The Pittsburgh Steelers signed former Penn State defensive back Daequan Hardy to the practice squad, the team announced on Tuesday .
Hardy played at Penn Hills. He played on the same 7-on-7 team as Mike Tomlin's son, Dino Tomlin.
"Me, Joey (Porter Jr.), Dino, we all played on the same 7-on-7 team," Hardy said in April of 2024 . "So, I would always be around Mike Tomlin. I had a couple of conversations with him. I don't know if he remembers me, but I sure hope so."
Like most kids that grew up in Western Pennsylvania, Hardy was a Steelers fan. He'll now get the chance to play for the Black and Gold.
"Since I grew up a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, one of the guys we had was Mike Hilton ," Hardy said. "So, I felt like, not mimicking, but watching him do his thing. I saw myself being in that same position when I get into that same position. I just tell teams that, honestly, you can play me anywhere on the field. Play me inside, outside, in the box, on the hash, I don't care. I'll show out."
Hardy was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft. He spent his first season in Buffalo on the practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with Buffalo on Jan. 27, 2025.
On Aug. 26, Hardy was released by the Bills as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He was released by Buffalo again on Aug. 28.
In corresponding moves, the Steelers released wide receiver John Rhys Plumlee and outside linebacker K.J. Henry from the practice squad on Tuesday. The Steelers also signed linebacker Mark Robinson to the PS.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Sign Former Penn State Defensive Back
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