Steelers DT Yahya Black Out to Prove He’s More Than Just Big
PITTSBURGH — For right now, all Yahya Black can do is stay low and try to grasp whatever groundwork the Pittsburgh Steelers are trying to lay.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ rookie interior lineman, taken in the fifth round of last month’s 2025 NFL Draft, is still getting a handle on things. There is, however, something you can’t teach, and Black has it. At 6-foot-6, 336 pounds, he was maybe the largest player on the practice field Saturday morning at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, rivaled only by first-round selection Derrick Harmon.
“There’s always big guys everywhere,” Black said after the rookie minicamp session, smirking and doing his best to downplay his tremendous size.
There’s no denying stature, though, especially if your shadow encompasses those standing nearby. Black, an All-Big Ten honorable mention at Iowa last season, knows his frame alone won’t buy him a successful NFL career.
“I’m really just trying to soak in everything,” Black said. “There’s a lot of things out there that they’re trying to teach us, and sometimes you just have to take it one thing at a time to really try to take everything in.”
As he pins down the basics, he’s is being directed to stunt the level of his shoulder pads, which, in itself, is a task.
“It’s always gonna be a main focus,” Black said. “I’m clearly a big guy.”
Pittsburgh allowed the sixth-fewest rushing yards in the league last season, but cracks in the defensive line showed in its playoff loss. In Harmon and Black, the Steelers are hoping they’ve found two vending machine-sized men they can station in the heart of their defense for the foreseeable future. The young duo has been building a rapport early on.
“It’s just really cool,” Black said. “Sitting next to each other in the meeting room, and really just learning off of each other and learning our skillset.”
Black hasn’t yet been able to speak to Cam Heyward or Keeanu Benton. Black is most excited about a certain trait the defensive group possesses.
“The toughness,” Black said. “I mean, there’s a lot of tough guys and there’s a lot of veterans in the room that I can really learn from.”
As for where exactly he’ll be lined up in head coach Mike Tomlin’s unit, Black couldn’t say.
“Wherever he wants me to be, I’ll be there,” Black said.