers practice squad on Tuesday with Marquez Valdes-Scantling and essentially takes the spot of former West Virginia defensive back Beanie Bishop.
He was a sixth-round pick of the Bills last year and spent the 2024 season on the Buffalo practice squad. Hardy went through camp with Buffalo and was released on cut-down day. Now he’s with his hometown team.
“It’s a dream come true,” Hardy said. “I always wanted to be here. Happy to finally be here.”
Hardy still lives in Penn Hills, where he was a star for the Indians. He was able to make that call to his mom and friends right after signing.
“My whole family is die-hard Steelers fans, they can’t wait to get a jersey,” Hardy said as he prepared for that first practice.
The 5’9”, 178-pounder said he will do whatever they ask of him. He said he can play safety, nickel, corner, return kicks, whatever. He has yet to play in an NFL game, but is top 10 in Penn State history in punt return average (14.8) and touchdowns (two)—those TDs came in the same game against UMass. He is the only player in Nittany Lions history to accomplish that. Hardy was also third-team All-Big 10 as a cornerback with 22 tackles, two interceptions, three tackles for loss, a sack and seven pass breakups. Early in his career at PSU he played a lot of nickel before moving out to corner.
A two-time captain at Penn Hills, Hardy also played seven-on-seven football with Tomlin’s sons Dino and Mason. He said he’s known Tomlin since the eighth grade.
“Definitely cool, definitely going to be a little weird, but I’m up for the challenge and happy to be here,” Hardy said.