Steelers Re-Sign Local Defensive Back Recently Released

The Pittsburgh Steelers have brought back defensive back Daequan Hardy to their practice squad, the team confirmed on Tuesday. Hardy, who played college football at Penn State and attended Penn Hills High School, initially joined the Steelers on November 4, 2025.

Hardy did not participate in any regular-season games before being released from the practice squad on November 26. Originally drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Hardy spent his rookie season on Buffalo's practice squad and later signed a reserve/future contract on January 27, 2025. He was released by the Bills after the preseason and re-signed to their practice squad, only to be released again on August 28.

During his college career, Hardy appeared in 48 games for the Nittany Lions, recording 60 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 20 pass defenses, and five interceptions. At pre-draft evaluations, the 5-foot-9 3/8, 179-pound defensive back ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash and achieved a 42.5-inch vertical jump.

In high school, Hardy played on a 7-on-7 team alongside Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and Dino Tomlin, the son of Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. Me, Joey, and Dino, we all played on the same 7-on-7 team, so I was always around Mike Tomlin, Hardy said in April 2024.

In a roster update, the Steelers also released wide receiver Cornell Powell, who had been signed shortly after Hardy's previous release.

Author: Natalie Monroe