Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Yahya Black shared his 'welcome to the NFL' moment from his 2025 rookie season. The incident involved attempting to tackle Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry. Black described injuring his shoulder but continuing to play.
During an appearance on the “Not Just Football with Cam Heyward” podcast on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, Steelers rookie Yahya Black recounted a pivotal play from Week 14 against the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. With 10:37 left in the fourth quarter, Black, playing left defensive end, tried to shed a block from tight end Charlie Kolar and arm-tackle the 6-foot-2, 252-pound Henry. The effort limited Henry to a five-yard gain but left Black on the ground, realizing his shoulder was hurt, as he put it: “I’d say my welcome [to the NFL moment] was trying to tackle Derrick Henry. I tried to shed a block, and I stuck my arm out there and next thing you know, I’m on the ground laying like this and I’m looking down the field and I’m just like, ‘Yeah, my shoulder’s messed up. It ain’t coming back.'”Despite the pain, Black wore a shoulder brace that prevented a serious injury and missed no games. He continued playing solid football through the Steelers' demanding schedule of 14 straight weeks after an early bye, holding his own as a rotational player out of Iowa.Black's story highlights the physical leap from college to the pros, especially against a Hall of Fame-caliber back like Henry. Coming late in his rookie year, the moment underscored the NFL's intensity compared to Big Ten matchups, yet Black flashed potential and avoided long-term setbacks.
