Steelers Sign Pittsburgh Native Daequan Hardy to Reserve/Future Contract
The Steelers are keeping one of their own close to home. Cornerback Daequan Hardy, a Pittsburgh native and Penn State alum, has signed a reserve/future contract with the team, giving him a chance to stick around through the offseason and compete for a spot in 2026.
For Hardy, it’s another opportunity to prove himself in a league that doesn’t hand out second chances easily. The 24-year-old spent this past season bouncing on and off the Steelers’ practice squad, originally signing in November before being released, then rejoining the team in December. While he hasn’t yet appeared in a regular-season game, this new deal signals that Pittsburgh sees something worth developing.
And it’s not hard to understand why.
Hardy’s football roots run deep in Western Pennsylvania. He starred at Penn Hills High School before heading to Penn State, where he carved out a productive five-year career with the Nittany Lions.
In 48 games, he racked up 60 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 20 pass breakups, and five interceptions - numbers that speak to his versatility and nose for the football. He wasn’t just a depth piece in college; he was a playmaker.
His college résumé was strong enough to get him drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Hardy spent most of his rookie season on Buffalo’s practice squad, signed a reserve/future deal with the team last offseason, but didn’t make the final 53-man roster out of camp. The Bills released him in late August, and that’s when the Steelers came calling.
What makes Hardy’s story even more compelling is his connection to the current Steelers roster. Back in high school, he played on a 7-on-7 team with Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and Dino Tomlin, son of longtime Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin. Those ties to the city, the team, and the locker room aren’t just sentimental - they can help a young player feel at home and stay focused in the grind of trying to earn a roster spot.
The reserve/future contract doesn’t guarantee anything, but it does give Hardy a seat at the table when offseason workouts begin. With the Steelers currently in the middle of a head coaching search led by team president Art Rooney II and GM Omar Khan, the roster is in a bit of a holding pattern. But moves like this show the front office is still keeping an eye on the long-term picture.
For Hardy, the path to the 53-man roster won’t be easy - it never is for fringe players. But he's got the hometown edge, a solid college track record, and familiarity with the building. That’s a good place to start.